Every letter, with its sound
Tap a letter to hear its name. Under each one is how it sounds in English.
Extra sounds made with ھ
Adding ھ (do chashmii he) to a letter gives it a puff of air or a breathy sound, like the bh in "Bhai".
Letters hold hands
Most Urdu letters join to the next one and change shape when they do. A few letters (ا د ڈ ذ ر ڑ ز ژ و) never join to the letter after them, which is why you see little gaps inside words. Try the build-a-word game on our home page to see it happen.
Learning the Urdu alphabet as an adult
- Learn letters in families. ب پ ت ٹ ث share one shape; only the dots change.
- Learn a few at a time, with a word for each, like ب in بلی (billii, cat).
- Read real words early, even short ones like آپ (aap) and نام (naam).
- Keep speaking in Roman Urdu while you learn, so you never stop making progress.
How long does it take to learn the Urdu script?
With five minutes a day, most adults can recognise all the letters in a few weeks. Reading words smoothly takes a few months of regular practice, because letters change shape when they join. HeyUrdu's Read Urdu has 56 short lessons that go a few letters at a time.
Questions people ask
How many letters are in the Urdu alphabet?
Around 38 letters. Some lists count more, because sounds like bh and kh are made by adding ھ to a letter.
Is Urdu written right to left?
Yes. Urdu is read and written from right to left. Numbers are written left to right.
Do I need to learn the alphabet to speak Urdu?
No. You can start speaking with Roman Urdu (Urdu in English letters) and learn the letters when you are ready.
How long does it take to learn the Urdu alphabet?
A few weeks to recognise every letter at five minutes a day; a few months to read words smoothly.
What is the Urdu alphabet called?
It is often called the Urdu "haroof-e-tahajji". The style of writing is called Nastaliq.
