Nepali Vowels (A Aa I Ie)
Learn the 13 Nepali vowels (A, Aa, I, Ie...) and their matra forms. Master the cornerstone of the Nepali Barnamala with pronunciation and examples.
What Are Nepali Vowels (Swar Barna)?
Nepali vowels, called स्वर बर्ण (Swar Barna), are the 13 foundational letters of the Nepali alphabet. Unlike consonants, vowels produce sound on their own without needing another letter. They are: अ, आ, इ, ई, उ, ऊ, ऋ, ए, ऐ, ओ, औ, अं, अः.
Each vowel has two forms: an independent form used when the vowel stands alone, and a matra (मात्रा) form used when the vowel is attached to a consonant. For example, the vowel इ (I) becomes the matra ि when combined with क to form कि (Ki). Mastering matras is the key to reading Nepali fluently - see our Nepali Matras Guide for a deep dive.
All Vowels
Learn all 13 Nepali vowels in order.
Nepali Vowels & Matra (Diacritical) Forms
This table shows each vowel in its independent form alongside its matra form, romanized spelling, pronunciation guide, and a traditional example word.
| Vowel | Matra | Romanized | Pronunciation | Example Word | Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| अ | - | A | a (as in about) | अनार (Anar) | Pomegranate | |
| आ | ा | Aa | aa (as in father) | आमा (Ama) | Mother | |
| इ | ि | I | i (as in sit) | इनार (Inar) | Well | |
| ई | ी | Ee | ee (as in see) | ईख (Eekh) | Sugarcane | |
| उ | ु | U | u (as in put) | उखु (Ukhu) | Sugarcane | |
| ऊ | ू | Oo | oo (as in moon) | ऊन (Oon) | Wool | |
| ऋ | ृ | Ri | ri (as in river) | ऋषि (Rishi) | Sage | |
| ए | े | E | e (as in bed) | एकता (Ekata) | Unity | |
| ऐ | ै | Ai | ai (as in aisle) | ऐनक (Ainak) | Spectacles | |
| ओ | ो | O | o (as in go) | ओखर (Okhar) | Walnut | |
| औ | ौ | Au | au (as in now) | औंला (Aunla) | Finger | |
| अं | ं | Am | am (nasal m) | अंश (Amsha) | Part/Share | |
| अः | ः | Ah | ah (as in ha!) | अः (Ah) | Ah! |
How to Learn Nepali Vowels - Tips for Beginners
- Learn vowels in pairs. Start with the short-long pairs: अ-आ, इ-ई, उ-ऊ. The long vowel is simply the extended version of the short vowel sound.
- Practice the matra forms alongside the vowel. Every time you learn a vowel, immediately practice its matra by combining it with a consonant like क (Ka). See the full Matras Guide →
- Use the example words. Each vowel has a traditional word - like अ for अनार (Pomegranate). Saying the word aloud reinforces both the vowel sound and vocabulary.
- Move to the Bahrakhari chart once you know all 13 vowels. The Bahrakhari shows every consonant combined with every vowel matra - this is how syllable reading works in Nepali. Explore the Bahrakhari Chart →
- Download and trace. Print our free vowel worksheets and trace each letter repeatedly. Physical writing builds muscle memory faster than screen practice alone. Download Free Worksheets →
Frequently Asked Questions about Nepali Vowels
Quick answers to common questions about Swar Barna.
These vowels are part of the complete Nepali Alphabet (49 letters). See the full guide for consonants, pronunciation, and example words for every letter.
Continue Learning
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Practice Nepali Vowels on Your Phone
Hamro Barnamala is a free app with audio pronunciation, tracing games, quizzes, and stories - perfect for kids and beginners.