How to Say Sanskrit Words
Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages in the world. Here's a simple guide to reading the Sanskrit words you'll find in this book.
Don't worry about getting every sound perfect! Sanskrit is a beautiful language, and the more you read, the more natural it will feel. This guide covers the special letters you'll see in the transliterations throughout the book.
The transliteration system we use is called IAST (International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration). It uses dots and lines over letters to show you exactly how to pronounce each sound.
Vowels
Sanskrit vowels come in pairs — short and long. A long vowel is held for twice as long as a short one. You'll see a line over the letter (like ā) to show it's long.
Short Vowels
like u in "but"
like i in "sit"
like u in "put"
Long Vowels
like a in "father"
like ee in "feet"
like oo in "moon"
Special Vowels
like ri in "trip"
like ay in "say"
like o in "go"
ai as in "aisle" · au as in "how"
Consonants — The Tricky Ones
Most Sanskrit consonants sound like their English cousins. Here are the ones that might be new to you.
Retroflex Sounds
These have a dot under the letter. To make them, curl your tongue back so the tip touches the roof of your mouth, then say the sound. It makes it sound "harder" or "heavier."
hard "t"
hard "d"
hard "n"
hard "sh"
Aspirated Sounds
When you see an h after a consonant, add a puff of air. Hold your hand in front of your mouth — you should feel the breath!
"k" + breath
"g" + breath
"ch" + breath
"j" + breath
"t" + breath
"d" + breath
"p" + breath
"b" + breath
Tip: "ph" is not like the "f" in "phone" — it's a "p" with a puff of air, like "up-hill" said fast.
Three Kinds of "Sh"
like sh in "ship"
(tongue at the palate)
similar, but tongue curled back
(retroflex "sh")
like s in "sun"
(teeth together)
Nasal Sounds
like ny in "canyon"
like ng in "sing"
Special Marks
a soft breath after a vowel, like a gentle "ha"
a nasal hum, like humming with your mouth closed
Words You'll See Often
Here are some words that appear again and again in the Gita. Practice saying them out loud a few times — they'll feel familiar before you know it.
righteous duty, the moral law
action, deed and its consequences
union, discipline, a spiritual path
the true self, the soul
the hero of the Gita, a great archer
Arjuna's charioteer and divine teacher
the song of the Lord
a verse of scripture
loving devotion
a teacher, one who dispels darkness
Quick Tips
- A line over a vowel (ā, ī, ū) means hold it longer. Think of "a" in "cup" vs. "aa" in "father."
- A dot under a letter (ṭ, ḍ, ṇ, ṣ) means curl your tongue back. These are called "retroflex" sounds.
- An "h" after a consonant (kh, gh, bh, etc.) means add a puff of air. It's not a separate sound — just one sound with extra breath.
- Every letter is pronounced. Sanskrit doesn't have silent letters! If you see it written, you say it.
- Stress is gentle. Sanskrit doesn't have strong stress like English. Keep a steady, even rhythm when you read aloud.
Now you're ready to read the Sanskrit in each verse. Don't be afraid to say the words out loud!