TamilFeed learning guide

Tamil Consonants: Mei Ezhuthukkal Chart தமிழ் மெய்யெழுத்துகள்

Tamil has 18 core consonant letters, called மெய்யெழுத்துகள் (mei ezhuthukkal). Mei means “body.” When a consonant is written by itself, the pulli mark (்) above or beside its form indicates that it is not followed by its inherent vowel. For example, க் is the stand-alone consonant form; க is read with the inherent a vowel.

தமிழில் 18 மெய்யெழுத்துகள் உள்ளன. தனியாக எழுதும்போது புள்ளி (்) குறி மெய்யெழுத்தைக் குறிக்கிறது. எடுத்துக்காட்டாக, க் என்பது மெய்யெழுத்து; க என்பது இயல்பான அ ஒலியுடன் வாசிக்கப்படுகிறது.

Tamil consonant sounds can shift with their position in a word and surrounding sounds. The transliterations below identify the traditional consonant series, not every spoken variation.

The pulli mark (்) suppresses the vowel in the stand-alone form, as in க் (k).
The consonant classes are often taught as வல்லினம் (vallinam, hard), மெல்லினம் (mellinam, soft/nasal), and இடையினம் (idaiyinam, medial).
Pair a consonant with each vowel to make its 12 உயிர்மெய் forms.

The 18 Tamil consonants பதினெட்டு மெய்யெழுத்துகள்

The Tamil letter names are shown with their inherent a vowel; the isolated consonants include pulli.

க்kLetter name: kaStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ங்ṅLetter name: ṅaStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ச்cLetter name: caStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ஞ்ñLetter name: ñaStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ட்ṭLetter name: ṭaStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ண்ṇLetter name: ṇaStand-alone form with pulli (்).

த்tLetter name: taStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ந்nLetter name: naStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ப்pLetter name: paStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ம்mLetter name: maStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ய்yLetter name: yaStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ர்rLetter name: raStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ல்lLetter name: laStand-alone form with pulli (்).

வ்vLetter name: vaStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ழ்ḻLetter name: ḻaStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ள்ḷLetter name: ḷaStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ற்ṟLetter name: ṟaStand-alone form with pulli (்).

ன்ṉLetter name: ṉaStand-alone form with pulli (்).

Roman transliterations are included as learning aids. Tamil pronunciation can vary by context, and English sound comparisons are approximate. For the combined-letter count and classifications, see the Tamil Virtual Academy lesson on Tamil letters.

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