ક(k) + અં(aM) = કં (kM)
બ(b) + અં(aM) = બં (bM)
In this blog it is denoted as capital m “M”
This will need more attention to understand its pronunciation.
The dot given on the character is called “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr)
The anusvaar (અનુસ્વાર) is a nasal sound. The અનુસ્વાર itself does not determine the pronunciation of a word. Rather, it is the character that follows the અનુસ્વાર that determines the pronunciation. There are seven possibilities that affect the pronunciation of an અનુસ્વાર.
So though we will use capital ‘M’ to indicate અનુસ્વાર, you may need to pronounce it differently depending on case.
Rule 1)
If the nasal dot is followed by the ક (k) , ખ (kh) , ગ (g) , ઘ (gh) the nasal dot will be pronounced as ઙ (~ga)
e.g. ‘n’ in “sing”
Examples :-
| English word | Synonym in Gujarati | Transliteration in roman script. “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr) marked as ‘M’ | Simpler transliteration to explain pronunciation of “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digit | અંક | aMk | ank |
| Fan | પંખા | paMkhA | pankhA |
| Mars | મંગળ | maMgaL | mangal |
| Sleep | ઊંઘ | UMgh | oongh |
Rule 2)
If the nasal dot is followed by characters ચ (ch) , છ (Ch), જ (j) , ઝ (jh) the dot is pronounced as ઞ (~ja)
e.g Similar but not exactly as ‘n’ in English word “munch”
Examples :-
| English word | Synonym in Gujarati | Transliteration in roman script. “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr) marked as ‘M’ | Simpler transliteration to explain pronunciation of “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collection | સંચય | saMchay | sanchay |
| --- | કંછ | kaMCh | kanCh |
| Cat | માંજાર | mAMjAr | mAnjAr |
| --- | વાંઝ | vAMjh | vanjh |
Rule 3)
If the nasal dot is followed by characters ટ (T), ઠ (Th), ડ (D) ઢ (Dh) ણ (N) the dot is pronounced as ણ ( N)
e.g. like ‘n’ in English word ‘taunt’
Examples :-
| English word | Synonym in Gujarati | Transliteration in roman script. “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr) marked as ‘M’ | Simpler transliteration to explain pronunciation of “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boardom | કંટાળો | kaMTALo | kaNtalo |
| Throat | કંઠ | kaMTh | kaNTh |
| layout | માંડણી | mAMDaNI | mANDaNI |
| Eunuch | ષંઢ | ShaMDh | ShaNDh |
Rule 4)
If the nasal dot is followed by characters ત (t) થ(th) દ(d) ધ (dh) ન (n) the dot is pronounced as ન (n)
e.g. ‘n’ in English word “month”
Examples :-
| English word | Synonym in Gujarati | Transliteration in roman script. “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr) marked as ‘M’ | Simpler transliteration to explain pronunciation of “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| saint | સંત | saMt | sant |
| Religious sect | પંથ | paMth | panth |
| Port | બંદર | baMdar | bandar |
| joint | સાંધો | sAMdho | sAndho |
| --- | ત્યાંના | tyAMnA | tyAnnA |
Rule 5)
If the nasal dot is followed by characters પ (p), ફ (ph ), બ (b ), ભ (bh ), મ (m) then dot is pronounced as મ (m)
e.g. ‘m’ in English word ‘pump’
Examples :-
| English word | Synonym in Gujarati | Transliteration in roman script. “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr) marked as ‘M’ | Simpler transliteration to explain pronunciation of “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| pump | પંપ | paMp | pamp |
| અંફ | aMph | amph | |
| lemon | લીંબુ | lIMbu | lImbu |
| start | આરંભ | AraMbh | Arambh |
| price | કિંમત | kiMmat | kimmat |
Rule 6)
If the nasal dot is followed by characters ય (y ),ર (r),લ (l ),વ (v),શ (sh),ષ (Sh),સ (s),હ (h),ળ (L),ક્ષ (kSh),જ્ઞ (j~j) the dot is pronounced as અં (aM)
Examples :-
| English word | Synonym in Gujarati | Transliteration in roman script. “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr) marked as ‘M’ | Simpler transliteration to explain pronunciation of “અનુસ્વાર” (anusvAr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part | અંશ | aMsh | amsh |
| Bracket | કંસ | kaMs | kans |
| Term | સંજ્ઞા | saMdnyA | saMdnyA |
| restraint | સંયમ | saMyam | sanyam |
| Dialogue | સંવાદ | saMvAd | samvAd |
Rule 7)
If the nasal dot is followed by the space character the dot is pronounced as nasal sound
Examples :-
હું(huM), is saying હુ(hu) along with nasal sound.
e.g. We write “hmmm” here we pronounce “h” with nasal sound. Similarly we pronounce હુ(hu) along with nasal sound. But it is not as elongated as “hmmm”; a short one
Other examples :- તું(tuM) , તેં(teM) , મેં(meM)
