Plosives (stops)
வெடிப்பொலிகள்வல்லினம்The tongue or lips close the mouth completely, air builds up behind, then bursts out.
- ச Often softened to “s”, or said “ch” when doubled (ச்ச).
- ற A trill on its own (ṟa); doubled ற்ற is a stop, close to “tt”.
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Where sounds are made
ஒலிகள் பிறக்கும் இடம்
Tamil's consonant chart follows the mouth. Press a letter: the tongue, lips and soft palate move into place, and the blue dashes of air show whether the sound leaves through the mouth or the nose.
Hardவல்லினம்
Softமெல்லினம்
In-betweenஇடையினம்
க
வல்லினம் · Hard · “ka”
The air is stopped completely, then released with a small burst.
Back of the tongue + soft palate
Plosives, nasals and liquids
The names phonetics uses for these sounds, next to Tamil’s own three families. Hard sounds are plosives and soft sounds are nasals; the in-between sounds are liquids and glides. Tap a letter to hear it.
Nasals
மூக்கொலிகள்மெல்லினம்The mouth closes in the same place as a plosive, but the soft palate drops and the air flows out through the nose.
Liquids
ஒழுகொலிகள்இடையினம்The tongue shapes the air without stopping it, so the sound can be held: r- and l-sounds.
- ர A quick tap of the tongue tip on the ridge.
- ல Lateral: the tip touches the ridge and air flows round the sides.
- ள Lateral, with the tongue tip curled back.
- ழ Tamil’s own sound: the tip curls back but never touches.
Glides (semivowels)
அரையுயிர்கள்இடையினம்Almost vowels: the tongue or lips move toward a vowel position, like the y in “yes” and the v in “very”.
Practise
க“ka”
Where is this sound made?
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