Before matras: the varnamala
Matras make sense once a child knows most letters of the varnamala by sight and sound. If your child still mixes up letters, spend a little more time on the varnamala first.
Hindi varnamala chart (PDF)The 10-day plan
- Day 1: आ की मात्रा (ा): का, राजा, माला.
- Day 2: इ की मात्रा (ि): कि, दिन, तिल.
- Day 3: ई की मात्रा (ी): की, खीर, तीर.
- Day 4: उ की मात्रा (ु): कु, सुख, मुख.
- Day 5: ऊ की मात्रा (ू): कू, फूल, धूप.
- Day 6: ए की मात्रा (े): के, सेब, रेल.
- Day 7: ऐ की मात्रा (ै): कै, बैल, पैर.
- Day 8: ओ की मात्रा (ो): को, मोर, चोर.
- Day 9: औ की मात्रा (ौ): कौ, कौन, मौन.
- Day 10: अनुस्वार (ं): कं, रंग, पंख.
The tricky pairs
Children mix up the short and long pairs: ि and ी, ु and ू. Say each pair aloud with a clap, a short clap for the short sound and a long one for the long sound. Point out where the sign sits: ि is written before the letter but read after it.
One special case: र with ु and ू is written रु and रू, not with the sign below. Show it on day 4 and day 5.
A 15-minute session
Today's matra
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Free Hindi matra worksheets, a page for each matra (PDF)Hindi barahkhadi chart, क to ज्ञ (PDF)After 10 days of one matra a day, most children can read simple words. Keep reading together every day, and the matras stick.
Questions
Which matra should be taught first?
आ की मात्रा (ा) is the easiest to see and hear, so most teachers start there, then ि and ी, ु and ू, े and ै, ो and ौ, and the anusvara.
In which class are matras taught?
Most schools start matras in UKG (Sr KG) or Class 1, after the varnamala.
How do I teach the difference between ि and ी?
Clap a short beat for ि and a long one for ी, and read pairs aloud, such as कि and की.
Are the matra worksheets free?
Yes. All 10 pages are free to download and print, with no sign-up.
