Subscript रु (ru): र followed by ु matra

In Devanagari, most consonants follow a strict rule. You put the ु matra directly underneath the vertical bar. For example, क becomes कु. But र does not have a vertical bar. It is a curved, diagonal shape. Because of this shape, there is no "floor" to attach the vowel. The script designers decided to stick the vowel into the "belly" of the letter. This creates the symbol रु. It is important to note that this is the short "u" sound. It is quick and sharp. Do not confuse it with the long "oo" sound. The short रु has a simple curve. It does not have a hollow circle at the joint. It is a smooth transition from the spine of the र. It looks like a small comma attached to the middle. This placement keeps the word height consistent. It makes reading much faster once you get used to it.

1. 1Start by writing the standard letter र as you normally would.
2. 2Locate the middle point of the letter's vertical spine.
3. 3Draw a small, downward-curving stroke starting from that middle point.
4. 4Ensure the stroke curves to the right and then slightly down.
5. 5Do NOT draw a circle or a loop at the connection point.
6. 6Keep the stroke short to indicate the short vowel sound.
7. 7Check that the bottom of the र remains clear of any marks.

Use रु whenever a word requires the र sound followed by a short u. You will use this when talking about money, specifically the रुपया (Rupee). It is essential when discussing your hobbies or रुचि (interest). You will see it at the end of the word गुरु (teacher/guru). It appears in the middle of the word पुरुष (man). If you are asking for directions and there is a रुकावट (blockage), you need it. It is also found in the word रुमाल (handkerchief), which you might need on a hot day. In a job interview, you might talk about your रुझान (inclination) toward a specific field. It is a high-frequency pattern in daily conversation. Basically, if the 'u' sound is short, रु is your go-to shape.

Do not use रु when you need the long "oo" sound. That is a different character entirely: रू. The long version has a little loop or circle before the tail. For example, the word for "beauty" or "form" is रूप (roop), not रुप. Also, never put the ु matra at the bottom of र. That is a major spelling error. It would look like a typo to a native reader. Avoid using रु if the word actually uses the vowel ऋ (ri). Some learners confuse the two sounds. Lastly, do not use it if the u sound belongs to the next consonant. Only use it when the u sound immediately follows the r sound. It is a specific marriage between these two specific sounds.

One of the biggest mistakes is the "Bottom Trap." You might feel tempted to put the matra under the र. Resist that urge! It is a grammar traffic light telling you to stop. Another common error is mixing up रु (short) and रू (long). If you write रुपया with a long रू, it looks slightly off. It is like misspelling "money" as "mooney." Many people also forget to attach the stroke to the middle. They might let it float nearby. It must be physically connected to the spine of the र. Finally, some people draw the curve too long. If it is too long, it might be mistaken for the long vowel. Keep it short, sweet, and tucked into the middle.

Let's look at कु (ku) and सु (su). In these cases, the vowel is a little hook under the letter. Now look at रु. The vowel has migrated north to the center. This is unique to र. No other letter in the Hindi alphabet behaves this way with the u matra. Now, compare रु with रू. The short रु is just a curve. The long रू has a tiny circle at the start of the curve. Think of the circle in रू as a "heavy weight" that makes the sound longer. The short रु is light and fast. You can also compare it to the र with a ृ (ri) matra, which looks like वृ but for र, that combination is almost never used in modern Hindi. रु is the king of the r + vowel exceptions.