संधि (Sandhi) means the joining of two sounds when two words or letters come together. The word literally means “joining”. When the last letter of one word meets the first letter of the next, they combine and often change form — that change is Sandhi. Splitting the joined word back into its parts is called संधि-विच्छेद (Sandhi-Viched). This is a core topic for teaching and State-level exams.
The three types of Sandhi
Sandhi is classified into three types based on which sounds meet:
1. स्वर संधि (Swar / Vowel Sandhi)
When a vowel meets a vowel. Example: देव + आलय = देवालय (deva + aalaya = devaalaya). Here अ and आ combine to form आ.
2. व्यंजन संधि (Vyanjan / Consonant Sandhi)
When a consonant meets a vowel or another consonant. Example: सतυ + आनंद → सच्चिदानंद patterns; a common textbook example is दिकυ + अंत = दिगंत (dik + anta = diganta).
3. विसर्ग संधि (Visarga Sandhi)
When a visarga (ः) meets a vowel or consonant and changes. Example: मनः + रथ = मनोरथ (manah + rath = manorath).
Common examples for revision
| Joined word (संधि) | Split (संधि-विच्छेद) | Type |
|---|---|---|
| देवालय | देव + आलय | Swar |
| हिमालय | हिम + आलय | Swar |
| सूर्योदय | सूर्य + उदय | Swar |
| दिगंत | दिकυ + अंत | Vyanjan |
| मनोरथ | मनः + रथ | Visarga |
Tip: first identify the joining point in the word, then decide which of the three categories the meeting sounds fall into. For exams, revise the standard textbook examples above — the same words are asked repeatedly in Sandhi-Viched questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sandhi in Hindi grammar?
Sandhi is the joining of two sounds when the last letter of one word meets the first letter of the next, often changing their form. Splitting them back is called Sandhi-Viched.
How many types of Sandhi are there?
There are three types: Swar (vowel) Sandhi, Vyanjan (consonant) Sandhi, and Visarga Sandhi.
What type of Sandhi is देवालय?
देवालय (देव + आलय) is an example of Swar Sandhi, because two vowels combine at the joining point.