Letter 32 of 35
Ya-Row · Semi-vowelਰ — Rarra
A trilled or tapped 'r' — like the Spanish 'r'.
Why it matters: ਰ is a quickly-tapped 'r' — say 'butter' the American way and listen to the 'tt'. That tap is close to ਰ.
Example Word
ਰੋਟੀ
Roti
Flatbread
ਰ with each vowel mark
ਰ
mukta
"ra"
ਰਾ
kanna
"raa"
ਰਿ
sihari
"ri"
ਰੀ
bihari
"ree"
ਰੁ
aunkar
"ru"
ਰੂ
dulainkar
"roo"
ਰੇ
lanv
"ray"
ਰੈ
dulanvan
"rai"
ਰੋ
horha
"ro"
ਰੌ
kanaurha
"rau"
Each vowel mark changes how ਰ sounds. The mark stays the same across every consonant.
Other letters in the Ya-Row
Trace ਰ
Free Printable Tracing Worksheet
Practise writing ਰ (Rarra) with this free printable. Large reference letter at the top, dotted rows below — print at home on US Letter or A4.
ਰ (Rarra) is the thirty-second letter of the Gurmukhi alphabet and one of the most-used consonants in everyday Punjabi.
How to teach a 4-year-old
ਰੋਟੀ (Roti) is the food every Punjabi family knows. Make a circle with your hands like a flat roti and say “ਰ … ਰੋਟੀ”. The Punjabi r rolls slightly off the tongue — different from the soft English r. Other ਰ words: ਰਾਜਾ (raja — king), ਰੰਗ (rang — colour), ਰੱਬ (Rabb — God).
Practice ਰ (Rarra)
📖 Read about Rarra in context
See ਰ alongside the rest of the Ya-Row in the free alphabet teaching guide. Open the guide →
Practise Rarra on the go
Six interactive Gurmukhi games — tracing, recognition, memory match — free, offline, no ads.