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Punjabi/Gurmukhi/Semi-vowels
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Seventh row of Gurmukhi - the Last Group
The last six chapters were devoted to learn the velars, palatals, retroflexes, dentals and labials. In this chapter we will learn the letters of the seventh row (ਯ ਵਰਗ) of Gurmukhi consisting of the Semi vowels. The letters of the seventh row of Gurmukhi are
GurmukhiSemiVowels.ogg Seventh row Play for names of these letters Ogg
ਯ ਰ ਲ ਵ ੜ
They are called ਯ - yaiia, ਰ - raaraa, ਲ - lallaa, ਵ - vavaa and ੜ - rhaarhaa. Their pronunciation is ਯ - /y/, ਰ - /r/, ਲ - /l/, ਵ - /v/ and ੜ - /rh/.
Each of them is explained below.
ਯ Yaiiaa This is how words yak and yes are written in Gurmukhi
ਯਾ + ਕ = ਯਾਕ = yak
ਯੈੱ + ਸ = ਯੈੱਸ = yes
ਰ Raaraa ਰ is equivalent to /r/. For illustration of the use of ਰ see these examples
ਰੈ + ਟ = ਰੈਟ = rat
ਰੇ + ਡੀ + ਓ = ਰੇਡੀਓ = radio
ਲ Lallaa ਲ is equivalent to /l/. The words lava and jail are written in Gurmukhi as
ਲਾ + ਵਾ = ਲਾਵਾ = lava
ਜੇ + ਲ = ਜੇਲ = jail
ਵ Vavvaa ਵ is equivalent to /v/. Notice the words vest and velar in Gurmukhi below.
ਵੈ + ਸ + ਟ = ਵੈਸਟ = vest
ਵੈ + ਲ + ਰ = ਵੈਲਰ =velar
ੜ Rhaarhaa Last letter ੜ has no English equivalent. We will denote it with to /rh/. Have a look at a Punjabi example.
ਵਾ + ੜ = ਵਾੜ = fence
ਮਾ + ੜਾ = ਮਾੜਾ = weak, bad
Exercises
1. Use Practice module to write the letters of the seventh row many times in your note book as you did earlier. You can click one of the letters below to go to relevant page of the practice module.
ਯ ਰ ਲ ਵ ੜ
2. Read these English words written in Gurmukhi
ਯੈੱਸ
ਰੇਡੀਓ
ਲੈਟਰ
ਵੈਸਟ
ਯੀਸਟ
Solutions Yes
Radio
Letter
Vest
Yeast
3. Write the following words in Gurmukhi and English.
ਲੇਮ
ਵਿੰਡ
ਰੀਡ
ਯੀਲਡ
ਵਾਇਟ
Solutions ਲੇਮ - Lame
ਵਿੰਡ - Wind
ਰੀਡ - Read
ਯੀਲਡ - Yield
ਵਾਇਟ - White
4. Write these English words in Gurmukhi
Leap
Rate
Yellow
Wax
Lake
Welding
Loom
Yak
Lady
Wet
Solutions ਲੀ + ਪ = ਲੀਪ
ਰੇ + ਟ = ਰੇਟ
ਯੈ + ਲੋ = ਯੈਲੋ
ਵੈ + ਕ + ਸ = ਵੈਕਸ
ਲੇ + ਕ = ਲੇਕ
ਵੈ + ਲ + ਡਿੰ + ਗ = ਵੈਲਡਿੰਗ
ਲੂ + ਮ = ਲੂਮ
ਯੈ + ਕ = ਯੈਕ
ਲੇ + ਡੀ = ਲੇਡੀ
ਵੈੱ + ਟ = ਵੈੱਟ
Summary
In this lesson you have learnt the five letters ਯ, ਰ, ਲ, ਵ and ੜ. We are left with only the last row which you will learn in the next chapter.