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Tamil basics — the script, sounds and first steps
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The starting point: the Tamil script, your first words, and the honest answer to where to begin. Only 31 letters — no aspirates, no separate voiced sounds. க reads ka, ga or kha depending on position: one letter, three jobs. Fewer letters to learn, more listening to do. Spoken Tamil also shortens many written forms — this course teaches the written form first and flags the street version.
The alphabet at a glance
The Tamil script has 12 vowels and 24 consonants. The full tables with sounds are on the pronunciation page — learn to recognise them before you memorise any words.
Your first five words
| English | Hindi | Tamil | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello (respectful, universal) | नमस्ते | வணக்கம் | vaṇakkam |
| How are you? (formal) | आप कैसे हैं? | நீங்கள் எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்? | nīṅkaḷ eppaḍi irukkiṟīrkaḷ? |
| Streets shorten it: நீங்க எப்படி இருக்கீங்க? | |||
| How are you? (familiar) | तुम कैसे हो? | நீ எப்படி இருக்கிறாய்? | nī eppaḍi irukkiṟāy? |
| I'm fine | मैं ठीक हूँ | நான் நன்றாக இருக்கிறேன் | nāṉ naṉṟāka irukkiṟēṉ |
| Thank you | धन्यवाद | நன்றி | naṉṟi |
The order to learn in
- Script + sounds — Tamil is phonetic: learn the letters and you can read anything.
- Greetings + pronouns — say hello, introduce yourself, ask where.
- Numbers 1–20 — prices, time and quantities unlock immediately.
- Word order + present tense — one pattern (நான் சாதம் சாப்பிடுகிறேன்) builds a thousand sentences.
- Topics (food, travel, shopping) — learn what your life needs first.