Gurmukhi Alphabet - 35 Letters of Punjabi ਵਰਣਮਾਲਾ
The Gurmukhi script has 35 consonants called "Paina" (ਪੈਣਾ). It was standardised by Guru Angad Dev Ji in the 16th century to make literacy accessible to ordinary Punjabi speakers. Each letter is a consonant with an inherent short 'a' sound unless modified by a vowel mark.
The 35 Gurmukhi Consonants
Vowel Carriers & Marks (ਲਾਗਾ ਮਾਤਰਾ)
Gurmukhi uses 9 vowel marks (matra) to modify the inherent 'a' sound of a consonant. They can sit above, below, before, or after the letter they attach to.
Special Marks (ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਚਿੰਨ੍ਹ)
These marks modify how consonants are pronounced - adding nasalisation or doubling a consonant sound.
After the alphabet, what's next?
Once you can read individual Gurmukhi letters, the fastest way to build real reading speed is to practise on whole words. Try the vocabulary section next - every word is shown in Gurmukhi script with romanization, so you can sound them out and check yourself. From there, move to common phrases for full sentences, or jump into the flashcard quiz to test your alphabet recall.
Frequently asked questions about Gurmukhi
How many letters are in the Gurmukhi alphabet?
Gurmukhi has 35 base consonants (called Paina), 9 vowel marks (matra), and 3 special marks for nasalisation and consonant doubling.
Who created the Gurmukhi script?
Gurmukhi was standardised in the 16th century by Guru Angad Dev Ji, the second Sikh Guru, to make literacy accessible to ordinary Punjabi speakers.
What is a matra in Punjabi?
A matra (ਮਾਤਰਾ) is a vowel diacritic that attaches to a consonant to change its inherent 'a' sound. Gurmukhi has 9 matras.
What is the shiro rekha?
The shiro rekha is the horizontal line that runs across the top of Gurmukhi letters. It connects letters within a word and visually unifies the script.