Consonants
|
---|
IPA |
Tamil |
English equivalent
|
---|
b
|
ப |
abash
| β
|
வ |
van to water
| d̪
|
த |
ado (closer to French d)
| ɖ
|
ட |
guard
| dʒ
|
ஜ[1] |
hedge
| ð
|
த |
other
| ɡ
|
க |
agate
| h
|
க |
head (final only)
| j
|
ய |
yak
| k
|
க |
scan
| l̪
|
ல |
leaf
| ɭ
|
ள |
curl
| m
|
ம |
much
| n̪
|
ந |
tenth
| n
|
ன |
not
| ɳ
|
ண |
burner
| ɲ
|
ஞ |
canyon
| ŋ
|
ங |
bank
| p
|
ப |
span
| r
|
ற |
trilled r
| ɾ̪
|
ர |
(US) ladder
| ɽ
|
ட |
(US) larder
| ɻ
|
ழ |
morrow
| s
|
ச |
sue
| t̪
|
த, ற |
stable (closer to French t)
| ʈ
|
ட |
art
| tʃ
|
ச |
catch
| ʋ
|
வ |
between w and v
| x
|
ஃ |
loch
|
|
Vowels
|
---|
IPA |
Tamil |
English equivalent
|
---|
aː
|
ஆ |
Spanish or French a to English bra
| eː
|
ஏ |
between yell and Yale
| ɛ
|
எ |
yell
| ə
|
அ |
nut
| əj
|
ஐ |
kite
| əʋ
|
ஔ |
house (Canada)
| iː
|
ஈ |
feet
| ɪ
|
இ |
dill
| oː
|
ஓ |
old
| ɔ
|
ஒ |
law
| uː
|
ஊ |
loot
| ʊ
|
உ |
look
| ɯ
|
உ |
pencil
| ̃
|
-ம, -ன |
nasal vowel ([ãː], [õː], etc.)
|
|