Tamil Language/Consonants
Introduction
[edit | edit source]Here you can learn to write the Tamil consonants. It should be noted that the pure consonants all have a 'pulli' (dot) placed above them. When written without this 'pulli' the consonants are read with the vowel 'அ' (a) added after them, that is, 'க்'(k) is pronounced as 'க' (ka) (க்+அ). You may find it easier to pronounce the consonants with the vowel 'அ' added to them (that is, ka, nga, cha, nga, ta, na, etc.) We shall learn the other combinations of consonants and vowels in our next lesson.
Writing Consonants
[edit | edit source]| Consonant | Group | Pronounciation Help | How to write |
|---|---|---|---|
| க் | vallinam | k + a as in kaite |  |
| ங் | mellinam | ng as in ring |  |
| ச் | vallinam | ch as in catch |  |
| ஞ் | mellinam | ng as in syringe |  |
| ட் | vallinam | t as in tap |  |
| ண் | mellinam | n as in Cinderella |  |
| த் | vallinam | th as in both |  |
| ந் | mellinam | n as in panther |  |
| ப் | vallinam | p as in pack |  |
| ம் | mellinam | m as in plum |  |
| ய் | idaiyinam | y as in yak |  |
| ர் | idaiyinam | r as in stir |  |
| ல் | idaiyinam | l as in lamp |  |
| வ் | idaiyinam | v as in victory |  |
| ழ் | idaiyinam | (tongue retracted) |  |
| ள் | idaiyinam | l as in marble |  |
| ற் | vallinam | tr as in citric |  |
| ன் | mellinam | n as in sin |  |