Lesson 1: Tamil Vowels (உயிர் எழுத்துக்கள்)

Introduction to Tamil Vowels

Tamil has 12 vowels, known as உயிர் எழுத்துக்கள் (uyir ezhuthukkal). These vowels are essential building blocks of the Tamil language. In this lesson, we'll learn all 12 vowels, their pronunciation, and how to write them.

The 12 Tamil Vowels

அ

a

Short 'a' as in 'about'

ஆ

aa

Long 'a' as in 'father'

இ

i

Short 'i' as in 'sit'

ஈ

ii

Long 'i' as in 'seat'

உ

u

Short 'u' as in 'put'

ஊ

uu

Long 'u' as in 'boot'

எ

e

Short 'e' as in 'set'

ஏ

ee

Long 'e' as in 'say'

ஐ

ai

Diphthong 'ai' as in 'aisle'

ஒ

o

Short 'o' as in 'hot'

ஓ

oo

Long 'o' as in 'boat'

ஔ

au

Diphthong 'au' as in 'cow'

Pronunciation Tips

  • Pay attention to the difference between short and long vowels. Long vowels are held for a longer duration.
  • Practice the diphthongs 'ai' and 'au' carefully, as they are combinations of two vowel sounds.
  • Listen to native speakers or audio resources to perfect your pronunciation.
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