12 letters · Kuril & Nedil · Vowel signs
Tamil vowels — உயிர் எழுத்துகள்
Tamil has 12 vowels, called உயிர் எழுத்துகள் (uyir ezhuthukal). “Uyir” means life — vowels give life to every other letter. Five vowels are short (குறில்) and seven are long (நெடில்).
The 12 Tamil vowels
Tap any vowel in the learning app to hear it, then hear it again inside its picture word.
Short and long — குறில் and நெடில்
A short vowel is held for about one beat, a long vowel for about two. Five vowels come in short–long pairs; ஐ and ஔ are long vowels without a short partner.
Vowel signs — how vowels join consonants
After a consonant, a vowel is written as a small sign. Here is every vowel with க்:
| Vowel | Sign | With க் | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| அ | — | க் + அ = க | ka |
| ஆ | ◌ா | க் + ஆ = கா | kā |
| இ | ◌ி | க் + இ = கி | ki |
| ஈ | ◌ீ | க் + ஈ = கீ | kī |
| உ | ◌ு | க் + உ = கு | ku |
| ஊ | ◌ூ | க் + ஊ = கூ | kū |
| எ | ◌ெ | க் + எ = கெ | ke |
| ஏ | ◌ே | க் + ஏ = கே | kē |
| ஐ | ◌ை | க் + ஐ = கை | kai |
| ஒ | ◌ொ | க் + ஒ = கொ | ko |
| ஓ | ◌ோ | க் + ஓ = கோ | kō |
| ஔ | ◌ௌ | க் + ஔ = கௌ | kau |
ொ ோ ௌ are written in two parts — one before and one after the consonant: கொ has ெ before க and ா after it. See all 216 combinations in the uyirmei chart.
Questions about Tamil vowels
Why are Tamil vowels called uyir (life)?
In Tamil grammar the vowels are called உயிர் (uyir, “life”) and the consonants மெய் (mei, “body”). When a consonant joins a vowel it becomes உயிர்மெய் (uyirmei, “life + body”), like a body that comes alive.
What is the difference between kuril and nedil?
குறில் (kuril) vowels are short and are held for about one beat (one மாத்திரை, maathirai). நெடில் (nedil) vowels are long and are held for about two beats. The short vowels are அ இ உ எ ஒ and the long vowels are ஆ ஈ ஊ ஏ ஐ ஓ ஔ.
What are mudhal ezhuthukal (primary letters)?
The 12 vowels and 18 consonants together — 30 letters — are called முதல் எழுத்துகள் (mudhal ezhuthukal, primary letters). Uyirmei letters and ஃ belong to the சார்பு எழுத்துகள் (saarbu ezhuthukal, dependent letters).
How are Tamil vowels written after a consonant?
After a consonant, each vowel (except அ) is written as a vowel sign: ா for ஆ, ி for இ, ீ for ஈ, ு for உ, ூ for ஊ, ெ for எ, ே for ஏ, ை for ஐ, ொ for ஒ, ோ for ஓ and ௌ for ஔ. For example க் + ஆ = கா and க் + ஐ = கை. With அ the consonant simply loses its dot: க் + அ = க.