Editing Tamil script (section)

== Letters ==
[[File:Mangulam inscription.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Mangulam]] Tamili inscription in Mangulam, [[Madurai district]], Tamil Nadu dated to Tamil [[Sangam period]] c. 400 BCE to c. 200 CE.]]
[[File:Tamil Inscriptions.jpg|thumb|200px|Explanation for [[Mangulam]] Tamil Brahmi inscription in Mangulam, [[Madurai district]], Tamil Nadu dated to Tamil [[Sangam period]] c. 400 BCE to c. 200 CE.]]
{{multiple image
| align = 
| direction = 
| width = 100
| footer = Left: ''Tampiran Vanakkam'' (''Doctrina Christum'') was the first book in Tamil, printed on 20 October 1578. Right: A book in Tamil printed in 1781.
| image1 = Thambiran Vanakkam 1578.JPG
| alt1 = 
| caption1 = 
| image2 = CHRISTIAN BOOK-printed1781-Tamil nadu-India41.jpg
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
}}

===Basic consonants===
Consonants are called the "body" (''mei'') letters. The consonants are classified into three categories: ''vallinam'' (hard consonants), ''mellinam'' (soft consonants, including all [[Nasal stop|nasals]]), and ''itayinam'' (medium consonants).

There are some lexical rules for the formation of words. The ''[[Tolkāppiyam]]'' describes such rules. Some examples: a word cannot end in certain consonants, and cannot begin with some consonants including r-, l- and ḻ-; there are six [[nasal consonants]] in Tamil: a [[velar nasal]] ங், a [[palatal nasal]] ஞ், a [[retroflex nasal]] ண், a [[dental nasal]] ந், a [[bilabial nasal]] ம், and an [[alveolar nasal]] ன்.

The order of the alphabet (strictly [[abugida]]) in Tamil closely matches that of the nearby languages both in location and linguistics, reflecting the common origin of their scripts from Brahmi.

Tamil language has 18 consonants - ''mey eluttukkal''. Traditional grammarians have classified these 18 into three groups of 6 letters each. This classification is done based on the method of articulation and hence the nature of these letters. ''Vallinam'' (hard group), ''mellinam'' (soft group) and ''idaiyinam'' (medium group). All consonants are pronounced for a half unit (māttirai) time length when isolated (consonants combined with vowels will be pronounced with the time length of the vowel).<ref>{{wikiversity inline |Tamil Language/Letters}}</ref>

<!---
NOTE:
Before editing this page for unicode errors please check your OS configuration for complex character support. You can check it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:INDIC
--->
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Tamil consonants{{sfn|Steever|1996|p=426-430}}
|-
! Consonant !! [[ISO 15919]] !! Category !! [[help:IPA|IPA]]
|-
| {{lang|ta|க்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|k}} || vallinam || {{IPA|/k/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ங்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ṅ}} || mellinam || {{IPA|/ŋ/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ச்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|c}} || vallinam || {{IPA|/t͡ʃ, s/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஞ்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ñ}} || mellinam || {{IPA|/ɲ/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ட்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ṭ}} || vallinam || {{IPA|/ʈ/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ண்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ṇ}} || mellinam || {{IPA|/ɳ/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|த்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|t}} || vallinam || {{IPA|/t̪/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ந்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|n}} || mellinam || {{IPA|/n̪/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ப்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|p}} || vallinam || {{IPA|/p/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ம்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|m}} || mellinam || {{IPA|/m/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ய்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|y}} || idaiyinam || {{IPA|/j/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ர்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|r}} || idaiyinam || {{IPA|/ɾ/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ல்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|l}} || idaiyinam || {{IPA|/l/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|வ்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|v}} || idaiyinam || {{IPA|/ʋ/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ழ்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ḻ}} || idaiyinam || {{IPA|/ɻ/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ள்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ḷ}} || idaiyinam || {{IPA|/ɭ/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ற்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ṟ}} || vallinam || {{IPA|/r/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ன்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ṉ}} || mellinam || {{IPA|/n/}}
|}

===Extra consonants used in Tamil===
The Tamil speech has incorporated many phonemes that were not part of the [[Tolkāppiyam]] classification. The letters used to write these sounds, known as '''Grantha''', are used as part of Tamil. These are taught from elementary school and incorporated in [[Tamil All Character Encoding|Tamil All Character Encoding (TACE16)]].

<!---
NOTE:
Before editing this page for Unicode errors please check your OS configuration for complex character support. You can check it here:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:INDIC
--->
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Grantha consonants in Tamil{{sfn|Steever|1996|p=426-430}}
|-
! Consonant !! [[ISO 15919]] !! IPA
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஜ்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|j}} || {{IPA|/d͡ʒ/}}
|-
|{{lang|ta|ஶ்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ś}} || {{IPA|/ʃ/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஷ்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ṣ}} || {{IPA|/ʂ/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஸ்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|s}} || {{IPA|/s/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஹ்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|h}} || {{IPA|/h/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|க்ஷ்}} || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|kṣ}} || {{IPA|/kʂ/}}
|}

There is also the compound {{lang|ta|ஶ்ரீ}} ({{transliteration|ta|ISO|śrī}}), equivalent to {{lang|inc-Deva|श्री}} in [[Devanagari]].

Combinations of consonants with {{lang|ta|ஃ}} ({{lang|ta|ஆய்த எழுத்து}}, {{transliteration|ta|ISO|āyda eḻuttu}}, equivalent to [[nuqta]]) are occasionally used to represent phonemes of foreign languages, especially to write [[Islamic]] and [[Christian]] texts. For example: asif = {{lang|ta|அசிஃப்}}, azārutīn̠ = {{lang|ta|அஃஜாருதீன்}}, [[Genghis Khan]] = {{lang|ta|கெங்கிஸ் ஃகான்}}.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}

A nuqta-like diacritic is used while writing the [[Badaga language]] and double dot nuqta for the [[Irula language]] to transcribe its sounds.<ref>The Unicode Standard Version 13.0 – Core Specification, South and Central Asia-I, Official Scripts of India pg. 498</ref>

There has also been effort to differentiate voiced and voiceless consonants through subscripted numbers – two, three, and four which stand for the unvoiced aspirated, voiced, voiced aspirated respectively. This was used to transcribe Sanskrit words in Sanskrit–Tamil books, as shown in the table below.<ref name="Sharma2010a">Sharma, Shriramana. (2010a). [https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2010/10256r-extended-tamil.pdf ''Proposal to encode characters for Extended Tamil''.]</ref><ref name="Sharma2010c">Sharma, Shriramana. (2010c). [https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2010/10407-ext-tamil-follow2.pdf ''Follow-up #2 to Extended Tamil proposal''.]</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| {{lang|ta|க}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ka}} || {{lang|ta|க₂}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|kha}} || {{lang|ta|க₃}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ga}} || {{lang|ta|க₄}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|gha}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ச}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ca}} || {{lang|ta|ச₂}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|cha}} || {{lang|ta|ஜ}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ja}} || {{lang|ta|ஜ₂}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|jha}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ட}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ṭa}} || {{lang|ta|ட₂}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ṭha}} || {{lang|ta|ட₃}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ḍa}} || {{lang|ta|ட₄}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ḍha}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|த}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ta}} || {{lang|ta|த₂}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|tha}} || {{lang|ta|த₃}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|da}} || {{lang|ta|த₄}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|dha}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ப}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|pa}} || {{lang|ta|ப₂}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|pha}} || {{lang|ta|ப₃}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ba}} || {{lang|ta|ப₄}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|bha}}
|}
The Unicode Standard uses superscripted digits for the same purpose, as in {{lang|ta|ப²}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|pha}}, {{lang|ta|ப³}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ba}}, and {{lang|ta|ப⁴}} {{transliteration|ta|ISO|bha}}.<ref>Unicode Consortium (2019). Tamil. In [https://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode12.0.0/ch12.pdf ''The Unicode Standard Version 12.0'' (pp. 489–498)].</ref>

===Vowels===
Vowels are also called the 'life' (''uyir'') or 'soul' letters. Together with the consonants (''mei'', which are called 'body' letters), they form compound, syllabic ([[abugida]]) letters that are called 'living' or 'embodied' letters (''uyir mei'', i.e. letters that have both 'body' and 'soul').

Tamil language has 12 vowels which are divided into short and long (five of each type) and two [[diphthong]]s.<!---:
NOTE:
Before editing this page for Unicode errors please check your OS configuration for complex character support. You can check it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:INDIC
--->
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Tamil vowels{{sfn|Steever|1996|p=426-430}}
|-
! Independent 
!Vowel sign!! [[ISO 15919]] !! IPA
|-
| {{lang|ta|அ}} 
|{{N/A}}|| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|a}} || {{IPA|/ɐ/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஆ}} 
|ா
| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ā}} || {{IPA|/aː/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|இ}} 
|ி
| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|i}} || {{IPA|/i/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஈ}} 
|ீ
| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ī}} || {{IPA|/iː/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|உ}} 
|ு
| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|u}} || {{IPA|/u/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஊ}} 
|ூ
| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ū}} || {{IPA|/uː/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|எ}} 
|ெ
| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|e}} || {{IPA|/e/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஏ}} 
|ே
| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ē}} || {{IPA|/eː/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஐ}} 
|ை
| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ai}} || {{IPA|/ɐi̯/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஒ}} 
|ொ
| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|o}} || {{IPA|/o/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஓ}} 
|ோ
| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ō}} || {{IPA|/oː/}}
|-
| {{lang|ta|ஔ}} 
|ௌ
| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|au}} || {{IPA|/ɐu̯/}}
|-
|}

====Compound form====
Using the consonant 'k' as an example:
<!---
NOTE:
Before editing this page for unicode errors please check your OS configuration for complex character support. You can check it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:INDIC
--->
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Formation !! Compound form !! [[ISO 15919]] !! IPA
|-
| lang="ta"| க் + அ || lang="ta"| க || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ka}} || {{IPA|/kɐ/}}
|-
| lang="ta"| க் + ஆ || lang="ta"| கா || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|kā}} || {{IPA|/kaː/}}
|-
| lang="ta"| க் + இ || lang="ta"| கி || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ki}} || {{IPA|/ki/}}
|-
| lang="ta"| க் + ஈ || lang="ta"| கீ || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|kī}} || {{IPA|/kiː/}}
|-
| lang="ta"| க் + உ || lang="ta"| கு || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ku}} || {{IPA|/ku/}}
|-
| lang="ta"| க் + ஊ || lang="ta"| கூ || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|kū}} || {{IPA|/kuː/}}
|-
| lang="ta"| க் + எ || lang="ta"| கெ || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ke}} || {{IPA|/ke/}}
|-
| lang="ta"| க் + ஏ || lang="ta"| கே|| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|kē}} || {{IPA|/keː/}}
|-
| lang="ta"| க் + ஐ || lang="ta"| கை || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|kai}} || {{IPA|/kɐi̯/}}
|-
| lang="ta"| க் + ஒ || lang="ta"| கொ || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|ko}} || {{IPA|/ko/}}
|-
| lang="ta"| க் + ஓ || lang="ta"| கோ|| {{transliteration|ta|ISO|kō}} || {{IPA|/koː/}}
|-
| lang="ta"| க் + ஔ || lang="ta"| கௌ || {{transliteration|ta|ISO|kau}} || {{IPA|/kɐu̯/}}
|-
|}

The special letter {{lang|ta|ஃ}}, represented by three dots, is called {{transliteration|ta|ISO|āyta eḻuttu}} or ''aḵ''. It originally represented an archaic Tamil retention of the Dravidian sound ḥ, which has been lost in almost all modern Dravidian languages, and in Tamil traditionally serves a purely grammatical function, but in modern times it has come to be used as a diacritic to represent foreign sounds. For example, {{lang|ta|ஃப}} is used for the English sound ''f'', not found in Tamil. It also served before palm leaves became the primary writing medium for words ending with an inherent consonsant-vowel ''u'' as a pronouncing rule for a short ''u'', called''{{Dash}}''{{Langx|ta|குற்றியலுகரம்|lit=short 'u'-sound|translit=kuṟṟiyal-ukaram}}. Following consonants rendered this behaviour: {{lang|ta|கு}}, {{lang|ta|சு}}, {{lang|ta|டு}}, {{lang|ta|து}}, {{lang|ta|பு}}, {{lang|ta|று}}. Instead of writing like in modern days without any markers, for example ({{Langx|ta|அது|translit=Atu}}), it was written with a preceding {{lang|ta|ஃ}}, like {{Dash}} {{Langx|ta|அஃது|translit=Aḥtu}}.

Another archaic Tamil letter {{lang|ta|ஂ}}, represented by a small hollow circle and called {{transliteration|ta|ISO|Aṉuvara}}, is the ''[[Anusvara]]''. It was traditionally used as a [[homorganic]] nasal when in front of a consonant, and either as a bilabial nasal ({{IPA|m}}) or alveolar nasal ({{IPA|n}}) at the end of a word, depending on the context.

The long ({{transliteration|ta|ISO|nedil}}) vowels are about twice as long as the short ({{transliteration|ta|ISO|kuṟil}}) vowels. The [[diphthong]]s are usually pronounced about one and a half times as long as the short vowels, though some grammatical texts place them with the long ({{transliteration|ta|ISO|nedil}}) vowels.

As can be seen in the compound form, the vowel sign can be added to the right, left or both sides of the consonants. It can also form a [[Ligature (typography)|ligature]]. These rules are evolving and older use has more ligatures than modern use. What you actually see on this page depends on your font selection; for example, [[Code2000]] will show more ligatures than [[Latha (typeface)|Latha]].

There are proponents of script reform who want to eliminate all ligatures and let all vowel signs appear on the right side.

Unicode encodes the character in logical order (always the consonant first), whereas legacy 8-bit encodings (such as [[TSCII]]) prefer the written order. This makes it necessary to reorder when converting from one encoding to another; it is not sufficient simply to map one set of code points to the other.

==== Compound table of Tamil letters ====
The following table lists vowel ({{transliteration|ta|ISO|uyir}} or life) letters across the top and consonant ({{transliteration|ta|ISO|mei}} or body) letters along the side, the combination of which gives all Tamil compound ({{transliteration|ta|ISO|uyirmei}}) letters.

{| class="wikitable" lang="ta" style="text-align: center"
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" scope="col" | {{lang|en|Tolkāppiyam<br/>consonants}}
! colspan="12" scope="col" | {{lang|en|Vowels}}
|-
! scope="col" | ∅
a
! scope="col" | ா 
ā
! scope="col" | ி<br/>i
! scope="col" | ீ<br/>ī
! scope="col" | ு<br/>u
! scope="col" | ூ<br/>ū
! scope="col" | ெ<br/>e
! scope="col" | ே<br/>ē
! scope="col" | ை<br/>ai
! scope="col" | ொ<br/>o
! scope="col" | ோ<br/>ō
! scope="col" | ௌ<br/>au
|-
! colspan="2" |∅ (Independent)
|அ
|ஆ
|இ
|ஈ
|உ
|ஊ
|எ
|ஏ
|ஐ
|ஒ
|ஓ
|ஔ
|-
!க்
!k
|க
|கா
|கி
|கீ
|கு
|கூ
|கெ
|கே
|கை
|கொ
|கோ
|கௌ
|-
!ங்
!ṅ
|ங
|ஙா
|ஙி
|ஙீ
|ஙு
|ஙூ
|ஙெ
|ஙே
|ஙை
|ஙொ
|ஙோ
|ஙௌ
|-
!ச்
!c
|ச
|சா
|சி
|சீ
|சு
|சூ
|செ
|சே
|சை
|சொ
|சோ
|சௌ
|-
!ஞ்
!ñ
|ஞ
|ஞா
|ஞி
|ஞீ
|ஞு
|ஞூ
|ஞெ
|ஞே
|ஞை
|ஞொ
|ஞோ
|ஞௌ
|-
!ட்
!ṭ
|ட
|டா
|டி
|டீ
|டு
|டூ
|டெ
|டே
|டை
|டொ
|டோ
|டௌ
|-
!ண்
!ṇ
|ண
|ணா
|ணி
|ணீ
|ணு
|ணூ
|ணெ
|ணே
|ணை
|ணொ
|ணோ
|ணௌ
|-
!த்
!t
|த
|தா
|தி
|தீ
|து
|தூ
|தெ
|தே
|தை
|தொ
|தோ
|தௌ
|-
!ந்
!n
|ந
|நா
|நி
|நீ
|நு
|நூ
|நெ
|நே
|நை
|நொ
|நோ
|நௌ
|-
!ப்
!p
|ப
|பா
|பி
|பீ
|பு
|பூ
|பெ
|பே
|பை
|பொ
|போ
|பௌ
|-
!ம்
!m
|ம
|மா
|மி
|மீ
|மு
|மூ
|மெ
|மே
|மை
|மொ
|மோ
|மௌ
|-
!ய்
!y
|ய
|யா
|யி
|யீ
|யு
|யூ
|யெ
|யே
|யை
|யொ
|யோ
|யௌ
|-
!ர்
!r
|ர
|ரா
|ரி
|ரீ
|ரு
|ரூ
|ரெ
|ரே
|ரை
|ரொ
|ரோ
|ரௌ
|-
!ல்
!l
|ல
|லா
|லி
|லீ
|லு
|லூ
|லெ
|லே
|லை
|லொ
|லோ
|லௌ
|-
!வ்
!v
|வ
|வா
|வி
|வீ
|வு
|வூ
|வெ
|வே
|வை
|வொ
|வோ
|வௌ
|-
!ழ்
!ḻ
|ழ
|ழா
|ழி
|ழீ
|ழு
|ழூ
|ழெ
|ழே
|ழை
|ழொ
|ழோ
|ழௌ
|-
!ள்
!ḷ
|ள
|ளா
|ளி
|ளீ
|ளு
|ளூ
|ளெ
|ளே
|ளை
|ளொ
|ளோ
|ளௌ
|-
!ற்
!ṟ
|ற
|றா
|றி
|றீ
|று
|றூ
|றெ
|றே
|றை
|றொ
|றோ
|றௌ
|-
!ன்
!ṉ
|ன
|னா
|னி
|னீ
|னு
|னூ
|னெ
|னே
|னை
|னொ
|னோ
|னௌ
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" lang="ta"
|+{{lang|en|Grantha compound table}}
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" scope="col" | {{lang|en|Grantha<br/>consonants}}
! colspan="12" scope="col" | {{lang|en|Vowels}}
|-
! scope="col" | ∅
a
! scope="col" | ா 
ā
! scope="col" | ி<br />i
! scope="col" | ீ<br />ī
! scope="col" | ு<br />u
! scope="col" | ூ<br />ū
! scope="col" | ெ<br />e
! scope="col" | ே<br />ē
! scope="col" | ை<br />ai
! scope="col" | ொ<br />o
! scope="col" | ோ<br />ō
! scope="col" | ௌ<br />au
|-
!ஶ்
!ś
|ஶ
|ஶா
|ஶி
|ஶீ
|ஶு
|ஶூ
|ஶெ
|ஶே
|ஶை
|ஶொ
|ஶோ
|ஶௌ
|-
!ஜ்
!j
|ஜ
|ஜா
|ஜி
|ஜீ
|ஜு
|ஜூ
|ஜெ
|ஜே
|ஜை
|ஜொ
|ஜோ
|ஜௌ
|-
!ஷ்
!ṣ
|ஷ
|ஷா
|ஷி
|ஷீ
|ஷு
|ஷூ
|ஷெ
|ஷே
|ஷை
|ஷொ
|ஷோ
|ஷௌ
|-
!ஸ்
!s
|ஸ
|ஸா
|ஸி
|ஸீ
|ஸு
|ஸூ
|ஸெ
|ஸே
|ஸை
|ஸொ
|ஸோ
|ஸௌ
|-
!ஹ்
!h
|ஹ
|ஹா
|ஹி
|ஹீ
|ஹு
|ஹூ
|ஹெ
|ஹே
|ஹை
|ஹொ
|ஹோ
|ஹௌ
|-
!க்ஷ்
!kṣ
|க்ஷ
|க்ஷா
|க்ஷி
|க்ஷீ
|க்ஷு
|க்ஷூ
|க்ஷெ
|க்ஷே
|க்ஷை
|க்ஷொ
|க்ஷோ
|க்ஷௌ
|}

=== Writing order ===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Vowels (''uyireḻuttu'')
!Letter
!Animation
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">அ (a)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 2.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ஆ (ā)</span>
|[[File:Tamil writng 3.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">இ (i)</span>
|[[File:Tamil writing 4.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ஈ (ī)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 5.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">உ (u)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 6.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ஊ (ū)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 7.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">எ (e)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 8.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ஏ (ē)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 9.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ஐ (ai)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 10.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ஒ (o)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 11.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ஓ (ō)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 12.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ஔ (au)</span>
|[[File:Tamil writing 13.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ஃ (aḵ)*</span>
|[[File:Learn Tamil 0.gif]]
|-
| colspan="2" |<nowiki>*</nowiki>ஃ is ''[[aytam]]'' but traditionally grouped with the vowel letters.
|}

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Consonants (''meyyeḻuttu'')
!Letter
!Animation
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">க் (k)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 14.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ங் (ṅ)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 15.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ச் (ch)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 16.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ஞ் (ñ)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 17.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ட் (t)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 18.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ண் (ṇ)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 19.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">த் (th)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 20.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ந் (n)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 21.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ப் (p)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 22.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ம் (m)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 23.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ய் (y)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 24.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ர் (r)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 25.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ல் (l)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 26.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">வ் (v)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 27.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ழ் (ḻ)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 29.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ள் (ḷ)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 28.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ற் (ṟ)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 30.gif]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:200%">ன் (ṉ)</span>
|[[File:Writing Tamil 31.gif]]
|}