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What Is Bahrakhari (बाह्रखरी)?

Bahrakhari (बाह्रखरी) is the consonant-vowel combination chartin the Nepali Devanagari script. The word literally translates to “twelve letters” - referring to the 12 vowel matras that modify each consonant. The chart shows how every one of the 36 consonants combines with all 12 vowel sounds to create syllables.

For example, the consonant क (Ka) becomes का, कि, की, कु, कू, कृ, के, कै, को, कौ, कं, कः when combined with each vowel matra. Mastering the Bahrakhari is the critical step between knowing individual letters and being able to read Nepali words fluently. Make sure you know the 13 vowels and 36 consonants before starting here.

Full Bahrakhari Chart

FAQs

Consonant	अa	आaa	इi	ईee	उu	ऊoo	ऋri	एe	ऐai	ओo	औau	अंam
कKa
खKha
गGa
घGha
ङNga
चCha
छChha
जJa
झJha
ञNya
टTa
ठTha
डDa
ढDha
णNa
तTa
थTha
दDa
धDha
नNa
पPa
फPha
बBa
भBha
मMa
यYa
रRa
लLa
वWa
शSha
षSha
सSa
हHa
क्षKsha
त्रTra
ज्ञGya

How to Master the Bahrakhari Chart

Learn one row at a time. Start with the Ka-row (क, का, कि, की...) and practice until you can read it smoothly before moving to the next consonant.
Focus on the matra patterns, not memorization. Once you understand how each matra modifies the base consonant, you can apply the same pattern to any consonant - you don't need to memorize all 468 combinations. Understand Matras →
Read vertically too. After mastering rows, try reading down a column - for example, all the 'ee' (ई) matra combinations: की, खी, गी, घी... This reinforces matra recognition.
Practice with real words. After each row, find Nepali words that use those syllables. For example, from the Ka-row: काम (work), किताब (book), कुकुर (dog). Build Vocabulary →
Print the chart and hang it up. Having the Bahrakhari chart visible at eye level lets kids practice casually throughout the day. Download Printable Chart →