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Punjabi Dulankar Words — Reading with the Long "Oo" Vowel Sign
Dulankar words add just one vowel sign — ੂ, the long “oo”, drawn below the consonant. Start with two-consonant words, then three, then four. Free printable tracing PDF, no sign-ups.
Two-consonant + dulankar words
Two sounds joined with the long "oo" vowel sign below — dulankar (ੂ).
ਸੂਪ sūp soup 
ਬੂਟ būṭ boot 
ਲੂਣ lūṇ salt 
ਤੂਤ tūt mulberry Three-consonant + dulankar words
Three sounds, with dulankar landing on one of them.
ਆਲੂ ālū potato 
ਸਕੂਲ sakūl school 
ਸੂਰਜ sūraj sun 
ਖਜੂਰ khajūr date Four-consonant + dulankar words
Longer words to read — a short, special set.
ਕਬੂਤਰ kabūtar pigeon 
ਸਕੂਟਰ sakūṭar scooter What is a dulankar word?
A dulankar word is a Gurmukhi word that uses only one vowel sign — ੂ, the long “oo” sound, drawn just below the consonant it belongs to. Every other letter still carries its own built-in “a” sound, just like a mukta word. ਧੂਪ is dh + ū + p → dhūp (“incense”).
Dulankar is the “double” version of aunkar — aunkar is the short “u” sign below a letter (a single stroke), while dulankar is the long “oo” sign below a letter (a second stroke added on). Once aunkar words feel easy, dulankar words are a natural next step: same blending skill, one new sign to watch for below the line.
How to use these sheets
Say each sound
Point to each letter and say its sound out loud, left to right — watch for the dulankar sign.
Blend them
Say the sounds faster and faster until they join into one word.
Trace it
Trace the dotted word on the printable, saying the word as you go.
Read it back
Cover the traced word and read it aloud on your own. Celebrate!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a dulankar word in Punjabi?
- A dulankar word is a Gurmukhi word that uses only the dulankar vowel sign (ੂ), which makes a long “oo” sound drawn below the consonant. Every other letter keeps its own built-in “a” sound, so words like ਦੂਰ (dūr) and ਭੂਤ (bhūt) can be read once a child knows the 35 letters plus this one sign.
- Why do dulankar words come after aunkar words?
- Dulankar is the “double” version of aunkar — aunkar is a single short stroke below the letter for the short “u” sound, while dulankar adds a second stroke for the long “oo” sound. Once a child can read aunkar words confidently, dulankar is a small, predictable next step below the line.
- What are some examples of two-consonant dulankar words?
- Common two-consonant dulankar words include ਦੂਰ (dūr, far), ਧੂਪ (dhūp, incense), ਸੂਪ (sūp, soup), ਬੂਟ (būṭ, boot), ਭੂਤ (bhūt, ghost) and ਪੂਛ (pūchh, tail).
- How do I teach a child to read dulankar words?
- Say each letter’s sound aloud, pause on the dulankar sign to stretch it into a long “oo”, then blend the whole word and read it back. Start with two-consonant words and move to three and four once those feel easy.