A2 Devanagari Script 3 دقیقه مطالعه

Conjunct: त्र (tra)

`त्र` is the mandatory fused shape for the dental `t` + `r` blend, commonly found in Sanskrit-based vocabulary.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Combines dental `त` + `र`.
  • Pronounced 'tra' with no gap.
  • Distinct symbol, looks like 'K'.
  • Different from English 'Tr' sounds.

Quick Reference

Symbol Components Sound (IPA) Example Word
`त्र` `त्` + `र` /t̪rə/ `पत्र` (Letter)
`त्रा` `त्` + `र` + `ा` /t̪rɑː/ `यात्रा` (Journey)
`त्रि` `त्` + `र` + `ि` /t̪rɪ/ `मित्र` (Friend)
`त्री` `त्` + `र` + `ी` `स्त्री` (Woman)
`त्रे` `त्` + `र` + `े` /t̪reː/ `क्षेत्र` (Area)
`त्रु` `त्` + `र` + `ु` /t̪rʊ/ `शत्रु` (Enemy)

مثال‌های کلیدی

3 از 10
1

Yah merā **mitra** hai.

This is my friend.

2

Mujhe ek **patra** likhnā hai.

I need to write a letter.

3

Ham **yātrā** par jā rahe hain.

We are going on a journey/trip.

💡

Pronunciation Hack

Put your tongue right behind your upper front teeth. Say 'T'. Now try to say 'Ra' without moving your tongue away. That buzzy sound? That's `त्र`!

⚠️

Don't Split Them Up

Never write `त्` and `र` separately when they are joined in a word. It's like writing 'c a t' instead of 'cat'. Use the symbol `त्र`.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Combines dental `त` + `र`.
  • Pronounced 'tra' with no gap.
  • Distinct symbol, looks like 'K'.
  • Different from English 'Tr' sounds.

Overview

Meet त्र (tra), one of the most famous power couples in the Hindi alphabet. It looks like a unique character, but it's actually two consonants—त (ta) and र (ra)—fused together in a distinct ligature. You'll see this everywhere: when you write to a friend (मित्र), check a map (चित्र), or go on a trip (यात्रा). Unlike English where 't' and 'r' just sit next to each other, Hindi mashes them into a new symbol. It’s a bit like a transformer robot formed by two cars crashing into each other gracefully.

How This Grammar Works

Technically, त्र is a conjunct consonant (sanyukta akshar). In Devanagari, when certain letters combine, they change shape entirely. त्र is the standard form for the sound /t̪r/ (dental t + rolled r).

Think of it as a smooth slide. You start with your tongue touching your teeth for त, and immediately roll it back for र. There is no vowel sound between them. It's distinct from तर (tara), where you have a full 'a' sound in the middle.

Formation Pattern

  1. 1The math is simple:
  2. 2Start with त् (half 't', dental)
  3. 3Add र् (ra)
  4. 4Combine them to get the symbol त्र
  5. 5If you add a vowel, the vowel sign attaches to त्र just like any other letter:
  6. 6त्र + आ = त्रा (trā) as in यात्रा (journey)
  7. 7त्र + इ = त्रि (tri) as in मित्र (friend)
  8. 8त्र + ई = त्री (trī) as in स्त्री (woman)

When To Use It

You use त्र whenever a word has the dental t sound followed immediately by r.

  • Common nouns: छात्र (student), पुत्र (son), नेत्र (eye).
  • Numbers: तीन (three) is just 't', but त्र appears in त्रिकोण (triangle) or तेरह (thirteen - wait, no, thirteen is तेरह, but त्र is in त्रि prefix words).
  • Sanskrit words: Hindi vocabulary coming directly from Sanskrit (Tatsama words) heavily uses त्र.

When Not To Use It

Don't use त्र for English words that start with 'Tr' like 'Train' or 'Truck'.

  • English 'T' is retroflex (tongue curled back).
  • Hindi त्र is dental (tongue on teeth).
  • For English words, we use ट्र (half T + wedge R).
  • So, 'Truck' is ट्रक, not त्रक.

Common Mistakes

  • Pronouncing the 'a': Saying tara instead of tra. पुत्र is 'putra', not 'pu-ta-ra'. Keep it snappy!
  • Writing confusion: Confusing त्र with ज्ञ (gya) because they both look like squiggly lines to beginners. त्र has that 'K' shape (rotated).
  • The 'English' Trap: Writing 'Traffic' as त्राफिक. No! That sounds like you have a very thick traditional accent. Use ट्रैफिक.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

  • त्र (Dental T+R): Soft, tongue on teeth. Example: मंत्र (mantra).
  • ट्र (Retroflex T+R): Hard, tongue curled back. Used for 'T' + 'R' sounds. Example: राष्ट्र (nation), ट्रक (truck).
  • तर (Ta + Ra): Two separate syllables. Example: तरबूज (watermelon).

Quick FAQ

Q: Is त्र a separate letter in the alphabet?

A: Traditionally, yes! It's often listed at the end of the alphabet along with क्ष and ज्ञ.

Q: Can I write it as त् + र separately?

A: No, that looks messy and childlike. Standard Hindi demands the fused त्र shape. It's the adult way to write.

Q: How do I type it?

A: On most keyboards, press t + r. The software usually combines them automatically.

Reference Table

Symbol Components Sound (IPA) Example Word
`त्र` `त्` + `र` /t̪rə/ `पत्र` (Letter)
`त्रा` `त्` + `र` + `ा` /t̪rɑː/ `यात्रा` (Journey)
`त्रि` `त्` + `र` + `ि` /t̪rɪ/ `मित्र` (Friend)
`त्री` `त्` + `र` + `ी` `स्त्री` (Woman)
`त्रे` `त्` + `र` + `े` /t̪reː/ `क्षेत्र` (Area)
`त्रु` `त्` + `र` + `ु` /t̪rʊ/ `शत्रु` (Enemy)
💡

Pronunciation Hack

Put your tongue right behind your upper front teeth. Say 'T'. Now try to say 'Ra' without moving your tongue away. That buzzy sound? That's `त्र`!

⚠️

Don't Split Them Up

Never write `त्` and `र` separately when they are joined in a word. It's like writing 'c a t' instead of 'cat'. Use the symbol `त्र`.

🎯

Typing Speed

On many mobile Hindi keyboards, `त्र` has its own dedicated key because it's so common. Look for it near `ज्ञ`.

💬

Respectful Terms

You'll often see `त्र` in formal words. Using `मित्र` sounds slightly more poetic or formal than just `दोस्त` (dost), though both mean friend.

مثال‌ها

10
#1 यह मेरा **मित्र** है।

Yah merā **mitra** hai.

Focus: मित्र

This is my friend.

Basic usage. Note the 'i' vowel goes before the conjunct visually but sounds after.

#2 मुझे एक **पत्र** लिखना है।

Mujhe ek **patra** likhnā hai.

Focus: पत्र

I need to write a letter.

Common everyday object. Short 'a' sound at the end.

#3 हम **यात्रा** पर जा रहे हैं।

Ham **yātrā** par jā rahe hain.

Focus: यात्रा

We are going on a journey/trip.

Using the `आ` (aa) vowel with the conjunct.

#4 वह एक अच्छा **छात्र** है।

Vah ek acchā **chhātra** hai.

Focus: छात्र

He is a good student.

Very common word in academic contexts.

#5 यह **चित्र** बहुत सुंदर है।

Yah **chitra** bahut sundar hai.

Focus: चित्र

This picture is very beautiful.

Use this for 'picture', 'drawing', or 'painting'.

#6 ✗ मैंने **त्रक** देखा। → ✓ मैंने **ट्रक** देखा।

Mainne **trak** dekhā (Wrong) → Mainne **ṭrak** dekhā (Right).

Focus: ट्रक

I saw a truck.

Correction: Don't use `त्र` for English loanwords like 'truck'.

#7 कृपया **इत्र** मत लगाओ।

Kripayā **itra** mat lagāo.

Focus: इत्र

Please don't apply perfume/scent.

Vocabulary: `इत्र` (itra) is traditional perfume.

#8 **शत्रु** से सावधान रहो।

**Shatru** se sāvdhān raho.

Focus: शत्रु

Be careful of the enemy.

Using the `उ` (u) vowel with the conjunct.

#9 यह मेरा **क्षेत्र** नहीं है।

Yah merā **kṣhetra** nahīn hai.

Focus: क्षेत्र

This is not my field/area (of expertise).

Abstract usage of 'field' or 'territory'.

#10 **त्रिभुज** में तीन कोण होते हैं।

**Tribhuj** mein tīn koṇ hote hain.

Focus: त्रिभुज

A triangle has three angles.

Math/Geometry context. `त्रि` (Tri) means three.

خودت رو بسنج

Choose the correct spelling for 'Friend'.

राम मेरा ___ है।

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: मित्र

We need the short 'i' and the conjunct `त्र`. `मितर` separates the sounds, which is wrong.

Select the correct word for 'Student'.

हर ___ को पढ़ना चाहिए।

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: छात्र

`छात्र` is the correct word. `छातर` is a common mispronunciation/misspelling.

Which is the correct way to write 'Letter'?

डाकिया ___ लाया। (The postman brought a letter.)

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: पत्र

`पत्र` uses the conjunct `त्र`.

🎉 امتیاز: /3

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

Tra vs. Tra (Dental vs Retroflex)

त्र (Dental)
मित्र Friend
पत्र Letter
ट्र (Retroflex/English)
ट्रक Truck
ट्रेन Train

Which 'Tr' sound is it?

1

Is it an English word (e.g., Train, Truck)?

YES ↓
NO
Use त्र (e.g., मित्र)
2

Does it start with a hard 'T' sound?

NO
Use ट्र (e.g., ट्रक)

Common Words with Tra

🎓

Education

  • • छात्र
  • • विद्यार्थी
  • • क्षेत्र
🤝

Relations

  • • मित्र
  • • शत्रु
  • • पुत्र

سوالات متداول

22 سوال

It is a conjunct consonant (Sanyukta Vyanjan). It combines two consonants, त् (t) and र (r), into one distinct shape.

Place your tongue against your upper teeth (dental). Release the 't' sound directly into a rolled 'r'. It should be crisp, not 'ta-ra'.

It's just a coincidence of the script's evolution! It looks like a mirrored 'K' or a 'K' rotated. Don't confuse it with the English letter.

Rarely. त्र is a hallmark of Sanskrit-derived words (Tatsama). Urdu loanwords usually separate the sounds or don't use this cluster.

Yes! Common examples are त्रि (three prefix), त्रिशूल (trident), and त्रास (fear/terror).

Absolutely. It's very common at the end, like in पत्र (letter), चित्र (picture), and मित्र (friend).

त्र (tra) is a blend with no vowel in between. तर (tara) has a short 'a' sound separating the T and R. पत्र (patra) vs कतर (katar - clip/cut).

The vowel sign for short 'i' (ि) goes to the left of the entire conjunct. So it looks like त्रि.

The vowel sign for long 'ee' (ी) goes to the right. It looks like त्री, as in स्त्री (woman).

No, the core shape remains the same. You just add the vowel matras (signs) around, above, or below it.

Yes! The Sanskrit word for three is त्रि (tri), which is the root for words like 'Triangle' (त्रिकोण) and 'Trident' (त्रिशूल).

Because 'Train' is English. English 'T' sounds are retroflex (hard). In Hindi, we match that with ट + र ligature (ट्र), not the soft त्र.

They are cousins! श्र (shra) mixes श् (sh) + र. त्र mixes त् (t) + र. They both use a special ligated form.

Only for writing initially. Pronunciation is usually easy for speakers of European languages, as 'tr' is a common cluster (tree, true).

Yes, but it's rare and complex. Usually, त्र is the end of the cluster. Words like स्त्री (stree) have स before it.

Usually, you draw the vertical line first, then the top-left downward stroke, then the bottom-left downward stroke, and finally the top bar (shirorekha).

Not really. त्र usually signals proper or formal Hindi. Slang tends to simplify clusters.

Yes, a single tap or slight roll. It shouldn't be a long trill like in Spanish 'perro', just a quick flick.

Very often! Names like अमित (Amit) don't have it, but सुमित्र (Sumitra) or त्रिवेणी (Triveni) do.

Yes, standard keyboards make it easy. People don't usually substitute it because it's a distinct key.

Ideally yes (त् + र्), but since त्र already contains a vowel-less consonant (त्), making त्र half usually means removing the 'a' sound from the 'r' part, which is rare in writing.

Practice the 'K' shape! Draw a vertical line, then a 'less than' sign < rotated 45 degrees attached to the middle.

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