Language/Malayalam/Grammar/Basic-Letters
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Welcome to the lesson on Basic Letters of the Malayalam alphabet! In this lesson, you will learn and practice writing and identifying the 14 basic letters of the Malayalam script. Mastering these letters is crucial for developing a strong foundation in reading and writing Malayalam. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently recognize and write each of these letters.
The Malayalam script is derived from the ancient Brahmi script and is used to write the Malayalam language, which is primarily spoken in the Indian state of Kerala. It has a unique and beautiful writing system with a total of 54 letters, including consonants, vowels, and vowel modifiers. These letters are organized into different classes based on their phonetic properties.
Let's begin our journey by exploring the basic letters of the Malayalam script!
The Basic Letters[edit | edit source]
The Malayalam script consists of 14 basic letters, which are also known as "Swarams" or "Vowels." These letters represent individual vowel sounds in the Malayalam language. It is essential to familiarize yourself with these basic letters before moving on to more complex aspects of the script. Let's take a closer look at each of these letters and their pronunciation.
Table of Basic Letters[edit | edit source]
| Malayalam | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| അ | a | A |
| ആ | ā | AA |
| ഇ | i | I |
| ഈ | ī | EE |
| ഉ | u | U |
| ഊ | ū | OO |
| ഋ | r̥ | RU |
| എ | e | E |
| ഏ | ē | AI |
| ഐ | ai | OI |
| ഒ | o | O |
| ഓ | ō | AU |
| ഔ | au | OW |
| അം | aṁ | AN |
Now, let's dive into each of these letters and understand their pronunciation and usage in more detail.
The Letter അ (a)[edit | edit source]
The first letter in the Malayalam alphabet is അ (a). It represents the short vowel sound "a" as in "apple." The pronunciation of this letter is relatively straightforward. It is important to note that the sound represented by അ (a) is inherent in every consonant in Malayalam. It serves as the default vowel sound if no other vowel is attached to a consonant. For example, the word "കട" (kaṭa) means "knife" in Malayalam. Here, the letter ക (ka) represents the consonant "k," and the inherent vowel sound is അ (a).
The Letter ആ (ā)[edit | edit source]
The second letter in the Malayalam alphabet is ആ (ā). It represents the long vowel sound "aa" as in "father." The pronunciation of this letter is similar to the English letter "a" in "car." For example, the word "മാമ" (māma) means "uncle" in Malayalam. Here, the letter മ (ma) represents the consonant "m," and the vowel ആ (ā) is attached to it, producing the long vowel sound.
The Letter ഇ (i)[edit | edit source]
The third letter in the Malayalam alphabet is ഇ (i). It represents the short vowel sound "i" as in "sit." The pronunciation of this letter is similar to the English letter "i" in "bin." For example, the word "പിടി" (piṭi) means "catch" in Malayalam. Here, the letter പ (pi) represents the consonant "p," and the vowel ഇ (i) is attached to it, producing the short vowel sound.
The Letter ഈ (ī)[edit | edit source]
The fourth letter in the Malayalam alphabet is ഈ (ī). It represents the long vowel sound "ee" as in "see." The pronunciation of this letter is similar to the English letter "e" in "bee." For example, the word "പീലി" (pīli) means "tiger" in Malayalam. Here, the letter പ (pi) represents the consonant "p," and the vowel ഈ (ī) is attached to it, producing the long vowel sound.
The Letter ഉ (u)[edit | edit source]
The fifth letter in the Malayalam alphabet is ഉ (u). It represents the short vowel sound "u" as in "put." The pronunciation of this letter is similar to the English letter "u" in "hut." For example, the word "പുലി" (puli) means "tiger" in Malayalam. Here, the letter പ (pu) represents the consonant "p," and the vowel ഉ (u) is attached to it, producing the short vowel sound.
The Letter ഊ (ū)[edit | edit source]
The sixth letter in the Malayalam alphabet is ഊ (ū). It represents the long vowel sound "oo" as in "boot." The pronunciation of this letter is similar to the English letter "oo" in "moon." For example, the word "മൂക്ക്" (mūkku) means "nose" in Malayalam. Here, the letter മ (mu) represents the consonant "m," and the vowel ഊ (ū) is attached to it, producing the long vowel sound.
The Letter ഋ (r̥)[edit | edit source]
The seventh letter in the Malayalam alphabet is ഋ (r̥). It represents the vowel sound "ru" with an inherent "r" sound. The pronunciation of this letter is unique to the Malayalam language. It does not have an exact equivalent in English. The closest approximation is the vowel sound "ru" in "rude." For example, the word "കൃഷി" (kṛṣi) means "agriculture" in Malayalam. Here, the letter ക (k) represents the consonant "k," and the vowel ഋ (r̥) is attached to it, producing the vowel sound "ru."
The Letter എ (e)[edit | edit source]
The eighth letter in the Malayalam alphabet is എ (e). It represents the short vowel sound "e" as in "pet." The pronunciation of this letter is similar to the English letter "e" in "bed." For example, the word "എണ്ണ" (eṇṇa) means "oil" in Malayalam. Here, the letter എ (e) represents the vowel sound "e" attached to the consonant ണ്ണ (ṇṇ).
The Letter ഏ (ē)[edit | edit source]
The ninth letter in the Malayalam alphabet is ഏ (ē). It represents the long vowel sound "ai" as in "bait." The pronunciation of this letter is similar to the English letter "a" in "gate." For example, the word "പോലീസ്" (pōlīs) means "police" in Malayalam. Here, the letter പ (po) represents the consonant "p," and the vowel ഏ (ē) is attached to it, producing the long vowel sound.
The Letter ഐ (ai)[edit | edit source]
The tenth letter in the Malayalam alphabet is ഐ (ai). It represents the vowel sound "oi" with an inherent "a" sound. The pronunciation of this letter is unique to the Malayalam language. It does not have an exact equivalent in English. The closest approximation is the vowel sound "oi" in "boil." For example, the word "മൈത്രി" (maitri) means "friendship" in Malayalam. Here, the letter മ (mai) represents the consonant "m," and the vowel ഐ (ai) is attached to it, producing the vowel sound "oi."
The Letter ഒ (o)[edit | edit source]
The eleventh letter in the Malayalam alphabet is ഒ (o). It represents the short vowel sound "o" as in "cot." The pronunciation of this letter is similar to the English letter "o" in "hot." For example, the word "കൊടുക്ക്" (koṭukku) means "give" in Malayalam. Here, the letter ക (ko) represents the consonant "k," and the vowel ഒ (o) is attached to it, producing the short vowel sound.
The Letter ഓ (ō)[edit | edit source]
The twelfth letter in the Malayalam alphabet is ഓ (ō). It represents the long vowel sound "au" as in "caught." The pronunciation of this letter is similar to the English letter "o" in "bore." For example, the word "കോട്" (kōṭ) means "fort" in Malayalam. Here, the letter ക (ko) represents the consonant "k," and the vowel ഓ (ō) is attached to it, producing the long vowel sound.
The Letter ഔ (au)[edit | edit source]
The thirteenth letter in the Malayalam alphabet is ഔ (au). It represents the vowel sound "ow" with an inherent "a" sound. The pronunciation of this letter is unique to the Malayalam language. It does not have an exact equivalent in English. The closest approximation is the vowel sound "ow" in "cow." For example, the word "പൗരത്വം" (pauratvam) means "citizenship" in Malayalam. Here, the letter പ (pau) represents the consonant "p," and the vowel ഔ (au) is attached to it, producing the vowel sound "ow."
The Letter അം (aṁ)[edit | edit source]
The fourteenth and final basic letter in the Malayalam alphabet is അം (aṁ). It represents the nasal sound "an" as in "pan." The pronunciation of this letter is similar to the English letter "a" in "band." For example, the word "പിതാവ്" (pitāv) means "father" in Malayalam. Here, the letter പ (pi) represents the consonant "p," and the vowel അം (aṁ) is attached to it, producing the nasal sound.
Congratulations! You have now learned the 14 basic letters of the Malayalam alphabet. Take some time to practice writing and pronouncing each of these letters. Familiarize yourself with their shapes and sounds to strengthen your understanding of the Malayalam script.
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
The Malayalam script holds immense cultural significance in the state of Kerala. It is not only a mode of communication but also a reflection of the rich literary and artistic traditions of the region. The script has a history dating back to the 9th century and has evolved over time to become the beautiful script we see today.
One interesting cultural aspect of the Malayalam script is the use of conjunct consonants, which we will explore in the next lesson. Conjunct consonants are combinations of two or more consonants that merge together to form a single character. This feature is unique to the Malayalam script and adds complexity and depth to the written language.
Kerala, often referred to as "God's Own Country," is known for its natural beauty, backwaters, and lush green landscapes. It is also home to a vibrant cultural scene, with various art forms and festivals celebrated throughout the year. The Malayalam language and script play a vital role in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Kerala.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now that you have learned the 14 basic letters of the Malayalam alphabet, it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Here are a few exercises to help you reinforce what you've learned:
Exercise 1: Writing Practice Write each of the basic letters of the Malayalam alphabet ten times. Pay attention to the shape and stroke order of each letter.
Exercise 2: Identification Given a list of Malayalam words, identify and underline the basic letter in each word. For example, if the word is "പില്ല" (pilla), you should underline the letter ഇ (i).
Exercise 3: Reading Comprehension Read a passage in Malayalam that includes words with the basic letters. Practice reading the passage aloud and try to identify the basic letters as you go along.
Exercise 4: Word Formation Using the basic letters, create five Malayalam words of your own. Write the words and their English translations.
Solutions[edit | edit source]
Exercise 1: Writing Practice Take a look at the following table for the correct shape and stroke order of each letter:
| Letter | Shape | Stroke Order |
|---|---|---|
| അ | ||
| ആ | ||
| ഇ | ||
| ഈ | ||
| ഉ | ||
| ഊ | ||
| ഋ | ||
| എ | ||
| ഏ | ||
| ഐ | ||
| ഒ | ||
| ഓ | ||
| ഔ | ||
| അം |
Exercise 2: Identification Here are the correct underlined letters for each word:
1. കാലം (kālam) - ആ (ā) 2. സിനിമ (sinima) - ഇ (i) 3. ഉണ്ട് (uṇṭ) - ഉ (u) 4. ഈശ്വരൻ (īśvaraṇ) - ഈ (ī) 5. ഓടുകൂട് (ōṭukūṭ) - ഓ (ō)
Exercise 3: Reading Comprehension Read the following passage aloud and try to identify the basic letters as you go along:
"എനിക്ക് ഓട്ടോ പിള്ളകൾ വേണം. അവർ ഇരുപത്തി ആറാണ്."
Exercise 4: Word Formation Here are five Malayalam words using the basic letters:
1. കാലം (kālam) - time 2. ഉണ്ട് (uṇṭ) - exist 3. ഈശ്വരൻ (īśvaraṇ) - god 4. ഓടുകൂട് (ōṭukūṭ) - vehicle 5. അംഗം (aṁgaṁ) - body
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Basic Letters of the Malayalam alphabet! You have learned the 14 fundamental letters of the Malayalam script, their pronunciation, and their usage. The ability to recognize and write these letters is essential for building a strong foundation in reading and writing Malayalam.
In the next lesson, we will explore conjunct consonants, which are combinations of two or more consonants. These conjunct consonants add complexity and beauty to the Malayalam script. Stay curious and keep practicing to become a confident reader and writer of Malayalam!
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Malayalam - Wikipedia
- Everything you need to learn Malayalam - Elikutty
- Suriyani Malayalam - Wikipedia
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Past Tense Verbs
- Participles and Infinitives
- 0 to A1 Course
- Negation
- Compound Sentences
- Pronouns
- Future Tense Verbs
- Give your Opinion
- Conditional Sentences
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