kɐn̪ n̪ əɽɐ

ಕನ ಡ
Kannada

sarvabhāshin
Script
The Kannada letters and words described in this book are each
accompanied by a pronunciation key in the International
Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Please refer to these IPA keys for the
exact pronunciation of a Kannada letter or word.

The IPA is a scientific notation used for accurately transcribing

the sounds of most human languages. More about the IPA can
be found at http://www.yorku.ca/earmstro/ipa/ and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa .

The similarities described in this book between the

pronunciations of Kannada letters and ‘corresponding’ English
letters are only guidelines and should be considered as such.
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This letter has a sound similar to

k in skip

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This letter has a sound similar to

g in go

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These are the letters we’ve just seen

k ɡ

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This letter has a sound similar to

p in speak

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This letter has a sound similar to

b in bat

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These are the letters we’ve seen so far

k ɡ

p b

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This letter has a sound similar to

tch in catch

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This letter has a sound similar to

dge in badge

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These are the letters we’ve seen so far

k ɡ

p b

ʨ ʥ

The sounds of these letters are all called consonants

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Here’s a vowel sound

ɐ
This vowel sounds similar to

u in cut

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Look at these letters

kɐ ɡɐ

ಕ ಗ
pɐ bɐ

ಪ ಬ
ʨɐ ʥɐ

ಚ ಜ
The sounds of these letters are made up of a consonant and a vowel

Notice how the letters look slightly different from their original shape?
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In short –

k kɐ

ಕ
ɡ ɡɐ

ಗ
p pɐ

ಪ
b
- ◌್ = bɐ

ಬ
ʨ ʨɐ

ಚ
ʥ ʥɐ

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Here’s another vowel

This vowelsounds similar to

i in pin

This vowel has a special sign of its own –

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Now look at these ‘combo’ letters,

each having the sound of a consonant plus a vowel

ki ɡi

pi bi

ʨi ʥi

Again, notice the difference from the original shape of the ‘basic’ letter?

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In short –

k ki

ɡ ɡi

p pi

b
- ◌್ + ◌ಿ = bi

ʨ ʨi

ʥ ʥi

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Notice the slightly different shape of this letter,

compared to the others

ɡi

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And another vowel

This vowel sounds similar to

u in bull

This vowel, too, has a special sign of its own –

◌ು

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And some new combo letters,

with their shape slightly changed from the original –

ku ɡu

ಕು ಗು
pu bu

ಪ ಬು
ʨu ʥu

ಚು ಜು
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And again, in short –

k ku

ಕು
ɡ ɡu

ಗು
p pu

ಪ
b
- ◌್ + ◌ು = bu

ಬು
ʨ ʨu

ಚು
ʥ ʥu

ು
Get the idea?!

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Notice the slightly different shape of this letter,

compared to the others

pu

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These are all the various ‘basic’ and ‘combo’ letters we’ve seen thus far

k kɐ ki ku

ಕ ಕು
ɡ ɡɐ ɡi ɡu

ಗ ಗು
p pɐ pi pu

ಪ ಪ
b bɐ bi bu

ಬ ಬು
ʨ ʨɐ ʨi ʨu

ಚ ಚು
ʥ ʥɐ ʥi ʥu

ಜ ಜು
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These letters look similar –

ʨ ʨɐ ʨi ʨu

ಚ ಚು
ʥ ʥɐ ʥi ʥu

ಜ ಜು

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When two letters come one after the other

and the first one has no vowel sound,

that is, it is a ◌್ letter,

then the second letter is written in a ‘mini’ version
below the first one

k ʨɐ kʨɐ

+ ಚ = ಕ
p ɡi pɡi

+ =
ʥ bu ʥbu

+ ಬು = ಜು
b ʥ bʥ

+ =

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Note that in such cases,

any vowel or other signs originally belonging to the second letter
are written attached to the first letter –

k ʨɐ kʨɐ

+ ಚ = ಕ
p ɡi pɡi

+ =
ʥ bu ʥbu

+ ಬು = ಜು
b ʥ bʥ

+ =
It’s as if the first and the second letter together
form a new ‘joint’ letter

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Here are the mini versions

of all the letters we’ve seen so far

When the second letter has no vowel –

k k

◌್
ɡ ɡ

◌್
p p

◌್
◌್ + b
= b

◌್
ʨ ʨ

◌್
ʥ ʥ

◌್
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When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

kɐ kɐ

ಕ ◌
ɡɐ ɡɐ

ಗ ◌
pɐ pɐ

ಪ ◌
◌್ + bɐ
= bɐ

ಬ ◌
ʨɐ ʨɐ

ಚ ◌
ʥɐ ʥɐ

ಜ ◌

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When the second letter has the vowel i –

ki ki

◌ಿ
ɡi ɡi

◌ಿ
pi pi

◌ಿ
◌್ + bi
= bi

◌ಿ
ʨi ʨi

◌ಿ
ʥi ʥi

◌ಿ

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And when the second letter has the vowel u –

ku ku

ಕು ◌ು
ɡu ɡu

ಗು ◌ು
pu pu

ಪ ◌ು
◌್ + bu
= bu

ಬು ◌ು
ʨu ʨu

ಚು ◌ು
ʥu ʥu

ಜು ◌ು

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To sum up, the mini versionsare special forms

that appear after a letter having ◌್

These mini versions can occur in the middleor at the end of a word,
but never at the beginning

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This letter has a sound similar to

y in yo-yo

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This letter has a sound similar to

r in Italian Roma

This is a ‘rolled’ /r/, as in Spanish or Italian

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This letter has a sound similar to

l in lad

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This letter has a sound similar to

v in victory

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These are the letters we’ve just seen

j r

l ʋ

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This is how these letters look, when the ɐ sound is added

jɐ rɐ

ಯ ರ
lɐ ʋɐ

ಲ ವ

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This is how these letters look, when the i sound is added

ji ri

li ʋi

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Notice the slightly different shape of this letter,

compared to the others

ri

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This is how these letters look, when the u sound is added

ju ru

ಯು ರು
lu ʋu

ಲು ವ

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Notice the slightly different shape of this letter,

compared to the others

ʋu

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These are all the various basic and combo letters

we’ve just seen

j jɐ ji ju

ಯ ಯು
r rɐ ri ru

ರ ರು
l lɐ li lu

ಲ ಲು
ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu

ವ ವ

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These letters look very similar –

p pɐ pi pu

ಪ ಪ
ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu

ವ ವ

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These combo letters look somewhat similar –

jɐ ju

ಯ ಯು
Remember that ju has an extra curl at the end

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Here are the mini versions

of the letters we’ve just seen

When the second letter has no vowel –

j j

◌್
r r

◌್
◌್ + l
= l

◌್
ʋ ʋ

◌್

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When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

jɐ jɐ

ಯ ◌
rɐ rɐ

ರ ◌
◌್ + lɐ
= lɐ

ಲ ◌
ʋɐ ʋɐ

ವ ◌

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When the second letter has the vowel i –

ji ji

◌ಿ
ri ri

◌ಿ
◌್ + li
= li

◌ಿ
ʋi ʋi

◌ಿ

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And when the second letter has the vowel u –

ju ju

ಯು ◌ು
ru ru

ರು ◌ು
◌್ + lu
= lu

ಲು ◌ು
ʋu ʋu

ವ ◌ು

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Note that most of the mini versions we’ve just seen

look quite different from their ‘full’ versions –

jɐ

ಯ◌
rɐ

ರ ◌
lɐ

ಲ ◌

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These mini versions look somewhat similar –

pɐ ʋɐ

◌ ◌

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r likes being different from the rest

For instance, you would expect

r kɐ

+
ಕ
to look like

ರ
But it doesn’t!

Instead, it is written like this –

rkɐ

ಕ
That is, rtakes on a special mini form

and jumps ahead of the next letter!

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Some more examples will make this a little clear

r ʨɐ rʨɐ

+ ಚ = ಚ
r pi rpi

+ =
r ju rju

+ ಯು = ಯು
r ʋ rʋ

+ =
r rɐ rrɐ

+ ರ = ರ
Don’t stress. This will become second nature as you learn more.

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These are some actual Kannada words

Can you read them?

ಯುಗ ಜರುಗು

ವಗ ಚಚು ಗಬು

ಪ ವ ಯ

ಪಕ ಲ ಕಪ

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Here are their pronunciations and meanings

biri juɡɐ ʥɐrʊɡu1

ಯುಗ ಜರುಗು
crack, burst eon, era move aside, shift
ʋɐrɡɐ ʨɐrʨu ɡɐbbu

ವಗ ಚಚು ಗಬು
category church stink, stench
pɐlli ʋjəjɐ1

ಪ ವ ಯ
lizard expenditure
pukkəlɐ1 ʨikkəppɐ1

ಪಕ ಲ ಕಪ
coward, sissy father’s younger brother

Some pronunciation keys above have been marked with a superscript 1

In these keys,
ə is a short or ‘lazily pronounced’ version of ɐ
and ʊ is a short or lazily pronounced version of u

For now, just assume

ə=ɐ
ʊ=u
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This letter has a sound similar to

s in sit

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This letter has a sound similar to

sh in ship

Some people pronounce this letter similar to

s in sit

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This letter has a sound similar to

h in hat

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These are the letters we’ve just seen

s ɕ

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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for ɐ, i and u

sɐ ɕɐ ɦɐ

ಸ ಶ ಹ
si ɕi ɦi

su ɕu ɦu

ಸು ಶು ಹು
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Notice the slightly different shapes of these letters

ɕi ɦi

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These are all the various basic and combo letters

we’ve just seen

s sɐ si su

ಸ ಸು
ɕ ɕɐ ɕi ɕu

ಶ ಶು
ɦ ɦɐ ɦi ɦu

ಹ ಹು

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These letters look somewhat similar –

p pɐ pi pu

ಪ ಪ
s sɐ si su

ಸ ಸು

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Here are the mini versions

of the letters we’ve just seen

When the second letter has no vowel –

s s

◌್
ɕ ɕ

◌್ + = ◌್
ɦ ɦ

◌್

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When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

sɐ sɐ

ಸ ◌
ɕɐ ɕɐ

◌್ + ಶ = ◌
ɦɐ ɦɐ

ಹ ◌

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When the second letter has the vowel i –

si si

◌ಿ
ɕi ɕi

◌್ + = ◌ಿ
ɦi ɦi

◌ಿ

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And when the second letter has the vowel u –

su su

ಸ ◌ು
ɕu ɕu

◌್ + ಶ = ◌ು
ɦu ɦu

ಹ ◌ು

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Some actual Kannada words with these letters we’ve just seen

ಶು ಹಬ

ಶಕ ಹುಚು

ಸ ಲ ಹಸ

ಸು ಶುಕ ಗ ಹ

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How many correct?

sɐri siɦi

ಸ
OK, all right sweet
ɕiɕu ɦɐbbɐ

ಶು ಹಬ
infant festival
ɕɐkjɐ ɦuʨʨu

ಶಕ ಹುಚು
possible madness, mania
sʋɐlpɐ ɦrɐsʋɐ

ಸ ಲ ಹಸ
a little, some short
ɦiɡɡɪsu1 ɕukrəɡrəɦɐ

ಸು ಶುಕ ಗ ಹ
expand, enlarge Venus (planet)

1
ɪ is a short or lazily pronounced version of i
For now, just assume ɪ = i

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n̪

This letter has a sound similar to’

n in tenth

To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue

touches the back of your front teeth

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This letter has a sound similar to

m in mother

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These are the basic letters

we’ve just seen

n̪ m

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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for ɐ, i and u

n̪ ɐ mɐ

ನ ಮ
n̪ i mi

n̪ u mu

ನು ಮು
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These are all the various basic and combo letters

we’ve just seen

n̪ n̪ ɐ n̪ i n̪ u

ನ ನು
m mɐ mi mu

ಮ ಮು

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These sets of letters look similar –

s sɐ si su

ಸ ಸು
n̪ n̪ ɐ n̪ i n̪ u

ನ ನು
p pɐ pi pu

ಪ ಪ
ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu

ವ ವ
m mɐ mi mu

ಮ ಮು
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Here are the mini versions

of the letters we’ve just seen

When the second letter has no vowel –

n̪ n̪

◌್
◌್ + m
= m

◌್
When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

n̪ ɐ n̪ ɐ

ನ ◌
◌್ + mɐ
= mɐ

ಮ ◌
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When the second letter has the vowel i –

n̪ i n̪ i

◌ಿ
◌್ + mi
= mi

◌ಿ
And when the second letter has the vowel u –

n̪ u n̪ u

ನ ◌ು
◌್ + mu
= mu

ಮ ◌ು
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Note that most of the mini versions we’ve just seen

look quite different from their ‘full’ versions –

n̪ ɐ

ನ ◌
mɐ

ಮ ◌

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Some actual Kannada words with these letters we’ve just seen

ಮಗನು ಚಮ

ನ ಬಹ

ಜನ ಮುಗ ಲು

ಮ ಸು ಕ ರು

ಕಮ ಮುನು ಗು

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Here’s how you pronounce them, and what they mean

mɐɡən̪ u ʨɐrmɐ

ಮಗನು ಚಮ
son skin
ʨin̪ n̪ u brɐɦmɐ

ನ ಬಹ
gold Brahma, a Hindu god
ʥɐn̪ mɐ muɡɡəlu

ಜನ ಮುಗ ಲು
birth mould, fungus
mɐn̪ n̪ ɪsu miksəru

ಮ ಸು ಕ ರು
forgive, pardon mixer, blender
ʨikkəmmɐ mun̪ n̪ ʊɡɡu

ಕಮ ಮುನು ಗು
father’s younger brother’s wife go forward, proceed

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Remember the mini version rule? Let’s extend it slightly.

When two or more letters come one after the other

and all before the last have no vowel sound,

that is, they are all ◌್ letters,

then all letters after the first one
are written in their respective ‘mini’ versions
below the first one

l k jɐ lkjɐ

+ +ಯ=ಲ
ɕ ʨ ʋi ɕʨʋi

+ + =
m b ru mbru

+ + ರು = ಮು
m p s mps

+ + =ಮ
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Again, remember that

any vowel or other signs originally belonging to the last letter
are written attached to the first letter –

l k jɐ lkjɐ

+ +ಯ=ಲ
ɕ ʨ ʋi ɕʨʋi

+ + =
m b ru mbru

+ + ರು = ಮು
m p s mps

+ + =ಮ
So, all these letters in question together
form a new ‘joint’ letter

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r, as expected, decides to rebel

Remember that

r kɐ rkɐ

+ ಕ = ಕ
Let’s extend this rule a bit

r k jɐ rkjɐ

+ +ಯ= ಕ

That is, r takes on its special mini form

and jumps ahead of all the letters

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One thing to note

Since

k rɐ krɐ

+ ರ = ಕ
therefore

k r jɐ krjɐ

+ +ಯ= ಕ

So, r takes on its special mini form

only when it is the first letter of such a no-vowel sequence

like in the example we saw on the previous page –

r k jɐ rkjɐ

+ +ಯ= ಕ
The good news is, such strings of letters are quite rare in Kannada J

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Here’s a new vowel, along with its sign

◌ೆ
This vowel sounds similar to

e in pen

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Now look at these combo letters,

each having the sound of a consonant plus the e vowel

ke ɡe

ೆ ೆ
pe be

ೆ ೆ
ʨe ʥe

ೆ ೆ
je re

ೆ
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And some more combo letters, with this new vowel

le ʋe

ೆ ೆ
se ɕe

ೆ ೆ
ɦe

ೆ
n̪ e me

ೆ
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Here’s a few words with our new vowel

ಮ ೆ ೆ ೆ

ೆ ೆ ಬ ೆ

ೆಕ ೆ

ೆ ೆ ೆಸರು

ಚು ೆ

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And here’s how you say them, and what they mean

mɐn̪ e kere

ಮ ೆ ೆ ೆ
house, home lake
bele bɐɡɡe

ೆ ೆ ಬ ೆ
price, value about, concerning
lekkɐ sippe

ೆಕ ೆ
calculation, accounts peel, husk
ɦeʥʥe ɦesəru

ೆ ೆ ೆಸರು
step, pace name
jemen̪ meʨʨʊɡe

ಚು ೆ
Yemen, an Arab country praise

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Here’s another vowel, along with its sign

◌ೊ
This vowel sounds similar to

o in or

but shorter in length

This sign looks like

◌ೆ + ◌ೂ
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Now look at these combo letters,

each having the sound of a consonant plus the o vowel

ko ɡo

ೊ ೊ
po bo

ೊ
ʨo ʥo

ೊ ೊ
jo ro

ೊ
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And some more combo letters, with this new vowel

lo ʋo

ೊ
so ɕo

ೊ ೊ
ɦo

ೊ
n̪ o mo

ೊ
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Note that for j,

the right-most curl is removed

before the ◌ೊ o vowel is added

j o jo

- ◌್ + ◌ೊ =

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And some new words with our new vowel

ೊ ೆ ೊ ೆ

ೊ ೆ ೊಜು

ೊಪ ೊರ ೆ

ಗರು ೊಬ ರ

ವ ಗ ಮನ ಸು

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Here are their pronunciations and meanings

sose n̪ ore

ೊ ೆ ೊ ೆ
daughter-in-law foam, froth
koʨʨe ɡoʥʥu

ೊ ೆ ೊಜು
muck thick sauce
soppu ɦorəɡe

ೊಪ ೊರ ೆ
green vegetables outside
poɡəru ɡobbərɐ

ಗರು ೊಬ ರ
arrogance manure
ɕiʋəmoɡɡɐ mɐn̪ əʋolisu

ವ ಗ ಮನ ಸು
Shimoga, a town in Karnataka persuade, win over

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t̪

This letter has a sound similar to

t in Spanish toro

To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue

touches the back of your front teeth

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d̪

This letter has a sound similar to

d in Spanish diez

To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue

touches the back of your front teeth

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These are the basic letters

we’ve just seen

t̪ d̪

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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for ɐ, i and u

t̪ ɐ d̪ ɐ

ತ ದ
t̪ i d̪ i

t̪ u d̪ u

ತು ದು
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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for e and o

t̪ e d̪ e

ೆ ೆ
t̪ o d̪ o

ೊ ೊ

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These are all the various basic and combo letters

we’ve just seen

t̪ t̪ ɐ t̪ i t̪ u t̪ e t̪ o

ತ ತು ೆ ೊ
d̪ d̪ ɐ d̪ i d̪ u d̪ e d̪ o

ದ ದು ೆ ೊ

Notice the slightly different shape of

d̪ i

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Here are the mini versions

of the letters we’ve just seen

Let’s just take the simplest example

When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

t̪ ɐ t̪ ɐ

ತ ◌
◌್ + d̪ ɐ
= d̪ ɐ

ದ ◌
Note that the mini version of t̪
looksquite different from its ‘full’ version –

t̪ ɐ

ತ ◌

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Can you read these Kannada words?

ೆ ೊ ೆ

ದಪ ಸದು

ೆಲುಗು ೊಗಲು

ಮುತು ವ

ನವ ೆಹ ನು ವ ದು
New Delhi food

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How’d you fare?

d̪ iɕe d̪ ore

ೆ ೊ ೆ
direction king
d̪ ɐppɐ sɐd̪ d̪ u

ದಪ ಸದು
fat, thick noise
t̪ elʊɡu t̪ oɡəlu

ೆಲುಗು ೊಗಲು
Telugu, a southern Indian language hide, leather
mut̪ t̪ u ʋjɐkt̪ i

ಮುತು ವ
pearl person
n̪ ɐʋədeɦəli t̪ in̪ n̪ ʊʋʊd̪ u

ನವ ೆಹ ನು ವ ದು
New Delhi food

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This letter has a sound similar to

t in ash tray

To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue

curls right back and touches the roof of your mouth

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This letter has a sound similar to

d in rushed

To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue

curls right back and touches the roof of your mouth

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Sometimes, this letter also has a sound similar to

tt in the American pronunciation of better

dd in the American pronunciation of ladder
r in Spanish pero

but with the tongue curled further back

and ‘flapping’ against the roof of the mouth

This particular sound occurs

only when the letter appears in certain positions in a word,
and will be marked in the pronunciation key

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These are the basic letters

we’ve just seen

ʈ ɖ

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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for ɐ, i and u

ʈɐ ɖɐ

ಟ ಡ
ʈi ɖi

ʈu ɖu

ಟು ಡು
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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for e and o

ʈe ɖe

ೆ ೆ
ʈo ɖo

ೊ ೊ

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These are all the various basic and combo letters

we’ve just seen

ʈ ʈɐ ʈi ʈu ʈe ʈo

ಟ ಟು ೆ ೊ
ɖ ɖɐ ɖi ɖu ɖe ɖo

ಡ ಡು ೆ ೊ

Notice the slightly different shape of

ɖi

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Here are the mini versions

of the letters we’ve just seen

Let’s just take the simplest example

When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

ʈɐ ʈɐ

ಟ ◌
◌್ + ɖɐ
= ɖɐ

ಡ ◌

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These sets of letters look similar –

d̪ d̪ ɐ d̪ i d̪ u d̪ e d̪ o

ದ ದು ೆ ೊ
ɖ ɖɐ ɖi ɖu ɖe ɖo

ಡ ಡು ೆ ೊ
As do their mini versions –

d̪ ɐ ɖɐ

◌ ◌

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And some Kannada words with these new letters

ತು ಕರ

ಟ ದುಡು

ಡಬ ಪಟ

ಗ ೆ ೆ

ೊ ನಡುಗು

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All correct?

t̪ uʈi kɐrəɽi

ತು ಕರ
lip bear
kiʈəki d̪ uɖɖu

ಟ ದುಡು
window money
ɖɐbbɐ puʈʈɐ

ಡಬ ಪಟ
box small, little
ɡɐɖɖe moʈʈe

ಗ ೆ ೆ
lump egg
roʈʈi n̪ ɐɖʊɡu

ೊ ನಡುಗು
roṭi, Indian unleavened bread shiver, tremble

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Remember this letter?

The letter below is pronounced just like the one above,

except that the letter below is pronounced with a little ‘puff of air’

kʰ

It has a sound similar to

ck-h in brick-house

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Remember this letter?

The letter below is pronounced just like the one above,

except that the letter below is pronounced with a little ‘puff of air’

ɡʱ

It has a sound similar to

ggh in egghead

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Remember this letter?

The letter below is pronounced just like the one above,

except that the letter below is pronounced with a little ‘puff of air’

pʰ

It has a sound similar to

ph in uphold

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Remember this letter?

The letter below is pronounced just like the one above,

except that the letter below is pronounced with a little ‘puff of air’

bʱ

It has a sound similar to

bh in clubhouse

119
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Remember this letter?

The letter below is pronounced just like the one above,

except that the letter below is pronounced with a little ‘puff of air’

ʨʰ

It has a sound similar to

ch-h in church-house

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Remember this letter?

The letter below is pronounced just like the one above,

except that the letter below is pronounced with a little ‘puff of air’

ʥʱ

It has a sound similar to

dgeh in badgeholder

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These are the basic letters we’ve just seen

kʰ ɡʱ

pʰ bʱ

ʨʰ ʥʱ

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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for ɐ

kʰɐ ɡʱɐ

ಖ ಘ
pʰɐ bʱɐ

ಫ ಭ
ʨʰɐ ʥʱɐ

ಛ ಝ
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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for i

kʰi ɡʱi

pʰi bʱi

ʨʰi ʥʱi

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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for u

kʰu ɡʱu

ಖು ಘು
pʰu bʱu

ಫ ಭು
ʨʰu ʥʱʊ

ಛು ಝು
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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for e

kʰe ɡʱe

ೆ ೆ
pʰe bʱe

ೆ ೆ
ʨʰe ʥʱe

ೆ
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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for o

kʰo ɡʱo

ೊ ೊ
pʰo bʱo

ೊ
ʨʰo ʥʱo

ೊ
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These are all the various basic and combo letters

we’ve just seen

kʰ kʰɐ kʰi kʰu kʰe kʰo

ಖ ಖು ೆ ೊ
ɡʱ ɡʱɐ ɡʱi ɡʱu ɡʱe ɡʱo

ಘ ಘು ೆ ೊ
pʰ pʰɐ pʰi pʰu pʰe pʰo

ಫ ಫ ೆ
bʱ bʱɐ bʱi bʱu bʱe bʱo

ಭ ಭು ೆ ೊ
And the list goes on…

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And…

ʨʰ ʨʰɐ ʨʰi ʨʰu ʨʰe ʨʰo

ಛ ಛು ೆ ೊ
ʥʱ ʥʱɐ ʥʱi

ಝ
ʥʱu ʥʱe ʥʱo

ಝು
...done!

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Most of these ‘puff-of-air’ letters

have a little ‘pendulum’ at the bottom –

ɡʱ

pʰ

bʱ

ʨʰ

ʥʱ

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In some cases, this pendulum is the only thing

that differentiates these puff-of-air letters
from the ones with no puff of air –

p pʰ

b bʱ

These two combo letters have one more difference

other than the pendulum,
namely the swish at the upper right

bɐ bʱɐ

ಬ ಭ
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These sets of letters lookvery similar –

ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu ʋe ʋo

ವ ವ ೆ
p pɐ pi pu pe po

ಪ ಪ ೆ
pʰ pʰɐ pʰi pʰu pʰe pʰo

ಫ ಫ ೆ
ɡʱ ɡʱɐ ɡʱi ɡʱu ɡʱe ɡʱo

ಘ ಘು ೆ ೊ

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Notice how ʋi looks slightly different

from other combo letters for i

ʋi

pi pʰi ɡʱi

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Also notice how ɡʱu and ɡʱo look slightly different from the rest –

ɡʱu ɡʱo

ಘು ೊ
ʋu ʋo

ವ
pu po

ಪ
pʰu pʰo

ಫ
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These sets of letters look similar –

r rɐ ri ru re ro

ರ ರು ೆ ೊ
j jɐ ji

ಯ
ju je jo

ಯು
ʥʱ ʥʱɐ ʥʱi

ಝ
ʥʱu ʥʱe ʥʱo

ಝು
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These combo letters look somewhat similar –

ru jɐ ʥʱɐ

ರು ಯ ಝ
Remember that ʥʱu has an extra curl at the end –

ʥʱɐ ʥʱu

ಝ ಝು

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Here are the mini versions

of the letters we’ve just seen

Let’s just take the simplest example

When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

kʰɐ kʰɐ

ಖ ◌
ɡʱɐ ɡʱɐ

ಘ ◌
◌್ + pʰɐ
= pʰɐ

ಫ ◌
bʱɐ bʱɐ

ಭ ◌
More to come…

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And here are the remaining ones

ʨʰɐ ʨʰɐ

ಛ ◌
◌್ + =
ʥʱɐ ʥʱɐ

ಝ ◌

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Some Kannada words with the new letters we’ve just seen

ಫಲ ಝ ನ

ಛ ಭ ಮುಖ

ದ ಘನ ೆ

ಘಟಕ ಸಭ ೆ ಝಲ

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Full marks?

pʰɐlɐ ʥʱɐri kʰin̪ n̪ ɐ

ಫಲ ಝ ನ
fruit stream, rivulet sad, depressed
ʨʰɐt̪ ri bʱɐkt̪ i mukʰjɐ

ಛ ಭ ಮುಖ
umbrella devotion main
ʨʰid̪ rɐ pʰilm ɡʱɐn̪ ət̪ e

ದ ಘನ ೆ
pore, opening film dignity
ɡʱɐʈəkɐ sɐbʱjət̪ e ʥʱɐlləri

ಘಟಕ ಸಭ ೆ ಝಲ
unit politeness, manners cymbal

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Remember this letter?

t̪

The letter below is pronounced just like the one above,

except that the letter below is pronounced with a little ‘puff of air’

t̪ ʰ

It has a sound similar to

th-h in bath-house

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Remember this letter?

d̪

The letter below is pronounced just like the one above,

except that the letter below is pronounced with a little ‘puff of air’

d̪ ʱ

It has a sound similar to

dh in adhere

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These are thebasic letters we’ve just seen –

t̪ ʰ d̪ ʱ

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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for ɐ, i and u

t̪ ʰɐ d̪ ʱɐ

ಥ ಧ
t̪ ʰi d̪ ʱi

t̪ ʰu d̪ ʱu

ಥು ಧು
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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for e and o

t̪ ʰe d̪ ʱe

ೆ ೆ
t̪ ʰo d̪ ʱo

ೊ ಧ

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These are all the various basic and combo letters

we’ve just seen

t̪ ʰ t̪ ʰɐ t̪ ʰi t̪ ʰu t̪ ʰe t̪ ʰo

ಥ ಥು ೆ ೊ
d̪ ʱ d̪ ʱɐ d̪ ʱi d̪ ʱu d̪ ʱe d̪ ʱo

ಧ ಧು ೆ ೊ
Note the slightly different shape of these letters from other i letters

t̪ ʰi d̪ ʱi

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Here are the mini versions

of the letters we’ve just seen

When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

t̪ ʰɐ d̪ ʰɐ

ಥ ◌
◌್ + t̪ ʱɐ
= d̪ ʱɐ

ಧ ◌

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These sets of letters look similar –

d̪ d̪ ɐ d̪ i d̪ u d̪ e d̪ o

ದ ದು ೆ ೊ
ɖ ɖɐ ɖi ɖu ɖe ɖo

ಡ ಡು ೆ ೊ
t̪ ʰ t̪ ʰɐ t̪ ʰi t̪ ʰu t̪ ʰe t̪ ʰo

ಥ ಥು ೆ ೊ
d̪ ʱ d̪ ʱɐ d̪ ʱi d̪ ʱu d̪ ʱe d̪ ʱo

ಧ ಧು ೆ ೊ

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As do all their mini versions –

d̪ ɐ

◌
ɖɐ

◌
t̪ ʰɐ

◌
d̪ ʱɐ

◌
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The pendulum strikes again –

t̪ ʰ d̪ ʱ

Ford̪ ʱ ಧ, this is the only thing differentiating it fromd̪ ದ

d̪ d̪ ʱ

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These words aren’t too difficult

ಕ ೆ

ಧ ಧು ವ

ಬು

ಪದ ಸ ೆ

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Here you go

kɐtʰe t̪ it̪ ʰi

ಕ ೆ
story date according to the lunar calendar
d̪ ʱʋɐn̪ i d̪ ʱruʋɐ

ಧ ಧು ವ
tone, note Earth’s pole
bud̪ d̪ ʱi st̪ ʰit̪ i

ಬು
intelligence status, condition
pɐd̪ d̪ ʱət̪ i spɐrd̪ ʱe

ಪದ ಸ ೆ
practice, method contest, competition

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Remember this letter?

The letter below is pronounced just like the one above,

except that the letter below is pronounced with a little ‘puff of air’

ʈʰ

It has a sound similar to

th in penthouse

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Remember this letter?

The letter below is pronounced just like the one above,

except that the letter below is pronounced with a little ‘puff of air’

ɖʱ

It has a sound similar to

dh in madhouse

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These are the letters we’ve just seen –

ʈʰ ɖʱ

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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for ɐ, i and u

ʈʰə ɖʱə

ಠ ಢ
ʈʰɪ ɖʱɪ

ʈʰʊ ɖʱʊ

ಠು ಢು
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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for e and o

ʈʰe ɖʱe

ೆ ೆ
ʈʰo ɖʱo

ೊ ೊ

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These are all the various basic and combo letters

we’ve just seen

ʈʰ ʈʰɐ ʈʰi ʈʰu ʈʰe ʈʰo

ಠ ಠು ೆ ೊ
ɖʱ ɖʱɐ ɖʱi ɖʱu ɖʱe ɖʱo

ಢ ಢು ೆ ೊ
Note the slightly different shape of these letters from other i letters

ʈʰi ɖʱi

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Here are the mini versions

of the letters we’ve just seen

When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

ʈʰɐ ʈʰɐ

ಠ ◌
◌್ + ɖʱɐ
= ɖʱɐ

ಢ ◌

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These sets of letters look similar –

d̪ d̪ ɐ d̪ i d̪ u d̪ e d̪ o

ದ ದು ೆ ೊ
ɖ ɖɐ ɖi ɖu ɖe ɖo

ಡ ಡು ೆ ೊ
t̪ ʰ t̪ ʰɐ t̪ ʰi t̪ ʰu t̪ ʰe t̪ ʰo

ಥ ಥು ೆ ೊ
d̪ ʱ d̪ ʱɐ d̪ ʱi d̪ ʱu d̪ ʱe d̪ ʱo

ಧ ಧು ೆ ೊ
ɖʱ ɖʱɐ ɖʱi ɖʱu ɖʱe ɖʱo

ಢ ಢು ೆ ೊ
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As do all their mini versions –

d̪ ɐ

◌
ɖɐ

◌
t̪ ʰɐ

◌
d̪ ʱɐ

◌
ɖʱɐ

◌
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These sets of letters too look similar –

r rɐ ri ru re ro

ರ ರು ೆ ೊ
ʈʰ ʈʰɐ ʈʰi ʈʰu ʈʰe ʈʰo

ಠ ಠು ೆ ೊ
But their mini versions don’t!

rɐ

◌
ʈʰɐ

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Both thesesets of letters have a dot in the middle

t̪ ʰ t̪ ʰɐ t̪ ʰi t̪ ʰu t̪ ʰe t̪ ʰo

ಥ ಥು ೆ ೊ
ʈʰ ʈʰɐ ʈʰi ʈʰu ʈʰe ʈʰo

ಠ ಠು ೆ ೊ
As do their mini versions

t̪ ʰɐ

◌
ʈʰɐ

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Test your newly acquired skills

ಠ ೆ ಢ ೆ

ಪಠ

ಮ ೆಮಠ ಢಮರುಗ

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Came out with flying colours?

ʈʰɐsse ɖʱɐɡe

ಠ ೆ ಢ ೆ
stamp, seal fatigue
ɖʱikki pɐʈʰjɐ

ಪಠ
collision curriculum
mɐn̪ emɐʈʰɐ ɖʱɐmərʊɡɐ

ಮ ೆಮಠ ಢಮರುಗ
‘house and home’ Indian hand-held drum

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This letter has a sound similar to

l in hold
l in boulder

To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue

curls right back and touches the roof of your mouth

It sounds similar to

but with the tongue curled further back

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This letter has a sound similar to

sh in ash tray

To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue

curls right back and touches the roof of your mouth

In everyday speech, it’s mostly pronounced the same as

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These are the letters we’ve just seen –

ɭ ʃ

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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for ɐ, i and u

ɭɐ ʃɐ

ಳ ಷ
ɭɪ ʃɪ

ɭʊ ʃʊ

ಳು ಷು
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And this is how they are modified

to make the combo letters for e and o

ɭe ʃe

ೆ ೆ
ɭo ʃo

ೊ ೊ

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These are all the various basic and combo letters

we’ve just seen

ɭ ɭɐ ɭi ɭu ɭe ɭo

ಳ ಳು ೆ ೊ
ʃ ʃɐ ʃi ʃu ʃe ʃo

ಷ ಷು ೆ ೊ

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And here are their mini versions

When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

ɭɐ ɭɐ

ಳ ◌
◌್ + ʃɐ
= ʃɐ

ಷ ◌

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Camouflage at its very best –

ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu ʋe ʋo

ವ ವ ೆ
p pɐ pi pu pe po

ಪ ಪ ೆ
pʰ pʰɐ pʰi pʰu pʰe pʰo

ಫ ಫ ೆ
ɡʱ ɡʱɐ ɡʱi ɡʱu ɡʱe ɡʱo

ಘ ಘು ೆ ೊ
ʃ ʃɐ ʃi ʃu ʃe ʃo

ಷ ಷು ೆ ೊ

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ʃi falls into the latter category below

ʋi

pi pʰi ɡʱi ʃi

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Also notice how the vowel signs for u and o

have slightly different shapes in these combo letter sets

ʋu pu pʰu

ವ ಪ ಫ
ɡʱu ʃu

ಘು ಷು
ʋo po pʰo

ɡʱo ʃo

ೊ ೊ
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Here are all their mini versions

ʋɐ

◌
pɐ pʰɐ

◌ ◌
ɡʱɐ ʃɐ

◌ ◌

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Here we go again

ಬ ೆ ಷರತು

ಕಳ ಷ

ಸ ಳ ಷ

ಲ ೆಳ ು

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Piece of cake?

bɐɭe ʃɐrət̪ t̪ u

ಬ ೆ ಷರತು
bangle condition, stipulation
kɐɭɭɐ ɕiʃjɐ

ಕಳ ಷ
thief pupil, disciple
st̪ ʰɐɭɐ ʃɐʃʈi

ಸ ಳ ಷ
place, location sixth day of the lunar fortnight
lɐkʃmi beɭɭʊɭɭi

ಲ ೆಳ ು
Lakshmi, a Hindu goddess garlic

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This letter has a sound similar to

ng in sing

It is not pronounced like the

ng in finger

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This letter has a sound similar to

ni in onion
gne in French montagne
ñ in Spanish España

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This letter has a sound similar to

n in wander

To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue

curls right back and touches the roof of your mouth

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These are the letters we’ve just seen –

ŋ ɲ ɳ

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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for ɐ, i and u

ŋɐ ɲɐ ɳɐ

ಙ ಞ ಣ
ŋɪ ɲɪ ɳɪ

ಙಿ ಞಿ
ŋʊ ɲʊ ɳʊ

ಙು ಞು ಣು
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And this is how they are modified

to make the combo letters for e and o

ŋe ɲe ɳe

ೆ ೆ ೆ
ŋo ɲo ɳo

ೊ ೊ ೊ

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These are all the various basic and combo letters

we’ve just seen

ŋ ŋɐ ŋi ŋu ŋe ŋo

ಙ ಙಿ ಙು ೆ ೊ
ɲ ɲɐ ɲi ɲu ɲe ɲo

ಞ ಞಿ ಞು ೆ ೊ
ɳ ɳɐ ɳi ɳu ɳe ɳo

ಣ ಣು ೆ ೊ

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Note that the horizontal line on top of

disappears when writing these combo letters –

ɳɐ ɳi ɳu

ಣ ಣು

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Here are the mini versions

of the letters we’ve just seen

Let’s just take the simplest example

When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

ŋɐ ŋɐ

ಙ ◌
ɲɐ ɲɐ

◌್ + ಞ = ◌
ɳɐ ɳɐ

ಣ ◌

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Thesesets of letters look similar

ʥ ʥɐ ʥi ʥu ʥe ʥo

ಜ ಜು ೆ ೊ
ŋ ŋɐ ŋi ŋu ŋe ŋo

ಙ ಙಿ ಙು ೆ ೊ
As do their mini versions

ʥɐ

◌
ŋɐ

◌
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ಟ ʈɐ lookssomewhat like an upside down ಣ ɳɐ

The other letters in the respective sets are more distinct, though

ʈ ʈɐ ʈi ʈu ʈe ʈo

ಟ ಟು ೆ ೊ
ɳ ɳɐ ɳi ɳu ɳe ɳo

ಣ ಣು ೆ ೊ
Their mini versions too are somewhat like mirror images

ʈɐ ɳɐ

◌ ◌

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Do you notice any similarity in how these letters sound? –

kɐ kʰɐ

ಕ ಖ
ɡɐ ɡʱɐ

ಗ ಘ
ŋɐ

ಙ
To pronounce all these letters,
your tongue touches the back of the roof of your mouth,
called the velum

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And what about in these letters? –

ʨɐ ʨʰɐ

ಚ ಛ
ʥɐ ʥʱɐ

ಜ ಝ
ɲɐ

ಞ
To pronounce all these letters,
your tongue touches the middle part of the roof of the mouth,
called the palate

Try saying them out loud and concentrate on the position of your tongue

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Some more similar-sounding letters, which we’ve already seen –

ʈɐ ʈʰɐ

ಟ ಠ
ɖɐ ɖʱɐ

ಡ ಢ
ɳɐ

ಣ
To pronounce all these letters,
the tip of your tongue curls back and touches the roof of your mouth

Try saying them out loud and concentrate on the position of your tongue

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Yet another bunch of similar-sounding letters

t̪ ɐ t̪ ʰɐ

d̪ ɐ d̪ ʱɐ

n̪ ɐ

To pronounce all these letters,

the tip of your tongue touches your front teeth

Try saying them out loud and concentrate on the position of your tongue

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And finally, the last batch of similar sounding letters –

pɐ pʰɐ

bɐ bʱɐ

mɐ

To pronounce all these letters,

your lips touch each other

Try saying them out loud and concentrate on the position of your tongue

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◌ಂ
This sign is a ‘shortcut’ sign
for the following letters –

ŋ ɲ ɳ n̪ m

Its pronunciation depends on what letter comes after it.

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Have a look at these words and their pronunciations–

ɕɐŋkʰɐ

ಶಙ ಶಂಖ
conch
mɐŋɡəlɐ

ಮಙ ಲ ಮಂಗಲ
delight, good fortune
ʨɐnʨəlɐ

ಚಞ ಲ ಚಂಚಲ
fickle, playful
sɐnʥəjɐ

ಸಞ ಯ ಸಂಜಯ
Sanjaya, a male name

More to come

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kɐɳʈʰjɐ

ಕಣ ಕಂಠ
from the throat, guttural
pɐɳɖɪt̪ ɐ

ಪ ತ ಪಂ ತ
scholar
jɐn̪ t̪ rɐ

ಯನ ಯಂತ
machine, device
nɐn̪ d̪ ən̪ ɐ

ನನ ನ ನಂದನ
Nandana, a male name
sɐmpən̪ n̪ ɐ

ಸಮ ನ ಸಂಪನ
completed, acquired
sɐmbən̪ d̪ ʱɐ

ಸಮ ನ ಸಂಬಂಧ
relation, connection

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Let’s look at it in a little more detail.

In these words, ◌ಂ is like a shortcut for ŋ–

ɕɐŋkʰɐ mɐŋɡəlɐ

ಶಂಖ ಮಂಗಲ
In these words, ◌ಂ is like a shortcut for ɳ–

kɐɳʈʰjɐ pɐɳɖɪt̪ ɐ

ಕಂಠ ಪಂ ತ
In these words, ◌ಂ is like a shortcut for n̪ –

jɐn̪ t̪ rɐ n̪ ɐn̪ d̪ ən̪ ɐ

ಯಂತ ನಂದನ
In these words, ◌ಂ is like a shortcut for m

sɐmpən̪ n̪ ɐ sɐmbən̪ d̪ ʱɐ

ಸಂಪನ ಸಂಬಂಧ
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No, we didn’t forget ɲ

In these words, ◌ಂ is like a shortcut for ɲ–

ʨɐnʨəlɐ sɐnʥəjɐ

ಚಂಚಲ ಸಂಜಯ
However, its pronunciation is not exactly like ɲ

Instead, it sounds more like a ‘normal’ n, like the

n in name

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We can see a pattern over here.

If ◌ಂ occurs before the following letters – then its pronunciation is

k kʰ ɡ ɡʱ

ʨ ʨʰ ʥ ʥʱ

ʈ ʈʰ ɖ ɖʱ

t̪ t̪ ʰ d̪ d̪ ʱ

n̪

p pʰ b bʱ

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Before all other letters, and at the end of a word,

its pronunciation is usually

m
sɐmjʊkt̪ ɐ sɐmrəkʃəɳe

ಸುಂಯುಕ ಸಂರ ೆ
joint, united protection
sɐmləɡn̪ ɐ sɐmʋət̪ sərɐ

ಸಂಲಗ ಸಂವತ ರ
attached, included Vedic year
ʋɐmɕɐ ɦɐmsɐ

ವಂಶ ಹಂಸ
clan, lineage swan
simɦɐ kʰɐt̪ əm

ಂಹ ಖತಂ
lion finished

The odd exception might exist,

but these would usually be rare or obscure words

So don’t worry – As far as our nasal shortcut sign is concerned,

you’re good to go!
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Great.

Now, an obvious question.

What if a word starts with a vowel?

How do we write it then?

There’s a slightly different way of doing this –

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If a word starts with a vowel,

we use the following letters, instead of vowel signs –

ɐ i u

ಅ ಇ ಉ
ʲe ʷo

ಎ ಒ

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ಎ and ಒ have a slightly different pronunciation

ʲe

ಎ
This letter has a sound similar to

ye in yes

ʷo

ಒ
This letter has a sound similar to

wo in won’t

but slightly shorter in length

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Our nasal shortcut sign works equally well

with these ‘independent’ vowel letters –

ಅಂ ಇಂ ಉಂ

ಎಂ ಒಂ
Of course, the pronunciation of the sign will vary,
depending on what letter follows

Some examples will make this clear

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Here are some words that use independent vowel letters –

ಅಥ ಉಂಗರ
uŋɡərɐ
ɐrt̪ ʰɐ
ring
meaning
(ornament)

ಅ ರ ಉಂ ೆ
ɐkʃərɐ
uɳɖe
letter,
ball, sphere
alphabet

ɐn̪ t̪ ɐ
end
ಅಂತ ʲerəɽu
two
ಎರಡು
ɐŋɡəɽi
shop
ಅಂಗ ʲeʃʈu
how much
ಎಷು
illi
here
ಇ ʲeɳʈu
eight
ಎಂಟು
ippət̪ t̪ u
twenty
ಇಪ ತು ʷoɭɭejɐ
good
ಒ ೆ ಯ
iŋɡleɳɖ
England
ಇಂ ೆ ಂ ʷon̪ d̪ u
one
ಒಂದು
ಉಗುರು ಒಂಬತು
uɡʊru
ʷombət̪ t̪ u
fingernail,
nine
toenail

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Speaking of vowels, here are some more –

ɑː

◌ಾ
This sign has a sound similar to

a in father

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iː

◌ೀ
This sign has a sound similar to

ee in bee

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uː

◌ೂ
This sign has a sound similar to

oo in tool

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eː

◌ೇ
This sign has a sound similar to

é in French fiancée

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oː

◌ೋ
This sign has a sound similar to

o in Italian Roma

This sign is written after a letter

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This is how the signs for ɑː, iː, uː, eː and oː are written –

kɑː kiː

ಾ ೕ
kuː keː

ಕೂ ೇ
koː

ೋ
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Here are all the vowels we’ve seen so far,

attached to the letter k–

kɐ kɑː

ಕ ಾ
ki kiː

ೕ
ku kuː

ಕು ಕೂ
ke keː

ೆ ೇ
ko koː

ೊ ೋ
Note how the vowels on the right
are ‘longer’ versions of the ones on the left

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In some cases, the long vowel sign

is simply the short vowel sign with an added ◌ೕ

ki kiː

ೕ
ke keː

ೆ ೇ
ko koː

ೊ ೊ ೕ

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Remember that for j,

the right-most curl is removed

before the ◌ೋ oː vowel is added

j oː joː

- ◌್ + ◌ೋ = ೕ

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Here are some Kannada words with the new signs we’ve just seen –

ಾತ ಾರ
ಾ ಾನ
ಾಙ ಯ ಕ ಾ ಟಕ
ೕನು ೕರು
ೕ ೕಸು
ೕ ೕ ಾಸ
ಹೂವ ಧೂಳು
ಶೂನ ಪ
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And some more –

ಮೂಖ ೆಂಗಳೂರು
ೇ ೆ ೇಶ
ೇದ ೇ
ೇತ ೇ ೆ
ೋ ೕಗ
ೕ ೊ ೋಂ
ೋ ಾ ೋಷ ೆ
♪♫J
And we’re done!
For now at least

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How many correct?

t̪ ɑːt̪ ɐ
grandfather
ಾತ ɦɑːrɐ
garland
ಾರ
ಾ ಾನ
ʥɲɑːn̪ ɐ,
prɑːɳi
ɡnɑːn̪ ɐ
animal
knowledge
kɐrn̪ ɑːʈəkɐ
ʋɑːŋməjɐ
literature
ಾಙ ಯ Karnataka,
a state in
ಕ ಾ ಟಕ
India

miːn̪ u
fish
ೕನು ɡiːru
line, scratch
ೕರು
ೕ ೕಸು
ʈʰiːʋi
pʰiːsu
arrogance,
fees
showiness

ೕ ೕ ಾಸ
ɕriːn̪ ɪʋɑːsɐ
priːt̪ i
Srinivasa,
love
a Hindu god

ɦuːʋu
flower
ಹೂವ dʱuːɭu
dust
ಧೂಳು
ಶೂನ ಪ
ɕuːn̪ jɐ
puːrt̪ i
emptiness,
full
nothingness

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muːrkʰɐ
fool
ಮೂಖ
beŋɡəɭuːru
Bangalore
ೆಂಗಳೂರು
beːre
different, other
ೇ ೆ d̪ eːɕɐ
country
ೆ ೕಶ
ೇದ ೇ
t̪ ʰeːʈ
ʨʰeːd̪ ɐ
identical,
denominator
just like

kʃeːt̪ rɐ
area
ೇತ reːʥɪɡe
disgust
ೇ ೆ
ʈoːpi
cap
ೋ joːɡɐ
yoga
ೕಗ
pʰoːʈo
photograph
ೕ ೊ ɖʱoːŋɡi
fraudulent
ೋಂ
ೋ ಾ
soːmɑːri
lazybones,
idler

ɡʱoːʃəɳe
announcement
ೋಷ ೆ
Phew!

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At the beginning of a word, these vowels are written like this –

ɑː

ಆ
iː uː

ಈ ಊ
eː oː

ಏ ಓ
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Here are all the independent vowels we’ve seen so far,

along with their corresponding vowel signs –

ɐ ɑː

ಅ ಆ ◌ಾ
i iː

ಇ ◌ಿ ಈ ◌ೀ
u uː

ಉ ◌ು ಊ ◌ೂ
ʲe e ʲeː eː

ಎ ◌ೆ ಏ ◌ೇ
ʷo o ʷoː oː

ಒ ◌ೊ ಓ ◌ೋ
We already know that ಅ ɐ does not have any vowel sign of its own
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All these pairs look similar

in that the one on the right is a slightly modified version
of the one on the left –

ɐ ɑː

ಅ ಆ
u uː

ಉ ಊ
ʲe ʲeː

ಎ ಏ
ʷo ʷoː

ಒ ಓ
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These two letters look very similar

i ɲ

ಇ ಞ
These letters all have a common basic shape

o oː

ಒ ಓ
ŋɐ ʨɐ ʥɐ bɐ bʱɐ

ಙ ಚ ಜ ಬ ಭ

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Some Kannada words beginning with the new vowel letters

we’ve just seen –

ಆದ ೆ ಆಂ ೋಳನ
ಈಜು ಈ ೆ
ಊಟ ಊರ ಾ
ಏರು ಏಕವಚನ
ಓಡು ಓ ೆ ೋ ೆ

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You should have got all of these right! –

ಆದ ೆ ಆಂ ೋಳನ
ɑːn̪ d̪ oːɭən̪ ɐ
ɑːd̪ əre
movement,
but
agitation

iːʥu
swim
ಈಜು iːrʃje
envy
ಈ ೆ
uːʈɐ
food, meal
ಊಟ uːrəɡɑːji
Indian pickle
ಊರ ಾ
ʲeːru
climb
ಏರು ʲeːkəʋəʨən̪ ə
singular
ಏಕವಚನ
ʷoːɽu
run
ಓಡು ʷoːrekoːre
bent, twisted
ಓ ೆ ೋ ೆ

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And even more vowel signs –

əj

◌ೈ
This sign has a sound similar to

i in fight

More precisely, it sounds like i in fight

when pronounced in a Scottish accent

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əw

◌ೌ
This sign has a sound similar to

ow in cow

More precisely, it sounds like ow in cow

when pronounced in a Scottish accent

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This is how the signs for əj and əw are written –

kəj kəw

ೈ ೌ

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Notice the similarity in the shapes of these combo letters –

ke keː kəj

ೆ ೇ ೈ
kɑː kəw

ಾ ೌ

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At the beginning of a word, these vowels are written like this–

kəj kəw

ಐ ಔ

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These letters look similar

ʲe ʲeː əj

ಎ ಏ ಐ
As do these

ʷo ʷoː əw

ಒ ಓ ಔ

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Here are some Kannada words with the new letters we’ve just seen –

ೈ
ೌದು
ೖ ಾನ
ೌಡ
ೈ
ೌ ಕ
ಐದು
ಔಷಧ
ಐಶ ಯ
ಔ ತ

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And their pronunciations and meanings –

kəj
hand ೈ
ɦəwd̪ u
yes ೌದು
ೖ ಾನ
məjd̪ ɑːn̪ ɐ
playground

pəwɽər
powder ೌಡ
ɕəjli
style, method ೈ
məwkʰɪkɐ
oral, verbal ೌ ಕ
əjd̪ u
five ಐದು
ಔಷಧ
əwʃəd̪ ʱɐ
medicine

əjɕʋərjɐ
wealth, splendour ಐಶ ಯ
əwʨɪt̪ jɐ
appropriateness ಔ ತ

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A few letters and signs still remain!

æː

◌ಾ
This sign has a sound similar to

a in cat

Here’s an example of this vowel sign

in combination with k

kæː

ಾ
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Unfortunately, our new sign looks exactly like

the mini version of j

plus the vowel sign ◌ಾ ɑː

◌ಾ
Fortunately, this sign is pronounced with the sound æː
only in English words borrowed into Kannada

So the pronunciation is usually clear from the context

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At the beginning of a word, this sign is written like this–

æː

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Like you read earlier, this sign is used in Kannada

only to write words borrowed from English
that have the a sound in cat

ɡæːs

ಾ
gas
bæːʈəriː

ಾ ಟ
battery
kæːnsər

ಾ ನ
cancer
æːksɪs bæːŋk

ಆ ಾ ಂ
Axis Bank, a bank in India

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rʊ

◌ೃ
This sign has a sound similar to

rhu in rhubarb

This sign is written below a letter

Note that this sign behaves like a vowel sign

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This is how the sign for rʊ is written –

krʊ

ಕೃ
Notice how these letter combos look similar –

kəj krʊ

ೈ ಕೃ

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At the beginning of a word, this sign is written like this–

rʊ

ಋ
Don’t confuse it with this letter combo –

jɐ

ಯ
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Some Kannada words which use this sign or its independent letter –

krʊɕi rʊɳɐ rʊʃi

ಕೃ ಋಣ ಋ
agriculture debt sage, seer
ʋrʊkʃɐ krʊʃɳɐ

ವೃ ಕೃಷ
tree Krishna, a Hindu god
ɦrʊd̪ əjɐ mɑːt̪ rʊbʱuːmi

ಹೃದಯ ಾತೃಭೂ
heart motherland
ɡrʊɦəst̪ ʰɐ ʋrʊd̪ d̪ ʱɑːɕrəmɐ

ಗೃಹಸ ವೃ ಾ ಶ ಮ
household old-age home

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̤
This letter has a sound similar to

z in zebra

Except for the two dots below,

it looks and behaves exactly like

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̤
This letter has a sound similar to

f in fat

Except for the two dots below,

it looks and behaves exactly like

pʰ

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These letters are only used to write non-Kannada words

which have the sounds z and f

And that too, not very consistently

You might come across both dotted and non-dotted versions,

(and both pronunciations too)
like so –

ziːbrɑː ʥiːbrɑː

ೕ̤ ಾ ೕ ಾ
zebra
filɪppiːns pʰilɪppiːns

̤ ೕ ೕ
Philippines

So you’ll encounter these letters only rarely

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One last sign –

◌ಃ
This sign has a sound similar to

h in hat

but with a little twist (we’ll see how on the next page)

Note that this sign too behaves like a vowel sign

Like ◌ಂ
this sign can be added onto another vowel sign

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This is how this new sign combines with basic letters

and is pronounced –

kɐɦɐ kɑːɦɐ

ಕಃ ಾಃ
kiɦi kiːɦi

ಃ ೕಃ
kuɦu kuːɦu

ಕುಃ ಕೂಃ
keːɦe kəjɦi

ೇಃ ೈ ಃ
koːɦo kəwɦu

ೋಃ ೌಃ
It never combines with the signs ◌ೆ e and ◌ೊ o

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Like ◌ಂ
this new sign can also combine with independent vowel letters

ɐɦɐ ɑːɦɐ

ಅಃ ಆಃ
iɦi iːɦi

ಇಃ ಈಃ
uɦu uːɦu

ಉಃ ಊಃ
eːɦe əjɦi

ಏಃ ಐಃ
oːɦo əwɦu

ಓಃ ಔಃ
It never combines with the letters ಎ e and ಒ o

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Got it?

In a nutshell, the sign is pronounced

ɦ
followed by a somewhat shortened repetition
of the vowel just before it

kɑːɦɐ ɑːɦɐ

ಾಃ ಆಃ
kəwɦu əwɦu

ೌಃ ಔಃ
Like so

punəɦɐ bɐɦʊɕəɦɐ

ಪ ನಃ ಬಹುಶಃ
again likely

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When this sign occurs in the middle of a word,

it's often pronounced as a ‘doubling’ of the next letter –

d̪ ukkʰɐ niɕɕəbd̪ ɐ

ದುಃಖ ಃಶಬ
sadness noiseless

Not to fret

This sign occurs very rarely in Kannada,

only in some words borrowed from Sanskrit

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Remember

◌ಃ
has two circles

and our nasal shortcut letter

◌ಂ
has only one

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Let’s end with numerals and punctuation

೧೨೩೪೫೬೭೮೯೦
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

Punctuation marks are similar to English

In some old Kannada texts, you might find these punctuation marks –

। ॥
full stop end of verse

Try your hand at these –

3,737 ೩,೭೩೭
0.611 ೦.೬೧೧
1.2% ೧.೨%
54,789.01 ೫೪,೭೮೯.೦೧

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Here is a well-known piece of writing, in its Kannada version –

ಎ ಾ ಾನವರೂ ಸ ತಂತ ಾ ೕ
ಜ ಾ ೆ. ಾಗೂ ಘನ ೆ ಮತು
ಹಕು ಗಳ ಸ ಾನ ಾ ಾ ೆ. ೇಕ
ಮತು ಅಂತಃಕರಣಗಳನು ಪ ೆದವ ಾದ ಂದ
ಅವರು ಪರಸ ರ ಸ ೋದರ ಾವ ಂದ
ವ ಸ ೇಕು.

ellɑː mɑːn̪ əʋəruː sʋɐt̪ ən̪ t̪ rərɑːɡɪjeː ʥɐn̪ ɪsɪd̪ d̪ ɑːre . ɦɑːɡuː ɡʱɐn̪ ət̪ e
mɐt̪ t̪ u ɦɐkkʊɡəɭəlli sɐmɑːn̪ ərɑːɡid̪ d̪ ɑːre . ʋiʋeːkɐ mɐt̪ t̪ u
ɐn̪ t̪ əkkərəɳəɡəɭən̪ n̪ u pɐɽed̪ əʋərɑːd̪ d̪ ərɪn̪ d̪ ɐ ɐʋəru pɐrəspərɐ sɐɦoːd̪ ərɐ
bʱɑːʋəd̪ ɪn̪ d̪ ɐ ʋɐrt̪ isəbeːku .

This is Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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This is the Kannada alphabet

The names of the letters are the sounds of the letters themselves

ɐ ɑː i iː u uː rʊ

ಅ ಆ ಇ ಈ ಉ ಊ ಋ
e eː əj o oː əj

ಎ ಏ ಐ ಒ ಓ ಔ
kɐ kʰɐ ɡɐ ɡʱɐ ŋɐ

ಕ ಖ ಗ ಘ ಙ
ʨɐ ʨʰɐ ʥɐ ʥʱɐ ɲɐ

ಚ ಛ ಜ ಝ ಞ
ʈɐ ʈʰɐ ɖɐ ɖʱɐ ɳɐ

ಟ ಠ ಡ ಢ ಣ
t̪ ɐ t̪ ʰɐ d̪ ɐ d̪ ʱɐ n̪ ɐ

ತ ಥ ದ ಧ ನ
pɐ pʰɐ bɐ bʱɐ mɐ

ಪ ಫ ಬ ಭ ಮ
jɐ rɐ lɐ ʋɐ ɕɐ ʃɐ sɐ ɦɐ

ಯ ರ ಲ ವ ಶ ಷ ಸ ಹ
æː zɐ fɐ

ಆ ಜ̤ ಫ̤

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And these are the vowel and other signs, and their Kannada names –

ɐn̪ usʋɑːrɐ ʋɪsərɡɐ ɑː i iː u uː rʊ

ಅನು ಾ ರ ಸಗ

◌ಂ ◌ಃ ◌ಾ ◌ಿ ◌ೀ ◌ು ◌ೂ ◌ೃ
eː eː əj oː oː əw æː ɦɐlən̪ t̪ ɐ
ಹಲಂತ

◌ೆ ◌ೇ ◌ೈ ◌ೊ ◌ೋ ◌ೌ ◌ಾ ◌್

Good luck!

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Typeset in Segoe UI (English & IPA) and Vagisha (Kannada)

For more information on the Kannada script and its history –

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/kannada.htm

References:

Baraha Antarajāla Nighanṭu

http://baraha.com/kannada/index.php

Glosbe Kannada Hindi Dictionary

http://glosbe.com/kn/hi/

Khandbahale, Sunil. Khandbahale.com

http://www.khandbahale.com/kannada

Spencer, Harold. A Kanarese Grammar

http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/plc/kannada/

Kannada Wiktionary
http://kn.wiktionary.org

v2013-06-24
©2012-2013 Arvind Iyengar. All Rights Reserved.