Alphabet・Parsing・Rhythm・Metres・Style
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By Cittadhammo Bhikkhu
Pali Alphabet
Order of the Pali Alphabet
| 1 | Vowels | Columns: Labial, Palatal, Guttural |
| Rows: Short, Long, Compound (aka: Diphthongs) | ||
| 2 | Pure Nasal | Nasal only |
| 3 | Consonants | Columns: Labial, Dental, Cerebral (aka: Retroflex), Palatal, Guttural |
| Rows: Voiced Nasal, Voiced Aspirate, Voiced Stop, Voiceless Aspirate, Voiceless Stop | ||
| 4 | Semi-vowels | Rows: Approximant, Fricative (aka: Sibilant, Aspirate)** |
The western Pali Alphabet has a specific order according to the place it is formed in the head. It is composed into 4 groups:
| a ā i ī u ū e o | ṁ | k kh g gh ṅ c ch j jh ñ ṭ ḍ ṭh ḍh ṇ t d th dh n p b ph bh m | y r ḷ l v s h |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Vowels | Pure Nasal | Consonants | Semi-vowels |
Each group of Vowels, Pure Nasal, Consonants and Semi-vowels is represented in the previous chart and is located in a particular location where it resonates in the head.
Prononciation
Vowels are of two sorts:
| Short | Long | Note: “e” and “o” change to short in syllables ending in consonants (closed syllable) |
|---|---|---|
| a as in about i as in hit u as in put | ā as in father ī as in machine ū as in rule e as in grey o as in more |