Devanagari alphabet

Details of Devanagari, the Indian alphabet used to write Sanskrit, Hindi and many other languages

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Ajouté le

17 mars 2026

Matière et domaine

language · hindi

Niveaux scolaires

6e année–12e année (Terminale)

Type de page

Article

Introduction

Overview of the Devanagari Alphabet

  • Origins: Developed from the 8th-century Nāgarī script (a variant of the Gupta script). It began replacing the Siddham script around 1200 AD and reached a form resembling the modern alphabet by the 10th century.
  • Etymology: The name is derived from two Sanskrit words: deva (god/celestial) and nāgarī (city). It is commonly translated as "script of the city" or "script of the city of the Gods."
  • Regional Variations:
    • Classical/Northern (Kalikata): Historically used in Northern India.
    • Modern/Southern (Mumbai): Used in Southern India and currently serves as the standard form.
  • Conjunct Consonants: The script features approximately 1,000 conjunct consonants, primarily combining two or three consonants, though some combinations include four or even five.
  • Linguistic Usage: Devanagari is used to write a vast array of languages, including Hindi, Sanskrit, Marathi, Nepali, Konkani, Kashmiri, and many others.

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