Tamil Alphabet

If you're trying to learn the Tamil Alphabet you will find some useful resources including a course about pronunciation, and sound of all letters... to help you with your Tamil grammar. Try to concentrate on the lesson and memorize the sounds. Also don't forget to check the rest of our other lessons listed on Learn Tamil. Enjoy the rest of the lesson!

Tamil Alphabet

Learning the Tamil alphabet is very important because its structure is used in every day conversation. Without it, you will not be able to say words properly even if you know how to write those words. The better you pronounce a letter in a word, the more understood you will be in speaking the Tamil language.

Below is a table showing the Tamil alphabet and how it is pronounced in English, and finally examples of how those letters would sound if you place them in a word.

Tamil AlphabetEnglish SoundPronunciation Example
Consonant

க்

kas in kit

ங்

as in noon

ச்

cas in cow

ஞ்

ñas in Canyon

ட்

as in toy

ண்

as in news

த்

tas in time

ந்

nas in night

ப்

pas in pool

ம்

mas in man

ய்

yas in you

ர்

ras in rabbit

ல்

las in lion

வ்

vas in very

ழ்

as in red

ள்

as in look

ற்

as in room

ன்

as in night

ஶ்

śas in show

ஜ்

jas in joke

ஷ்

as in smile

ஸ்

sas in small

ஹ்

has in high

க்ஷ்

kṣas in racks
Vowel as in

aas in apple

āas in father

ias in tip

īas in deep

uas in ultimate

ūas in moon

eas in elephant

ēas in weed

aias in Thai

oas in opera

ōas in moon

auas in bowl
Combined letters as in

க (க் + அ)

kaas in cat

கா (க் + ஆ)

as in cow

கி (க் + இ)

kias in kit

கீ (க் + ஈ)

as in kiwi

கு (க் + உ)

kuas in Kung-fu

கூ (க் + ஊ)

as in cooler

கெ (க் + எ)

keas in kept

கே (க் + ஏ)

as in keep

கை (க் + ஐ)

kaias in Cairo

கொ (க் + ஒ)

koas in Congo

கோ (க் + ஓ)

as in cooler

கௌ (க் + ஔ)

kauas in coward

Tamil Pronunciation

You saw how a letter is written and might be pronounced, but there is nothing better than hearing the sound of the letters in a video or audio. Below you will be able to hear how the letters above are pronounced, just press the play button:

Tamil Pronunciation

The alphabet and its pronunciation have a very important role in Tamil. Once you're done with Tamil alphabet, you might want to check the rest of our Tamil lessons here: Learn Tamil. Don't forget to bookmark this page.

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