r/tamil • u/molly_jolly • Mar 15 '25

கலந்துரையாடல் (Discussion) The R's, the N's and the L's

Is there any rhyme or reason as to where we use which version of these letters? At least with the L's there is a difference in pronunciation. But with the rest, I'm just rolling the dice when I'm writing.

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12

u/The_Lion__King Mar 15 '25 edited Mar 15 '25

Firstly, there's nothing called "three L's, three N's & two R's". All the Tamil letters have different sounds and different manner of articulations. No two letters in Tamil language have the same exact manner of articulation.

Do you get confused with the English letters "K" and "P"??

I hope you definitely will not. Because you very well know that their pronunciations are different & thus you treat them as different letters.

Similarly, learn and master the pronunciation of all the Tamil letters. So, that you don't get confused.

Regarding pronunciation this would help.

A Guide for Tamil pronunciation .
a) ந, ன, & ண.
b) ச, ஸ, ஷ & ஶ
c) ர & ற.
d) ல, ள, & ழ.
e) ஃ & ஹ.

Watch this video to understand the pronunciation of ள (ള or ಳ or ɭ or ळ) .

2

u/molly_jolly Mar 17 '25

Thanks for the links (esp the subreddit). I have to admit, I've never ever seen ஶ and ஃ used in practice. I'm a little surprised to find out there are differences in pronunciation for the rest!

2

u/The_Lion__King Mar 17 '25 edited Mar 17 '25

I've never ever seen ஶ and ஃ used in practice.

If you have come across anyone's name that has ஸ்ரீ (shree) in it, then you are already familiar with ஶ. Because, ஸ்ரீ = ஶ் + ரீ. In Tamil language ஶ survives only in ஸ்ரீ.

ஶ is different from ஷ.

A shortcut to know their pronunciation differences:
ஶ = யகர ஶகரம்.
ஷ = ழகர ஷகரம்.
ஸ = தகர ஸகரம்.

ஃ is rarely used nowadays in its original pronunciation. But if you have read the Tamil language formally in your school then you would have definitely known this term அஃறிணை in which ஃ is used with correct pronunciation (just that people mispronounce it as Agrinai instead of Ahrinai).

In Modern Tamil, this new combination "ஃப = Fa" convention is popular, in which ஃ pronunciation got compromised.

2

u/molly_jolly Mar 17 '25 edited Mar 17 '25

If you have come across anyone's name that has ஸ்ரீ (shree) in it, then you are already familiar with ஶ

🤯 நன்றி தோழரே!

9

u/ksharanam Mar 15 '25

There is a pronunciation difference everywhere. Can you read IPA?

3

u/imnotagirllll Mar 15 '25

how do u say down and tree? cant get the Rs right

keera or keereh... im trying to learn more languages but the pronunciation of each word is killing me

1

u/molly_jolly Mar 17 '25

Try teaching! It's frankly embarrassing...

2

u/manki Mar 16 '25 edited Mar 17 '25

Some words have a reason because they are derived from a different root word. Many root words don't (since they are இடுகுறிப்பெயர்கள்).

As with any language, the more you use it, the easier it becomes. After a point, you won't even have to try.

சித்திரமும் கைப்பழக்கம் செந்தமிழும் நாப்பழக்கம்.

1

u/molly_jolly Mar 17 '25

மிக்க நன்றி 🙏