A0 Script & Writing 6 min read Fácil

Vocales en Gujarati: El alma de la escritura (Swar)

Master the 12 vowel shapes to unlock reading; they are the phonetic soul of every Gujarati word.
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Practícalo

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Gujarati vowels (Swar) are the foundation of the script; remember that they change form when attached to consonants.

  • Independent vowels exist at the start of words: 'અ' (a).
  • Dependent vowels (Matras) attach to consonants to change their sound: 'ક' + 'ા' = 'કા' (ka).
  • Vowels are always written as distinct symbols, never hidden.
Independent Vowel (Start) OR Consonant + Matra (Middle/End)

Overview

¿Alguna vez has mirado la escritura gujarati y has pensado que parecía un montón de rizos elegantes bailando por la página? (Overview, How This Grammar Works...)

Vowel Matra Formation

Vowel Matra With 'ક' (Ka)
અ
-
ક
આ
ા
કા
ઇ
િ
કિ
ઈ
ી
કી
ઉ
ુ
કુ
ઊ
ૂ
કૂ
એ
ે
કે
ઐ
ૈ
કૈ
ઓ
ો
કો
ઔ
ૌ
કૌ

Meanings

Swar are the vowel sounds in the Gujarati language, represented by specific characters in the Devanagari-derived script.

1

Independent Vowels

Used at the beginning of a word or syllable.

“અજગર (Ajgar - Python)”

“આકાશ (Aakash - Sky)”

2

Dependent Vowels (Matras)

Used when a vowel follows a consonant.

“કા (Ka)”

“કી (Ki)”

Reference Table

Reference table for Vocales en Gujarati: El alma de la escritura (Swar)
Vowel Matra (Sign) Sound Example
અ
(None)
Short 'a' (like 'about')
અમે (Ame - We)
આ
ા
Long 'aa' (like 'father')
આભાર (Aabhar - Thanks)
ઇ
િ
Short 'i' (like 'bit')
દિન (Din - Day)
ઈ
ી
Long 'ee' (like 'feet')
દીપ (Deep - Lamp)
ઉ
ુ
Short 'u' (like 'put')
ગુજરાત (Gujarat)
ઊ
ૂ
Long 'oo' (like 'boot')
દૂર (Door - Far)
એ
ે
Sound 'e' (like 'pay')
એક (Ek - One)

Espectro de formalidad

Formal
તમે કેમ છો?

તમે કેમ છો? (Greeting)

Neutral
કેમ છો?

કેમ છો? (Greeting)

Informal
કેમ છે?

કેમ છે? (Greeting)

Jerga
કેમ છે ભાઈ?

કેમ છે ભાઈ? (Greeting)

The World of Gujarati Vowels

Swar (Vowels)

Independent

  • આ Starts words

Dependent

  • ા Attaches to consonants

Short vs. Long Vowels

Short Sound
ઇ (i) as in bit
ઉ (u) as in put
Long Sound
ઈ (ee) as in feet
ઊ (oo) as in boot

Choosing the Vowel Form

1

Is the vowel at the start of the word?

YES
Use Independent Form (e.g., આ)
NO
Use Matra/Dependent Form
2

Is it following a consonant?

YES
Attach Matra (e.g., કા)
NO ↓

Vowel Placement Guide

👆

Above Consonant

  • • ે (e)
  • • ૈ (ai)
  • • ં (nasal)
👇

Below Consonant

  • • ુ (u)
  • • ૂ (uu)
  • • ૃ (ru)
👉

Beside Consonant

  • • ા (aa)
  • • િ (short i)
  • • ી (long i)
  • • ો (o)
Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

Ejemplos por nivel

1

અજગર

Python

2

આમ

Mango

3

ઇલાયચી

Cardamom

4

ઉંદર

Mouse

1

કાકા

Uncle

2

કિતાબ

Book

3

કીડી

Ant

4

કુતરો

Dog

1

કેળાં

Bananas

2

કૈલાસ

Kailash

3

કોથમીર

Coriander

4

કૌશલ

Kaushal

1

ઐતિહાસિક

Historical

2

ઔષધિ

Medicine

3

ઈશ્વર

God

4

ઊંટ

Camel

1

અનુભવ

Experience

2

આત્મવિશ્વાસ

Self-confidence

3

ઈમાનદારી

Honesty

4

ઉત્સાહ

Enthusiasm

1

ઐક્ય

Unity

2

ઔદ્યોગિક

Industrial

3

ઊર્જા

Energy

4

એકાગ્રતા

Concentration

Fácil de confundir

Gujarati Vowels: The Soul of the Script (Swar) vs Short vs Long Vowels

Learners often use them interchangeably.

Errores comunes

✗

કઇ

✓

કિ

Using independent vowel instead of matra.
✗

કઆ

✓

કા

Adding full vowel after consonant.
✗

ક-ઇ

✓

કિ

Using hyphens to join.
✗

કૂ

✓

કુ

Confusing long/short.
✗

કિ

✓

કી

Wrong length.
✗

કે

✓

કૈ

Wrong matra.
✗

કો

✓

કૌ

Wrong matra.
✗

કિ

✓

કિ

Placement error.
✗

કૂ

✓

કુ

Length error.
✗

કૈ

✓

કે

Wrong matra.
✗

કૌ

✓

કો

Subtle error.
✗

કિ

✓

કી

Length error.
✗

કૈ

✓

કે

Wrong matra.
✗

કૂ

✓

કુ

Length error.

Patrones de oraciones

___ છે.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

કેમ છે?

Social Media very common

ખૂબ સરસ!

Job Interview common

મારું નામ...

Ordering Food common

એક ચા આપો.

Travel occasional

આ ક્યાં છે?

Food Delivery common

ઓર્ડર આપો.

Regístrate gratis para ver todos los ejemplos
💡

The 'No Line' Rule

If you are coming from Hindi, the biggest tip is: STOP drawing the line on top. Gujarati letters are free spirits!
⚠️

The Backwards 'i'

The short 'i' matra (િ) is written BEFORE the letter but pronounced AFTER. It's like the language is playing a prank on you.
🎯

Keyboard Hack

Use a phonetic keyboard (Gboard) where you type English letters to get Gujarati. It helps you associate the sounds faster.

Smart Tips

Always check the matra.

કઇ → કિ

Check length.

કિ (long) → કી (long)

Hold long vowels.

કા (short) → કા (long)

Use flashcards.

No cards → With cards

Pronunciación

i vs ee

Vowel Length

Short vowels are quick, long vowels are held twice as long.

Question

કેમ છો? ↑

Rising intonation for questions.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Remember 'Swar' as the 'Sun' of the sentence; they shine light on the consonants.

Asociación visual

Imagine the Matras as little hats or shoes that the consonants wear to change their personality.

Rhyme

Swar are the sounds we love to say, adding Matras along the way.

Story

Once there was a consonant named 'Ka'. He felt plain, so he put on a 'Matra' hat and became 'Ki'. Then he put on a 'Matra' shoe and became 'Ku'. Now he is a whole word!

Word Web

અજગરઆકાશઇતિહાસઈશ્વરઉંદરઊંટ

Desafío

Write your name in Gujarati using the correct Matras.

Notas culturales

Vowels are central to Gujarati poetry and songs.

Derived from Brahmi script.

Inicios de conversación

“

તમારું નામ શું છે?

Temas para diario

Write 5 words using different vowels.

Errores comunes

Incorrect

Correcto

Incorrect

Correcto

Incorrect

Correcto

Incorrect

Correcto

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Test Yourself

Identify the missing vowel for 'Today' (Aaj).

___જ (Aaj)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: આ
The word for 'today' starts with the long 'aa' sound, which is represented by the independent vowel આ.
Which of these uses the 'e' matra correctly for the word 'Kem' (How)? Opción múltiple

How do you write 'Kem'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: કેમ
The 'e' sound is represented by a single diagonal stroke ે above the consonant.
Fix the vowel in the word for 'One' (Ek). Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ઇક (Ik)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: એક
The number one is pronounced 'Ek', which starts with the independent vowel એ.

Score: /3

Ejercicios de practica

8 exercises
Fill in the vowel.

ક___ = કા

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ા
Correct matra for 'aa'.
Which is correct? Opción múltiple

Which is a vowel?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: અ
અ is a vowel.
Fix the word. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ક-ઇ (wrong)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: કિ
No hyphen needed.
Change to long vowel. Sentence Transformation

કિ -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: કી
Long vowel is 'ee'.
Match vowel to matra. Match Pairs

ઇ to ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: િ
Match.
Build a word. Sentence Building

ક + ા + ક + ા

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: કાકા
Correct word.
Conjugate. Conjugation Drill

ગ + ી = ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ગી
Correct.
True or False? True False Rule

Vowels are independent letters.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
They are also matras.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Match the vowel to its sound. Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: અ : a, ઇ : i, ઉ : u, ઓ : o
Complete the word 'Gujarat' (ગુજરાત). Completar huecos

ગ___જરાત

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ુ
Translate the word 'Thanks'. Traducción

Aabhar

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: આભાર
Put the letters in order to spell 'Ame' (We). Sentence Reorder

મે / અ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: અમે
Which symbol is the 'aa' matra? Opción múltiple

Select the 'aa' matra:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ા
Correct the spelling of 'Coffee'. Error Correction

કાફી (Kaafi)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: કોફી
Which vowel starts the word 'Upar' (Above)? Completar huecos

___પર

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ઉ
Identify the 'long ee' matra. Opción múltiple

Which one is 'ee'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ી
Write the number '1' in Gujarati script. Traducción

Ek

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: એક
Match independent vowels to their matras. Match Pairs

Match:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: આ : ા, એ : ે, ઓ : ો, ઐ : ૈ

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (8)

A vowel.

Around 12.

No, just practice.

A vowel sign.

To join sounds.

No.

No.

Write daily.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Regístrate gratis para practicar

In Other Languages

Spanish low

Vocales

Gujarati uses matras.

French low

Voyelles

Gujarati matras change sound.

German low

Vokale

Gujarati matras are systemic.

Japanese low

Boin

Gujarati is an abugida.

Arabic moderate

Haraka

Gujarati matras are mandatory.

Chinese low

Yuanyin

Gujarati is alphabetic.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
La cuadrícula de consonantes gujarati (Vyanjan)

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