Sindhi Grammar and Language Structure
The core architecture
Sindhi is SOV: subject, object, verb. Postpositions follow the noun, not precede it, so 'in the house' is घर में, not में घर. Nouns have two genders and two numbers; there is no neuter. Gender is grammatical, so learn each noun together with its jo/ja/je form.
Rules to apply
- The postposition जो (jo) means 'of' and agrees with the possessed noun: मुन्हिंजो घर (my house, masculine), मुन्हिंजी गाड़ी (my car, feminine).
- Before a postposition, the noun or pronoun takes its oblique form; this is why pronoun shapes change.
- Adjectives that decline follow the noun's gender and number; invariable adjectives do not.
- Negation is usually न before the verb; questions use question words or intonation, not a changed word order.
- Script matters: Perso-Arabic Sindhi has 52 letters; Devanagari Sindhi adds the implosive letters ॻ ॼ ॾ ॿ and distinguishes aspirated from unaspirated consonants.
Worked example
Choose the right 'of' form: 'मुन्हिंजो/मुन्हिंजी/मुन्हिंजे भाऊ'. भाऊ (brother) is masculine singular, so the form is मुन्हिंजो भाऊ. For बहिण (sister), feminine singular, it is मुन्हिंजी बहिण. For a plural noun, use मुन्हिंजे. Reason: jo is not fixed; it copies the gender, number and case of the thing possessed.
Traps
- Translating Hindi 'का/की/के' by one fixed Sindhi word.
- Putting the postposition before the noun.
- Assuming a noun's gender from its meaning; memorize the pair.
- Mixing Devanagari and Perso-Arabic spellings in one answer.