Urdu is written in the beautiful Nastaliq script with 38 letters. Learn each letter — forms, pronunciation, and writing.
Click any letter to see its forms, pronunciation, and details. Letters with a gold dot are unique to Urdu.
These 10 letters represent sounds unique to Urdu and Persian — added to the Arabic alphabet for South Asian phonetics.
Learn how to pronounce each Urdu letter — with English word comparisons.
| Letter | Name | Sound | Example (Urdu) | English Comparison |
|---|
Urdu typically omits vowel markers (harakat) in everyday writing — unlike the Quran. Readers infer vowels from context. This is why reading practice is so important!
Nastaliq is considered one of the most beautiful scripts in the world. Use these tips to develop your writing skills.
Urdu is always written from right to left. Start from the right edge of your page and move left.
Most Urdu letters connect to the next letter. But several letters (ا د ر و etc.) do not connect forward.
Nastaliq has a distinctive diagonal, flowing style — smooth, curved strokes at a slight angle.
Dots (nuqta) are critical. ب (one dot below), ت (two above), ث (three above) — dots completely change the letter.
Leave a small, consistent space between Urdu words. Letters within a word are connected; spaces separate words.
Nastaliq letters cascade diagonally rather than on a strict baseline — this cascading flow is the hallmark of its beauty.