Letter 18 of 35
Ta-Row (retroflex) · Voiced Unaspiratedਡ — Dadda
A 'hard d' — tongue curled back, voiced.
Why it matters: ਡ is ਟ's voiced twin — same curled tongue, throat buzzes.
Example Word
ਡੱਡੂ
Daddu
Frog
ਡ with each vowel mark
ਡ
mukta
"dda"
ਡਾ
kanna
"ddaa"
ਡਿ
sihari
"ddi"
ਡੀ
bihari
"ddee"
ਡੁ
aunkar
"ddu"
ਡੂ
dulainkar
"ddoo"
ਡੇ
lanv
"dday"
ਡੈ
dulanvan
"ddai"
ਡੋ
horha
"ddo"
ਡੌ
kanaurha
"ddau"
Each vowel mark changes how ਡ sounds. The mark stays the same across every consonant.
Other letters in the Ta-Row (retroflex)
Trace ਡ
Free Printable Tracing Worksheet
Practise writing ਡ (Dadda) with this free printable. Large reference letter at the top, dotted rows below — print at home on US Letter or A4.
ਡ (Dadda) is the eighteenth letter of the Gurmukhi alphabet — the voiced retroflex D. Tongue tip up to the roof of the mouth, with your voice on.
How to teach a 4-year-old
Hop around like a frog (ਡੱਡੂ) saying “ਡ … ਡੱਡੂ”. Children love this one because the word literally sounds like a frog jumping. Other ਡ words: ਡੱਬਾ (dabba — box), ਡਾਕਟਰ (daaktar — doctor), ਡੰਡਾ (danda — stick).
Practice ਡ (Dadda)
📖 Read about Dadda in context
See ਡ alongside the rest of the Ta-Row (retroflex) in the free alphabet teaching guide. Open the guide →
Practise Dadda on the go
Six interactive Gurmukhi games — tracing, recognition, memory match — free, offline, no ads.