Marathi Mulakshare (मराठी मुळाक्षरे) is the Marathi alphabet — the complete set of letters used to read and write the Marathi language. It is made up of vowels (स्वर / swar) and consonants (व्यंजन / vyanjan), written in the Devanagari script. Learning the Mulakshare is the very first step for every beginner, child, or student of Marathi. On this page you’ll get the complete Marathi Mulakshare chart — all 14 vowels and 36 consonants — with English transliteration, varga (sound-group) classification, word examples, learning tips, a free PDF, and FAQs.

What is Marathi Mulakshare? (मराठी मुळाक्षरे म्हणजे काय?)

The word मुळाक्षरे (Mulakshare) comes from मूळ (mool = root/basic) + अक्षरे (akshare = letters) — so it literally means “the basic letters.” These are the building blocks of the Marathi language, also called the Marathi Varnamala (वर्णमाला) or Marathi Alphabet. Every Marathi word, from आई (mother) to नमस्कार (hello), is built from these letters.

Marathi Mulakshare is divided into two main groups:

• स्वर (Swar / Vowels) — letters pronounced on their own (अ, आ, इ …).
• व्यंजन (Vyanjan / Consonants) — letters that need a vowel sound to be spoken (क, ख, ग …).

Marathi Vowels (स्वर) — 14 Letters

Marathi has 14 vowels — the 12 traditional vowels plus two “आगंतुक” (borrowed) vowels ॲ and ऑ used for English sounds. Vowels are the soul of pronunciation.

Marathi Consonants (व्यंजन) — 36 Letters Grouped by Varga

Marathi has 36 consonants. They are scientifically arranged into varga (वर्ग) — groups based on where in the mouth the sound is produced. Learning them group by group makes memorising far easier.

How Many Letters Are There in Marathi Mulakshare?

The total is 52 varna (वर्ण): 14 vowels + 36 consonants + 2 extra signs (अनुस्वार अं and विसर्ग अः are counted with vowels). Traditional school charts often show 12 vowels + 36 consonants = 48 basic Mulakshare. Both counts are correct — the difference is only whether the borrowed vowels ॲ, ऑ are included.

Tips to Learn Marathi Mulakshare Fast

1. Vowels first, then consonants. Master all 14 swar before starting vyanjan.
2. Learn by varga. The क-ख-ग-घ-ङ grouping follows a natural sound order that’s easy to remember.
3. Write daily. Tracing each letter 5 times builds memory faster than reading alone.
4. Say the sound aloud along with an example word (क for कमळ, ग for गाय).
5. Move to Barakhadi next — see our Marathi Barakhadi guide.

Marathi Mulakshare PDF Download (Free Printable)

Download the complete Marathi Mulakshare PDF — vowels + consonants with English transliteration on one printable page, perfect for kids and classroom practice.

⬇️ Download Marathi Mulakshare PDF (Free)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many letters are there in Marathi Mulakshare?

Marathi Mulakshare has 52 varna in total — 14 vowels and 36 consonants. Traditional counts list 12 core vowels, giving 48 basic letters.

What is the difference between Swar and Vyanjan?

Swar (स्वर) are vowels pronounced on their own (अ, आ, इ). Vyanjan (व्यंजन) are consonants that need a vowel to be spoken (क, ख, ग).

Which script is used for Marathi Mulakshare?

The Devanagari script (देवनागरी लिपी), the same script as Hindi and Sanskrit, with the extra Marathi letter ळ (La).

What comes after Mulakshare?

The Barakhadi (बाराखडी) — combining each consonant with 12 vowels to form syllables, then simple words.

Related topics: Marathi Barakhadi (बाराखडी) · Marathi Vowels (स्वर) · Marathi Numbers (अंक) · Learn Marathi for Beginners