Language/Telugu/Grammar/Telugu-Alphabet

Next Lesson — Vowel Signs ▶️

Telugu → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Telugu Alphabet

Welcome to the Telugu Alphabet lesson! As you embark on your journey to learn Telugu, understanding its alphabet is a crucial first step. The Telugu language is a beautiful and melodious language, rich in culture and history. With its unique script and sounds, learning the Telugu alphabet will help you pronounce words correctly and write them with ease.

In this lesson, you'll familiarize yourself with the 56 letters of the Telugu alphabet, which include vowels and consonants. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognize, pronounce, and write each letter, setting a solid foundation for your future learning.

Importance of the Telugu Alphabet

The Telugu alphabet is not just a set of symbols; it's a gateway into the heart of Telugu culture and communication. The script is phonetic, meaning that each letter corresponds to a specific sound. This feature makes it easier for learners, as once you grasp the pronunciation of the letters, you can read new words with confidence.

Structure of the Lesson

1. Overview of the Telugu Alphabet

2. Vowels in Telugu

3. Consonants in Telugu

4. Pronunciation Guide

5. Writing Telugu Letters

6. Exercises and Practice Scenarios

Overview of the Telugu Alphabet

The Telugu alphabet consists of 56 letters, which can be categorized into vowels (Achulu) and consonants (Hallulu).

Vowels (Achulu)

There are 16 vowels in the Telugu script. They are essential for forming syllables and words. Here's a quick overview:

Telugu	Pronunciation	English
అ	a	a (as in "America")
ఆ	ā	aa (as in "father")
ఇ	i	i (as in "it")
ఈ	ī	ee (as in "see")
ఉ	u	u (as in "pull")
ఊ	ū	oo (as in "food")
ఋ	ṛ	ri (as in "river")
ౠ	ṝ	rri (as in "hurry")
ఎ	e	e (as in "bet")
10		10
ఐ	ai	ai (as in "aisle")
ఒ	o	o (as in "not")
ఓ	ō	oo (as in "go")
ఔ	au	au (as in "how")
అం	aṁ	am (as in "hum")
అః	aḥ	ah (as in "aha")

Consonants (Hallulu)

The Telugu script includes 36 consonants. Each consonant has its unique sound, which can change when combined with vowels. Here's a table for reference:

Telugu	Pronunciation	English
క	ka	k (as in "kite")
ఖ	kha	kh (as in "khaki")
గ	ga	g (as in "go")
ఘ	gha	gh (as in "ghost")
ఙ	ṅa	ng (as in "sing")
చ	cha	ch (as in "chat")
ఛ	chha	chh (as in "achha")
జ	ja	j (as in "jam")
ఝ	jha	jh (as in "hajj")
ఞ	ña	ny (as in "canyon")
ట	ṭa	t (as in "top")
ఠ	ṭha	th (as in "bath")
డ	ḍa	d (as in "dog")
ఢ	ḍha	dh (as in "adhere")
ణ	ṇa	n (as in "none")
త	ta	t (as in "top")
థ	tha	th (as in "thing")
ద	da	d (as in "dog")
ధ	dha	dh (as in "adhere")
న	na	n (as in "none")
ప	pa	p (as in "pen")
ఫ	pha	ph (as in "photo")
బ	ba	b (as in "bat")
భ	bha	bh (as in "abhor")
మ	ma	m (as in "man")
య	ya	y (as in "yes")
ర	ra	r (as in "run")
ల	la	l (as in "love")
వ	va	v (as in "van")
శ	sha	sh (as in "shy")
ష	ṣha	shh (as in "push")
స	sa	s (as in "sun")
హ	ha	h (as in "hello")
ళ	ḷa	l (as in "pull")
క్ష	kṣha	ksh (as in "kshatriya")
ఱ	ṛa	r (as in "run")

Pronunciation Guide

Pronunciation is key in Telugu, as it can change the meaning of words. Here’s a quick guide on how to pronounce some common letters:

1. Vowels:

• అ (a) is pronounced like the 'a' in "America."

• ఆ (ā) is pronounced like 'a' in "father."

2. Consonants:

• క (ka) is a hard 'k' sound.

• గ (ga) is a soft 'g' sound.

Take your time to practice each sound; repetition is essential for mastery.

Writing Telugu Letters

Writing Telugu letters can be quite enjoyable! Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Practice Strokes: Begin by practicing the basic strokes for each letter. This is crucial for developing your handwriting.

• Use Grid Paper: This helps maintain proper size and alignment.

• Start with Vowels: Master the vowels first, as they are foundational to forming words.

• Move to Consonants: Once you're comfortable with vowels, start practicing the consonants.

To assist with writing, consider using the following format:

1. Vowels: Write each vowel repeatedly to get familiar with its shape.

2. Consonants: Write each consonant in combination with vowels to see how they form syllables.

Exercises and Practice Scenarios

Now that you've learned the Telugu alphabet, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises to practice your skills.

Exercise 1: Identify the Letters

Match the Telugu letter with its correct pronunciation.

Telugu Letter	Pronunciation
అ	a
ఝ	jha
మ	ma
ఉ	u

Answers:

1. అ → a

2. ఝ → jha

3. మ → ma

4. ఉ → u

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the words with the appropriate vowel.

1. క__ (ka)

2. మ__ (ma)

3. ప__ (pa)

Answers:

1. కా (kaa)

2. మి (mi)

3. పు (pu)

Exercise 3: Write the Letters

Practice writing the following letters multiple times.

1. అ

2. క

3. మ

Hint: Focus on maintaining consistent size and proportions.

Exercise 4: Pronunciation Practice

Read the following letters out loud, focusing on correct pronunciation.

1. ఆ

2. ఉ

3. ఢ

Answers:

• Practice pronouncing each letter out loud until you feel confident!

Exercise 5: Create Words

Combine the following letters to form simple words.

1. మ + అ = __

2. క + ఇ = __

3. ప + ఉ = __

Answers:

1. మ + అ = మ (ma)

2. క + ఇ = కి (ki)

3. ప + ఉ = పు (pu)

Exercise 6: Letter Recognition

Identify the following letters from the given examples.

1. Identify the letter: క (ka)

2. Identify the letter: ణ (ṇa)

Answers:

1. క → ka

2. ణ → ṇa

Exercise 7: Listening Activity

Listen to the pronunciation of the following letters and write them down.

1. ఝ

2. వ

Answers:

• Write based on what you hear.

Exercise 8: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct pronunciation for the following letters.

1. త

• a) ta

• b) tha

• c) da

Answer: a) ta

Exercise 9: Letter Matching

Match the Telugu letters with their English sounds.

1. ర

2. శ

3. ప

Answers:

1. ర → r

2. శ → sh

3. ప → p

Exercise 10: Forming Syllables

Combine the following letters to form syllables.

1. మ + అ = __

2. క + ఆ = __

3. బ + ఇ = __

Answers:

1. మ + అ = మ (ma)

2. క + ఆ = కా (kaa)

3. బ + ఇ = బి (bi)

Congratulations on completing the Telugu Alphabet lesson! With practice, you'll soon be able to read and write Telugu fluently. Remember, consistency is key, so keep practicing those letters!

Table of Contents - Telugu Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Telugu Script

• Telugu Alphabet
• Vowel Signs

  ---

Basic Vocabulary

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Colors
• Days of the Week and Months

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject, Object, and Verb
• Question Formation

  ---

Everyday Vocabulary

• Family and Relationships
• Food and Drink
• Travel and Transportation

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Gender and Number
• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Hobbies and Activities

• Sports and Exercise
• Entertainment and Media
• Arts and Crafts

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Telugu Culture and Traditions

• Festivals and Celebrations
• Food and Cuisine
• Arts and Entertainment

Sources

• Telugu language - Wikipedia
• Telugu/Alphabet - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
• Telugu grammar

Other Lessons

• Give your Opinion
• Subject, Object, and Verb
• Noun Gender and Number
• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• 0 to A1 Course
• Vowel Signs
• Pronouns
• Plurals
• Conditional Mood

Next Lesson — Vowel Signs ▶️