Complete Gurmukhi Alphabet — Vowels, Numerals & Diacritics
Complete Gurmukhi Alphabet
The Gurmukhi alphabet is phonetic, scientific, and written left to right. Each letter represents a distinct sound, making it one of the most consistent scripts to learn once its structure is understood.
Gurmukhi Vowels (Swar)
| Gurmukhi | Name | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| ਅ | ਓੜਾ | Ūra [ə] |
| ਆ | ਆਇਰਾ | Āira [ɑː] |
| ਇ | ਇਰੀ | Iri [ɪ] |
| ਈ | ਈੜੀ | Īrī [iː] |
| ਉ | ਉੜਾ | Uṛā [ʊ] |
| ਊ | ਊੜਾ | Ūṛā [uː] |
| ਏ | ਏੜਾ | Ēṛā [eː] |
| ਐ | ਐੜਾ | Ēṛā [ɛː] |
| ਓ | ਓੜਾ | Ōṛā [oː] |
| ਔ | ਔੜਾ | Auṛā [ɔː] |
Gurmukhi Numerals
| Numeral | Gurmukhi | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | ੦ | sifar |
| 1 | ੧ | ikk |
| 2 | ੨ | do |
| 3 | ੩ | tinn |
| 4 | ੪ | chār |
| 5 | ੫ | panj |
| 6 | ੬ | chhe |
| 11 | ੧੧ | gyaara |
| 12 | ੧੨ | barah |
| 13 | ੧੩ | terah |
| 14 | ੧੪ | chauda |
| 15 | ੧੫ | pandrah |
Other Symbols & Diacritics
Diacritical marks in Gurmukhi modify the sound of letters. Without proper use of diacritics, words can change their meaning entirely — making them an essential part of written Punjabi.
- ਟਿੱਪੀ (Tippi) — indicates nasalization, used with u, i, and ī in final position. Example: ਤੰਦ (tand) — strand
- ਬਿੰਦੀ (Bindi) — indicates nasalization, used with all vowels except a, i, u. Example: ਸਾਂਤ [sãːt] — peaceful
- ਅੱਧਕ (Addhak) — doubles the consonant before which it appears. Example: ਹੁੱਤੀ (huttī) — tired
- ਹਲੰਤ (Halant) — silences the inherent vowel, sometimes used in Sanskritised text.
- ਵਿਸਰਗ (Visarg) — (ਃ) occasionally used in classical text.
- ਅਨੁਸਵਾਰ (Anusvar) — sometimes used in dictionaries. Example: ਅੰਡ (and)
Legacy Punjabi Fonts vs Modern Unicode Fonts
Punjabi fonts are generally categorized into two types — Unicode fonts and legacy (ASCII-based) fonts. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right font for your project.
Many fonts in our collection — including many ghwadh and bulara variants — are legacy fonts traditionally used in older desktop publishing environments. Our generator lets you preview and convert them without installing additional software.
How to Choose the Right Punjabi Font
Selecting the right Punjabi font depends entirely on the purpose of your content. A bold and thick font may suit headlines and banners, while a simpler font works better for long body text.
- Use clean, readable fonts for books, articles, and educational content
- Use decorative or display fonts for posters, thumbnails, and banners
- Always test font readability before printing large documents
- Match the font style with the emotional tone of your message
- For social media, Unicode fonts ensure cross-platform compatibility
Font Download & Usage Notes
All Punjabi fonts available on this site are provided for preview and educational reference. Before using any font for commercial purposes, please ensure you have the appropriate usage rights for that font.
After downloading a TTF font file, it can be installed on Windows or macOS and used in Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, MS Word, and other publishing tools. Always keep a backup of your original documents when switching between legacy Punjabi fonts.
To preview any font, simply go back to the generator, type your text, and all available fonts will render instantly in your browser — no installation needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many letters are in the Gurmukhi alphabet?
The core Gurmukhi alphabet has 35 primary consonants (Penti Akhar). Modern Punjabi also uses six additional consonant modifiers derived from the initial 35, plus 10 independent vowels, diacritical marks, and a set of Gurmukhi numerals.
Is Gurmukhi written left to right?
Yes. Gurmukhi is written from left to right, similar to English. It does not have uppercase or lowercase forms — all letters are written in a single case.
What is the difference between Tippi and Bindi?
Both Tippi (ੰ) and Bindi (ਂ) indicate nasalization in Gurmukhi. Tippi is used with short vowels (a, i, u) and in final positions, while Bindi is used with long vowels and most other vowel sounds. Using the wrong one can change the meaning of a word.
What is an abugida and why is Gurmukhi one?
An abugida is a writing system where each consonant carries an inherent vowel sound. In Gurmukhi, for example, the letter ਕ is read as "ka" by default. Diacritics are added to change or suppress this inherent vowel. This is what makes Gurmukhi an abugida rather than a pure alphabet.
Can I type Gurmukhi online without installing a keyboard?
Yes. Use our free online Gurmukhi Keyboard to type Punjabi directly in your browser. No software installation is needed — just open the keyboard and start typing.