Fact · Languages and accents
Unicode says the dependent vowels, written on a consonant, are the common way to show vowels other than the inherent one, and that they are called matras in Sanskrit.
Checked against its source on October 17, 2026
In the source's own words
“The dependent vowels serve as the common manner of writing noninherent vowels and are generally referred to as vowel signs ... or as matras in Sanskrit.”
The Unicode Standard, Version 15.0, Chapter 12: South and Central Asia, Unicode Consortium, 2022, Chapter 12, Devanagari, dependent vowel signs (matras).
Open the original- What it measures
- The section defines the dependent vowel signs that are attached to a consonant letter in Devanagari.
- What it does not show
- The definition covers the vowel signs in Devanagari text. It does not say how many matras a teacher should use in a dictation test.