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Punjabi Hora Words — Reading with the "Oh" Vowel Sign
Hora words add one vowel sign — ੋ, the "oh" sound that sits above and after a consonant — to the mukta and kanna words your child already knows. Start with two-consonant words, then three, then four. Free printable tracing PDF, no sign-ups.
Two-consonant + hora words
Two sounds joined with the "oh" vowel sign that sits above and after the consonant — hora (ੋ).
ਮੋਰ mor peacock 
ਢੋਲ ḍhol drum 
ਡੋਲ ḍol bucket 
ਟੋਪ ṭop cap 
ਡੋਈ ḍoī ladle Three-consonant + hora words
Three sounds, with hora landing on one of them.
ਬੋਤਲ botal bottle 
ਮੋਟਰ moṭar motor 
ਗਲੋਬ globe globe 
ਰਸੋਈ rasoī kitchen 
ਟੋਸਟ ṭosṭ toast 
ਬੋਹੜ bohaṛ banyan tree Four-consonant + hora words
Longer words to read — a short, special set.
ਅਖਰੋਟ akharoṭ walnut 
ਟੋਸਟਰ ṭosṭar toaster 
ਰਸੋਈਆ rasoīā cook What is a hora word?
A hora word is a Gurmukhi word that uses only one vowel sign — ੋ, the "oh" sound that sits above and just after a consonant. Every other letter still carries its own built-in "a" sound, just like a mukta word. ਬੋਲ is b + o + l → bol ("speak").
Hora usually comes after kanna in the order a child learns vowel signs — it looks a little like kanna's cousin, a small hook riding above the letter, so it helps to already be confident spotting vowel signs before tackling it. Once mukta and kanna words feel easy, hora words are the natural next step: same blending skill, one new sign to watch for.
How to use these sheets
Say each sound
Point to each letter and say its sound out loud, left to right — watch for the hora sign above the last consonant.
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 hora word in Punjabi?
- A hora word is a Gurmukhi word that uses only the hora vowel sign (ੋ), which makes an "oh" sound. Every other letter keeps its own built-in "a" sound, so words like ਬੋਲ (bol) and ਮੋਰ (mor) can be read once a child knows the 35 letters plus this one sign.
- Why does hora come after kanna and dulavan?
- Vowel signs are usually introduced roughly in order of how often they appear and how easy they are to spot. Hora sits above and after the consonant, similar in position to a few other signs, so it helps for a child to already be comfortable finding vowel signs before adding hora to the mix.
- What are some examples of two-consonant hora words?
- Common two-consonant hora words include ਮੋਰ (mor, peacock), ਬੋਲ (bol, speak), ਗੋਲ (gol, round), ਡੋਲ (ḍol, bucket), ਹੋਰ (hor, more) and ਜੋਰ (jor, strength).
- How do I teach a child to read hora words?
- Say each letter’s sound aloud, pause on the hora sign to stretch it into "oh", then blend the whole word and read it back. Start with two-consonant words and move to three and four once those feel easy.