Learn Kannada Alphabets
The Kannada script consists of vowels and consonants. Each letter has a distinct pronunciation, making it unique and easy to learn with practice. Here is a guide to help you pronounce Kannada letters with English equivalents and sound examples.
Kannada Vowels (Swaragalu)
| Kannada Letter | English Transliteration | Sound Example | IPA Notation | Mnemonic Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ಅ | a | as in "c(a)t" | /a/ | Think of the word "apple". |
| ಆ | aa | as in "f(a)ther" | /aː/ | Imagine stretching the sound "aah". |
| ಇ | i | as in "s(i)t" | /i/ | Short and sharp like "ink". |
| ಈ | ii | as in "mach(i)ne" | /iː/ | Think of the word "eel". |
| ಉ | u | as in "p(u)t" | /u/ | Short like "push". |
| ಊ | uu | as in "r(u)le" | /uː/ | Stretch like "ooze". |
| ಋ | ru | as in "(ru)le" | /r̩/ | Roll your tongue for "ru". |
| ಎ | e | as in "g(e)t" | /e/ | Short and crisp like "end". |
| ಏ | ee | as in "c(a)ke" | /eː/ | Think of "eight". |
| ಐ | ai | as in "f(i)ght" | /ai/ | Relate to "eye". |
| ಒ | o | as in "g(o)" | /o/ | Think of "orange". |
| ಓ | oo | as in "m(o)re" | /oː/ | Stretch like "ooh". |
| ಔ | au | as in "h(o)w" | /au/ | Think of "ouch". |
| ಅಂ | am | as in "ru(m)" | /am/ | Think of "thumb". |
| ಅಃ | ah | as in "ah" | /aḥ/ | Think of a sigh "ahh". |
Kannada Consonants (Vyanjanagalu)
| Kannada Letter | English Transliteration | Sound Example | IPA Notation | Mnemonic Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ಕ | ka | as in "c(u)p" | /ka/ | Think of "kite". |
| ಖ | kha | as in "bloc(k h)ead" | /kʰa/ | Relate to "khaki". |
| ಗ | ga | as in "(g)et" | /ga/ | Think of "garden". |
| ಘ | gha | as in "lo(g h)ouse" | /gʱa/ | Think of "ghost". |
| ಙ | nga | as in "si(ng)" | /ŋa/ | Relate to "ring". |
| ಚ | cha | as in "(ch)air" | /ʧa/ | Think of "chair". |
| ಛ | chha | as in "(ch h)im" | /ʧʰa/ | Relate to "chakra". |
| ಜ | ja | as in "(j)et" | /ʤa/ | Think of "jungle". |
| ಝ | jha | as in "hed(g h)og" | /ʤʱa/ | Think of "jhalak". |
| ಞ | nya | as in "pi(ny)a" | /ɲa/ | Relate to "canyon". |
| ಟ | ṭa | as in "ca(t)" | /ʈa/ | Think of "tablet". |
| ಠ | ṭha | as in "pa(th)" | /ʈʰa/ | Relate to "thunder". |
| ಡ | ḍa | as in "re(d)" | /ɖa/ | Think of "dodge". |
| ಢ | ḍha | as in "mo(d h)ammer" | /ɖʱa/ | Think of "dhall". |
| ಣ | ṇa | as in "fu(n)" | /ɳa/ | Relate to "noble". |
| ತ | ta | as in "(t)eam" | /t̪a/ | Think of "tap". |
| ಥ | tha | as in "pan(th)er" | /t̪ʰa/ | Relate to "thrust". |
| ದ | da | as in "mo(d)ify" | /d̪a/ | Think of "dance". |
| ಧ | dha | as in "han(dh)some" | /d̪ʱa/ | Think of "dharma". |
| ನ | na | as in "ru(n)" | /na/ | Think of "nest". |
| ಪ | pa | as in "(p)en" | /pa/ | Think of "paper". |
| ಫ | pha | as in "(f)ace" | /pʰa/ | Relate to "phantom". |
| ಬ | ba | as in "(b)at" | /ba/ | Think of "basket". |
| ಭ | bha | as in "ha(bh)it" | /bʰa/ | Think of "bhajan". |
| ಮ | ma | as in "(m)ap" | /ma/ | Think of "map". |
| ಯ | ya | as in "(y)es" | /ja/ | Think of "yellow". |
| ರ | ra | as in "(r)un" | /ra/ | Relate to "race". |
| ಲ | la | as in "(l)ap" | /la/ | Think of "lamp". |
| ವ | va | as in "(v)an" | /ʋa/ | Relate to "vase". |
| ಶ | sha | as in "(sh)ip" | /ʃa/ | Think of "shiny". |
| ಷ | sha | as in "ca(sh)" | /ʂa/ | Relate to "shard". |
| ಸ | sa | as in "(s)un" | /sa/ | Think of "sun". |
| ಹ | ha | as in "(h)at" | /ha/ | Think of "hat". |
| ಳ | ḷa | as in "pu(ll)" | /ɭa/ | Relate to "lullaby". |
| ಕ್ಷ | ksha | as in "fa(x sh)op" | /kʂa/ | Relate to "kshatriya". |
| ಜ್ಞ | jna | as in "(gn)osis" | /ɲa/ | Think of "knowledge". |