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{{Short description|Indo-Aryan language group of Nepal and India}}
{{Distinguish|text=the [[Thar language]] of Bangladesh and East India}}
{{Infobox language
| name = Tharu
| nativename = थारु, थरुवा, थरुहट
| pronunciation = ({{IPA|thq|tʰaru|pron|OpenSpeaks-thq-Saptariya-Tharu-Sanjib Chaudhary-Pronunciation Tharu.wav}})(Tharu) 
| image = OpenSpeaks-thq-Eastern Tharu-Achhai Chaudhary-SC-Medicinal Plants 01.webm
| imagecaption = A Tharu [[traditional healer]] describing local medicinal plants in [[Kochila Tharu|Saptariya]], a Tharu language
| imagealt = A Tharu traditional healer describing local medicinal plants in Saptariya, a Tharu language
| states = [[Nepal]], [[India]]
| ethnicity = [[Tharu people|Tharu]]
| speakers = {{sigfig|1.700000|2}} million in Nepal (2021 census)<ref>{{cite report |date=2021 |title=National Population and Housing Census 2021, mother tongue Report |author=National Statistics Office |work=Government of Nepal |url=https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/downloads/mother-tongue}}</ref>
| date =
| speakers2 = {{sigfig|367,000|2}} or more in India (1997–2007)<ref name=e27/>
| ref = e27
| nation = {{flag|Nepal}}
* [[Lumbini Province]]
* [[Sudurpashchim Province|Sudurpashchim]]
| familycolor = Indo-European
| fam2 = [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]]
| fam3 = [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]]
| fam4 = [[Eastern Indo-Aryan languages|Eastern]]
| fam5 = [[Bihari languages|Bihari]]
| script = [[Devanagari]]
| lc1 = thl
| ld1 = [[Dangaura Tharu]]
| lc2 = tkt
| ld2 = [[Kathariya Tharu]]
| lc3 = thr
| ld3 = [[Rana Tharu language|Rana Tharu]]
| lc5 = thq
| ld5 = [[Kochila Tharu]]
| lc4 = the
| ld4 = Chitwania Tharu
| lc6 = tkb
| ld6 = [[Buksa language|Buksa]]
| lc7 = soi
| ld7 = [[Sonha language|Sonha]]
| glotto = thar1284
| glottorefname = Tharuic
| map = Tharu Area.jpg
| mapcaption = Regions in Nepal and India with significant Tharu population
| fam6 = (Unclassified)
| dia1 = [[Rana Tharu language|Rana Tharu]]
| region = [[Terai]]
| dia2 = [[Sonha language|Sonha Tharu]]
| dia3 = [[Kochila Tharu]]
| dia4 = [[Kathariya Tharu]]
| dia5 = [[Dangaura Tharu]]
| dia6 = [[Chitwania Tharu]]
| minority = {{Flag|India}}
* [[Uttarakhand]]
* [[Uttar Pradesh]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_uttaranchal.pdf | author = Office of the Registrar General, India (2001) | title = Uttaranchal. Data Highlights: The Scheduled Tribes. Census of India 2001 | access-date = 2008-03-16}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web | url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_up.pdf | author = Office of the Registrar General, India (2001) | title= Uttar Pradesh. Data Highlights: The Scheduled Tribes. Census of India 2001}}</ref>
}}

The '''Tharu''' ([[Tharu people|Tharu]]: थारु, ({{IPA|thq|tʰaru|pron|OpenSpeaks-thq-Saptariya-Tharu-Sanjib Chaudhary-Pronunciation Tharu.wav}}), {{langx|hi|थरुवा}}) or '''Tharuhat''' ({{langx|ne|थरुहट}}) languages are any of the [[Indo-Aryan languages]] spoken by the [[Tharu people]] of the [[Terai]] region in Nepal, and neighboring regions of [[Uttarakhand]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Bihar]] in India.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_uttaranchal.pdf | author = Office of the Registrar General, India (2001) | title = Uttaranchal. Data Highlights: The Scheduled Tribes. Census of India 2001 | access-date = 2008-03-16}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web | url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_up.pdf | author = Office of the Registrar General, India (2001) | title= Uttar Pradesh. Data Highlights: The Scheduled Tribes. Census of India 2001}}</ref>

Tharu languages are spoken in the Tharu community. These languages are similar to other neighboring languages. Tharu language is one of the major languages spoken in [[Nepal]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Guneratne |first=Arjun |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T7FWQ6dzYZQC |title=Many Tongues, One People: The Making of Tharu Identity in Nepal |date=2002 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-0-8014-8728-6 |language=en}}</ref>

Although their own precise classification within Indo-Aryan remains uncertain, Tharu languages have superficial similarities with neighbouring languages such as [[Kumaoni language|Kumaoni]], [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]], [[Maithili language|Maithili]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Rajbanshi language (Nepal)|Rajbanshi]] and [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]. The lexicon of certain Tharu households is indicative of an archaic, '[[Indigenous peoples|indigenous]]' substratum, potentially predating both [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] or [[Indo-Aryan peoples|Indo-Aryan]] settlement. Tharu languages appear to be transitional within the context of Indo-Aryan.<ref>The Indo-Aryans of Ancient South Asia: Language, Material Culture and Ethnicity</ref>

== Languages and dialects ==
Tharu communities in different parts of Nepal and India do not share the same language like the other ethnic groups as it varies between the eastern, central and western Terai. There are various Tharu languages spoken by the several [[Endogamy|endogamous]] subgroups of Tharu that are scattered over most of the Terai region. [[Lexical similarity]] between various Tharu languages varies between 81% and 51% depending upon the Tharu language.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Krauskopff, G. |year=1995 |title=The anthropology of the Tharus: an annoted bibliography |url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/kailash/pdf/kailash_17_0304_05.pdf |journal=Kailash |volume=17 |issue=3/4 |pages=185–213}}</ref>

=== Western Tharu languages ===
'''[[Dangaura Tharu|Dangaura]]''' and '''[[Kathariya Tharu]]''' are mutually-intelligible Tharu variants spoken west of the [[Gandaki River]], by approximately 1.3 million people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Linguistic Survey of Nepal (LinSuN) Central Department of Linguistics Tribhuvan University |title=Dangaura Tharu language |url=https://elibrary.tucl.edu.np/bitstream/123456789/4158/2/Chapter.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Copula Construction in Kathariya Tharu |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371522827}}</ref> Furthermore, an additional variant of Tharu, known as '''[[Sonha language|Sonha]]''', is largely mutually intelligible with Dangaura.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chaudhary |first=Anil Dutta |title=Phonological study of the Sonaha language |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346761434}}</ref>

'''[[Rana Tharu language|Rana Tharu]]''' and '''[[Buksa language|Buksa]]''' are mutually-intelligible Tharu variants spoken by approximately 250,000 people west of [[Ghaghara|Karnali river]] and in the Indian states of [[Uttarakhand|Uttrakahand]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]]. It sounds similar to [[Western Hindi languages|Western Hindi]] and Awadhi.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dhakal |first=Dubi Nanda |title=Notes on Rana Tharu language |url=https://www.academia.edu/43908543}}</ref> The Nepal Charter dated 18 May 2020 lists [[Rana Tharu people|Rana Tharus]] as a distinct ethnic group and their language as a distinct language.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@therecord |title=Five misconceptions about Rana Tharus - The Record |url=https://www.recordnepal.com/five-misconceptions-about-rana-tharu-and-pan-tharu-identity |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=www.recordnepal.com |language=English}}</ref>

=== Central Tharu languages ===
'''Chitwania Tharu''' also known as '''Lalpuriya Tharu, Madhya Ksetriya Tharu''' or '''Central Tharu''' is spoken by approximately 250,000 speakers east of the [[Gandaki River]], in and around the [[Chitwan Valley]]. Certain Chitwania variants appear to have considerable lexical similarities with [[Manchad language|Manchad]], a [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] language.<ref>George van Driem, 2007, "Endangered languages of South Asia", in Matthias Brenzinger, Mouton de Gruyter</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=1972 Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies (CNAS) & SIL International |first=Dorothy Leal |title=Chitwan Tharu phonemic summary |url=https://www.sil.org/system/files/reapdata/36/60/20/36602041748457268053201464034384501291/Chitwan_Tharu_phonemic_summary.pdf |website=Language and Culture Archives}}</ref>

=== Eastern Tharu languages ===
[[File:Eastern Tharu riddle - oil lamp1.webm|thumb|A riddle in Eastern Tharu language.]]
'''[[Kochila Tharu]]''' also called '''[[Lampucchwa Tharu|Morangiya]], Saptariya Tharu, Madhya-Purbiya Tharu''' or '''Mid-Eastern Tharu''' is a diverse Tharu variant, spoken by approximately 250,000 people, in regions of eastern and central Nepal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LANGUAGE OF SAPTARIYA THARU |url=https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/RESEARCHER/article/view/9885/8062}}</ref> Kochila Tharu communities are not found in isolation, but live in districts intermixed with speakers of other languages. “In contrast with western Terai where the Tharus are the only and dominant ethnic minority, the eastern – especially the far eastern – Terai is inhabited by several ethnic groups with very different linguistic affiliation”. Kochila has three main dialects spoken throughout mid-central and eastern Nepal which are ''Western Kochila'', ''Saptariya Kochila'' and ''Morangiya Kochila'' on the basis of their intelligibility.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Linguistic Survey of Nepal (LinSuN) |first=Central Department of Linguistics Tribhuvan University, Nepal and SIL International 2013 |title=A Sociolinguistic Study of Kochila Tharu in Southeast Nepal |url=https://www.sil.org/system/files/reapdata/13/61/99/136199776406127007473396089765757813692/Kochila_Tharu_Report.pdf |access-date=2022-10-08 |archive-date=2022-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023182108/https://www.sil.org/system/files/reapdata/13/61/99/136199776406127007473396089765757813692/Kochila_Tharu_Report.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Official Status ==
Tharu language is the fourth most commonly spoken language of Nepal accounting for 5.88% of total population of Nepal as per the 2021 census.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nepal languages |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/country/NP/languages |access-date=15 Dec 2023}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=caste-ethnicity-report {{!}} national_population and housing_census_year results |url=https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/downloads/caste-ethnicity |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=censusnepal.cbs.gov.np}}</ref> According to The [[Constitution of Nepal 2015]] (2072 B.S.) all native languages spoken in Nepal are National languages of Nepal including Tharu.<ref name="constitution2072">{{cite web |title=The Constitution of Nepal |url=https://www.lawcommission.gov.np/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Constitution-of-Nepal.pdf |access-date=28 October 2021 |website=Nepal Law Commission}}</ref> The [[Language Commission (Nepal)|Language Commission of Nepal]] has recommended Tharu be made an official administrative language in [[Lumbini Province|Lumbini]] and [[Sudurpashchim Province|Sudurpaschim Province]].<ref>{{Cite web |title="सरकारी कामकाजको भाषाका आधारहरूको निर्धारण तथा भाषासम्बन्धी सिफारिसहरू (पञ्चवर्षीय प्रतिवेदन- साराांश) २०७८" Language Commission (in Nepali). |url=https://languagecommission.gov.np/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906171816/https://languagecommission.gov.np/files/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE.pdf |archive-date=6 September 2021 |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=languagecommission.gov.np}}</ref> The commission has also recommended Tharu be made the additional official language in all the provinces of Nepal i.e Bagmati, Koshi, Madhesh, Gandaki and Karnali province for specific regions and purposes in the province.<ref>{{Cite web |title=सरकारी कामकाजको भाषाका आधारहरूको निर्धारण तथा भाषासम्बन्धी सिफारिसहरू (पञ्चवर्षीय प्रतिवेदन- साराांश) २०७८ |url=https://languagecommission.gov.np/files/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE.pdf |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=Language Commission |publisher=Language Commission of Nepal |language=ne |archive-date=2021-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906171816/https://languagecommission.gov.np/files/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> At local level, Tharu has official status in [[Ghorahi]] sub-metropolitan city of [[Dang District, Nepal|Dang district]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ghorahi to start classes in Tharu language |url=http://english.ratopati.com/story/14483 |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=english.ratopati.com |language=Nepali}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Native language teaching fails to impress Tharu community |url=http://kathmandupost.com/national/2016/08/24/native-language-teaching-fails-to-impress-tharu-community |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tharu to become official language in Ghorahi |url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/33949/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=My Republica |language=en}}</ref>

== Geographical distribution ==
=== Nepal ===
In Nepal Tharu languages are spoken throughout the Terai region from [[Mechi River|Mechi river]] in the east to [[Sharda River|Mahakali river]] in the west in following districts:<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Map View: Table LANGUAGE - NepalMap |url=https://nepalmap.org/data/map/?table=LANGUAGE&geo_ids=district%7Cprovince-3,district%7Ccountry-NP&primary_geo_id=district-35#column%7CTharu,sumlev%7Cdistrict |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=nepalmap.org |archive-date=2024-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404070944/https://nepalmap.org/data/map/?table=LANGUAGE&geo_ids=district%7Cprovince-3,district%7Ccountry-NP&primary_geo_id=district-35#column%7CTharu,sumlev%7Cdistrict |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* [[Koshi Province]]: [[Jhapa District]], [[Morang District]], [[Sunsari District]] and [[Udayapur District]]
* [[Madhesh Province]]: [[Parsa District]], [[Bara District]], [[Rautahat District]], [[Sarlahi District]], [[Mahottari District]], [[Siraha District]] and [[Saptari District]]
* [[Bagmati Province]]: [[Chitwan District]], [[Makwanpur District]], [[Sindhuli District]] and a sizeable population in [[Kathmandu Valley|Kathmandu]] ([[Kathmandu District]], [[Bhaktapur District]] and [[Lalitpur District, Nepal|Lalitpur District]])
* [[Gandaki Province]]: [[Nawalpur District]] and a sizeable population in [[Kaski District]] ([[Pokhara]])
* [[Lumbini Province]]: [[Banke District]], [[Bardiya District]], [[Dang District, Nepal|Dang District]], [[Kapilvastu District]], [[Parasi District]] and [[Rupandehi District]]
* [[Karnali Province]]: [[Surkhet District]]
* [[Sudurpashchim Province|Sudurpaschim Province]]: [[Kailali District]] and [[Kanchanpur District]]

With an increase in internal migrants and international emigration Tharu-speaking people have emerged in every district of Nepal and various countries such as the US, Japan, Qatar, UAE and Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nepali Tharu community is all set to celebrate maghi festival for the first time in Australia |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/nepali/en/article/nepali-tharu-community-is-all-set-to-celebrate-maghi-festival-for-the-first-time-in-australia/1dbe8e9us |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=SBS Language |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-16 |title=Nepalese Tharu community celebrates Maghi |url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/480221/nepalese-tharu-community-celebrates-maghi |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Gulf Times |language=en}}</ref>

=== India ===
In India Tharu language is spoken in border side areas of Nepal. In the state of [[Uttarakhand|Uttrakhand]] it is spoken in the district of [[Udham Singh Nagar district|Udham Singh Nagar]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Uttarakhand |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10225/download/13337/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0500.XLSX |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref> In [[Bihar]] it is spoken in [[East Champaran district|East Champaran]] and [[West Champaran district|West Champaran]] districts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2022-06-12 |title=Bihar: Tharu and Surjapuri languages facing extinction |url=https://theprint.in/india/bihar-tharu-and-surjapuri-languages-facing-extinction/993794/ |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> In Uttar Pradesh it is spoken in [[Lakhimpur Kheri district|Lakhimpur Kheri]], [[Balrampur district, Uttar Pradesh|Balrampur]], [[Shravasti district|Shravasti]], [[Gorakhpur district|Gorakhpur]], [[Basti district|Basti]], [[Bahraich district|Bahraich]] and [[Gonda district]]s.<ref name=":0" />

== Phonology ==
The following consists mostly of the Daungara and Rana dialects:

=== Consonants ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" |
![[Labial consonant|Labial]]
![[Dental consonant|Dental]]/ [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
![[Retroflex consonant|Retroflex]]
![[Postalveolar consonant|Post-alv.]]/ [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
![[Velar consonant|Velar]]
![[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
! rowspan="4" |[[Stop consonant|Stop]]/ [[Affricate consonant|Affricate]]
!{{small|[[Voicelessness|voiceless]]}}
|{{IPA link|p}}
|{{IPA link|t}}
|{{IPA link|ʈ}}
|{{IPA link|tʃ}}
|{{IPA link|k}}
|
|-
!{{small|[[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]]}}
|{{IPA link|pʰ}}
|{{IPA link|tʰ}}
|{{IPA link|ʈʰ}}
|{{IPA link|tʃʰ}}
|{{IPA link|kʰ}}
|
|-
!{{small|[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
|{{IPA link|b}}
|{{IPA link|d}}
|{{IPA link|ɖ}}
|{{IPA link|dʒ}}
|{{IPA link|ɡ}}
|
|-
!{{small|[[Breathy voice|breathy]]}}
|{{IPA link|bʱ}}
|{{IPA link|dʱ}}
|{{IPA link|ɖʱ}}
|{{IPA link|dʒʱ}}
|{{IPA link|ɡʱ}}
|
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
!{{small|[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
|{{IPA link|m}}
|{{IPA link|n}}
|
|({{IPA link|ɲ}})
|{{IPA link|ŋ}}
|
|-
!{{small|[[Breathy voice|breathy]]}}
|{{IPA link|m̤}}
|{{IPA link|n̤}}
|
|
|{{IPA link|ŋ̈}}
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
|
|{{IPA link|s}}
|
|
|
|{{IPA link|h}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[Tap consonant|Tap]]
!{{small|[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
|
|{{IPA link|ɾ}}
|
|
|
|
|-
!{{small|[[Breathy voice|breathy]]}}
|
|{{IPA link|ɾ̤}}
|
|
|
|
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[Trill consonant|Trill]]
!{{small|[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
|
|({{IPA link|r}})
|
|
|
|
|-
!{{small|[[Breathy voice|breathy]]}}
|
|({{IPA link|r̤}})
|
|
|
|
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[Lateral consonant|Lateral]]
!{{small|[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
|
|{{IPA link|l}}
|
|
|
|
|-
!{{small|[[Breathy voice|breathy]]}}
|
|{{IPA link|l̤}}
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
|{{IPA link|w}}
|
|
|{{IPA link|j}}
|
|
|}

* {{IPAslink|n}} can be heard as a palatal {{IPAblink|ɲ}} when preceding a palatal affricate.
* /{{IPA link|ɾ}}, {{IPA link|ɾ̤}}/ may be in free variation with trill sounds [{{IPA link|r}}, {{IPA link|r̤}}] in the Rana dialect.
* Palato-alveolar affricate sounds /{{IPA link|tʃ}}, {{IPA link|tʃʰ}}, {{IPA link|dʒ}}, {{IPA link|dʒʱ}}/ are heard as alveolar affricate sounds [{{IPA link|ts}}, {{IPA link|tsʰ}}, {{IPA link|dz}}, {{IPA link|dzʱ}}] in the Rana dialect.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dhakal |first=Dubi Nanda |title=Notes on Rana Tharu Grammar Notes}}</ref>

=== Vowels ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!
![[Front vowel|Front]]
![[Central vowel|Central]]
![[Back vowel|Back]]
|- align="center"
![[High vowel|High]]
|{{IPA link|i}}
|
|{{IPA link|u}}
|- align="center"
![[Mid vowel|Mid]]
|{{IPA link|e}}
|{{IPA link|ə}}
|{{IPA link|o}}
|- align="center"
![[Low vowel|Low]]
|
| colspan="2" |{{IPA link|a}}
|-
![[Diphthong]]
|{{IPA|əi}}
|
|{{IPA|əu}}
|}
* Nasalization also occurs as /{{IPA link|ĩ}}, {{IPA link|ũ}}, {{IPA link|ẽ}}, {{IPA link|ə̃}}, {{IPA link|õ}}, {{IPA link|ã}}/.
* Vowels /{{IPA link|i}}, {{IPA link|u}}, {{IPA link|e}}, {{IPA link|a}}/ are heard as [{{IPA link|ɪ}}, {{IPA link|ʊ}}, {{IPA link|ɛ}}, {{IPA link|ɑ}}] when in lax form.
* {{IPAslink|ə}} is heard as {{IPAblink|ɐ}} when preceding or following velar or glottal consonants.
* {{IPAslink|a}} can be heard as {{IPAblink|æ}} when following {{IPAslink|j}} or as {{IPAblink|ɒ}} when following {{IPAslink|w}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Boehm |first=Edward D. |title=A Descriptive Phonology of Dangaura Tharu |year=2003}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

{{Languages of Nepal}}
{{Bihari languages}}

{{Uttarakhand}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Languages of Nepal]]
[[Category:Bihari languages]]
[[Category:Endangered languages of India]]
[[Category:Languages of Bagmati Province]]
[[Category:Languages of Koshi Province]]
[[Category:Languages of Lumbini Province]]
[[Category:Languages of Madhesh Province]]
[[Category:Languages of Sudurpashchim Province]]
[[Category:Languages of Gandaki Province]]
[[Category:Languages of Karnali Province]]
[[Category:Tharu culture]]
[[Category:Languages written in Devanagari]]
[[Category:Languages of Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Languages of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Languages of Bihar]]

Tharu languages - Revision history

NoraBillings: Added Details