Vowel ऐ (ai) (Topic 12) in Module 1 – Hindi Letters and Sounds Through English (BG)

ऐ — Vowel (ai)

• English sound anchor: ice

• Hindi words:
• ऐनक ('ainak') — Spectacles / Glasses
• ऐश्वर्य ('aishwarya') — Luxury / Splendour
• ऐतिहासिक ('aitihaasik') — Historical
• ऐसा ('aisa') — Like this / Such
• ऐलान ('ailaan') — Declaration

Matra (Vowel Sign): ै

When ऐ (ai, like 'a' in 'bad') attaches to a consonant, it uses the matra ै — a double-hooked mark written above the top bar. It looks like े but with two strokes instead of one.

Examples on different consonants:
- क + ै = कै ('kai')
- प + ै = पै ('pai')
- त + ै = तै ('tai')

Words using ै:
- कैसे ('kaise') — How
- पैसा ('paisa') — Money / Coin
- मैदान ('maidan') — Ground / Field
- तैरना ('tairna') — To swim
- बैठना ('baithna') — To sit

How to Write ऐ

Watch the animated stroke order below. Each stroke is drawn in sequence — follow the arrows.

Stroke order animation via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.