MSDEVBUILDLearn Tamil · தமிழ் கற்போம்
Tamil alphabet · 247 letters · Tap to listen

தமிழ் எழுத்துகள்

Learn the Tamil alphabet: every letter with its sound, how it is formed, and a picture word — then read simple stories and play games. Made for children and beginners.

12உயிர்
18மெய்
1ஆய்தம்
216உயிர்மெய்
247மொத்தம் · Total
அ
a
உயிர் எழுத்து · குறில்
“a” as in “about”

உயிர் எழுத்துகள் · Vowels

12 vowels — 5 short (குறில்) and 7 long (நெடில்). Guide →

குறில் Short · 5
நெடில் Long · 7

மெய் எழுத்துகள் · Consonants

18 consonants, each written with a dot on top (புள்ளி). Grouped by how they sound. Guide →

In school a pure consonant is usually read with a short இ before it — க் is said “ik”, ங் “ing”. This page plays it the same way so the sound is clear.

ஆய்த எழுத்து · The special letter

One letter, also called அஃகேனம் or முப்புள்ளி (three dots).

ஃ always comes between a short vowel and a வல்லினம் letter, as in எஃகு (steel) and அஃது (that). Its sound is a soft breathy “kh”.

உயிர்மெய் எழுத்துகள் · Consonant + Vowel

18 consonants × 12 vowels = 216 letters. Guide →

Build a letter

க்+அ=க
ka

Tap ▶ to hear a whole row.

கதை நூலகம் · Read-to-me stories

Tap a word to hear it and see its letters. Read as text →

வாசிப்புப் பயிற்சி · Reading

Read the word yourself, sound it out letter by letter, then check the picture. All words →

விளையாட்டு · Games

Pick a game. Every right answer earns points 🏆 and tokens 🪙 — 3 in a row gives a bonus 🔥. Tap 🪙 at the top to see your badges.

0Score
0Streak
0Best

சான்றிதழ் · Certificates

Ten levels, from vowels to Tamil Champion. Pass a short test at each level (8 out of 10; the Champion level needs 12 out of 15) to earn a certificate you can download as a PDF. Each level unlocks the next, and every test asks new questions.

சின்னஞ்சிறு

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Guides for parents and teachers

Tamil alphabet — all 247 lettersதமிழ் எழுத்துகள்Tamil vowels (uyir ezhuthukal)உயிர் எழுத்துகள்Tamil consonants (mei ezhuthukal)மெய் எழுத்துகள்Uyirmei chart — 216 lettersஉயிர்மெய் எழுத்துகள்Tamil words for kidsபடச் சொற்கள்Tamil stories for kidsசிறுவர் கதைகள்Tamil letters — in Tamilதமிழில் எழுத்துகள்Tamil numbers 1 to 10எண்கள்Colours in Tamilநிறங்கள்Days of the week in Tamilகிழமைகள்Body parts in Tamilஉடல் உறுப்புகள்Family words in Tamilகுடும்பம்Fruits and food in Tamilபழங்களும் உணவும்Free printable charts & worksheetsஅச்சிடும் தாள்கள்

Tamil alphabet — questions parents ask

Quick answers about Tamil letters. See the full Tamil alphabet chart for every letter with pronunciation.

How many letters are there in the Tamil alphabet?

There are 247 letters in the Tamil alphabet: 12 vowels (உயிர் எழுத்துகள், uyir ezhuthukal), 18 consonants (மெய் எழுத்துகள், mei ezhuthukal), 1 special letter ஃ (ஆய்த எழுத்து, aaytha ezhuthu) and 216 consonant-vowel letters (உயிர்மெய் எழுத்துகள், uyirmei ezhuthukal). 12 + 18 + 1 + 216 = 247.

What are the 12 Tamil vowels (uyir ezhuthukal)?

The 12 Tamil vowels are அ ஆ இ ஈ உ ஊ எ ஏ ஐ ஒ ஓ ஔ. Five are short (குறில், kuril): அ இ உ எ ஒ. Seven are long (நெடில், nedil): ஆ ஈ ஊ ஏ ஐ ஓ ஔ.

What are the 18 Tamil consonants (mei ezhuthukal)?

The 18 Tamil consonants are க் ங் ச் ஞ் ட் ண் த் ந் ப் ம் ய் ர் ல் வ் ழ் ள் ற் ன். Each is written with a dot on top called புள்ளி (pulli). They form three groups of six: வல்லினம் (vallinam, hard) க் ச் ட் த் ப் ற்; மெல்லினம் (mellinam, soft) ங் ஞ் ண் ந் ம் ன்; இடையினம் (idaiyinam, medium) ய் ர் ல் வ் ழ் ள்.

What are uyirmei letters and why are there 216?

An uyirmei (உயிர்மெய்) letter is a consonant joined with a vowel, for example க் + அ = க, க் + ஆ = கா, க் + இ = கி. Each of the 18 consonants combines with each of the 12 vowels, so 18 × 12 = 216 uyirmei letters.

What is the Tamil letter ஃ (aaytham)?

ஃ is the ஆய்த எழுத்து (aaytha ezhuthu), also called அஃகேனம் or முப்புள்ளி (three dots). It is a single special letter that comes between a short vowel and a வல்லினம் letter, as in எஃகு (steel) and அஃது (that).

How do you pronounce ழ (zha) in Tamil?

ழ (romanised "zh") is made by curling the tip of the tongue far back and letting the sound flow, somewhere between an "r" and an "l". It is heard in the word தமிழ் (Tamil). It is different from ல (l, as in "love") and ள (ḷ, l with the tongue curled back).

Are ஜ, ஷ, ஸ, ஹ part of the 247 Tamil letters?

No. ஜ, ஷ, ஸ, ஹ, க்ஷ and ஸ்ரீ are Grantha letters used for words borrowed from other languages. They are widely used but are not counted in the 247 letters of the Tamil alphabet.

What is the best way for a child to start learning Tamil letters?

Start with the 12 uyir (vowel) letters and their sounds, then learn the 18 mei (consonant) letters. Next, learn uyirmei letters one consonant row at a time (க கா கி கீ …), then read simple two-letter words such as ஆடு (goat) and மீன் (fish). Short daily practice with sound and pictures works best.

Is Learn Tamil free to use?

Yes. Learn Tamil is completely free, needs no sign-up, shows no ads and does not track users. It works in any modern browser on phones, tablets and computers.