Marathi Barakhadi with English Meaning

Learning Marathi starts with mastering the Barakhadi, the foundational table of consonants and vowels that forms the backbone of reading and writing in this beautiful language. Whether you're a beginner exploring Marathi or helping a child learn their mother tongue, understanding Barakhadi is your first essential step.

What is Barakhadi?

Barakhadi (बाराखडी) literally means "twelve letters" in Marathi, though it actually contains all combinations of consonants with vowels. It's similar to the multiplication tables in mathematics but for language learning. The Barakhadi shows how each consonant combines with different vowel sounds to create syllables.

In Marathi, there are 12 basic vowels (स्वर) and 36 consonants (व्यंजन). The Barakhadi systematically demonstrates how each consonant pairs with each vowel, creating a comprehensive matrix of syllables.

The 12 Marathi Vowels (Swara)

Before diving into Barakhadi, let's understand the 12 vowels:

1. अ (a) - as in "about"
2. आ (aa) - as in "father"
3. इ (i) - as in "sit"
4. ई (ee) - as in "see"
5. उ (u) - as in "put"
6. ऊ (oo) - as in "moon"
7. ए (e) - as in "bed"
8. ऐ (ai) - as in "hair"
9. ओ (o) - as in "go"
10. औ (au) - as in "house"
11. अं (an) - nasal sound
12. अः (aha) - visarga sound

Understanding Barakhadi Structure

Let's explore how Barakhadi works using the first consonant 'क' (ka) as an example:

1. क (ka)
2. का (kaa)
3. कि (ki)
4. की (kee)
5. कु (ku)
6. कू (koo)
7. के (ke)
8. कै (kai)
9. को (ko)
10. कौ (kau)
11. कं (kan)
12. कः (kaha)

Each consonant follows this same pattern, combining with all 12 vowels.

Complete Marathi Barakhadi Chart

क	का	कि	की	कु	कू	के	कै	को	कौ	कं	कः
K	Ka	Ki	Kee	Ku	Koo	Ke	Kai	Ko	Kau	Kan	Kah
ख	खा	खि	खी	खु	खू	खे	खै	खो	खौ	खं	खः
Kh	Kha	Khi	Khee	Khu	Khoo	Khe	Khai	Kho	Khau	Khan	Khah
ग	गा	गि	गी	गु	गू	गे	गै	गो	गौ	गं	गः
G	Ga	Gi	Gee	Gu	Goo	Ge	Gai	Go	Gau	Gan	Gah
घ	घा	घि	घी	घु	घू	घे	घै	घो	घौ	घं	घः
Gh	Gha	Ghi	Ghee	Ghu	Ghoo	Ghe	Ghai	Gho	Ghau	Ghan	Ghah
च	चा	चि	ची	चु	चू	चे	चै	चो	चौ	चं	चाः
Ch	Cha	Chi	Chee	Chu	Choo	Che	Chai	Cho	Chau	Chan	Chah
छ	छा	छि	छी	छु	छू	छे	छै	छो	छौ	छं	छः
Chh	Chha	Chhi	Chhee	Chhu	Chhoo	Chhe	Chhai	Chho	Chhau	Chhan	Chhah
ज	जा	जि	जी	जु	जू	जे	जै	जो	जौ	जं	जः
J	Ja	Ji	Jee	Ju	Joo	Je	Jai	Jo	Jau	Jan	Jah
झ	झा	झि	झी	झु	झू	झे	झै	झो	झौ	झं	झः
Jh	Jha	Jhi	Jhee	Jhu	Jhoo	Jhe	Jhai	Jho	Jhau	Jhan	Jhah
ट	टा	टि	टी	टु	टू	टे	टै	टो	टौ	टं	टः
T	Ta	Ti	Tee	Tu	Too	Te	Tai	To	Tau	Tan	Tah
ठ	ठा	ठि	ठी	ठु	ठू	ठे	ठै	ठो	ठौ	ठं	ठः
Th	Tha	Thi	Thee	Thu	Thoo	The	Thai	Tho	Thau	Than	Thah
ड	डा	डि	डी	डु	डू	डे	डै	डो	डौ	डं	डः
D	Da	Di	Dee	Du	Doo	De	Dai	Do	Dau	Dan	Dah
ढ	ढा	ढि	ढी	ढु	ढू	ढे	ढ़ै	ढ़ो	ढौ	ढं	ढ़:
Dh	Dha	Dhi	Dhee	Dhu	Dhoo	Dhe	Dhai	Dho	Dhau	Dhan	Dhah
ण	णा	णि	णी	णु	णू	णे	णै	णो	णौ	णं	णः
N	Na	Ni	Nee	Nu	Noo	Ne	Nai	No	Nau	Nan	Nah
त	ता	ति	ती	तु	तू	ते	तै	तो	तौ	तं	तः
T	Ta	Ti	Tee	Tu	Too	Te	Tai	To	Tau	Tan	Tah
थ	था	थि	थी	थु	थू	थे	थै	थो	थौ	थं	थः
Th	Tha	Thi	Thee	Thu	Thoo	The	Thai	Tho	Thau	Than	Thah
द	दा	दि	दी	दु	दू	दे	दै	दो	दौ	दं	दः
D	Da	Di	Dee	Du	Doo	De	Dai	Do	Dau	Dan	Dah
ध	धा	धि	धी	धु	धू	धे	धै	धो	धौ	धं	धः
Dh	Dha	Dhi	Dhee	Dhu	Dhoo	Dhe	Dhai	Dho	Dhau	Dhan	Dhah
न	ना	नि	नी	नु	नू	ने	नै	नो	नौ	नं	नः
N	Na	Ni	Nee	Nu	Noo	Ne	Nai	No	Nau	Nan	Nah
प	पा	पि	पी	पु	पू	पे	पै	पो	पौ	पं	पः
P	Pa	Pi	Pee	Pu	Poo	Pe	Pai	Po	Pau	Pan	Pah
फ	फा	फि	फी	फु	फू	फे	फै	फो	फौ	फं	फः
Ph	Pha	Phi	Phee	Phu	Phoo	Phe	Phai	Pho	Phau	Phan	Phah
ब	बा	बि	बी	बु	बू	बे	बै	बो	बौ	बं	बः
B	Ba	Bi	Bee	Bu	Boo	Be	Bai	Bo	Bau	Ban	Bah
भ	भा	भि	भी	भु	भू	भे	भै	भो	भौ	भं	भः
Bh	Bha	Bhi	Bhee	Bhu	Bhoo	Bhe	Bhai	Bho	Bhau	Bhan	Bhah
म	मा	मि	मी	मु	मू	मे	मै	मो	मौ	मं	मः
M	Ma	Mi	Mee	Mu	Moo	Me	Mai	Mo	Mau	man	Mah
य	या	यि	यी	यु	यू	ये	यै	यो	यौ	यं	यः
Y	Ya	Yi	Yee	Yu	Yoo	Ye	Yai	Yo	Yau	Yan	Yah
र	रा	रि	री	रु	रू	रे	रै	रो	रौ	रं	रः
R	Ra	Ri	Ree	Ru	Roo	Re	Rai	Ro	Rau	Ran	Rah
ल	ला	लि	ली	लु	लू	ले	लै	लो	लौ	लं	लः
L	La	Li	Lee	Lu	Loo	Le	Lai	Lo	Lau	Lan	Lah
व	वा	वि	वी	वु	वू	वे	वै	वो	वौ	वं	वः
V	Va	Vi	Vee	Vu	Voo	Ve	Vai	Vo	Vau	Van	Vah
श	शा	शि	शी	शु	शू	शे	शै	शो	शौ	शं	शः
Sh	Sha	Shi	Shee	Shu	Shoo	She	Shai	Sho	Shau	Shan	Shah
ष	षा	षि	षी	षु	षू	षे	षै	षो	षौ	षं	षः
Sh	Sha	Shi	Shee	Shu	Shoo	She	Shai	Sho	Shau	Shan	Shah
स	सा	सि	सी	सु	सू	से	सै	सो	सौ	सं	सः
Sa	Saa	Si	See	Su	Soo	Se	Sai	So	Sau	San	Sah
ह	हा	हि	ही	हु	हू	हे	है	हो	हौ	हं	हः
H	Ha	Hi	Hee	Hu	Hoo	He	Hai	Ho	Hau	Han	Hah
ळ	ळा	ळि	ळी	ळु	ळू	ळे	ळै	ळो	ळौ	ळं	ळः
la	laa	li	lee	lu	loo	le	lai	lo	lou	lam	lah
क्ष	क्षा	क्षि	क्षी	क्षु	क्षू	क्षे	क्षै	क्षो	क्षौ	क्षं	क्षः
Ksh	Ksha	Kshi	Kshee	Kshu	Kshoo	Kshe	Kshai	Ksho	Kshau	Kshan	Kshah
ज्ञ	ज्ञा	ज्ञि	ज्ञी	ज्ञु	ज्ञू	ज्ञे	ज्ञै	ज्ञो	ज्ञौ	ज्ञं	ज्ञः
Gy	Gya	Gyi	Gyee	Gyu	Gyoo	Gye	Gyai	Gyo	Gyau	Gyan	Gyah

क (Ka) Family

क का कि की कु कू के कै को कौ कं कः ka, kaa, ki, kee, ku, koo, ke, kai, ko, kau, kan, kaha

ख (Kha) Family

ख खा खि खी खु खू खे खै खो खौ खं खः kha, khaa, khi, khee, khu, khoo, khe, khai, kho, khau, khan, khaha

ग (Ga) Family

ग गा गि गी गु गू गे गै गो गौ गं गः ga, gaa, gi, gee, gu, goo, ge, gai, go, gau, gan, gaha

घ (Gha) Family

घ घा घि घी घु घू घे घै घो घौ घं घः gha, ghaa, ghi, ghee, ghu, ghoo, ghe, ghai, gho, ghau, ghan, ghaha

ङ (Nga) Family

ङ ङा ङि ङी ङु ङू ङे ङै ङो ङौ ङं ङः nga, ngaa, ngi, ngee, ngu, ngoo, nge, ngai, ngo, ngau, ngan, ngaha

च (Cha) Family

च चा चिची चु चू चे चै चो चौ चं चः cha, chaa, chi, chee, chu, choo, che, chai, cho, chau, chan, chaha

छ (Chha) Family

छ छा छि छी छु छू छे छै छो छौ छं छः chha, chhaa, chhi, chhee, chhu, chhoo, chhe, chhai, chho, chhau, chhan, chhaha

ज (Ja) Family

ज जा जि जी जु जू जे जै जो जौ जं जः ja, jaa, ji, jee, ju, joo, je, jai, jo, jau, jan, jaha

झ (Jha) Family

झ झा झि झी झु झू झे झै झो झौ झं झः jha, jhaa, jhi, jhee, jhu, jhoo, jhe, jhai, jho, jhau, jhan, jhaha

ञ (Nya) Family

ञ ञा ञि ञी ञु ञू ञे ञै ञो ञौ ञं ञः nya, nyaa, nyi, nyee, nyu, nyoo, nye, nyai, nyo, nyau, nyan, nyaha

ट (Ta) Family

ट टा टि टी टु टू टे टै टो टौ टं टः ta, taa, ti, tee, tu, too, te, tai, to, tau, tan, taha

ठ (Tha) Family

ठ ठा ठि ठी ठु ठू ठे ठै ठो ठौ ठं ठः tha, thaa, thi, thee, thu, thoo, the, thai, tho, thau, than, thaha

ड (Da) Family

ड डा डि डी डु डू डे डै डो डौ डं डः da, daa, di, dee, du, doo, de, dai, do, dau, dan, daha

ढ (Dha) Family

ढ ढा ढि ढी ढु ढू ढे ढै ढो ढौ ढं ढः dha, dhaa, dhi, dhee, dhu, dhoo, dhe, dhai, dho, dhau, dhan, dhaha

ण (Na) Family

ण णा णि णी णु णू णे णै णो णौ णं णः na, naa, ni, nee, nu, noo, ne, nai, no, nau, nan, naha

त (Ta) Family

त ता ति ती तु तू ते तै तो तौ तं तः ta, taa, ti, tee, tu, too, te, tai, to, tau, tan, taha

थ (Tha) Family

थ था थि थी थु थू थे थै थो थौ थं थः tha, thaa, thi, thee, thu, thoo, the, thai, tho, thau, than, thaha

द (Da) Family

द दा दि दी दु दू दे दै दो दौ दं दः da, daa, di, dee, du, doo, de, dai, do, dau, dan, daha

ध (Dha) Family

ध धा धि धी धु धू धे धै धो धौ धं धः dha, dhaa, dhi, dhee, dhu, dhoo, dhe, dhai, dho, dhau, dhan, dhaha

न (Na) Family

न ना नि नी नु नू ने नै नो नौ नं नः na, naa, ni, nee, nu, noo, ne, nai, no, nau, nan, naha

प (Pa) Family

प पा पि पी पु पू पे पै पो पौ पं पः pa, paa, pi, pee, pu, poo, pe, pai, po, pau, pan, paha

फ (Pha) Family

फ फा फि फी फु फू फे फै फो फौ फं फः pha, phaa, phi, phee, phu, phoo, phe, phai, pho, phau, phan, phaha

ब (Ba) Family

ब बा बि बी बु बू बे बै बो बौ बं बः ba, baa, bi, bee, bu, boo, be, bai, bo, bau, ban, baha

भ (Bha) Family

भ भा भि भी भु भू भे भै भो भौ भं भः bha, bhaa, bhi, bhee, bhu, bhoo, bhe, bhai, bho, bhau, bhan, bhaha

म (Ma) Family

म मा मि मी मु मू मे मै मो मौ मं मः ma, maa, mi, mee, mu, moo, me, mai, mo, mau, man, maha

य (Ya) Family

य या यि यी यु यू ये यै यो यौ यं यः ya, yaa, yi, yee, yu, yoo, ye, yai, yo, yau, yan, yaha

र (Ra) Family

र रा रि री रु रू रे रै रो रौ रं रः ra, raa, ri, ree, ru, roo, re, rai, ro, rau, ran, raha

ल (La) Family

ल ला लि ली लु लू ले लै लो लौ लं लः la, laa, li, lee, lu, loo, le, lai, lo, lau, lan, laha

व (Va) Family

व वा वि वी वु वू वे वै वो वौ वं वः va, vaa, vi, vee, vu, voo, ve, vai, vo, vau, van, vaha

श (Sha) Family

श शा शि शी शु शू शे शै शो शौ शं शः sha, shaa, shi, shee, shu, shoo, she, shai, sho, shau,shan, shaha

ष (Sha) Family

ष षा षि षी षु षू षे षै षो षौ षं षः sha, shaa, shi, shee, shu, shoo, she, shai, sho, shau,shan, shaha

स (Sa) Family

स सा सि सी सु सू से सै सो सौ सं सः sa, saa, si, see, su, soo, se, sai, so, sau, san, saha

ह (Ha) Family

ह हा हि ही हु हू हे है हो हौ हं हः ha, haa, hi, hee, hu, hoo, he, hai, ho, hau, han, haha

ळ (La) Family

ळ ळा ळि ळी ळु ळू ळे ळै ळो ळौ ळं ळः la, laa, li, lee, lu, loo, le, lai, lo, lau, lan, laha

क्ष (Ksha) Family

क्ष क्षा क्षि क्षी क्षु क्षू क्षे क्षै क्षो क्षौ क्षं क्षः ksha, kshaa, kshi, kshee, kshu, kshoo, kshe, kshai, ksho, kshau, kshan, kshaha

ज्ञ (Gnya) Family

ज्ञ ज्ञा ज्ञि ज्ञी ज्ञु ज्ञू ज्ञे ज्ञै ज्ञो ज्ञौ ज्ञं ज्ञः gnya, gnyaa, gnyi, gnyee, gnyu, gnyoo, gnye, gnyai, gnyo, gnyau, gnyan, gnyaha

Tips for Learning Barakhadi

1. Start with One Row at a Time

Don't try to memorize everything at once. Focus on one consonant family per day and practice writing and pronouncing it repeatedly.

2. Use Visual Aids

Create colorful charts or flashcards with each syllable. Visual memory can significantly enhance retention.

3. Practice Writing

The physical act of writing each syllable helps reinforce muscle memory. Use lined notebooks and practice writing each row multiple times.

4. Sing It Out

Many Marathi children learn Barakhadi through songs and rhymes. The musical rhythm makes memorization easier and more enjoyable.

5. Real-World Application

Once you learn a few consonants, start identifying them in simple Marathi words. This practical application reinforces your learning.

6. Daily Practice

Consistency is key. Spend 15-20 minutes daily reviewing and practicing Barakhadi rather than long, infrequent study sessions.

Common Marathi Words Using Barakhadi

To see Barakhadi in action, here are some common words:

1. घर (ghar) - house
2. पाणी (paani) - water
3. मुलगा (mulga) - boy
4. मुलगी (mulgi) - girl
5. शाळा (shaala) - school
6. पुस्तक (pustak) - book
7. आई (aai) - mother
8. बाबा (baba) - father
9. मित्र (mitra) - friend
10. फूल (phool) - flower

Pronunciation Guide

Marathi pronunciation can be tricky for non-native speakers. Here are some key points:

1. Retroflex sounds (ट, ठ, ड, ढ, ण): The tongue curls back to touch the roof of the mouth
2. Dental sounds (त, थ, द, ध, न): The tongue touches the back of the upper teeth
3. Aspirated consonants (ख, घ, छ, झ, etc.): Released with a strong breath
4. ळ is a unique Marathi sound, similar to 'l' but with the tongue retroflex

Benefits of Learning Barakhadi

Understanding Barakhadi provides several advantages:

1. Reading Proficiency: You'll be able to read Marathi text independently
2. Pronunciation Accuracy: Proper understanding leads to correct pronunciation
3. Writing Skills: Forms the foundation for writing in Marathi
4. Cultural Connection: Connects you to Marathi literature, media, and culture
5. Language Confidence: Builds confidence for further language learning

Conclusion

Learning Marathi Barakhadi is like unlocking a door to a rich linguistic and cultural heritage. While it may seem overwhelming at first with its numerous combinations, regular practice and patience will help you master it. Remember, every fluent Marathi speaker started exactly where you are now.

Whether you're learning for personal growth, connecting with your roots, or helping a child with their studies, the journey through Barakhadi is rewarding and enriching. Take it one step at a time, practice regularly, and soon you'll find yourself reading and writing Marathi with confidence.

Happy learning, or as we say in Marathi, शुभेच्छा (shubhechha)!

Have you started learning Marathi Barakhadi? Share your experience and tips in the comments below. If you found this guide helpful, don't forget to share it with others on their Marathi learning journey!