Kannada Varnamala (ಕನ್ನಡ ವರ್ಣಮಾನ) Chart with Pictures [PDF]. The Kannada script (ಅಕ್ಷರಮಾಲೆ akṣaramāle or ವರ್ಣಮಾಲೆ varṇamāle) is a phonemic abugida of forty-nine letters, and is written from left to right.
The letters are classified into three categories:
- ಸ್ವರ svara (vowels),
- ವ್ಯಂಜನ vyañjana (consonants), and
- ಯೋಗವಾಹಕ yōgavāhaka
1. Vowels (Swaras)
Vowels are the independently existing letters which are called Swaras. They are-
ಅ ಆ ಇ ಈ ಉ ಊ ಋ ಎ ಏ ಐ ಒ ಓ ಔ
A. Hrasva Swara
- A freely existing independent vowel which c be pronounced in a single matra time (matr
kala) also called as a matra. They are-
ಅ ಇ ಉ ಋ ಎ ಐ ಒ ಔ
B. Deergha Swara
- A freely existing independent vowel which can be pronounced in two matras. They are-
ಆ ಈ ಊ ಏ ಓ
Anuswaras ಅ◌ಂ
Visarga ಅಃ
Avagraha Also called as Plutha, which is used for the third matra either in a consonant or a vowel.
2. Consonants (Vyanjanas)
- These are dependent on vowels to take an independent form of the Consonant. These can be divided into Vargeeya and Avargeeya.
ಕ |
ಖ |
ಗ |
ಘ |
ಙ |
ಚ |
ಛ |
ಜ |
ಝ |
ಞ |
ಟ |
ಠ |
ಡ |
ಢ |
ಣ |
ತ |
ಥ |
ದ |
ಧ |
ನ |
ಪ |
ಫ |
ಬ |
ಭ |
ಮ |
ಯ |
ರ |
ಱ obsolete |
ಲ |
ವ |
ಶ |
ಷ |
ಸ |
ಹ |
ಳ |
ೞ |
Avargeeya Vyanjanas
- ಯ್ ರ್ ಲ್ ವ್ ಶ್ ಷ್ ಸ್ ಹ್ ಳ್
Basic Language Rule in Kannada
- When a dependent consonant combines with an independent vowel, a Akshara is formed.
Consonant (Vyanjana) + Vowel (matra) —> Letter (Akshara)
- Example: ಕ್ + ಅ —> ಕ
Based on this rule we can combine all the Consonants (Vyanjanas) with the existing Vowels (matra) family:’Times New Roman’;font-size:12pt;”>to form Kagunitha for Kannada alphabet.
ಕ ಕಾ ಕಿ ಕೀ ಕು ಕೂ ಕೃ ಕೆ ಕೇ ಕೈ ಕೊ ಕೋ ಕೌ ಕಂ ಕಃ
ಖ ಖಾ ಖಿ ಖೀ ಖು ಖೂ ಖೃ ಖೆ ಖೇ ಖೈ ಖೊ ಖೋ ಖೌ ಖಂ ಖಃ
ಗ ಗಾ ಗಿ ಗೀ ಗು ಗೂ ಗೃ ಗೆ ಗೇ ಗೈ ಗೊ ಗೋ ಗೌ ಗಂ ಗಃ