Lesson 1Alphabet & ScriptBeginner12 min
Urdu Alphabet Lesson 1: Alif, Bay, Pay, Tay, Ttay and Say
الف، بے، پے، تے، ٹے، ثےUrdu is written and read from right to left. The alphabet has 39 letters, and many of them share the same basic shape. The only difference is the number and position of the dots. In this first lesson you will learn Alif and the five letters of the Bay family.
The letters
Tap the ▶ button on a card to hear the letter name and the example word.
اAlif /ɑː/ or /ʔ/
انارAnaar (Pomegranate)
بBay /b/
بستہBasta (School Bag)
پPay /p/
پانیPaani (Water)
تTay /t̪/
تتلیTitli (Butterfly)
ٹTey /ʈ/
ٹماٹرTamaatar (Tomato)
ثSay /s/
ثمرSamar (Fruit / Reward)
One shape, five letters
ب پ ت ٹ ث all use the same boat-like shape. Look at the dots to tell them apart.
| Letter | What to look for | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| ب | 1 dot below | b as in bat |
| پ | 3 dots below | p as in pen |
| ت | 2 dots above | soft t, tongue touches the back of the teeth |
| ٹ | small ط above | hard T, tongue curled back (like English t) |
| ث | 3 dots above | s as in sun |
Your first Urdu words
These words use only the letters from this lesson. Read them from right to left.
آپaapyou (polite)آ is Alif with a wavy line (madd). It makes a long 'aa' sound.
باپbaapfather
باتbaattalk, matter
ابabnow
تبtabthen
ثابتsaabitwhole, proven
Tips
- Always start reading at the right-hand side of the line.
- If two letters look the same, count the dots and check if they are above or below.
- Say each word out loud three times. Speaking helps you remember the shape.
Practice
Choose the right answer. You will see the correct one straight away.