Varnamala, or the Hindi alphabet, is the first and most important step in a child’s learning. Just like English alphabets help children read and write, Hindi vowels and consonants teach children words and pronunciation. Teaching Hindi Varnamala in a fun and simple way builds confidence in children while learning Hindi.

What Is Varnamala?

Varnamala is a collection of letters in Hindi. They are divided into two types:

1. Swar (Vowels) – There are 13 vowels in Hindi:

अ, आ, इ, ई, उ, ऊ, ए, ऐ, ओ, औ, अं, अः, ऋ

Examples:

• अ – Anaar (Pomegranate)

• आ – Aam (Mango)

• इ – Imli (Tamarind)

• ई – Eent (Brick)

• उ – Ullu (Owl)

• ऊ – Oonth (Camel)

• ए – Ek (One)

• ऐ – Aikya (Unity)

• ओ – Os (Dew)

• औ – Aurat (Woman)

• अं – Angoor (Grapes)

• अः – Ah (Special Sound)

• ऋ – Rishi (Sage)

2. Vyanjan (Consonants) – There are 33 consonants in Hindi:

क, ख, ग, घ, ङ, च, छ, ज, झ, ञ, ट, ठ, ड, ढ, ण, त, थ, द, ध, न, प, फ, ब, भ, म, य, र, ल, व, श, ष, स, ह

Examples:

• क – Kabootar (Pigeon)

• ख – Khargosh (Rabbit)

• ग – Gamla (Pot)

• घ – Ghadi (Clock)

• च – Chammach (Spoon)

• छ – Chhatri (Umbrella)

• ज – Jahaj (Ship)

• झ – Jhanda (Flag)

• ट – Tamatar (Tomato)

• ठ – Thathera (Brass worker)

• ड – Damru (Drum)

• ढ – Dhakkan (Lid)

• त – Tarazu (Balance scale)

• थ – Thermas (Flask)

• द – Darwaza (Door)

• ध – Dhanush (Bow)

• न – Nal (Tap)

• प – Patang (Kite)

• फ – Phal (Fruit)

• ब – Bakri (Goat)

• भ – Bhavan (Building)

• म – Matka (Pot)

• य – Yantra (Machine/Instrument)

• र – Rath (Chariot)

• ल – Laddu (Sweet)

• व – Van (Forest)

• श – Shahad (Honey)

• ष – Shatkone (Hexagon)

• स – Sadak (Road)

• ह – Hal (Plough)

Benefits of Learning Varnamala

• Reading & Writing Skills – Children can read and write Hindi words.

• Language Development – Improves pronunciation and vocabulary.

• Cognitive Growth – Develops memory, attention, and logical skills.

• Confidence Building – Children feel proud of their writing and speaking.

Fun Ways to Teach Varnamala

1. Vowel & Consonant Songs – Sing “अ आ इ ई…” or “क ख ग घ…” to make it fun.

2. Flashcards & Charts – Show colorful letters with pictures.

3. Tracing & Writing – Let kids trace and write letters.

4. Letter Hunt – Find letters in books, toys, or around the room.

5. Story Time – Highlight letters and words in short stories.

Activities for Kids

• Letter Hop – Draw letters on the floor and let kids jump to the correct letter.

• Letter Matching – Match vowel and consonant cards.

• Craft Letters – Make letters using clay, sticks, or colors.

• Sound & Object Game – Match letters with objects starting with that letter.

Tips for Parents & Teachers

• Teach vowels (अ–औ) first, then consonants.

• Practice daily.

• Include both tracing and pronunciation.

• Use games and stories to make learning interactive.

• Praise correct pronunciation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t teach too many letters at once.

• Don’t focus only on writing—include sounds too.

• Avoid making rote learning boring.

• Don’t skip regular revision.

FAQs

Q1: What age is best to start Varnamala?
Around 3–4 years old.

Q2: Should vowels or consonants be taught first?
Teach vowels first, then consonants.

Q3: How to make learning fun?
Use songs, flashcards, tracing, games, and stories.

Q4: How many letters should nursery kids know?
Ideally, all 46 letters (vowels + consonants) by the end of nursery.

Conclusion

Learning Varnamala is the first and most important step for children. Letters are everywhere—books, boards, toys, and signs. When taught with songs, activities, and playful exercises, children quickly learn to recognize, read, and write letters. This foundation builds confidence and prepares them for advanced Hindi reading and writing skills.