Pronunciation Guide

Feature	Example	Instruction
Long vowels	ā, ī, ū	Hold roughly twice as long as short vowels.
Aspirates	kh, gh, ch, jh, ṭh, dh, ph, bh	Pronounce as one consonant with breath, not as two separate sounds.
Retroflex sounds	ṭ, ṭh, ḍ, ḍh, ṇ, ṣ	Curl the tongue back slightly.
Anusvāra	ṃ	Nasalise or pronounce according to the following consonant.
Visarga	ḥ	Release softly after the vowel; do not overemphasise.