A Guide to Sanskrit Pronunciation

Vowels

a–as the u in but
ā–as in father, but held twice as long as the short a
i–as in pin
ī–as in pique, but held twice as long as the short i
u–as in push
ū–as in rule, but held twice as long as the short u
ṛ–as the ri in ring
ḷ–as the llri in bellringer
e–as in they
ai–as in aisle
o–as in show
au–as the ow in how.
ṃ–a resonant nasal stop like the n in the French bonḥ
–aḥ is pronounced like aha; iḥ is pronounced like ihi; before hard consonants ḥ becomes a simple stoppage of breath

Consonants

k–as in look
kh–as the kh in look-hard
g–as in big
gh–as in big-heart
ṅ–as in sing
c–as in chair
ch–as in beach-house
j–as in joy
jh–as in dodge-hard
ñ–as in punch
ṭ–as in tub
ṭh–as in light-heart
ḍ–as in din
ḍh–as in red-hot
ṇ–as in horn

t, th, d, dh, and n are pronounced like their English equivalents, but with the tongue against the back of the upper front teeth.

p–as in stop
ph–as in stop-hard
b–as in rub
bh–as in rub-hard
m–as in mother
y–as in young
r–as in very (spoken with a British accent)
l–as in locket
v–as in vine
ś–as in the German sprechen
ṣ–as in shy
s–as in song
h–as in heart