Chapter 1.2 Consonants
Tamil Consonants
In this chapter we will learn the Tamil consonants and learn to identify, write and pronounce them.
The consonants are are called Mei ezhuthukaL. They are listed below.
க், ங், ச், ஞ், ட், ண், த், ந், ப், ம், ய், ர், ல், வ், ழ், ள், ற், ன்.
Learn the Tamil consonants using this video
Video for pronouncing Tamil consonants created by Vidya Mohan. 2024, CC BY-NC 4.0
Notes on Consonants
வல்லினம்(Hard/Vallinam) க், ச்,ட், த்,ப், ற்
மெல்லினம்(Soft/Mellinam) ஞ், ங், ண்,ந்,ம்,ன்
இடையினம் (Medium/Idaiynam) ய், ர், ல்,வ்,ழ்,ள்
Pronunciation of Consonants
This chart below shows how to pronounce the consonants with simple English examples.
Consonant | Group | Pronunciation Help |
---|---|---|
க் | vallinam | k as in king |
ங் | mellinam | ng as in king |
ச் | vallinam | ch as in match |
ஞ் | mellinam | ng as in plunge |
ட் | vallinam | t as in top |
ண் | mellinam | n as in cinder |
த் | vallinam | th as in bath |
ந் | mellinam | n as in pan |
ப் | vallinam | p as in puck |
ம் | mellinam | m as in from |
ய் | idaiyinam | y as in yak |
ர் | idaiyinam | r as in fur |
ல் | idaiyinam | l as in lump |
வ் | idaiyinam | v as in vice |
ழ் | idaiyinam | tongue retracted to produce “zh” |
ள் | idaiyinam | l as in marble |
ற் | vallinam | tr as in trick |
ன் | mellinam | n as in fin |
Pronouncing the Consonants Activity
Writing the Consonants Activity
Consonant writing worksheet is given below for you to print and practice writing the consonants by hand.
Tamil consonant handwritten worksheet (PDF)
Here is a complete image of all the alphabets we have learnt so far.