Alphabet - ਪਹਿਲਾ

- ਡੱਡਾ - Diddaa - eighteenth letter of the Gurmukhi alphabet.


Name: Diddaa
Shape: ਡ.
Spelling: ਡੱਡਾ
Sound: 'd' as the 'd' in 'dumpling' but with the tongue further back.
Type: Consonant

Mouth: This has no equivalent in English. Make a 'd' shape with your tongue but instead of the front of your tongue touching the tooth ridge, make the tip of your tongue touch the roof of your mouth further back, towards your soft palette.
Tongue: Curved so that the tip of your tongue touches the roof of your mouth, further back, towards your soft palette.
Soft Palette: blocking nose
Lips: apart
Vocal Chords: Used
Aspirated: No

Confusion: ਤ ਡ ਭ
Reading: ਡ, ਤ and ਭ can all be confused with each other although reading them isn't quite such an issue as remembering which one to write:
ਡ (Diddaa) has the loop at the bottom;
ਤ (Tattaa) has no loop; and,
ਭ (Bhabhaa) has the loop in the middle.
You have been warned.
Writing: ਡ, ਤ and ਭ can all be confused with each other although you soon get used to it:
ਡ (Diddaa) has the loop at the bottom;
ਤ (Tattaa) has no loop; and,
ਭ (Bhabhaa) has the loop in the middle.
You have been warned.

Copyright ©2007-2023 Paul Alan Grosse.