A2 Devanagari Script 3 دقیقه مطالعه

Chandrabindu (ँ): Nasalization marker

Use the Chandrabindu (ँ) to nasalize vowels like a, aa, u, and uu when there is no maatra cluttering the space above the top line.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Symbol is a crescent moon with a dot (ँ).
  • Used for nasalizing vowels (air through nose).
  • Only used when top line is empty.
  • Distinguishes singular 'I am' and plurals.

Quick Reference

Vowel With Chandrabindu Pronunciation Example Word
a (अ) अँ a~ hãs (laugh)
aa (आ) आँ aa~ ā̃kh (eye)
u (उ) उँ u~ ū̃gh (drowse)
uu (ऊ) ऊँ uu~ ū̃chā (high)
e (ए) N/A (Use Dot) e~ mẽ (in) - *uses dot*
o (ओ) N/A (Use Dot) o~ hō̃ṭ (lips) - *uses dot*

مثال‌های کلیدی

3 از 9
1

Hā̃, main āū̃gā.

Yes, I will come.

2

Mā̃ khāna banā rahī hain.

Mother is cooking food.

3

Kuā̃ bahut gahrā hai.

The well is very deep.

🎯

The Pinch Test

If you are unsure if you are saying it right, pinch your nose gently. You should feel a vibration when saying words like 'Mā̃'. No vibe? Try again!

⚠️

Don't say 'N'

It is not 'Maan'. It is 'Maa' with a nasal tone. Ending with a hard 'n' sound is the dead giveaway of a learner.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Symbol is a crescent moon with a dot (ँ).
  • Used for nasalizing vowels (air through nose).
  • Only used when top line is empty.
  • Distinguishes singular 'I am' and plurals.

Overview

Meet the Chandrabindu (ँ), affectionately known as the "moon-dot." It is that little smiley face floating over Hindi words. It represents a nasalized vowel. Think of it as the difference between just saying "ah" and saying "ah" while slightly holding your nose. It is not a full "n" or "m" sound, but a modification of the vowel itself. It adds that distinct Hindi flavor to your speech.

How This Grammar Works

In Hindi, vowels can be oral (mouth only) or nasal (mouth + nose). The Chandrabindu tells you to push air through your nose while saying the vowel. It is distinct from the Bindu (dot), though they often play for the same team. When you see it, you do not pronounce a hard "n". You just let the vowel resonate in your nasal cavity. It is the seasoning on the vowel, not a separate ingredient.

Formation Pattern

  1. 1The symbol is literally a crescent moon with a dot inside: ँ.
  2. 2Write your Hindi word.
  3. 3Look at the top horizontal line (shirorekha).
  4. 4If the vowel does not have any marks sticking up above this line (like aa, u, uu), you use the Chandrabindu.
  5. 5Place it directly over the vertical bar of the vowel.

When To Use It

You use the Chandrabindu primarily in three situations:

  • Grammatical markers: The first person singular verb hū̃ (I am) always has it. It is what separates "I am" from just a noise.
  • Plurals: Many feminine nouns become nasalized in plural forms, like laṛkiyā̃ (girls).
  • Vocabulary: Common everyday words like mā̃ (mother), hā̃ (yes), and gā̃v (village). Without it, you are saying ma (which might mean nothing or be informal) instead of Mom.

When Not To Use It

Here is the golden rule: Space Management. If a vowel maatra (symbol) already goes *above* the top line (like i, ī, e, ai, o, au), there is no room for the moon. In these cases, Hindi simplifies the Chandrabindu into a simple dot (Bindu). Even though it *sounds* like a Chandrabindu, it *looks* like a dot to avoid clutter. So, main (I) is nasal, but uses a dot because of the two flags on top.

Common Mistakes

  • The "Hard N" Trap: Beginners often pronounce hā̃ as "han". It is not "Han Solo"; it is "Haa" with a nasal twang.
  • Ignoring it entirely: Dropping the nasalization in hū̃ (am) makes you sound a bit distinct or foreign. It is subtle but essential.
  • Mixing symbols: Writing a Chandrabindu with e or ai maatras. It looks messy and is technically incorrect in standard spelling.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Think of the Bindu (Anusvara) as the utility player. It handles full nasal consonants (n, m) AND acts as the undercover Chandrabindu when space is tight. The Chandrabindu (Anunasika) is the specialist. It only appears when the roof is clear. It is the luxury nasal marker.

Quick FAQ

Q. Can I just use a dot for everything?

A. In modern typing and informal texting? Yes, people do it constantly because it is faster. In an exam or formal writing? Stick to the moon.

Q. Does it change the meaning?

A. Absolutely. hās is laughter, hans is a swan. Don't confuse your birds with your giggles.

Reference Table

Vowel With Chandrabindu Pronunciation Example Word
a (अ) अँ a~ hãs (laugh)
aa (आ) आँ aa~ ā̃kh (eye)
u (उ) उँ u~ ū̃gh (drowse)
uu (ऊ) ऊँ uu~ ū̃chā (high)
e (ए) N/A (Use Dot) e~ mẽ (in) - *uses dot*
o (ओ) N/A (Use Dot) o~ hō̃ṭ (lips) - *uses dot*
🎯

The Pinch Test

If you are unsure if you are saying it right, pinch your nose gently. You should feel a vibration when saying words like 'Mā̃'. No vibe? Try again!

⚠️

Don't say 'N'

It is not 'Maan'. It is 'Maa' with a nasal tone. Ending with a hard 'n' sound is the dead giveaway of a learner.

💬

The Lazy Typer

In WhatsApp or Facebook Hindi, people often skip the moon and just use the dot (bindu) for everything because it's easier to type. Don't panic if you see 'माँ' written as 'मां'.

💡

Space Invaders

Remember the 'Space Management' rule. If there's a flag on the roof (top line), the moon can't land. Swap it for a dot.

مثال‌ها

9
#1 हाँ, मैं आऊँगा।

Hā̃, main āū̃gā.

Focus: Hā̃

Yes, I will come.

Common usage for agreement.

#2 माँ खाना बना रही हैं।

Mā̃ khāna banā rahī hain.

Focus: Mā̃

Mother is cooking food.

The classic example of respect and relation.

#3 कुआँ बहुत गहरा है।

Kuā̃ bahut gahrā hai.

Focus: Kuā̃

The well is very deep.

Noun ending in a nasal vowel.

#4 लड़कियाँ खेल रही हैं।

Laṛkiyā̃ khel rahī hain.

Focus: Laṛkiyā̃

The girls are playing.

Plural marker usage.

#5 मैं हूँ। (Correct) vs मैं है (Wrong)

Main hū̃.

Focus: hū̃

I am.

First person singular verb must be nasalized.

#6 दाँत साफ करो।

Dā̃t sāf karo.

Focus: Dā̃t

Clean your teeth.

Body parts often use nasals.

#7 पाँच बजे मिलो।

Pā̃ch baje milo.

Focus: Pā̃ch

Meet at five o'clock.

Numbers often feature this sound.

#8 गाँव छोटा है।

Gā̃v choṭā hai.

Focus: Gā̃v

The village is small.

Common everyday noun.

#9 ऊँट (Correct) vs ऊट (Wrong)

Ū̃ṭ

Focus: Ū̃ṭ

Camel

Without the nasal, it sounds wrong.

خودت رو بسنج

Choose the correct word for 'Yes'.

___, main taiyaar hoon.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: हाँ (Hā̃)

Yes in Hindi is nasalized 'Hā̃', not a hard 'Han' or open 'Hā'.

Select the correct form for 'I am'.

Main khush ___.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: हूँ (hū̃)

First person 'I' always pairs with the nasalized 'hū̃'.

Complete the plural: The rooms (kamrā -> kamre) are big.

Ye ___ bade hain. (Wait, masculine plural doesn't take nasal. Let's try feminine). The women: Ye ___ hain.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: mahilāē̃

Feminine plurals often end in a nasal sound.

🎉 امتیاز: /3

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

Moon or Dot? The Decision Tree

1

Is the sound nasal?

YES ↓
NO
No Symbol Needed
2

Does the vowel mark go ABOVE the line?

YES
Use Bindu (dot) (e.g., Main, Hain)
NO
Use Chandrabindu (ँ)

Spot the Difference

Chandrabindu (ँ)
हूँ (Hū̃) Am
हाँ (Hā̃) Yes
Bindu (Dot) as Nasal
हैं (Hain) Are
मैं (Main) I

Common Chandrabindu Categories

👀

Body Parts

  • • आँख (Eye)
  • • मुँह (Mouth)
  • • दाँत (Tooth)
💬

Basics

  • • हाँ (Yes)
  • • हूँ (Am)
  • • वहाँ (There)

سوالات متداول

20 سوال

Technically, the moon (Chandrabindu) is a nasalized vowel, while the dot (Bindu) can be a nasal consonant (n, m) OR a nasal vowel. However, in modern Hindi, the dot is often used for both when space is tight above the line.

No! It is not like the English 'ng' in 'song'. The air just stops at the nose. Mā̃ ends in a vowel sound, not a consonant closure.

Look at the top line! Hū̃ (हूँ) has space above. Hain (हैं) has two flags (ai maatra) taking up all the room, so it gets a dot instead.

It can be confusing! If you say hai (is) instead of hain (are/respect), it sounds informal or rude when talking about an elder.

Long press the 'n' or the vowel key on most Hindi keyboards. It is usually hidden behind the standard Bindu or the vowel itself.

Yes, Hindi inherited it from Sanskrit. It represents the 'Anunasika' sound.

Sometimes! 'Bank' is often written as बैंक using a bindu because of the ai maatra, mimicking the nasal twang.

People will understand you, but you will have a thick accent. Maan instead of Mā̃ sounds very distinct.

Yes, some rural dialects might harden the sound to an 'n', while others might drop it. Standard Hindi requires it.

Probably Hā̃ (Yes) or Main (I - though written with a dot, pronounced as a nasal vowel).

Rarely. It is almost always modifying a vowel in the middle or end of a word, like Ā̃ngan (Courtyard).

Say 'aa'. Now say 'aa' while pinching your nose. Release your nose but keep making that same sound. That's it!

In Roman script (Hinglish), people often write 'Gaanv' for गाँव. It is an approximation.

Printing presses and digital fonts sometimes struggle with the complex Chandrabindu, so a stylistic choice to use dots for everything became common in some publications.

Yes. Hans (with a dot/n sound) means swan. Hãs (with chandrabindu) means laugh. Big difference!

Yes, frequently in future tense first person (Jāū̃gā - I will go) and subjunctives (Karū̃ - Should I do?).

Pā̃ch. It gives the number its distinct sound. Without it, Pāch sounds clipped.

Sometimes, but less common in modern names. You might see it in traditional names or poetic contexts.

Slightly. Nasal sounds naturally pitch differently, often adding a bit of warmth or softness to the word.

That is the Ardhachandra (half-moon), used for English sounds like 'O' in 'Coffee' (कॉफी). Totally different rule!

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