Conjunct: ह्म (hma) and ह्न (hna)

In Hindi script (Devanagari), when two consonants join without a vowel in between, they form a conjunct. Usually, the first letter drops its vertical line. But ह doesn't have a vertical line at the end to drop! It's a bit stubborn like that. Instead, it invites the second letter to sit inside its curve or attach to its bottom. It’s like giving the second letter a piggyback ride. When you see ह्म, it’s ह holding a tiny म. When you see ह्न, it’s ह holding a tiny न. Pronunciation-wise, you say a soft, breathy h immediately followed by the nasal sound (m or n).

1. 1Let's break down the anatomy of these "h-blends":
2. 2The Base: Start with ह (ha).
3. 3The Guest: Take म (ma) or न (na).
4. 4The Merger:
5. 5For ह्म (hma): The loop of the म attaches to the middle/bottom stroke of the ह.
6. 6For ह्न (hna): The न hooks onto the middle stroke of the ह.
7. 7Think of it as the ह opening its arms to hug the next letter.

You'll mostly see these in words that come from Sanskrit. They deal with time, celestial concepts, or specific nouns.

• Use ह्म for words related to the cosmos or the caste system, like ब्रह्मा (Brahma - the creator god) or ब्राह्मण (Brahmin).
• Use ह्न for time-of-day words like मध्याह्न (noon) or the tricky word for 'sign/symbol', चिह्न.

Don't use these conjuncts if there is a vowel sound between the h and the m/n. If you hear "ha-ma" clearly (like in हमारा - hamara), they are separate letters. These conjuncts are strictly for when the h is "half" (has no vowel) and crashes mainly into the next sound. Also, don't use them in English loan words written in Hindi; we usually just write them separately there to avoid confusion.

The biggest mistake isn't writing them—it's saying them.

• The चिह्न Trap: Most people pronounce चिह्न (sign) as "chinh" (चिन्ह). That's actually the wrong order! The spelling is H-N (ह + न), so it should be strictly "chih-na". But frankly, "chinh" has become so common even native speakers won't correct you. Stick to the spelling ह्न to be precise.
• The Ghost Vowel: Don't add an 'a' sound in the middle. It is Brah-ma, not Bra-ha-ma.

Compare ह्म (hma) with म्ह (mha).

• ह्म (hma) = ह is first (half) + म is second (full). Example: ब्रह्मा.
• म्ह (mha) = म is first (half) + ह is second (full). Example: तुम्हारा (tumhara - yours).

The visual difference is huge. In तुम्हारा, the half म stands clearly before the ह. In ब्रह्मा, the म is hiding inside the ह.

Q: Can I just write ह् + म separately with a halant underneath?

Yes! Writing ह् + म is technically correct and computer-friendly. But handwriting and books usually prefer the conjunct ह्म.

Q: Are these common in daily slang?

Not really. You won't use ब्रह्मांड (universe) when ordering chai. These are "high-value" vocabulary words for formal topics.