Sarvabhashin En-Kn Script PDF

kɐn̪ n̪ əɽɐ
ಕನ ಡ
Kannada
sarvabhāshin
Script
The Kannada letters and words described in this book are each
accompanied by a pronunciation key in the International
Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Please refer to these IPA keys for the
exact pronunciation of a Kannada letter or word.
The IPA is a scientific notation used for accurately transcribing

the sounds of most human languages. More about the IPA can
be found at http://www.yorku.ca/earmstro/ipa/ and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa .
The similarities described in this book between the

pronunciations of Kannada letters and ‘corresponding’ English
letters are only guidelines and should be considered as such.
http://tiny.cc/sarvabhashin
This letter has a sound similar to
k in skip
4
g in go
5
These are the letters we’ve just seen
k ɡ
6
p in speak
7
b in bat
8
These are the letters we’ve seen so far
k ɡ
p b
9
tch in catch
10
dge in badge
11
These are the letters we’ve seen so far
k ɡ
p b
ʨ ʥ
The sounds of these letters are all called consonants
12
Here’s a vowel sound
ɐ
This vowel sounds similar to
u in cut
13
Look at these letters
kɐ ɡɐ
ಕ ಗ
pɐ bɐ
ಪ ಬ
ʨɐ ʥɐ
ಚ ಜ
The sounds of these letters are made up of a consonant and a vowel
Notice how the letters look slightly different from their original shape?
14
In short –
k kɐ
ಕ
ɡ ɡɐ
ಗ
p pɐ
ಪ
b
- ◌್ = bɐ
ಬ
ʨ ʨɐ
ಚ
ʥ ʥɐ
15
Here’s another vowel
This vowelsounds similar to
i in pin
This vowel has a special sign of its own –
16
Now look at these ‘combo’ letters,

each having the sound of a consonant plus a vowel
ki ɡi
pi bi
ʨi ʥi
Again, notice the difference from the original shape of the ‘basic’ letter?
17
In short –
k ki
ɡ ɡi
p pi
b
- ◌್ + ◌ಿ = bi
ʨ ʨi
ʥ ʥi
18
Notice the slightly different shape of this letter,

compared to the others
ɡi
19
And another vowel
u in bull
This vowel, too, has a special sign of its own –
◌ು
20
And some new combo letters,

with their shape slightly changed from the original –
ku ɡu
ಕು ಗು
pu bu
ಪ ಬು
ʨu ʥu
ಚು ಜು
21
And again, in short –
k ku
ಕು
ɡ ɡu
ಗು
p pu
ಪ
b
- ◌್ + ◌ು = bu
ಬು
ʨ ʨu
ಚು
ʥ ʥu
ು
Get the idea?!
22

pu
23
These are all the various ‘basic’ and ‘combo’ letters we’ve seen thus far
k kɐ ki ku
ಕ ಕು
ɡ ɡɐ ɡi ɡu
ಗ ಗು
p pɐ pi pu
ಪ ಪ
b bɐ bi bu
ಬ ಬು
ʨ ʨɐ ʨi ʨu
ಚ ಚು
ʥ ʥɐ ʥi ʥu
ಜ ಜು
24
These letters look similar –
ʨ ʨɐ ʨi ʨu
ಚ ಚು
ʥ ʥɐ ʥi ʥu
ಜ ಜು
25
When two letters come one after the other

and the first one has no vowel sound,
that is, it is a ◌್ letter,

then the second letter is written in a ‘mini’ version
below the first one
k ʨɐ kʨɐ
+ ಚ = ಕ
p ɡi pɡi
+ =
ʥ bu ʥbu
+ ಬು = ಜು
b ʥ bʥ
+ =
26
Note that in such cases,

any vowel or other signs originally belonging to the second letter
are written attached to the first letter –
k ʨɐ kʨɐ
+ ಚ = ಕ
p ɡi pɡi
+ =
ʥ bu ʥbu
+ ಬು = ಜು
b ʥ bʥ
+ =
It’s as if the first and the second letter together
form a new ‘joint’ letter
27
Here are the mini versions

of all the letters we’ve seen so far
When the second letter has no vowel –
k k
◌್
ɡ ɡ
◌್
p p
◌್
◌್ + b
= b
◌್
ʨ ʨ
◌್
ʥ ʥ
◌್
28
When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –
kɐ kɐ
ಕ ◌
ɡɐ ɡɐ
ಗ ◌
pɐ pɐ
ಪ ◌
◌್ + bɐ
= bɐ
ಬ ◌
ʨɐ ʨɐ
ಚ ◌
ʥɐ ʥɐ
ಜ ◌
29
When the second letter has the vowel i –
ki ki
◌ಿ
ɡi ɡi
◌ಿ
pi pi
◌ಿ
◌್ + bi
= bi
◌ಿ
ʨi ʨi
◌ಿ
ʥi ʥi
◌ಿ
30
And when the second letter has the vowel u –
ku ku
ಕು ◌ು
ɡu ɡu
ಗು ◌ು
pu pu
ಪ ◌ು
◌್ + bu
= bu
ಬು ◌ು
ʨu ʨu
ಚು ◌ು
ʥu ʥu
ಜು ◌ು
31
To sum up, the mini versionsare special forms
that appear after a letter having ◌್

These mini versions can occur in the middleor at the end of a word,
but never at the beginning
32
y in yo-yo
33
r in Italian Roma
This is a ‘rolled’ /r/, as in Spanish or Italian
34
l in lad
35
v in victory
36
j r
l ʋ
37
This is how these letters look, when the ɐ sound is added
jɐ rɐ
ಯ ರ
lɐ ʋɐ
ಲ ವ
38
This is how these letters look, when the i sound is added
ji ri
li ʋi
39

ri
40
This is how these letters look, when the u sound is added
ju ru
ಯು ರು
lu ʋu
ಲು ವ
41

ʋu
42
These are all the various basic and combo letters

we’ve just seen
j jɐ ji ju
ಯ ಯು
r rɐ ri ru
ರ ರು
l lɐ li lu
ಲ ಲು
ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu
ವ ವ
43
These letters look very similar –
p pɐ pi pu
ಪ ಪ
ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu
ವ ವ
44
These combo letters look somewhat similar –
jɐ ju
ಯ ಯು
Remember that ju has an extra curl at the end
45

of the letters we’ve just seen
j j
◌್
r r
◌್
◌್ + l
= l
◌್
ʋ ʋ
◌್
46
jɐ jɐ
ಯ ◌
rɐ rɐ
ರ ◌
◌್ + lɐ
= lɐ
ಲ ◌
ʋɐ ʋɐ
ವ ◌
47
ji ji
◌ಿ
ri ri
◌ಿ
◌್ + li
= li
◌ಿ
ʋi ʋi
◌ಿ
48
ju ju
ಯು ◌ು
ru ru
ರು ◌ು
◌್ + lu
= lu
ಲು ◌ು
ʋu ʋu
ವ ◌ು
49
Note that most of the mini versions we’ve just seen

look quite different from their ‘full’ versions –
jɐ
ಯ◌
rɐ
ರ ◌
lɐ
ಲ ◌
50
These mini versions look somewhat similar –
pɐ ʋɐ
◌ ◌
51
r likes being different from the rest
For instance, you would expect
r kɐ
+
ಕ
to look like
ರ
But it doesn’t!
Instead, it is written like this –
rkɐ
ಕ
That is, rtakes on a special mini form
and jumps ahead of the next letter!

52
Some more examples will make this a little clear
r ʨɐ rʨɐ
+ ಚ = ಚ
r pi rpi
+ =
r ju rju
+ ಯು = ಯು
r ʋ rʋ
+ =
r rɐ rrɐ
+ ರ = ರ
Don’t stress. This will become second nature as you learn more.
53
These are some actual Kannada words

Can you read them?
ಯುಗ ಜರುಗು
ವಗ ಚಚು ಗಬು
ಪ ವ ಯ
ಪಕ ಲ ಕಪ
54
Here are their pronunciations and meanings
biri juɡɐ ʥɐrʊɡu1
ಯುಗ ಜರುಗು
crack, burst eon, era move aside, shift
ʋɐrɡɐ ʨɐrʨu ɡɐbbu
ವಗ ಚಚು ಗಬು
category church stink, stench
pɐlli ʋjəjɐ1
ಪ ವ ಯ
lizard expenditure
pukkəlɐ1 ʨikkəppɐ1
ಪಕ ಲ ಕಪ
coward, sissy father’s younger brother
Some pronunciation keys above have been marked with a superscript 1
In these keys,
ə is a short or ‘lazily pronounced’ version of ɐ
and ʊ is a short or lazily pronounced version of u
For now, just assume

ə=ɐ
ʊ=u
55
s in sit
56
sh in ship
Some people pronounce this letter similar to
s in sit
57
h in hat
58
s ɕ
59
This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for ɐ, i and u
sɐ ɕɐ ɦɐ
ಸ ಶ ಹ
si ɕi ɦi
su ɕu ɦu
ಸು ಶು ಹು
60
Notice the slightly different shapes of these letters
ɕi ɦi
61

we’ve just seen
s sɐ si su
ಸ ಸು
ɕ ɕɐ ɕi ɕu
ಶ ಶು
ɦ ɦɐ ɦi ɦu
ಹ ಹು
62
These letters look somewhat similar –
p pɐ pi pu
ಪ ಪ
s sɐ si su
ಸ ಸು
63

s s
◌್
ɕ ɕ
◌್ + = ◌್
ɦ ɦ
◌್
64
sɐ sɐ
ಸ ◌
ɕɐ ɕɐ
◌್ + ಶ = ◌
ɦɐ ɦɐ
ಹ ◌
65
si si
◌ಿ
ɕi ɕi
◌್ + = ◌ಿ
ɦi ɦi
◌ಿ
66
su su
ಸ ◌ು
ɕu ɕu
◌್ + ಶ = ◌ು
ɦu ɦu
ಹ ◌ು
67
Some actual Kannada words with these letters we’ve just seen
ಶು ಹಬ
ಶಕ ಹುಚು
ಸ ಲ ಹಸ
ಸು ಶುಕ ಗ ಹ
68
How many correct?
sɐri siɦi
ಸ
OK, all right sweet
ɕiɕu ɦɐbbɐ
ಶು ಹಬ
infant festival
ɕɐkjɐ ɦuʨʨu
ಶಕ ಹುಚು
possible madness, mania
sʋɐlpɐ ɦrɐsʋɐ
ಸ ಲ ಹಸ
a little, some short
ɦiɡɡɪsu1 ɕukrəɡrəɦɐ
ಸು ಶುಕ ಗ ಹ
expand, enlarge Venus (planet)
1
ɪ is a short or lazily pronounced version of i
For now, just assume ɪ = i
69
n̪
This letter has a sound similar to’
n in tenth
To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue

touches the back of your front teeth
70
m in mother
71
These are the basic letters

we’ve just seen
n̪ m
72

n̪ ɐ mɐ
ನ ಮ
n̪ i mi
n̪ u mu
ನು ಮು
73

we’ve just seen
n̪ n̪ ɐ n̪ i n̪ u
ನ ನು
m mɐ mi mu
ಮ ಮು
74
These sets of letters look similar –
s sɐ si su
ಸ ಸು
n̪ n̪ ɐ n̪ i n̪ u
ನ ನು
p pɐ pi pu
ಪ ಪ
ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu
ವ ವ
m mɐ mi mu
ಮ ಮು
75

n̪ n̪
◌್
◌್ + m
= m
◌್
n̪ ɐ n̪ ɐ
ನ ◌
◌್ + mɐ
= mɐ
ಮ ◌
76
n̪ i n̪ i
◌ಿ
◌್ + mi
= mi
◌ಿ
n̪ u n̪ u
ನ ◌ು
◌್ + mu
= mu
ಮ ◌ು
77
Note that most of the mini versions we’ve just seen

look quite different from their ‘full’ versions –
n̪ ɐ
ನ ◌
mɐ
ಮ ◌
78
Some actual Kannada words with these letters we’ve just seen
ಮಗನು ಚಮ
ನ ಬಹ
ಜನ ಮುಗ ಲು
ಮ ಸು ಕ ರು
ಕಮ ಮುನು ಗು
79
Here’s how you pronounce them, and what they mean
mɐɡən̪ u ʨɐrmɐ
ಮಗನು ಚಮ
son skin
ʨin̪ n̪ u brɐɦmɐ
ನ ಬಹ
gold Brahma, a Hindu god
ʥɐn̪ mɐ muɡɡəlu
ಜನ ಮುಗ ಲು
birth mould, fungus
mɐn̪ n̪ ɪsu miksəru
ಮ ಸು ಕ ರು
forgive, pardon mixer, blender
ʨikkəmmɐ mun̪ n̪ ʊɡɡu
ಕಮ ಮುನು ಗು
father’s younger brother’s wife go forward, proceed
80
Remember the mini version rule? Let’s extend it slightly.
When two or more letters come one after the other

and all before the last have no vowel sound,
that is, they are all ◌್ letters,

then all letters after the first one
are written in their respective ‘mini’ versions
below the first one
l k jɐ lkjɐ
+ +ಯ=ಲ
ɕ ʨ ʋi ɕʨʋi
+ + =
m b ru mbru
+ + ರು = ಮು
m p s mps
+ + =ಮ
81
Again, remember that

any vowel or other signs originally belonging to the last letter
are written attached to the first letter –
l k jɐ lkjɐ
+ +ಯ=ಲ
ɕ ʨ ʋi ɕʨʋi
+ + =
m b ru mbru
+ + ರು = ಮು
m p s mps
+ + =ಮ
So, all these letters in question together
form a new ‘joint’ letter
82
r, as expected, decides to rebel
Remember that
r kɐ rkɐ
+ ಕ = ಕ
Let’s extend this rule a bit
r k jɐ rkjɐ
+ +ಯ= ಕ
That is, r takes on its special mini form
and jumps ahead of all the letters
83
One thing to note
Since
k rɐ krɐ
+ ರ = ಕ
therefore
k r jɐ krjɐ
+ +ಯ= ಕ
So, r takes on its special mini form
only when it is the first letter of such a no-vowel sequence
like in the example we saw on the previous page –
r k jɐ rkjɐ
+ +ಯ= ಕ
The good news is, such strings of letters are quite rare in Kannada J
84
Here’s a new vowel, along with its sign
◌ೆ
e in pen
85
Now look at these combo letters,

each having the sound of a consonant plus the e vowel
ke ɡe
ೆ ೆ
pe be
ೆ ೆ
ʨe ʥe
ೆ ೆ
je re
ೆ
86
And some more combo letters, with this new vowel
le ʋe
ೆ ೆ
se ɕe
ೆ ೆ
ɦe
ೆ
n̪ e me
ೆ
87
Here’s a few words with our new vowel
ಮ ೆ ೆ ೆ
ೆ ೆ ಬ ೆ
ೆಕ ೆ
ೆ ೆ ೆಸರು
ಚು ೆ
88
And here’s how you say them, and what they mean
mɐn̪ e kere
ಮ ೆ ೆ ೆ
house, home lake
bele bɐɡɡe
ೆ ೆ ಬ ೆ
price, value about, concerning
lekkɐ sippe
ೆಕ ೆ
calculation, accounts peel, husk
ɦeʥʥe ɦesəru
ೆ ೆ ೆಸರು
step, pace name
jemen̪ meʨʨʊɡe
ಚು ೆ
Yemen, an Arab country praise
89
Here’s another vowel, along with its sign
◌ೊ
o in or
but shorter in length
This sign looks like
◌ೆ + ◌ೂ
90
Now look at these combo letters,

each having the sound of a consonant plus the o vowel
ko ɡo
ೊ ೊ
po bo
ೊ
ʨo ʥo
ೊ ೊ
jo ro
ೊ
91
And some more combo letters, with this new vowel
lo ʋo
ೊ
so ɕo
ೊ ೊ
ɦo
ೊ
n̪ o mo
ೊ
92
Note that for j,
the right-most curl is removed
before the ◌ೊ o vowel is added
j o jo
- ◌್ + ◌ೊ =
93
And some new words with our new vowel
ೊ ೆ ೊ ೆ
ೊ ೆ ೊಜು
ೊಪ ೊರ ೆ
ಗರು ೊಬ ರ
ವ ಗ ಮನ ಸು
94
Here are their pronunciations and meanings
sose n̪ ore
ೊ ೆ ೊ ೆ
daughter-in-law foam, froth
koʨʨe ɡoʥʥu
ೊ ೆ ೊಜು
muck thick sauce
soppu ɦorəɡe
ೊಪ ೊರ ೆ
green vegetables outside
poɡəru ɡobbərɐ
ಗರು ೊಬ ರ
arrogance manure
ɕiʋəmoɡɡɐ mɐn̪ əʋolisu
ವ ಗ ಮನ ಸು
Shimoga, a town in Karnataka persuade, win over
95
t̪
t in Spanish toro

96
d̪
d in Spanish diez

97

we’ve just seen
t̪ d̪
98

t̪ ɐ d̪ ɐ
ತ ದ
t̪ i d̪ i
t̪ u d̪ u
ತು ದು
99

to make the combo letters for e and o
t̪ e d̪ e
ೆ ೆ
t̪ o d̪ o
ೊ ೊ
100

we’ve just seen
t̪ t̪ ɐ t̪ i t̪ u t̪ e t̪ o
ತ ತು ೆ ೊ
d̪ d̪ ɐ d̪ i d̪ u d̪ e d̪ o
ದ ದು ೆ ೊ
Notice the slightly different shape of
d̪ i
101

Let’s just take the simplest example
t̪ ɐ t̪ ɐ
ತ ◌
◌್ + d̪ ɐ
= d̪ ɐ
ದ ◌
Note that the mini version of t̪
looksquite different from its ‘full’ version –
t̪ ɐ
ತ ◌
102
Can you read these Kannada words?
ೆ ೊ ೆ
ದಪ ಸದು
ೆಲುಗು ೊಗಲು
ಮುತು ವ
ನವ ೆಹ ನು ವ ದು
New Delhi food
103
How’d you fare?
d̪ iɕe d̪ ore
ೆ ೊ ೆ
direction king
d̪ ɐppɐ sɐd̪ d̪ u
ದಪ ಸದು
fat, thick noise
t̪ elʊɡu t̪ oɡəlu
ೆಲುಗು ೊಗಲು
Telugu, a southern Indian language hide, leather
mut̪ t̪ u ʋjɐkt̪ i
ಮುತು ವ
pearl person
n̪ ɐʋədeɦəli t̪ in̪ n̪ ʊʋʊd̪ u
ನವ ೆಹ ನು ವ ದು
New Delhi food
104
t in ash tray

curls right back and touches the roof of your mouth
105
d in rushed

106
Sometimes, this letter also has a sound similar to
tt in the American pronunciation of better

dd in the American pronunciation of ladder
r in Spanish pero
but with the tongue curled further back

and ‘flapping’ against the roof of the mouth
This particular sound occurs

only when the letter appears in certain positions in a word,
and will be marked in the pronunciation key
107

we’ve just seen
ʈ ɖ
108

ʈɐ ɖɐ
ಟ ಡ
ʈi ɖi
ʈu ɖu
ಟು ಡು
109

ʈe ɖe
ೆ ೆ
ʈo ɖo
ೊ ೊ
110

we’ve just seen
ʈ ʈɐ ʈi ʈu ʈe ʈo
ಟ ಟು ೆ ೊ
ɖ ɖɐ ɖi ɖu ɖe ɖo
ಡ ಡು ೆ ೊ
Notice the slightly different shape of
ɖi
111

ʈɐ ʈɐ
ಟ ◌
◌್ + ɖɐ
= ɖɐ
ಡ ◌
112
As do their mini versions –
d̪ ɐ ɖɐ
◌ ◌
113
And some Kannada words with these new letters
ತು ಕರ
ಟ ದುಡು
ಡಬ ಪಟ
ಗ ೆ ೆ
ೊ ನಡುಗು
114
All correct?
t̪ uʈi kɐrəɽi
ತು ಕರ
lip bear
kiʈəki d̪ uɖɖu
ಟ ದುಡು
window money
ɖɐbbɐ puʈʈɐ
ಡಬ ಪಟ
box small, little
ɡɐɖɖe moʈʈe
ಗ ೆ ೆ
lump egg
roʈʈi n̪ ɐɖʊɡu
ೊ ನಡುಗು
roṭi, Indian unleavened bread shiver, tremble
115
Remember this letter?
The letter below is pronounced just like the one above,

except that the letter below is pronounced with a little ‘puff of air’
kʰ
It has a sound similar to
ck-h in brick-house
116

ɡʱ
ggh in egghead
117

pʰ
ph in uphold
118

bʱ
bh in clubhouse
119

ʨʰ
ch-h in church-house
120

ʥʱ
dgeh in badgeholder
121
These are the basic letters we’ve just seen
kʰ ɡʱ
pʰ bʱ
ʨʰ ʥʱ
122

to make the combo letters for ɐ
kʰɐ ɡʱɐ
ಖ ಘ
pʰɐ bʱɐ
ಫ ಭ
ʨʰɐ ʥʱɐ
ಛ ಝ
123

to make the combo letters for i
kʰi ɡʱi
pʰi bʱi
ʨʰi ʥʱi
124

to make the combo letters for u
kʰu ɡʱu
ಖು ಘು
pʰu bʱu
ಫ ಭು
ʨʰu ʥʱʊ
ಛು ಝು
125

to make the combo letters for e
kʰe ɡʱe
ೆ ೆ
pʰe bʱe
ೆ ೆ
ʨʰe ʥʱe
ೆ
126

to make the combo letters for o
kʰo ɡʱo
ೊ ೊ
pʰo bʱo
ೊ
ʨʰo ʥʱo
ೊ
127

we’ve just seen
kʰ kʰɐ kʰi kʰu kʰe kʰo
ಖ ಖು ೆ ೊ
ɡʱ ɡʱɐ ɡʱi ɡʱu ɡʱe ɡʱo
ಘ ಘು ೆ ೊ
pʰ pʰɐ pʰi pʰu pʰe pʰo
ಫ ಫ ೆ
bʱ bʱɐ bʱi bʱu bʱe bʱo
ಭ ಭು ೆ ೊ
And the list goes on…
128
And…
ʨʰ ʨʰɐ ʨʰi ʨʰu ʨʰe ʨʰo
ಛ ಛು ೆ ೊ
ʥʱ ʥʱɐ ʥʱi
ಝ
ʥʱu ʥʱe ʥʱo
ಝು
...done!
129
Most of these ‘puff-of-air’ letters

have a little ‘pendulum’ at the bottom –
ɡʱ
pʰ
bʱ
ʨʰ
ʥʱ
130
In some cases, this pendulum is the only thing

that differentiates these puff-of-air letters
from the ones with no puff of air –
p pʰ
b bʱ
These two combo letters have one more difference

other than the pendulum,
namely the swish at the upper right
bɐ bʱɐ
ಬ ಭ
131
These sets of letters lookvery similar –
ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu ʋe ʋo
ವ ವ ೆ
p pɐ pi pu pe po
ಪ ಪ ೆ
ಫ ಫ ೆ
132
Notice how ʋi looks slightly different

from other combo letters for i
ʋi
pi pʰi ɡʱi
133
Also notice how ɡʱu and ɡʱo look slightly different from the rest –
ɡʱu ɡʱo
ಘು ೊ
ʋu ʋo
ವ
pu po
ಪ
pʰu pʰo
ಫ
134
r rɐ ri ru re ro
ರ ರು ೆ ೊ
j jɐ ji
ಯ
ju je jo
ಯು
ʥʱ ʥʱɐ ʥʱi
ಝ
ʥʱu ʥʱe ʥʱo
ಝು
135
These combo letters look somewhat similar –
ru jɐ ʥʱɐ
ರು ಯ ಝ
Remember that ʥʱu has an extra curl at the end –
ʥʱɐ ʥʱu
ಝ ಝು
136

kʰɐ kʰɐ
ಖ ◌
ɡʱɐ ɡʱɐ
ಘ ◌
◌್ + pʰɐ
= pʰɐ
ಫ ◌
bʱɐ bʱɐ
ಭ ◌
More to come…
137
And here are the remaining ones
ʨʰɐ ʨʰɐ
ಛ ◌
◌್ + =
ʥʱɐ ʥʱɐ
ಝ ◌
138
Some Kannada words with the new letters we’ve just seen
ಫಲ ಝ ನ
ಛ ಭ ಮುಖ
ದ ಘನ ೆ
ಘಟಕ ಸಭ ೆ ಝಲ
139
Full marks?
pʰɐlɐ ʥʱɐri kʰin̪ n̪ ɐ
ಫಲ ಝ ನ
fruit stream, rivulet sad, depressed
ʨʰɐt̪ ri bʱɐkt̪ i mukʰjɐ
ಛ ಭ ಮುಖ
umbrella devotion main
ʨʰid̪ rɐ pʰilm ɡʱɐn̪ ət̪ e
ದ ಘನ ೆ
pore, opening film dignity
ɡʱɐʈəkɐ sɐbʱjət̪ e ʥʱɐlləri
ಘಟಕ ಸಭ ೆ ಝಲ
unit politeness, manners cymbal
140
t̪

t̪ ʰ
th-h in bath-house
141
d̪

d̪ ʱ
dh in adhere
142
These are thebasic letters we’ve just seen –
t̪ ʰ d̪ ʱ
143

t̪ ʰɐ d̪ ʱɐ
ಥ ಧ
t̪ ʰi d̪ ʱi
t̪ ʰu d̪ ʱu
ಥು ಧು
144

t̪ ʰe d̪ ʱe
ೆ ೆ
t̪ ʰo d̪ ʱo
ೊ ಧ
145

we’ve just seen
t̪ ʰ t̪ ʰɐ t̪ ʰi t̪ ʰu t̪ ʰe t̪ ʰo
ಥ ಥು ೆ ೊ
d̪ ʱ d̪ ʱɐ d̪ ʱi d̪ ʱu d̪ ʱe d̪ ʱo
ಧ ಧು ೆ ೊ
Note the slightly different shape of these letters from other i letters
t̪ ʰi d̪ ʱi
146

t̪ ʰɐ d̪ ʰɐ
ಥ ◌
◌್ + t̪ ʱɐ
= d̪ ʱɐ
ಧ ◌
147
148
As do all their mini versions –
d̪ ɐ
◌
ɖɐ
◌
t̪ ʰɐ
◌
d̪ ʱɐ
◌
149
The pendulum strikes again –
t̪ ʰ d̪ ʱ
Ford̪ ʱ ಧ, this is the only thing differentiating it fromd̪ ದ
d̪ d̪ ʱ
150
These words aren’t too difficult
ಕ ೆ
ಧ ಧು ವ
ಬು
ಪದ ಸ ೆ
151
Here you go
kɐtʰe t̪ it̪ ʰi
ಕ ೆ
story date according to the lunar calendar
d̪ ʱʋɐn̪ i d̪ ʱruʋɐ
ಧ ಧು ವ
tone, note Earth’s pole
bud̪ d̪ ʱi st̪ ʰit̪ i
ಬು
intelligence status, condition
pɐd̪ d̪ ʱət̪ i spɐrd̪ ʱe
ಪದ ಸ ೆ
practice, method contest, competition
152

ʈʰ
th in penthouse
153

ɖʱ
dh in madhouse
154
These are the letters we’ve just seen –
ʈʰ ɖʱ
155

ʈʰə ɖʱə
ಠ ಢ
ʈʰɪ ɖʱɪ
ʈʰʊ ɖʱʊ
ಠು ಢು
156

ʈʰe ɖʱe
ೆ ೆ
ʈʰo ɖʱo
ೊ ೊ
157

we’ve just seen
ʈʰ ʈʰɐ ʈʰi ʈʰu ʈʰe ʈʰo
ಠ ಠು ೆ ೊ
ɖʱ ɖʱɐ ɖʱi ɖʱu ɖʱe ɖʱo
ಢ ಢು ೆ ೊ
Note the slightly different shape of these letters from other i letters
ʈʰi ɖʱi
158

ʈʰɐ ʈʰɐ
ಠ ◌
◌್ + ɖʱɐ
= ɖʱɐ
ಢ ◌
159
ɖʱ ɖʱɐ ɖʱi ɖʱu ɖʱe ɖʱo
ಢ ಢು ೆ ೊ
160
As do all their mini versions –
d̪ ɐ
◌
ɖɐ
◌
t̪ ʰɐ
◌
d̪ ʱɐ
◌
ɖʱɐ
◌
161
These sets of letters too look similar –
r rɐ ri ru re ro
ರ ರು ೆ ೊ
But their mini versions don’t!
rɐ
◌
ʈʰɐ
162
Both thesesets of letters have a dot in the middle
As do their mini versions
t̪ ʰɐ
◌
ʈʰɐ
163
Test your newly acquired skills
ಠ ೆ ಢ ೆ
ಪಠ
ಮ ೆಮಠ ಢಮರುಗ
164
Came out with flying colours?
ʈʰɐsse ɖʱɐɡe
ಠ ೆ ಢ ೆ
stamp, seal fatigue
ɖʱikki pɐʈʰjɐ
ಪಠ
collision curriculum
mɐn̪ emɐʈʰɐ ɖʱɐmərʊɡɐ
ಮ ೆಮಠ ಢಮರುಗ
‘house and home’ Indian hand-held drum
165
l in hold
l in boulder

It sounds similar to
but with the tongue curled further back

166
sh in ash tray

In everyday speech, it’s mostly pronounced the same as
167
ɭ ʃ
168

ɭɐ ʃɐ
ಳ ಷ
ɭɪ ʃɪ
ɭʊ ʃʊ
ಳು ಷು
169
And this is how they are modified

ɭe ʃe
ೆ ೆ
ɭo ʃo
ೊ ೊ
170

we’ve just seen
ɭ ɭɐ ɭi ɭu ɭe ɭo
ಳ ಳು ೆ ೊ
ʃ ʃɐ ʃi ʃu ʃe ʃo
ಷ ಷು ೆ ೊ
171
And here are their mini versions
ɭɐ ɭɐ
ಳ ◌
◌್ + ʃɐ
= ʃɐ
ಷ ◌
172
Camouflage at its very best –
ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu ʋe ʋo
ವ ವ ೆ
p pɐ pi pu pe po
ಪ ಪ ೆ
ಫ ಫ ೆ
ʃ ʃɐ ʃi ʃu ʃe ʃo
ಷ ಷು ೆ ೊ
173
ʃi falls into the latter category below
ʋi
pi pʰi ɡʱi ʃi
174
Also notice how the vowel signs for u and o

have slightly different shapes in these combo letter sets
ʋu pu pʰu
ವ ಪ ಫ
ɡʱu ʃu
ಘು ಷು
ʋo po pʰo
ɡʱo ʃo
ೊ ೊ
175
Here are all their mini versions
ʋɐ
◌
pɐ pʰɐ
◌ ◌
ɡʱɐ ʃɐ
◌ ◌
176
Here we go again
ಬ ೆ ಷರತು
ಕಳ ಷ
ಸ ಳ ಷ
ಲ ೆಳ ು
177
Piece of cake?
bɐɭe ʃɐrət̪ t̪ u
ಬ ೆ ಷರತು
bangle condition, stipulation
kɐɭɭɐ ɕiʃjɐ
ಕಳ ಷ
thief pupil, disciple
st̪ ʰɐɭɐ ʃɐʃʈi
ಸ ಳ ಷ
place, location sixth day of the lunar fortnight
lɐkʃmi beɭɭʊɭɭi
ಲ ೆಳ ು
Lakshmi, a Hindu goddess garlic
178
ng in sing
It is not pronounced like the
ng in finger
179
ni in onion
gne in French montagne
ñ in Spanish España
180
n in wander

181
ŋ ɲ ɳ
182

ŋɐ ɲɐ ɳɐ
ಙ ಞ ಣ
ŋɪ ɲɪ ɳɪ
ಙಿ ಞಿ
ŋʊ ɲʊ ɳʊ
ಙು ಞು ಣು
183
And this is how they are modified

ŋe ɲe ɳe
ೆ ೆ ೆ
ŋo ɲo ɳo
ೊ ೊ ೊ
184

we’ve just seen
ŋ ŋɐ ŋi ŋu ŋe ŋo
ಙ ಙಿ ಙು ೆ ೊ
ɲ ɲɐ ɲi ɲu ɲe ɲo
ಞ ಞಿ ಞು ೆ ೊ
ɳ ɳɐ ɳi ɳu ɳe ɳo
ಣ ಣು ೆ ೊ
185
Note that the horizontal line on top of
disappears when writing these combo letters –
ɳɐ ɳi ɳu
ಣ ಣು
186

ŋɐ ŋɐ
ಙ ◌
ɲɐ ɲɐ
◌್ + ಞ = ◌
ɳɐ ɳɐ
ಣ ◌
187
Thesesets of letters look similar
ʥ ʥɐ ʥi ʥu ʥe ʥo
ಜ ಜು ೆ ೊ
ŋ ŋɐ ŋi ŋu ŋe ŋo
ಙ ಙಿ ಙು ೆ ೊ
As do their mini versions
ʥɐ
◌
ŋɐ
◌
188
ಟ ʈɐ lookssomewhat like an upside down ಣ ɳɐ

The other letters in the respective sets are more distinct, though
ʈ ʈɐ ʈi ʈu ʈe ʈo
ಟ ಟು ೆ ೊ
ɳ ɳɐ ɳi ɳu ɳe ɳo
ಣ ಣು ೆ ೊ
Their mini versions too are somewhat like mirror images
ʈɐ ɳɐ
◌ ◌
189
Do you notice any similarity in how these letters sound? –
kɐ kʰɐ
ಕ ಖ
ɡɐ ɡʱɐ
ಗ ಘ
ŋɐ
ಙ
To pronounce all these letters,
your tongue touches the back of the roof of your mouth,
called the velum
190
And what about in these letters? –
ʨɐ ʨʰɐ
ಚ ಛ
ʥɐ ʥʱɐ
ಜ ಝ
ɲɐ
ಞ
your tongue touches the middle part of the roof of the mouth,
called the palate
Try saying them out loud and concentrate on the position of your tongue
191
Some more similar-sounding letters, which we’ve already seen –
ʈɐ ʈʰɐ
ಟ ಠ
ɖɐ ɖʱɐ
ಡ ಢ
ɳɐ
ಣ
the tip of your tongue curls back and touches the roof of your mouth
192
Yet another bunch of similar-sounding letters
t̪ ɐ t̪ ʰɐ
d̪ ɐ d̪ ʱɐ
n̪ ɐ

the tip of your tongue touches your front teeth
193
And finally, the last batch of similar sounding letters –
pɐ pʰɐ
bɐ bʱɐ
mɐ

your lips touch each other
194
◌ಂ
This sign is a ‘shortcut’ sign
for the following letters –
ŋ ɲ ɳ n̪ m
Its pronunciation depends on what letter comes after it.
195
Have a look at these words and their pronunciations–
ɕɐŋkʰɐ
ಶಙ ಶಂಖ
conch
mɐŋɡəlɐ
ಮಙ ಲ ಮಂಗಲ
delight, good fortune
ʨɐnʨəlɐ
ಚಞ ಲ ಚಂಚಲ
fickle, playful
sɐnʥəjɐ
ಸಞ ಯ ಸಂಜಯ
Sanjaya, a male name
More to come
196
kɐɳʈʰjɐ
ಕಣ ಕಂಠ
from the throat, guttural
pɐɳɖɪt̪ ɐ
ಪ ತ ಪಂ ತ
scholar
jɐn̪ t̪ rɐ
ಯನ ಯಂತ
machine, device
nɐn̪ d̪ ən̪ ɐ
ನನ ನ ನಂದನ
Nandana, a male name
sɐmpən̪ n̪ ɐ
ಸಮ ನ ಸಂಪನ
completed, acquired
sɐmbən̪ d̪ ʱɐ
ಸಮ ನ ಸಂಬಂಧ
relation, connection
197
Let’s look at it in a little more detail.
In these words, ◌ಂ is like a shortcut for ŋ–
ɕɐŋkʰɐ mɐŋɡəlɐ
ಶಂಖ ಮಂಗಲ
In these words, ◌ಂ is like a shortcut for ɳ–
kɐɳʈʰjɐ pɐɳɖɪt̪ ɐ
ಕಂಠ ಪಂ ತ
In these words, ◌ಂ is like a shortcut for n̪ –
jɐn̪ t̪ rɐ n̪ ɐn̪ d̪ ən̪ ɐ
ಯಂತ ನಂದನ
In these words, ◌ಂ is like a shortcut for m
sɐmpən̪ n̪ ɐ sɐmbən̪ d̪ ʱɐ
ಸಂಪನ ಸಂಬಂಧ
198
No, we didn’t forget ɲ
In these words, ◌ಂ is like a shortcut for ɲ–
ʨɐnʨəlɐ sɐnʥəjɐ
ಚಂಚಲ ಸಂಜಯ
However, its pronunciation is not exactly like ɲ
Instead, it sounds more like a ‘normal’ n, like the

n in name
199
We can see a pattern over here.
If ◌ಂ occurs before the following letters – then its pronunciation is
k kʰ ɡ ɡʱ
ʨ ʨʰ ʥ ʥʱ
ʈ ʈʰ ɖ ɖʱ
t̪ t̪ ʰ d̪ d̪ ʱ
n̪
p pʰ b bʱ
200
Before all other letters, and at the end of a word,

its pronunciation is usually
m
sɐmjʊkt̪ ɐ sɐmrəkʃəɳe
ಸುಂಯುಕ ಸಂರ ೆ
joint, united protection
sɐmləɡn̪ ɐ sɐmʋət̪ sərɐ
ಸಂಲಗ ಸಂವತ ರ
attached, included Vedic year
ʋɐmɕɐ ɦɐmsɐ
ವಂಶ ಹಂಸ
clan, lineage swan
simɦɐ kʰɐt̪ əm
ಂಹ ಖತಂ
lion finished
The odd exception might exist,

but these would usually be rare or obscure words
So don’t worry – As far as our nasal shortcut sign is concerned,

you’re good to go!
201
Great.
Now, an obvious question.
What if a word starts with a vowel?
How do we write it then?
There’s a slightly different way of doing this –
202
If a word starts with a vowel,

we use the following letters, instead of vowel signs –
ɐ i u
ಅ ಇ ಉ
ʲe ʷo
ಎ ಒ
203
ಎ and ಒ have a slightly different pronunciation

ʲe
ಎ
ye in yes
ʷo
ಒ
wo in won’t
but slightly shorter in length
204
Our nasal shortcut sign works equally well

with these ‘independent’ vowel letters –
ಅಂ ಇಂ ಉಂ
ಎಂ ಒಂ
Of course, the pronunciation of the sign will vary,
depending on what letter follows
Some examples will make this clear
205
Here are some words that use independent vowel letters –
ಅಥ ಉಂಗರ
uŋɡərɐ
ɐrt̪ ʰɐ
ring
meaning
(ornament)
ಅ ರ ಉಂ ೆ
ɐkʃərɐ
uɳɖe
letter,
ball, sphere
alphabet
ɐn̪ t̪ ɐ
end
ಅಂತ ʲerəɽu
two
ಎರಡು
ɐŋɡəɽi
shop
ಅಂಗ ʲeʃʈu
how much
ಎಷು
illi
here
ಇ ʲeɳʈu
eight
ಎಂಟು
ippət̪ t̪ u
twenty
ಇಪ ತು ʷoɭɭejɐ
good
ಒ ೆ ಯ
iŋɡleɳɖ
England
ಇಂ ೆ ಂ ʷon̪ d̪ u
one
ಒಂದು
ಉಗುರು ಒಂಬತು
uɡʊru
ʷombət̪ t̪ u
fingernail,
nine
toenail
206
Speaking of vowels, here are some more –
ɑː
◌ಾ
This sign has a sound similar to
a in father
207
iː
◌ೀ
ee in bee
208
uː
◌ೂ
oo in tool
209
eː
◌ೇ
é in French fiancée
210
oː
◌ೋ
o in Italian Roma
This sign is written after a letter
211
This is how the signs for ɑː, iː, uː, eː and oː are written –
kɑː kiː
ಾ ೕ
kuː keː
ಕೂ ೇ
koː
ೋ
212
Here are all the vowels we’ve seen so far,
attached to the letter k–
kɐ kɑː
ಕ ಾ
ki kiː
ೕ
ku kuː
ಕು ಕೂ
ke keː
ೆ ೇ
ko koː
ೊ ೋ
Note how the vowels on the right
are ‘longer’ versions of the ones on the left
213
In some cases, the long vowel sign
is simply the short vowel sign with an added ◌ೕ
ki kiː
ೕ
ke keː
ೆ ೇ
ko koː
ೊ ೊ ೕ
214
Remember that for j,
the right-most curl is removed
before the ◌ೋ oː vowel is added
j oː joː
- ◌್ + ◌ೋ = ೕ
215
Here are some Kannada words with the new signs we’ve just seen –
ಾತ ಾರ
ಾ ಾನ
ಾಙ ಯ ಕ ಾ ಟಕ
ೕನು ೕರು
ೕ ೕಸು
ೕ ೕ ಾಸ
ಹೂವ ಧೂಳು
ಶೂನ ಪ
216
And some more –
ಮೂಖ ೆಂಗಳೂರು
ೇ ೆ ೇಶ
ೇದ ೇ
ೇತ ೇ ೆ
ೋ ೕಗ
ೕ ೊ ೋಂ
ೋ ಾ ೋಷ ೆ
♪♫J
And we’re done!
For now at least
217
How many correct?
t̪ ɑːt̪ ɐ
grandfather
ಾತ ɦɑːrɐ
garland
ಾರ
ಾ ಾನ
ʥɲɑːn̪ ɐ,
prɑːɳi
ɡnɑːn̪ ɐ
animal
knowledge
kɐrn̪ ɑːʈəkɐ
ʋɑːŋməjɐ
literature
ಾಙ ಯ Karnataka,
a state in
ಕ ಾ ಟಕ
India
miːn̪ u
fish
ೕನು ɡiːru
line, scratch
ೕರು
ೕ ೕಸು
ʈʰiːʋi
pʰiːsu
arrogance,
fees
showiness
ೕ ೕ ಾಸ
ɕriːn̪ ɪʋɑːsɐ
priːt̪ i
Srinivasa,
love
a Hindu god
ɦuːʋu
flower
ಹೂವ dʱuːɭu
dust
ಧೂಳು
ಶೂನ ಪ
ɕuːn̪ jɐ
puːrt̪ i
emptiness,
full
nothingness
218
muːrkʰɐ
fool
ಮೂಖ
beŋɡəɭuːru
Bangalore
ೆಂಗಳೂರು
beːre
different, other
ೇ ೆ d̪ eːɕɐ
country
ೆ ೕಶ
ೇದ ೇ
t̪ ʰeːʈ
ʨʰeːd̪ ɐ
identical,
denominator
just like
kʃeːt̪ rɐ
area
ೇತ reːʥɪɡe
disgust
ೇ ೆ
ʈoːpi
cap
ೋ joːɡɐ
yoga
ೕಗ
pʰoːʈo
photograph
ೕ ೊ ɖʱoːŋɡi
fraudulent
ೋಂ
ೋ ಾ
soːmɑːri
lazybones,
idler
ɡʱoːʃəɳe
announcement
ೋಷ ೆ
Phew!
219
At the beginning of a word, these vowels are written like this –
ɑː
ಆ
iː uː
ಈ ಊ
eː oː
ಏ ಓ
220
Here are all the independent vowels we’ve seen so far,

along with their corresponding vowel signs –
ɐ ɑː
ಅ ಆ ◌ಾ
i iː
ಇ ◌ಿ ಈ ◌ೀ
u uː
ಉ ◌ು ಊ ◌ೂ
ʲe e ʲeː eː
ಎ ◌ೆ ಏ ◌ೇ
ʷo o ʷoː oː
ಒ ◌ೊ ಓ ◌ೋ
We already know that ಅ ɐ does not have any vowel sign of its own
221
All these pairs look similar

in that the one on the right is a slightly modified version
of the one on the left –
ɐ ɑː
ಅ ಆ
u uː
ಉ ಊ
ʲe ʲeː
ಎ ಏ
ʷo ʷoː
ಒ ಓ
222
These two letters look very similar
i ɲ
ಇ ಞ
These letters all have a common basic shape
o oː
ಒ ಓ
ŋɐ ʨɐ ʥɐ bɐ bʱɐ
ಙ ಚ ಜ ಬ ಭ
223
Some Kannada words beginning with the new vowel letters

we’ve just seen –
ಆದ ೆ ಆಂ ೋಳನ
ಈಜು ಈ ೆ
ಊಟ ಊರ ಾ
ಏರು ಏಕವಚನ
ಓಡು ಓ ೆ ೋ ೆ
224
You should have got all of these right! –
ಆದ ೆ ಆಂ ೋಳನ
ɑːn̪ d̪ oːɭən̪ ɐ
ɑːd̪ əre
movement,
but
agitation
iːʥu
swim
ಈಜು iːrʃje
envy
ಈ ೆ
uːʈɐ
food, meal
ಊಟ uːrəɡɑːji
Indian pickle
ಊರ ಾ
ʲeːru
climb
ಏರು ʲeːkəʋəʨən̪ ə
singular
ಏಕವಚನ
ʷoːɽu
run
ಓಡು ʷoːrekoːre
bent, twisted
ಓ ೆ ೋ ೆ
225
And even more vowel signs –
əj
◌ೈ
i in fight
More precisely, it sounds like i in fight

when pronounced in a Scottish accent
226
əw
◌ೌ
ow in cow
More precisely, it sounds like ow in cow

when pronounced in a Scottish accent
227
This is how the signs for əj and əw are written –
kəj kəw
ೈ ೌ
228
Notice the similarity in the shapes of these combo letters –
ke keː kəj
ೆ ೇ ೈ
kɑː kəw
ಾ ೌ
229
At the beginning of a word, these vowels are written like this–
kəj kəw
ಐ ಔ
230
These letters look similar
ʲe ʲeː əj
ಎ ಏ ಐ
As do these
ʷo ʷoː əw
ಒ ಓ ಔ
231
Here are some Kannada words with the new letters we’ve just seen –
ೈ
ೌದು
ೖ ಾನ
ೌಡ
ೈ
ೌ ಕ
ಐದು
ಔಷಧ
ಐಶ ಯ
ಔ ತ
232
And their pronunciations and meanings –
kəj
hand ೈ
ɦəwd̪ u
yes ೌದು
ೖ ಾನ
məjd̪ ɑːn̪ ɐ
playground
pəwɽər
powder ೌಡ
ɕəjli
style, method ೈ
məwkʰɪkɐ
oral, verbal ೌ ಕ
əjd̪ u
five ಐದು
ಔಷಧ
əwʃəd̪ ʱɐ
medicine
əjɕʋərjɐ
wealth, splendour ಐಶ ಯ
əwʨɪt̪ jɐ
appropriateness ಔ ತ
233
A few letters and signs still remain!
æː
◌ಾ
a in cat
Here’s an example of this vowel sign
in combination with k
kæː
ಾ
234
Unfortunately, our new sign looks exactly like
the mini version of j
plus the vowel sign ◌ಾ ɑː
◌ಾ
Fortunately, this sign is pronounced with the sound æː
only in English words borrowed into Kannada
So the pronunciation is usually clear from the context
235
At the beginning of a word, this sign is written like this–
æː
236
Like you read earlier, this sign is used in Kannada

only to write words borrowed from English
that have the a sound in cat
ɡæːs
ಾ
gas
bæːʈəriː
ಾ ಟ
battery
kæːnsər
ಾ ನ
cancer
æːksɪs bæːŋk
ಆ ಾ ಂ
Axis Bank, a bank in India
237
rʊ
◌ೃ
rhu in rhubarb
This sign is written below a letter
Note that this sign behaves like a vowel sign
238
This is how the sign for rʊ is written –
krʊ
ಕೃ
Notice how these letter combos look similar –
kəj krʊ
ೈ ಕೃ
239
At the beginning of a word, this sign is written like this–
rʊ
ಋ
Don’t confuse it with this letter combo –
jɐ
ಯ
240
Some Kannada words which use this sign or its independent letter –
krʊɕi rʊɳɐ rʊʃi
ಕೃ ಋಣ ಋ
agriculture debt sage, seer
ʋrʊkʃɐ krʊʃɳɐ
ವೃ ಕೃಷ
tree Krishna, a Hindu god
ɦrʊd̪ əjɐ mɑːt̪ rʊbʱuːmi
ಹೃದಯ ಾತೃಭೂ
heart motherland
ɡrʊɦəst̪ ʰɐ ʋrʊd̪ d̪ ʱɑːɕrəmɐ
ಗೃಹಸ ವೃ ಾ ಶ ಮ
household old-age home
241
̤
z in zebra
Except for the two dots below,

it looks and behaves exactly like
242
̤
f in fat
Except for the two dots below,

it looks and behaves exactly like
pʰ
243
These letters are only used to write non-Kannada words

which have the sounds z and f
And that too, not very consistently
You might come across both dotted and non-dotted versions,

(and both pronunciations too)
like so –
ziːbrɑː ʥiːbrɑː
ೕ̤ ಾ ೕ ಾ
zebra
filɪppiːns pʰilɪppiːns
̤ ೕ ೕ
Philippines
So you’ll encounter these letters only rarely
244
One last sign –
◌ಃ
h in hat
but with a little twist (we’ll see how on the next page)
Note that this sign too behaves like a vowel sign
Like ◌ಂ
this sign can be added onto another vowel sign
245
This is how this new sign combines with basic letters

and is pronounced –
kɐɦɐ kɑːɦɐ
ಕಃ ಾಃ
kiɦi kiːɦi
ಃ ೕಃ
kuɦu kuːɦu
ಕುಃ ಕೂಃ
keːɦe kəjɦi
ೇಃ ೈ ಃ
koːɦo kəwɦu
ೋಃ ೌಃ
It never combines with the signs ◌ೆ e and ◌ೊ o
246
Like ◌ಂ
this new sign can also combine with independent vowel letters
ɐɦɐ ɑːɦɐ
ಅಃ ಆಃ
iɦi iːɦi
ಇಃ ಈಃ
uɦu uːɦu
ಉಃ ಊಃ
eːɦe əjɦi
ಏಃ ಐಃ
oːɦo əwɦu
ಓಃ ಔಃ
It never combines with the letters ಎ e and ಒ o
247
Got it?
In a nutshell, the sign is pronounced
ɦ
followed by a somewhat shortened repetition
of the vowel just before it
kɑːɦɐ ɑːɦɐ
ಾಃ ಆಃ
kəwɦu əwɦu
ೌಃ ಔಃ
Like so
punəɦɐ bɐɦʊɕəɦɐ
ಪ ನಃ ಬಹುಶಃ
again likely
248
When this sign occurs in the middle of a word,

it's often pronounced as a ‘doubling’ of the next letter –
d̪ ukkʰɐ niɕɕəbd̪ ɐ
ದುಃಖ ಃಶಬ
sadness noiseless
Not to fret
This sign occurs very rarely in Kannada,

only in some words borrowed from Sanskrit
249
Remember
◌ಃ
has two circles
and our nasal shortcut letter
◌ಂ
has only one
250
Let’s end with numerals and punctuation
೧೨೩೪೫೬೭೮೯೦
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Punctuation marks are similar to English
In some old Kannada texts, you might find these punctuation marks –
। ॥
full stop end of verse
Try your hand at these –
3,737 ೩,೭೩೭
0.611 ೦.೬೧೧
1.2% ೧.೨%
54,789.01 ೫೪,೭೮೯.೦೧
251
Here is a well-known piece of writing, in its Kannada version –
ಎ ಾ ಾನವರೂ ಸ ತಂತ ಾ ೕ
ಜ ಾ ೆ. ಾಗೂ ಘನ ೆ ಮತು
ಹಕು ಗಳ ಸ ಾನ ಾ ಾ ೆ. ೇಕ
ಮತು ಅಂತಃಕರಣಗಳನು ಪ ೆದವ ಾದ ಂದ
ಅವರು ಪರಸ ರ ಸ ೋದರ ಾವ ಂದ
ವ ಸ ೇಕು.
ellɑː mɑːn̪ əʋəruː sʋɐt̪ ən̪ t̪ rərɑːɡɪjeː ʥɐn̪ ɪsɪd̪ d̪ ɑːre . ɦɑːɡuː ɡʱɐn̪ ət̪ e
mɐt̪ t̪ u ɦɐkkʊɡəɭəlli sɐmɑːn̪ ərɑːɡid̪ d̪ ɑːre . ʋiʋeːkɐ mɐt̪ t̪ u
ɐn̪ t̪ əkkərəɳəɡəɭən̪ n̪ u pɐɽed̪ əʋərɑːd̪ d̪ ərɪn̪ d̪ ɐ ɐʋəru pɐrəspərɐ sɐɦoːd̪ ərɐ
bʱɑːʋəd̪ ɪn̪ d̪ ɐ ʋɐrt̪ isəbeːku .
This is Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
252
This is the Kannada alphabet
The names of the letters are the sounds of the letters themselves
ɐ ɑː i iː u uː rʊ
ಅ ಆ ಇ ಈ ಉ ಊ ಋ
e eː əj o oː əj
ಎ ಏ ಐ ಒ ಓ ಔ
kɐ kʰɐ ɡɐ ɡʱɐ ŋɐ
ಕ ಖ ಗ ಘ ಙ
ʨɐ ʨʰɐ ʥɐ ʥʱɐ ɲɐ
ಚ ಛ ಜ ಝ ಞ
ʈɐ ʈʰɐ ɖɐ ɖʱɐ ɳɐ
ಟ ಠ ಡ ಢ ಣ
t̪ ɐ t̪ ʰɐ d̪ ɐ d̪ ʱɐ n̪ ɐ
ತ ಥ ದ ಧ ನ
pɐ pʰɐ bɐ bʱɐ mɐ
ಪ ಫ ಬ ಭ ಮ
jɐ rɐ lɐ ʋɐ ɕɐ ʃɐ sɐ ɦɐ
ಯ ರ ಲ ವ ಶ ಷ ಸ ಹ
æː zɐ fɐ
ಆ ಜ̤ ಫ̤
253
And these are the vowel and other signs, and their Kannada names –
ɐn̪ usʋɑːrɐ ʋɪsərɡɐ ɑː i iː u uː rʊ

ಅನು ಾ ರ ಸಗ
◌ಂ ◌ಃ ◌ಾ ◌ಿ ◌ೀ ◌ು ◌ೂ ◌ೃ
eː eː əj oː oː əw æː ɦɐlən̪ t̪ ɐ
ಹಲಂತ
◌ೆ ◌ೇ ◌ೈ ◌ೊ ◌ೋ ◌ೌ ◌ಾ ◌್
Good luck!
254
End
Typeset in Segoe UI (English & IPA) and Vagisha (Kannada)
For more information on the Kannada script and its history –

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/kannada.htm
References:
Baraha Antarajāla Nighanṭu

http://baraha.com/kannada/index.php
Glosbe Kannada Hindi Dictionary

http://glosbe.com/kn/hi/
Khandbahale, Sunil. Khandbahale.com

http://www.khandbahale.com/kannada
Spencer, Harold. A Kanarese Grammar

http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/plc/kannada/
Kannada Wiktionary
http://kn.wiktionary.org
v2013-06-24
©2012-2013 Arvind Iyengar. All Rights Reserved.

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kɐn̪ n̪ əɽɐ

The IPA is a scientific notation used for accurately transcribing

The similarities described in this book between the

This letter has a sound similar to

This letter has a sound similar to

These are the letters we’ve just seen

This letter has a sound similar to

This letter has a sound similar to

These are the letters we’ve seen so far

This letter has a sound similar to

This letter has a sound similar to

These are the letters we’ve seen so far

The sounds of these letters are all called consonants

Here’s a vowel sound

Look at these letters

Here’s another vowel

This vowelsounds similar to

This vowel has a special sign of its own –

Now look at these ‘combo’ letters,

Notice the slightly different shape of this letter,

And another vowel

This vowel sounds similar to

This vowel, too, has a special sign of its own –

And some new combo letters,

And again, in short –

Notice the slightly different shape of this letter,

These letters look similar –

When two letters come one after the other

that is, it is a ◌್ letter,

Note that in such cases,

Here are the mini versions

When the second letter has no vowel –

When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

When the second letter has the vowel i –

And when the second letter has the vowel u –

To sum up, the mini versionsare special forms

that appear after a letter having ◌್

This letter has a sound similar to

This letter has a sound similar to

This is a ‘rolled’ /r/, as in Spanish or Italian

This letter has a sound similar to

This letter has a sound similar to

These are the letters we’ve just seen

This is how these letters look, when the ɐ sound is added

This is how these letters look, when the i sound is added

Notice the slightly different shape of this letter,

This is how these letters look, when the u sound is added

Notice the slightly different shape of this letter,

These are all the various basic and combo letters

These letters look very similar –

These combo letters look somewhat similar –

Here are the mini versions

When the second letter has no vowel –

When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

When the second letter has the vowel i –

And when the second letter has the vowel u –

Note that most of the mini versions we’ve just seen

These mini versions look somewhat similar –

r likes being different from the rest

For instance, you would expect

Instead, it is written like this –

and jumps ahead of the next letter!

Some more examples will make this a little clear