When the subscript ‘ਹ’ ( ੍ਹ ) appears under a letter, it is pronounced with a half‑sound.
For example, words like:
ਕੋੜ੍ਹੇ, ਵਰ੍ਹਿਆ, ਕਰ੍ਹੈ, ਪੜ੍ਹਹਿ, ਸਮ੍ਹਾਰੇ, ਪੜ੍ਹਤ, ਗੜ੍ਹਣਹਾਰੇ, ਦ੍ਰਿੜ੍ਹਾਇਆ, ਚੜ੍ਹਾਈਐ, ਵਰ੍ਹਿਐ, ਚਰ੍ਹੈ, ਗੜ੍ਹਣ, ਸਮ੍ਹਾਰਨ
all include the subscript ‘ਹ’ and should be pronounced with this half‑sound.
In Gurbani, words related to bathing (Ishnaan) should be pronounced with the half‑sound of the subscript ‘ਹ’ ( ੍ਹ ) to ensure the correct meaning and proper recitation.
Examples from Gurbani:
In all these verses, the words ਨਾਵਾ, ਨਾਇ, ਨਾਉ, ਨਾਤੇ, and ਨਾਤੀ are related to bathing. Therefore, they should be pronounced with a half‑‘ਹ’ sound, as in ਨ੍ਹਾਵਾ, ਨ੍ਹਾਇ, ਨ੍ਹਾਉ, ਨ੍ਹਾਤੇ, and ਨ੍ਹਾਤੀ respectively.
Note: In some contexts, the word ਨਾਉ may mean “Naam” (the divine Name) rather than referring to bathing. In such cases, do not pronounce it like ਨ੍ਹਾਉ – the word should be pronounced in its standard form.
