Perfecting Sanskrit Pronunciation: Tongue and Mouth Positions
Refining Sanskrit pronunciation begins with awareness
Sanskrit is a precise and vibrationally rich language where every sound has a place of origin in the mouth or throat. Training in these articulations refines pronunciation, deepens concentration, and enhances chanting. This guide provides tongue and mouth positions for each sound group, along with audio to help you practice.
We conclude with the Patañjali Invocation, chanted using these principles.
Free Class Recording
🎥 You can view the Free Class Recording here
1. Vowels (Svarāḥ)
Tongue Position:
Keep the tongue relaxed and mostly in the center of the mouth. For simple vowels like a and ā, the tongue stays low and central. For i/ī and u/ū, the tongue rises slightly toward the front or back respectively. For ṛ, the tongue curls back gently.
a — अ
Example: but
Note: Mouth open, tongue low and flat.ā — आ
Example: father
Note: Same as a, but held longer.i — इ
Example: bit
Note: Tongue arches slightly forward.ī — ई
Example: bee
Note: Same as i but sustained.u — उ
Example: put
Note: Tongue arches slightly back.ū — ऊ
Example: fool
Note: Like u, but held longer.ṛ — ऋ
Example: ri in rig
Note: Tongue curls toward the palate and vibrates gently.ṝ — ॠ
Example: long ṛ
Note: Rare; held longer.ḷ — ऌ
Example: similar to lri
Note: Tip of tongue curls slightly and touches the upper palate.ḹ — ॡ
Example: long ḷ
Note: Extremely rare.e — ए
Example: they
Note: Tongue slightly forward and arched.ai — ऐ
Example: high
Note: Start with a, move toward i.o — ओ
Example: go
Note: Tongue moves back slightly.au — औ
Example: loud
Note: Start with a, move toward u.
🎧 Listen and Practice Along
2. Guttural (Kaṇṭhya)
Tongue Position:
Back of the tongue touches the soft palate near the throat.
ka — क
Example: kite
Note: Unvoiced.kha — ख
Example: kh in backhand
Note: Like ka but with breath release.ga — ग
Example: go
Note: Voiced.gha — घ
Example: ghost (with added breath)
Note: Like ga but with breath release.ṅa — ङ
Example: ng in sing
Note: Nasal.
🎧 Listen and Practice Along
3. Palatal (Tālavya)
Tongue Position:
Tongue body rises to touch the hard palate.
ca — च
Example: chalk
Note: Unvoiced.cha — छ
Example: ch in watch him
Note: Like ca but with breath release.ja — ज
Example: jump
Note: Voiced.jha — झ
Example: zh in treasure (aspirated)
Note: Like ja but with breath release.ña — ञ
Example: ny in canyon
Note: Nasal.
🎧 Listen and Practice Along
4. Retroflex (Mūrdhanya)
Tongue Position:
Tip of the tongue curls back and touches the hard palate behind the alveolar ridge.
ṭa — ट
Example: no exact English equivalent
Note: Unvoiced.ṭha — ठ
Example: anthill
Note: Like ṭa but with breath release.ḍa — ड
Example: dog
Note: Voiced.ḍha — ढ
Example: madhouse
Note: Like ḍa but with breath release.ṇa — ण
Example: tint
Note: Nasal.
🎧 Listen and Practice Along
5. Dental (Dantya)
Tongue Position:
Tip of the tongue touches the back of the upper front teeth.
ta — त
Example: thin
Note: Unvoicedtha — थ
Example: aspirated t
Note: Like ta but with breath release.da — द
Example: day (light)
Note: Voiced.dha — ध
Example: aspirated d
Note: Like da but with breath release.na — न
Example: no
Note: Nasal.
🎧 Listen and Practice Along
6. Labial (Oṣṭhya)
Tongue Position:
Tongue is mostly relaxed. Articulation happens at the lips.
pa — प
Example: pot
Note: Unvoiced.pha — फ
Example: ph in uphill
Note: Like pa but with breath release.ba — ब
Example: bat
Note: Voiced.bha — भ
Example: b with added breath
Note: Like ba but with breath release.ma — म
Example: mom
Note: Nasal.
🎧 Listen and Practice Along
7. Semi-Vowels (Antastha)
Tongue Position:
Varies depending on the vowel that the sound approximates.
ya — य
Example: yes
Note: Glide from i to a, tongue near hard palate.ra — र
Example: Spanish r
Note: Tip of tongue flaps against roof of mouth.la — ल
Example: love
Note: Tongue lightly touches upper teeth ridge.va — व
Example: between v and w
Note: Lips close softly with tongue slightly raised.
🎧 Listen and Practice Along
8. Sibilants (Ūṣma) & Aspirate
Tongue Position:
Depends on sound — palatal, retroflex, dental or throat-based.
śa — श
Example: sh in she
Note: Tongue arches up to hard palate.ṣa — ष
Example: retroflex sh
Note: Tongue curled back.sa — स
Example: sun
Note: Tongue touches teeth gently.ha — ह
Example: hot
Note: Sound comes from the throat with open vocal cords.
🎧 Listen and Practice Along
9. The Patañjali Invocation
Devanāgarī:
योगेन चित्तस्य पदेन वाचां
मलं शरीरस्य च वैद्यकेन ।
योऽपाकरोत्तमं प्रवरं मुनीनां
पतञ्जलिं प्राञ्जलिरानतोऽस्मि ॥
आबाहु पुरुषाकारं शङ्खचक्रासिधारिणम् ।
सहस्रशिरसं श्वेतं प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम् ॥
Roman Transliteration (IAST):
yogena cittasya padena vācāṁ
malaṁ śarīrasya ca vaidyakena |
yo'pākarottamaṁ pravaraṁ munīnām
patañjaliṁ prāñjalirānato'smi ||
ābāhu puruṣākāraṁ śaṅkhacakrāsidhāriṇam |
sahasraśirasaṁ śvetaṁ praṇamāmi patañjalim ||
🎧 Listen and Practice Along
Common Mistakes
Here are a few common errors to watch out for when you chant:
Patañjaliṁ, not Pātañjalin
Many mistakenly say Patañjalī with a long "ā" (Pātanjalī), but the correct form is Patañjaliṁ, with a short "a".Citta, apākarottamam
Enunciate clearly: Cit-ta, ka-rot-tam. Each consonant cluster must be distinctly heard.dhāriṇam
The final ṇam is retroflex. Curl your tongue back for a proper ṇa sound.praṇamāmi
Same here—ṇa is retroflex. Avoid using a plain dental na.
Tips Before Chanting
Gently warm up with vowel chanting.
Keep aspirated sounds airy and soft.
Be precise with retroflex and dental distinctions.
Maintain vowel length.
Closing Thoughts
Mastering Sanskrit pronunciation is a skill that takes attention and practice. It sharpens your articulation, improves clarity, and helps you chant with precision. By learning the correct tongue and mouth positions, each sound becomes easier to produce—and more accurate.
Thank you so much Rohit, it was helpful to have your recorded voice to practice with