Letter 19 of 35
Ta-Row (retroflex) · Voiced Aspiratedਢ — Dhadha
Aspirated retroflex 'd' — voiced with a puff of breath.
Why it matters: ਢ is ਡ with a puff — curled tongue, throat buzz, AND breath.
Example Word
ਢੋਲ
Dhol
Drum
ਢ with each vowel mark
ਢ
mukta
"ddha"
ਢਾ
kanna
"ddhaa"
ਢਿ
sihari
"ddhi"
ਢੀ
bihari
"ddhee"
ਢੁ
aunkar
"ddhu"
ਢੂ
dulainkar
"ddhoo"
ਢੇ
lanv
"ddhay"
ਢੈ
dulanvan
"ddhai"
ਢੋ
horha
"ddho"
ਢੌ
kanaurha
"ddhau"
Each vowel mark changes how ਢ sounds. The mark stays the same across every consonant.
Other letters in the Ta-Row (retroflex)
Trace ਢ
Free Printable Tracing Worksheet
Practise writing ਢ (Dhadha) with this free printable. Large reference letter at the top, dotted rows below — print at home on US Letter or A4.
ਢ (Dhadha) is the nineteenth letter of the Gurmukhi alphabet — the aspirated, voiced retroflex Dh.
How to teach a 4-year-old
The ਢੋਲ (dhol) is the big two-headed drum of Punjabi music — at every wedding, mela, and Vaisakhi. Mime drumming and say “ਢ … ਢੋਲ” with each beat. Other ਢ words: ਢੱਕਣ (dhakkan — lid), ਢਾਲ (dhaal — shield).
Practice ਢ (Dhadha)
📖 Read about Dhadha in context
See ਢ alongside the rest of the Ta-Row (retroflex) in the free alphabet teaching guide. Open the guide →
Practise Dhadha on the go
Six interactive Gurmukhi games — tracing, recognition, memory match — free, offline, no ads.