Tamil block notes

ISO 15919: ḵ

Returned to use in the modern script to form the following non-native fricatives from plosives:

• f from ப [U+0BAA TAMIL LETTER PA], eg. ஃபீசு fiːsɯ fees
• z from ஜ [U+0B9C TAMIL LETTER JA], eg. ஃஜிரொக்ஸ் ziroks Xerox
• ks from ஸ [U+0BB8 TAMIL LETTER SA]24, eg. ரெஃஸ் ரெஃஸ் rex
• x from ஃ [U+0B83 TAMIL SIGN VISARGA]24, eg. செங்கிஸ் ஃகான் ceṅkis kāṉ Gengis Khan

Note that a vowel-sign can occur between the visarga and the other consonant – ie. the two are not treated as an indivisible unit, eg. ஃபோரியர் foːɾɪjər Fourier

ISO 15919: a

a eg. அழகு ʔaɻaɡu beauty

ISO 15919: ā

aː eg. ஆண் ʔaːɳ man

ISO 15919: i

i eg. இலை ʔil̪aɪ leaf

ISO 15919: ī

iː eg. ஈரல் ʔiːɾ̪al̪ liver

ISO 15919: u

u eg. உண் ʔuɳ to eat

ISO 15919: ū

uː eg. ஊது ʔuːd̪u to blow

ISO 15919: e

e eg. எலும்பு ʔel̪umbu bone

ISO 15919: ē

eː eg. ஏரி ʔeːɾ̪i lake

ISO 15919: ai

aɪ eg. ஐந்து ʔəɪ̯n̪d̪ɯ five

ISO 15919: o

o eg. ஒன்று ʷond̺ʳʉ one

ISO 15919: ō

oː eg. ஓடம் ʔoːɖam boat, barque

ISO 15919: aw

aʊ eg. ஔகாரம் aʊkaːram sugar

ISO 15919: k

k when

• word-initial, eg. கால் kɑːl̪ leg, foot
• geminated, eg. மக்கள் məkkəɭ people
• in a cluster, eg. கற்க kərkə learn

ɡ when intervocalic, (other sources list x ɣ h ∅) eg. பாகு pɑːɡɯ share, portion

ɡ when post-nasal, eg. அங்கே ʔəŋɡeː there

x when preceded by ஃ [U+0B83 TAMIL SIGN VISARGA]24, eg. செங்கிஸ் ஃகான் ceṅkis kāṉ Gengis Khan

Combinations

kʂ is க்ஷ [U+0B95 TAMIL LETTER KA + U+0BCD TAMIL SIGN VIRAMA + U+0BB7 TAMIL LETTER SSA], eg. க்ஷீணம் kʂiːɳəm decay, weakness காமாக்ஷி kɑːmɑːkʂɪˑ Kamakshi

This combination is regarded as a letter of the alphabet.

ISO 15919: ṅ

ŋ when

• geminated, eg. அங்ஙனம் ʔəŋŋənəm there
• in a cluster, eg. அங்கே ʔəŋɡeː there

ISO 15919: c

t͡ʃ ~ s when word-initial, eg. சின்ன sɪnnə small

tːʃ when

• geminated, eg. பேச்சு peːtt͡ɕu talk
• following a stop consonant, eg. கட்சி kaʈt͡ɕi party, faction

s~ʒ when intervocalic, eg. பாசம் pɑːsəm affection

d͡ʒ when post-nasal, eg. இஞ்சி ʔɪɲd͡ʑɪ ginger

ISO 15919: d

d͡ʒ generally, eg. ஜானகி d͡ʒɑːnəgɪˑ Janaki

z when preceded by ஃ [U+0B83 TAMIL SIGN VISARGA], eg. ஃஜிரொக்ஸ் ziroks Xerox

ISO 15919: ñ

ɲ when

• initial, eg. ஞானம் ɲɑːnəm wisdom
• geminated, eg. அஞ்ஞானம் əɲɲɑːnəm fineness
• in a cluster, eg. இஞ்சி ʔɪɲd͡ʑɪ ginger

ISO 15919: ṭ

Doesn't occur initially.

ʈ when geminated, eg. பட்டு pəʈʈɯ plush

ɽ~ɖ when intervocalic, eg. படி pəɖɪ step

ɖ when post-nasal, eg. வண்டி ʋəɳɖɪ carriage

ISO 15919: ṇ

ɳ when

• between vowels, eg. கணவன் kəɳəʋən husband
• geminated, eg. வண்ணம் ʋəɳɳəm colour
• in a cluster, eg. வண்டி ʋəɳɖɪ carriage
• finally, eg. கண் kəɳ eye

ISO 15919: t

t̪ when

• word-initial, eg. தனி t̪ənɪˑ separate
• in a doubled consonant, eg. பத்து pət̪t̪ɯ ten
• after a stop, eg. யுக்தி jʉkt̪ɪˑ tactical

ð when intervocalic, eg. நல்லது n̪əlləðʉ good

d̪ when post-nasal, eg. பந்து pən̪d̪ʉ ball

ISO 15919: n

n̪ when

• initial, eg. நினை n̪ɪnəɪ̯ to think
• in a cluster, eg. பந்து pən̪d̪ʉ ball

ISO 15919: ṉ

n when

• between vowels, eg. வானம் ʋɑːnəm sky
• geminated, eg. சின்ன sɪnnə small
• in a cluster, eg. அன்பு ənbʉ love
• finally, eg. அப்பன் ʔəppən father

ISO 15919: p

p when

• word-initial, eg. பத்து pət̪t̪ɯ ten
• in a doubled consonant, eg. அப்பன் ʔəppən father
• in a cluster, eg. விற்பனை ʋɪrpənəj sale

b when intervocalic (some sources say β~w), eg. ஆபத்து ɑːbət̪t̪ʉ danger

b when post-nasal, eg. அன்பு ənbʉ love

f when preceded by ஃ [U+0B83 TAMIL SIGN VISARGA], eg. ஃபீசு fiːsɯ fees

Sometimes this sound is produced just using this character alone, for foreign words.

ISO 15919: m

m when

• initial, eg. மலை məl̪əɪ̯ mountain
• geminated, eg. அம்மா ʔəmmɑː mother
• in a cluster, eg. பாம்பு pɑːmbɯ snake
• finally, eg. வண்ணம் ʋəɳɳəm colour

ISO 15919: y

j when

• initial, eg. யானை jɑːnəɪ̯ elephant
• between vowels, eg. பெயர் pɛjəɾ̪ name
• geminated, eg. உய்ய ʷʊjjə critical
• finally, eg. வாய் ʋɑːj mouth

ISO 15919: r

ɾ when

• between vowels, eg. கரி kəɾ̪ɪ charcoal
• finally, eg. மலர் məl̪əɾ̪ flower

ISO 15919: ṟ

Doesn't occur initially.

r when

• between vowels, eg. புறம் pʊrəm back
• in a cluster, eg. கற்க kərkə learn

ttr when geminated, eg. பற்றி pəʈʈɾɪ about

(d)r when post-nasal, eg. ஒன்று oṉṟu one

ISO 15919: l

l when

• between vowels, eg. வலி ʋəl̪ɪ pain
• geminated, eg. இல்லை ʔɪll̪əɪ̯ not
• final, eg. கடல் kəɖəl̪ ocean, sea

ISO 15919: ḷ

Doesn't occur word-initially.

ɭ when

• between vowels, eg. வளி ʋəɭɪˑ aerobic
• geminated, eg. பிள்ளை piɭɭaɪ̯ son
• final, eg. வந்தாள் ʋən̪d̪ɑːɭ she

ISO 15919: ẓ ḻ ṛ

ɻ when

• between vowels, eg. பழம் pəɻəm fruit
• finally, eg. வாழ் ʋɑːɻ to live

ISO 15919: v

ʋ when

• initial, eg. வழி ʋəɻɪ path
• between vowels, eg. பறவை pərəʋəɪ̯ bird
• geminated, eg. அவ்வழி ʔəʋʋəɻɪ after that

ISO 15919: ś

ʃ eg. ஶிவா ʃɪʋɑː Shiva

This character is not commonly used, except in the ʃ͓ɾī ligature ஶ்ரீ. (Other ligatures with MA, YA, RA, and VA are found in archaic forms of Tamil only.)

The syllable ʃri can be written with two different initial letters: ஶ [U+0BB6 TAMIL LETTER SHA] or ஸ [U+0BB8 TAMIL LETTER SA]. The result looks identical. Compare ஶ்ரீ ஶ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ

Since 2005, the Unicode Consortium has recommended use of this character, but both are still in wide circulation, so Unicode 12 recommends that both be treated as equivalent sequences18.

ISO 15919: ṣ

ʂ eg. உஷா ʷʊʂɑː Usha

ISO 15919: s

s eg. ஸந்தியா sən̪d̪ɪjɑː Sandya

Combinations

ks when preceded by ஃ [U+0B83 TAMIL SIGN VISARGA]24, eg. ரெஃஸ் ரெஃஸ் rex

The syllable ʃri can be written with two different initial letters: ஶ [U+0BB6 TAMIL LETTER SHA] or ஸ [U+0BB8 TAMIL LETTER SA]. The result looks identical. Compare ஶ்ரீ ஶ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ

Since 2005, the Unicode Consortium has recommended use of the former, but both are still in wide circulation, so Unicode 12 recommends that both be treated as equivalent sequences18.

ISO 15919: h

h eg. ஹரி ɦəɾɪˑ Hari

ISO 15919: ā

aː eg. கால் kɑːl̪ leg, foot

This character can also be used in another way, but it is not recommended. Decomposed forms of ொ [U+0BCA TAMIL VOWEL SIGN O] and ோ [U+0BCB TAMIL VOWEL SIGN OO] are each represented by two characters, ெ [U+0BC6 TAMIL VOWEL SIGN E] or ே [U+0BC7 TAMIL VOWEL SIGN EE] , respectively, and this character. When used this way, both combining characters must appear after the base consonant(s), and this character must come second.³

ISO 15919: i

i eg. கிரி kiɾ̪i mountain

This vowel-sign ligates with some base characters (see Vowel ligatures and this list of combinations).

ISO 15919: ī

iː eg. கீரி kiːɾɪˑ mongoose

This vowel-sign ligates with some base characters (see Vowel ligatures and this list of combinations).

ISO 15919: u

u eg. குடம் kuɖam jug, pot அழகு ʔaɻaɡu beauty

This vowel-sign tends to ligate with the base character (see Vowel ligatures and this list of combinations).

ISO 15919: ū

uː eg. கூடம் kuːɖam hall

This vowel-sign tends to ligate with the base character (see Vowel ligatures and this list of combinations).

ISO 15919: e

e eg. கெடு kɛɖʉ deadline

The vowel is typed and stored after the base, but the glyph appears before it.

Combinations

This character may also be used, followed by ா [U+0BBE TAMIL VOWEL SIGN AA] to represent a decomposed ொ [U+0BCA TAMIL VOWEL SIGN O], or followed by ௗ [U+0BD7 TAMIL AU LENGTH MARK] to represent ௌ [U+0BCC TAMIL VOWEL SIGN AU], but neither approach is recommended. You should just use the single character. When used this way, both combining characters must appear after the base consonant(s), and this character must come first.

ISO 15919: ē

eː eg. கேடு keːɖʉ destruction

The vowel is typed and stored after the base, but the glyph appears before it.

Combinations

This character may also be used, followed by ா [U+0BBE TAMIL VOWEL SIGN AA] to represent the decomposed version of ோ [U+0BCB TAMIL VOWEL SIGN OO], but this is not recommended. You should just use the single character. When used this way, both combining characters must appear after the base consonant(s), and this character must come first.

ISO 15919: ai

aɪ, eg. கைது kaɪ̯t̪u arrest

The vowel is typed and stored after the base, but the glyph appears before it.

In traditional Tamil orthography the shape of this character changes to in conjunction with the following characters: ண ன ல ள. However, this shape is not used in modern Tamil writing.

ISO 15919: o

o, eg. கொடு koɖu to give

ISO 15919: ō

oː, eg. கோடு koːɖʉ dash

ISO 15919: aw

aʊ, eg. கௌதாரி kəʊd̪ɑːɾɪˑ partridge

Used as a virama to indicate a lack of vowel sound after a consonant, and doubled consonants. Unlike most Indian scripts, which tend to use ligatures for consonant clusters, modern Tamil normally shows a visible puḷḷi over characters without following vowel sounds, eg. பத்து லட்சம் pʌttu lʌʈcʌm ten lakhs

Two exceptions include க்ஷ kʃa and sometimes ஶ்ரீ ʃri, although even those are often written with a visible pulli these days. Note that these ligatures are still written in Unicode using an invisible pulli character between the consonants.

The Unicode Standard specifies that you can force the pulli to appear over the initial letters in a conjunct that would otherwise be a ligature by using U+200C ZERO WIDTH NON JOINER immediately after the pulli.

OM is a religious concept found in all three major religions born in India viz. Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Tamil OM sign is widely used in Hindu religious texts, temple publications, and as neon lamps of sign boards in shops etc.

This sign helps with transliteration between Tamil and other indic scripts such as Devanagari, Gurmukhi and Gujarati, which also have an om character.

Use of this character is not recommended. That said, it is normal for this character to appear in decomposed normalisations of text. It allows for ௌ [U+0BCC TAMIL VOWEL SIGN AU] to be represented by two characters, ெ [U+0BC6 TAMIL VOWEL SIGN E] and this character. When used this way, both combining characters must appear after the base consonant(s), and this character must come second. It should not be used in any other context.

ISO 15919: 0

A modern innovation. This character was added as of Unicode 4.1 for implementations which need to support it.

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

ISO 15919: 1

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

ISO 15919: 2

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

ISO 15919: 3

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

ISO 15919: 4

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

ISO 15919: 5

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

ISO 15919: 6

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

ISO 15919: 7

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

ISO 15919: 8

ISO 15919: 9

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

ISO 15919: (ten)

The following illustrates how this numbering system is used:
10 is ௰
11 is ௰௧
20 is ௨௰
21 is ௨௰௧
120 is ௱௨௰
1,200 is ௲௨௱
1,221 is ௲௨௱௨௰௧
etc.

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

ISO 15919: (hundred)

The following illustrates how this numbering system is used:
10 is ௰
11 is ௰௧
20 is ௨௰
21 is ௨௰௧
120 is ௱௨௰
1,200 is ௲௨௱
1,221 is ௲௨௱௨௰௧
etc.

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

ISO 15919: (thousand)

The following illustrates how this numbering system is used:
10 is ௰
11 is ௰௧
20 is ௨௰
21 is ௨௰௧
120 is ௱௨௰
1,200 is ௲௨௱
1,221 is ௲௨௱௨௰௧
etc.

Modern Tamil normally uses Western digits.

The Tamil rupee sign is distinguished from ₨ [U+20A8 RUPEE SIGN], which is an older symbol not formally tied to any particular currency.18