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

• They always have a dot (puLLi/புள்ளி) on top.
• They always start with the “e” sound.
• It is interesting to note that some of the consonants are called a family (inam) and will appear together in words. These pairs are க்-ங், ச்-ஞ், ட்-ண், த்-ந், ப்-ம் and ற்-ன்.
• There are some consonants that sound alike ந்,ண்,ன், ல்,ள்,ழ் and ர்,ற்.
• These consonants that sound alike are differentiated by whether the sound arises from the nose, throat or chest.

The consonants are further divided into soft, hard and medium (Vallinam, Mellinam and Idaiynam).

• 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

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.