Vowel Signs (Matras)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Matras are small symbols attached to consonants to change their vowel sound, making them the building blocks of every Gujarati word.
- Every consonant has an inherent 'a' sound; add a Matra to change it. (ક = ka)
- Matras can appear above, below, before, or after the consonant. (કિ = ki, કુ = ku)
- When a vowel starts a word, use the full vowel letter instead of a Matra. (આમ = aam)
Matra Formation Table
| Vowel | Matra | Example | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
|
aa
|
ા
|
કા
|
kaa
|
|
i
|
િ
|
કિ
|
ki
|
|
ee
|
ી
|
કી
|
kee
|
|
u
|
ુ
|
કુ
|
ku
|
|
uu
|
ૂ
|
કૂ
|
kuu
|
|
e
|
ે
|
કે
|
ke
|
|
ai
|
ૈ
|
કૈ
|
kai
|
|
o
|
ો
|
કો
|
ko
|
|
au
|
ૌ
|
કૌ
|
kau
|
Meanings
Matras are diacritical marks used in the Gujarati script to indicate vowels other than the inherent 'a'. They are essential for reading and writing any word beyond basic roots.
Vowel Modification
Changing the inherent 'a' sound of a consonant to another vowel sound.
“કિ (ki)”
“કે (ke)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Base
|
Consonant only
|
ક (ka)
|
|
Aa
|
Consonant + ા
|
કા (kaa)
|
|
I
|
િ + Consonant
|
કિ (ki)
|
|
Ee
|
Consonant + ી
|
કી (kee)
|
|
U
|
Consonant + ુ
|
કુ (ku)
|
|
Uu
|
Consonant + ૂ
|
કૂ (kuu)
|
|
E
|
Consonant + ે
|
કે (ke)
|
|
O
|
Consonant + ો
|
કો (ko)
|
Spectre de formalité
કેરી મીઠી છે. (Describing food)
કેરી મીઠી છે. (Describing food)
કેરી મીઠી છે. (Describing food)
કેરી તો એકદમ મીઠી છે! (Describing food)
Matra Attachment Map
Left
- કિ ki
Right
- કા kaa
- કી kee
Below
- કુ ku
- કૂ kuu
Above
- કે ke
Exemples par niveau
કાકા
Paternal uncle
કિતાબ
Book
કુતરો
Dog
કેરી
Mango
પાણી
Water
દૂધ
Milk
મેળું
Fair
પોપટ
Parrot
વિદ્યાર્થી
Student
સૂર્ય
Sun
પ્રેમ
Love
મોટર
Car
ઐતિહાસિક
Historical
ઔષધ
Medicine
વૈજ્ઞાનિક
Scientist
કૌશલ્ય
Skill
સૌંદર્ય
Beauty
વૈવિધ્ય
Diversity
પૌરાણિક
Mythological
નૈતિકતા
Morality
ઐશ્વર્ય
Opulence
ઔદ્યોગિક
Industrial
વૈચારિક
Ideological
સૌભાગ્ય
Good fortune
Facile à confondre
Learners often use full vowels in the middle of words.
Confusing the direction of the Matra.
Confusing the shape below the letter.
Erreurs courantes
કિ (written as કિ)
કિ
ક (missing Matra)
કા
કિ (using full vowel)
કિ
કૂ (using wrong Matra)
કુ
કે (using wrong side)
કે
કો (using wrong Matra)
કો
કૈ (using wrong Matra)
કૈ
કૌ (using wrong Matra)
કૌ
કિ (misplaced)
કિ
કૂ (misplaced)
કૂ
કૌ (misplaced)
કૌ
કિ (misplaced)
કિ
કૂ (misplaced)
કૂ
Structures de phrases
આ ___ છે.
મને ___ ભાવે છે.
તે ___ વાંચે છે.
આ ___ ખૂબ સુંદર છે.
Real World Usage
કેમ છો?
આજે ખૂબ મજા આવી!
મારું નામ...
એક ચા આપો.
સ્ટેશન ક્યાં છે?
ઓર્ડર કન્ફર્મ કરો.
Practice Daily
Don't Guess
Use a Chart
Listen Carefully
Smart Tips
Identify the vowel sound first, then pick the Matra.
Remember the 'Left-Right-Below-Above' rule.
Look at the Matra first to know the vowel.
Break the word into syllables.
Prononciation
Short vs Long
Short vowels are quick; long vowels are held longer.
Inherent 'a'
The 'a' is a schwa sound.
Statement
Sentence ends with a flat tone.
Neutral information.
Question
Sentence ends with a rising tone.
Inquiry.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Left is 'i', right is 'aa' and 'ee', below is 'u', above is 'e'.
Association visuelle
Imagine the consonant as a person. The Matra 'i' is a hat tilted left, 'aa' is a walking stick on the right, and 'u' is a pair of shoes below.
Rhyme
Left for short 'i', right for long 'ee', below for 'u', above for 'e'.
Story
Once there was a letter 'K'. He wanted to change his sound. He put a hat on his left for 'ki'. He grabbed a stick on his right for 'kaa'. He put on shoes below for 'ku'. Now he is a whole new syllable!
Word Web
Défi
Write your name in Gujarati using Matras. If you don't know the letters, look up the Gujarati alphabet chart and add the correct Matras.
Notes culturelles
Matras are taught in primary school using rhythmic chants.
Some dialects have slight variations in vowel length.
Vowels are often pronounced more sharply.
Gujarati script evolved from the Brahmi script, specifically the Nagari branch.
Amorces de conversation
તમારું નામ શું છે?
તમને કેરી ભાવે છે?
તમે પુસ્તક વાંચો છો?
ગુજરાતી શીખવું કેવું લાગે છે?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
ક___ (ki)
Select the correct spelling.
Find and fix the mistake:
કિતાબ (incorrect: કીતાબ)
Change 'ka' to 'ki'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
What is 'ka' + 'u'?
Matras are used at the start of words.
A: કેમ છો? B: ___
Score: /8
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesક___ (ki)
Select the correct spelling.
Find and fix the mistake:
કિતાબ (incorrect: કીતાબ)
Change 'ka' to 'ki'.
Match ા to sound.
What is 'ka' + 'u'?
Matras are used at the start of words.
A: કેમ છો? B: ___
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
A Matra is a vowel sign that attaches to a consonant.
There are 9 main Matras in Gujarati.
It depends on the Matra; some go left, right, above, or below.
No, full vowels are only for the start of words.
It takes practice, but it's very logical.
Yes, every consonant can take a Matra.
Very few, mostly in loanwords.
Write syllables and read simple texts.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Matras
Minor stylistic differences in character shapes.
Vowels
Spanish vowels are always full letters.
Accents
French accents modify pronunciation but don't change the letter's fundamental role.
Umlauts
Umlauts are not attached to consonants in the same way.
Kana
Gujarati is an abugida; Japanese is a syllabary.
Tashkeel
Arabic diacritics are often optional; Gujarati Matras are mandatory.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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