Punjabi/Gurmukhi/Semi-vowels

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

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

1. ਯੈੱਸ
2. ਰੇਡੀਓ
3. ਲੈਟਰ
4. ਵੈਸਟ
5. ਯੀਸਟ

Solutions

1. Yes
2. Radio
3. Letter
4. Vest
5. Yeast

3. Write the following words in Gurmukhi and English.

1. ਲੇਮ
2. ਵਿੰਡ
3. ਰੀਡ
4. ਯੀਲਡ
5. ਵਾਇਟ

Solutions

1. ਲੇਮ - Lame
2. ਵਿੰਡ - Wind
3. ਰੀਡ - Read
4. ਯੀਲਡ - Yield
5. ਵਾਇਟ - White

4. Write these English words in Gurmukhi

1. Leap
2. Rate
3. Yellow
4. Wax
5. Lake
6. Welding
7. Loom
8. Yak
9. Lady
10. Wet

Solutions

1. ਲੀ + ਪ = ਲੀਪ
2. ਰੇ + ਟ = ਰੇਟ
3. ਯੈ + ਲੋ = ਯੈਲੋ
4. ਵੈ + ਕ + ਸ = ਵੈਕਸ
5. ਲੇ + ਕ = ਲੇਕ
6. ਵੈ + ਲ + ਡਿੰ + ਗ = ਵੈਲਡਿੰਗ
7. ਲੂ + ਮ = ਲੂਮ
8. ਯੈ + ਕ = ਯੈਕ
9. ਲੇ + ਡੀ = ਲੇਡੀ
10. 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.