| 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.)
|
|
