Letter 2 of 35
Vowel Carriers · Vowel Carrierਅ — Aira
Sounds like the 'a' in 'about' — a short, gentle 'uh'.
Why it matters: Every Punjabi word that starts with a vowel sound starts with ਅ wearing a different vowel hat.
Example Word
ਅੰਬ
Amb
Mango
Vowels ਅ can hold
ਅ
mukta
"uh"
short uh, like cup
ਆ
kanna
"aa"
long aa, like father
ਐ
dulanvan
"ai"
ai, like aisle
ਏ
lanv
"ay"
ay, like say
ਅ is a holder — each vowel mark on top changes the sound.
Other letters in the Vowel Carriers
Words that start with ਅ
ਅਠਪੈਰਾ
aṭhpairā
Octopus
ਅੰਬ
amb
Mango
ਅੰਗੂਰ
angūr
Grapes
ਅਨਾਰ
anār
Pomegranate
ਅਮਰੂਦ
amrūd
Guava
ਆੜੂ
āṛū
Peach
ਆਲੂਬੁਖ਼ਾਰਾ
ālūbukhārā
Plum
ਅਨਾਨਾਸ
anānās
Pineapple
ਅੰਜੀਰ
anjīr
Fig
ਆਲੂ
ālū
Potato
ਅਦਰਕ
adrak
Ginger
ਅਸਮਾਨੀ
asmānī
Sky Blue
Watch & Learn
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Trace ਅ
Free Printable Tracing Worksheet
Practise writing ਅ (Aira) with this free printable. Large reference letter at the top, dotted rows below — print at home on US Letter or A4.
ਅ (Aira) is the second letter of the Gurmukhi alphabet and the second vowel-carrier in the trio ੳ, ਅ, ੲ. Most short Punjabi words begin with ਅ when they have an a or aa sound.
How to teach a 4-year-old
Hold up a mango (ਅੰਬ) — even a paper one will do. Say “ਅ” and then “ਅੰਬ”, stretching the a sound. Let your child repeat. Try a few more a-words: ਅੱਖ (akh — eye), ਅਨਾਰ (anaar — pomegranate).
Practice ਅ (Aira)
📖 Read about Aira in context
See ਅ alongside the rest of the Vowel Carriers in the free alphabet teaching guide. Open the guide →
Practise Aira on the go
Six interactive Gurmukhi games — tracing, recognition, memory match — free, offline, no ads.