Vowel इ (i) (Topic 3) in Module 1 – Hindi Letters and Sounds Through English (BG)

इ — Vowel (i)

• English sound anchor: inn

• Hindi words:
• इमली ('imali') — Tamarind
• इधर ('idhar') — This way
• इत्र ('itar') — Perfume
• इनाम ('inaama') — Prize / Reward
• इरादा ('iraada') — Intention

Matra (Vowel Sign): ि

When इ (i) attaches to a consonant, it uses the matra ि — a small curving hook written to the left of the consonant.

ि is the only matra written BEFORE the consonant it belongs to — even though the vowel sound comes after. This is one of the unique features of Devanagari.

Examples on different consonants:
- ि + क (written कि) = कि ('ki')
- ि + म (written मि) = मि ('mi')
- ि + द (written दि) = दि ('di')

Words using ि:
- दिन ('din') — Day
- किला ('kila') — Fort
- मिठाई ('mithaai') — Sweet
- तिल ('til') — Sesame
- चित्र ('chitra') — Picture / Image

How to Write इ

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

Stroke order animation via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.