Hindi · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "काला" in Hindi?

Q: How do you pronounce काला in Hindi?

काला is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written /kaː.laː/. It means “black.” KAA-laa, with no puff on the k and two long aa vowels of equal length.

KAA-laa, with no puff on the k and two long aa vowels of equal length.

काला /kaː.laː/

kaalaa

Two equally heavy syllables, so treat the word as level. What makes learners' versions sound wrong is not accent placement but the collapse of the second aa into a schwa, which erases the masculine ending.

Listen: काला

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Sound it out

kaa Unaspirated क — the release must be dry. English initial k always sends out a puff, and that puff belongs to ख in Hindi.

laa Clear l and a second long aa. Hindi does not shorten the vowel of a second syllable the way English does.

Hear it in a sentence

उनके बाल काले हैं।

Unke baal kaale haiṁ.

He has black hair.

Listen: उनके बाल काले हैं।

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"Unke baal kaale haiṁ" moves the adjective to kaale, the masculine plural form, because baal is being treated as plural — so the sentence quietly demonstrates that Hindi colour adjectives in -aa inflect for number as well as gender. Note unke rather than unkaa for the same reason.

Where English speakers slip

Aspiration is the usual defect: "KHAA-laa" with an English puffed k crosses into a different Hindi consonant. Test it with a candle flame or a sheet of paper — nothing should move. Second, keep both vowels open and long; the word has no short vowel anywhere in it.