Telugu Script Book | sarvabhashin

(1)

t̪elʊɡu

(2)

(3)

The Telugu 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 Telugu 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 Telugu letters and ‘corresponding’ English

letters are only guidelines and should be considered as such.

(4)

k

This letter has a sound similar to

(5)

ɡ

(6)

These are the letters we’ve just seen

k

ɡ

(7)

p

(8)

b

(9)

These are the letters we’ve seen so far

k

ɡ

p

b

(10)

ʨ

(11)

ʥ

(12)

These are the letters we’ve seen so far

k

ɡ

p

b

ʨ

ʥ

(13)

Here’s a vowel sound

ɐ

This vowel sounds similar to

(14)

Look at these letters

kɐ

ɡɐ

క

గ

pɐ

bɐ

ప

బ

ʨɐ

ʥɐ

చ

జ

(15)

In short – k

-

◌్

=

kɐ

క

ɡ ɡɐ

గ

p pɐ

ప

b bɐ

బ

ʨ ʨɐ

చ

ʥ ʥɐ

జ

(16)

Here’s another vowel

i

This vowelsounds similar to

i in pin

This vowel has a special sign of its own –

(17)

Now look at these ‘combo’ letters,

each having the sound of a consonant plus a vowel

ki

ɡi

pi

bi

ʨi

ʥi

(18)

In short – k

-

◌్

+

◌ి

=

ki

ɡ ɡi

p pi

b bi

ʨ ʨi

ʥ ʥi

(19)

And another vowel

u

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

pu

bu

ʨu

ʥu

(21)

And again, in short – k

-

◌్

+

◌ు

=

ku

ɡ ɡu

p pu

b bu

ʨ ʨu

ʥ ʥu

(22)

Notice the slightly different shapes of these letters, compared to the others

pu

(23)

These are all the various ‘basic’ and ‘combo’ letters we’ve seen thus far

k

kɐ

ki

ku

క

ɡ

ɡɐ

ɡi

ɡu

గ

p

pɐ

pi

pu

ప

b

bɐ

bi

bu

బ

ʨ

ʨɐ

ʨi

ʨu

చ

ʥ

ʥɐ

ʥi

ʥu

(24)

These letters look somewhat similar –

ʥ

ʥɐ

ʥi

ʥu

జ

b

bɐ

bi

bu

(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

_{+ చ = క}

p

ɡi

pɡi

+ =

ʥ

bu

ʥbu

_{+ =}

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

_{+ చ = క}

p

ɡi

pɡi

_{+ =}

ʥ

bu

ʥbu

_{+ =}

b

ʥ

bʥ

_{+ =}

(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

్

(28)

When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

◌్ +

kɐ

=

kɐ

క

◌

ɡɐ ɡɐ

గ

◌

pɐ pɐ

ప

◌

bɐ bɐ

బ

◌

ʨɐ ʨɐ

చ

◌

ʥɐ ʥɐ

జ

◌

(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

◌ ు

ɡu ɡu

◌ ు

pu pu

◌ ు

bu bu

◌ ు

ʨu ʨu

◌ ు

ʥu ʥu

◌ ు

(31)

To sum up, the mini versions are special forms that appear after a letter having

◌్

These mini versions can occur in the middle or at the end of a word, but never at the beginning

(32)

j

(33)

r

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

(34)

l

(35)

ʋ

(36)

j

r

(37)

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

jɐ

rɐ

య

ర

lɐ

ʋɐ

(38)

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

ji

ri

(39)

Notice the slightly different shapes of these letters, compared to the others

ji

(40)

Not much between these two

li

(41)

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

ju

ru

(42)

Notice the slightly different shape of this letter, compared to the others

(43)

These are all the various basic and combo letters we’ve just seen

j

jɐ

ji

ju

య

r

rɐ

ri

ru

ర

l

lɐ

li

lu

ల

ʋ

ʋɐ

ʋi

ʋu

వ

(44)

These letters look very similar –

p

pɐ

pi

pu

ప

ʋ

ʋɐ

ʋi

ʋu

(45)

These combo letters look somewhat similar –

jɐ

ju

య

(46)

Here are the mini versions of the letters we’ve just seen When the second letter has no vowel –

◌్ +

j

=

j

్

r

్

l

్

ʋ

్

(47)

◌్ +

jɐ

=

jɐ

య

◌

rɐ

ర

lɐ

ల

◌

ʋɐ

వ

◌

(48)

◌్ +

ji

=

ji

◌ ి

ri

ి

li

◌ ి

ʋi

◌ ి

(49)

◌్ +

ju

=

ju

◌ ు

ru

ు

lu

◌ ు

ʋu

◌ ు

(50)

Note that most of the mini versions we’ve just seen look quite different from their ‘full’ versions –

jɐ

య

◌

rɐ

ర

lɐ

ల

◌

(51)

These two mini versions

look like mirror images of each other

kɐ

◌

jɐ

(52)

These mini versions look somewhat similar –

pɐ

◌

ʋɐ

(53)

These are some actual Telugu words Can you read them?

వక చ

గ

బ

గ ర

ప చర

క ల

(54)

Here are their pronunciations and meanings

juʋəkɐ1 _ʨɐrʨi _ɡɐbbu

వక చ

గ

youth (adjective) church stink, stench

bɐlli ɡurru ʥuʋʋi

బ

lizard snore, growl White Fig, ficus virens

puʋʋu biɡɡərɐ1

గ ర

flower loudly pɐriʨərjɐ1 kukkəpɪllɐ1

ప చర

క ల

service puppy

(55)

s

(56)

ɕ

sh in ship

Some people pronounce this letter similar to

(57)

ɦ

(58)

s

ɕ

ɦ

(59)

This is how these basic letters are modified to make the combo letters for ɐ, i and u

sɐ

ɕɐ

ɦɐ

స శ హ

si

ɕi

ɦi

su

ɕu

ɦu

(60)

s

sɐ

si

su

స

ɕ

ɕɐ

ɕi

ɕu

శ

ɦ

ɦɐ

ɦi

ɦu

హ

(61)

These letters look somewhat similar –

p

pɐ

pi

pu

ప

s

sɐ

si

su

స

ɦ

ɦɐ

ɦi

ɦu

హ

(62)

These sets of letters look particularly similar

p

pɐ

pi

pu

ప

ɦ

ɦɐ

ɦi

ɦu

హ

Notice the difference in shapes between pu and ɦu though

pu

ɦu

(63)

◌్ +

s

=

s

◌ ్

ɕ

◌ ్

ɦ

◌ ్

(64)

◌్ +

sɐ

=

sɐ

స

◌

ɕɐ

శ

◌

ɦɐ

హ

◌

(65)

◌్ +

si

=

si

◌ ి

ɕi

◌ ి

ɦi

◌ ి

(66)

◌్ +

su

=

su

◌ ు

ɕu ɕu

◌ ు

ɦu ɦu

◌ ు

(67)

Some actual Telugu words with these letters we’ve just seen

స

శ

హ

స

(68)

How many correct?

sɐri ɕɐɕi

స

శ

OK, all right moon

ɕiɕuʋu ɦɐkku

హ

infant right, privilege

ɦiʥri ɦrɐsʋɐ

స

Hijri, the Islamic calendar short

siɡɡəri ʥuɡʊpsɐ

గ

ప

(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

(71)

These are the basic letters we’ve just seen

n̪

m

(72)

n̪ɐ

mɐ

న

మ

n̪i

mi

n̪u

mu

(73)

n̪

n̪ɐ

n̪i

n̪u

న

m

mɐ

mi

mu

(74)

These sets of letters look very similar –

s

sɐ

si

su

స

n̪

n̪ɐ

n̪i

n̪u

న

As do these –

ʋ

ʋɐ

ʋi

ʋu

వ

m

mɐ

mi

mu

మ

(75)

All these look somewhat similar –

p

pɐ

pi

pu

ప

ɦ

ɦɐ

ɦi

ɦu

హ

ʋ

ʋɐ

ʋi

ʋu

వ

m

mɐ

mi

mu

మ

(76)

◌్

₊

n̪

=

n̪

◌ ్

m

◌ ్

◌్

+

n̪ɐ

=

n̪ɐ

◌

mɐ

(77)

◌్

+

n̪i

=

n̪i

◌ ి

mi

◌ ి

◌్

+

n̪u

=

n̪u

◌ ు

mu

◌ ు

(78)

Note that most of the mini versions we’ve just seen look quite different from their ‘full’ versions –

n̪ɐ

న

◌

mɐ

(79)

Some Telugu words with these letters we’ve just seen

మన

ప

హ

చర

క

నర న

హ బ వచన

(80)

Here’s how you pronounce them, and what they mean

mɐn̪əmu mɐn̪əsu

మన

we (including listener) mind

pɐn̪n̪u ʨin̪n̪i

ప

tooth tiny

brɐɦmɐ ʨɐrməmu

హ

చర

Brahma, a Hindu god skin

miksər pun̪ərʥən̪mɐ

క

నర న

mixer, blender rebirth

ɕukrəɡrəɦəmu bɐɦʊʋəʨən̪əmu

(81)

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

_{+ + య = ల}

ɕ

ʨ

ʋi

ɕʨʋi

_{+ + =}

m

b

ru

mbru

_{+ + =}

(82)

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

+ + య = ల

ɕ

ʨ

ʋi

ɕʨʋi

_{+ + =}

m

b

ru

mbru

+ + =

m

p

s

mps

+ + =

(83)

Here’s a new vowel, along with its sign

e

◌ె

(84)

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

(85)

And some more combo letters, with this new vowel

le

ʋe

se

ɕe

ɦe

n̪e

me

(86)

Don’t get confused between

◌ె

and

◌్

ke k ɡe ɡ

pe p be b

ʨe ʨ ʥe ʥ

je j re r

le l ʋe ʋ

se s ɕe ɕ

n̪e n̪ me m

(87)

Here’s a few words with our new vowel

క

గ

ల

(88)

And here’s how you say them, and what they mean rekkɐ ʥerri

క

wing centipede kɐn̪n̪e kuppɐ

క

maiden bottle ɦeʨʨu puʨʨe

increase skull ɡɐrise ɕeləʋu

గ

ల

granary holiday jemen̪ belləmu

ల

(89)

Here’s another vowel, along with its sign

o

◌ొ

o in or

(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

n̪o

mo

(92)

Some letters have a rebellious streak in them, refusing to conform to the mainstream

On these letters, the sign for o is made up of the sign for e

◌ె

plus the sign for u

◌ు

jo

mo

(93)

In other words –

ju

je

jo

mu

me

mo

(94)

Others are masters of camouflage

p

po

ʋ

ʋo

s

so

n̪

n̪o

(95)

And some new words with our new vowel

క

న

బ

య

(96)

Here are their pronunciations and meanings

mokkɐ jokkɐ

క

shoot, young plant of

pojji ɡojji

hearth pit, ditch

ʨoʨʨu ʥon̪n̪ɐ

న

enter millet n̪oppi sobəɡu

బ

pain beauty kobbəri ɦojəlu

బ

య

(97)

t̪

t in Spanish toro To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue

(98)

d̪

d in Spanish diez To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue

(99)

t̪

d̪

(100)

t̪ɐ

d̪ɐ

త

ద

t̪i

d̪i

t̪u

d̪u

(101)

This is how these basic letters are modified to make the combo letters for e and o

t̪e

d̪e

t̪o

d̪o

(102)

t̪

t̪ɐ

t̪i

t̪u

t̪e

t̪o

త

d̪

d̪ɐ

d̪i

d̪u

d̪e

d̪o

ద

Notice the slightly different shape of

d̪i

(103)

Here are the mini versions of the letters we’ve just seen Let’s just take the simplest example When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

◌్ +

t̪ɐ

=

t̪ɐ

త

◌

d̪ɐ

ద

◌

Note that the mini version of t̪

Looks quite different from its ‘full’ version –

t̪ɐ

(104)

Can you read these Telugu words?

శ

ద

చ

త

గ

శబ

త

వ

(105)

How’d you fare? diɕɐ ped̪d̪ɐ

శ

ద

direction big d̪on̪n̪e t̪elʊɡu

plate made of dry leaves Telugu

ʨɐd̪ʊʋu ʨit̪t̪əmu

చ

త

study, reading mind

t̪oɡəru ɕɐbd̪əmu

గ

శబ

red, scarlet noise, sound

mut̪jəmu ʋjɐkt̪i

(106)

ʈ

t in ash tray

To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue curls right back and touches the roof of your mouth

(107)

ɖ

d in rushed

(108)

ɽ

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 as such in the pronunciation key

(109)

ʈ

ɖ

(110)

ʈɐ

ɖɐ

ట

డ

ʈi

ɖi

ʈu

ɖu

(111)

ʈe

ɖe

ʈo

ɖo

(112)

ʈ

ʈɐ

ʈi

ʈu

ʈe

ʈo

ట

ɖ

ɖɐ

ɖi

ɖu

ɖe

ɖo

(113)

◌్ +

ʈɐ

=

ʈɐ

ట

◌

ɖɐ

డ

◌

(114)

These sets of letters look similar –

d̪

d̪ɐ

d̪i

d̪u

d̪e

d̪o

ద

ɖ

ɖɐ

ɖi

ɖu

ɖe

ɖo

డ

Watch out for d̪i and ɖi

Their mini versions too are similar –

d̪ɐ

ɖɐ

(115)

And some Telugu words with these new letters

క

ట

ల

డ

త

గ

ప

త

మ

ద

(116)

All correct? ɖekkɐ puʈʈɐ

క

ట

hoof anthill ɖollɐ biɖɖɐ

ల

డ

hollow child t̪ɐʈʈu ɡɐrɪʈe

త

గ

measles ladle pɐɽu t̪ɐɽi

ప

త

fall moisture moʈimɐ med̪əɽu

మ

ద

(117)

Remember this letter?

k

The letter below is pronounced just like the one above, except that the letter below is pronounced with a little ‘puff of air’

kʰ

(118)

ɡ

ɡʱ

(119)

p

pʰ

(120)

b

bʱ

(121)

ʨ

ʨʰ

(122)

ʥ

ʥʱ

(123)

kʰ

ɡʱ

pʰ

bʱ

ʨʰ

ʥʱ

(124)

This is how these basic letters are modified to make the combo letters for ɐ

kʰɐ

ɡʱɐ

ఖ

ఘ

pʰɐ

bʱɐ

ఫ

భ

ʨʰɐ

ʥʱɐ

ఛ

ఝ

(125)

This is how these basic letters are modified to make the combo letters for i

kʰi

ɡʱi

pʰi

bʱi

ʨʰi

ʥʱi

(126)

This is how these basic letters are modified to make the combo letters for u

kʰu

ɡʱu

pʰu

bʱu

ʨʰu

ʥʱʊ

(127)

This is how these basic letters are modified to make the combo letters for e

kʰe

ɡʱe

pʰe

bʱe

ʨʰe

ʥʱe

(128)

This is how these basic letters are modified to make the combo letters for o

kʰo

ɡʱo

pʰo

bʱo

ʨʰo

ʥʱo

(129)

kʰ

kʰɐ

kʰi

kʰu

kʰe

kʰo

ఖ

ɡʱ

ɡʱɐ

ɡʱi

ɡʱu

ɡʱe

ɡʱo

ఘ

pʰ

pʰɐ

pʰi

pʰu

pʰe

pʰo

ఫ

bʱ

bʱɐ

bʱi

bʱu

bʱe

bʱo

(130)

And…

ʨʰ

ʨʰɐ

ʨʰi

ʨʰu

ʨʰe

ʨʰo

ఛ

ʥʱ

ʥʱɐ

ʥʱi

ఝ

ʥʱu

ʥʱe

ʥʱo

(131)

All of these ‘puff-of-air’ letters have a little ‘pendulum’ at the bottom –

kʰ

ɡʱ

pʰ

bʱ

ʨʰ

ʥʱ

(132)

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

ʨ

ʨʰ

These two combo letters have one more difference other than the pendulum,

(133)

These sets of letters lookvery similar –

ʋ

ʋɐ

ʋi

ʋu

ʋe

ʋo

వ

p

pɐ

pi

pu

pe

po

ప

pʰ

pʰɐ

pʰi

pʰu

pʰe

pʰo

ఫ

ɡʱ

ɡʱɐ

ɡʱi

ɡʱu

ɡʱe

ɡʱo

(134)

Notice how ʋi looks slightly different from other combo letters for i

ʋi

pi

pʰi

ɡʱi

(135)

Also notice how ɡʱu and ɡʱo look slightly different from the rest –

ɡʱu

ɡʱo

ʋu

ʋo

pu

po

pʰu

pʰo

(136)

In fact, ɡʱo and ʥʱo

are part of the rebel club we saw earlier –

ju

je

jo

mu

me

mo

ɡʱu

ɡʱe

ɡʱo

ʥʱu

ʥʱe

ʥʱo

(137)

These sets of letters looksimilar –

r

rɐ

ri

ru

re

ro

ర

j

jɐ

ji

ju

je

jo

య

ʥʱ

ʥʱɐ

ʥʱi

ʥʱu

ʥʱe

ʥʱo

(138)

These combo letters look somewhat similar –

ru

jɐ

ʥʱɐ

య ఝ

Remember that ʥʱu has an extra curl at the end –

ʥʱɐ

ʥʱu

ఝ

and that ʥʱo looks like ʥʱu with an

◌ె

sign

ʥʱu

ʥʱo

(139)

◌్

+

kʰɐ

=

kʰɐ

ఖ

◌

ɡʱɐ

ఘ

◌

pʰɐ

ఫ

◌

bʱɐ

భ

◌

(140)

And here are the remaining ones

◌్

+

ʨʰɐ

=

ʨʰɐ

ఛ

◌

ʥʱɐ

ఝ

◌

(141)

Some Telugu words with the new letters we’ve just seen

ఫల ఝ

త

ఛ భ

ఖ

ల మ

(142)

Full marks?

pʰɐləmu ʥʱɐri likʰɪt̪ɐ

ఫల ఝ

త

fruit stream, rivulet written, in writing

ʨʰɐt̪rəmu bʱɐkt̪i mukʰjɐ

ఛ భ

ఖ

umbrella devotion main

ʨʰid̪rəmu pʰilm lɐɡʱɪmu

ల మ

pore, opening movie sublimity

sɐbʱjət̪ɐ ʥʱɐlləri ɡʱɐʈəkəmu

సభ త ఝల ఘటక

(143)

t̪

t̪ʰ

(144)

d̪

d̪ʱ

(145)

These are thebasic letters we’ve just seen –

t̪ʰ

d̪ʱ

(146)

t̪ʰɐ

d̪ʱɐ

థ

ధ

t̪ʰi

d̪ʱi

t̪ʰu

d̪ʱu

(147)

t̪ʰe

d̪ʱe

t̪ʰo

d̪ʱo

(148)

t̪ʰ

t̪ʰɐ

t̪ʰi

t̪ʰu

t̪ʰe

t̪ʰo

థ

d̪ʱ

d̪ʱɐ

d̪ʱi

d̪ʱu

d̪ʱe

d̪ʱo

ధ

Note the slightly different shape of these letters from other i letters

t̪ʰi

d̪ʱi

(149)

Here are the mini versions of the letters we’ve just seen

◌్ +

t̪ʰɐ

=

t̪ʰɐ

థ

◌

d̪ʱɐ

ధ

◌

(150)

d̪

d̪ɐ

d̪i

d̪u

d̪e

d̪o

ద

ɖ

ɖɐ

ɖi

ɖu

ɖe

ɖo

డ

t̪ʰ

t̪ʰɐ

t̪ʰi

t̪ʰu

t̪ʰe

t̪ʰo

థ

d̪ʱ

d̪ʱɐ

d̪ʱi

d̪ʱu

d̪ʱe

d̪ʱo

(151)

All their mini versions too look similar –

d̪ɐ

◌

ɖɐ

◌

t̪ʰɐ

◌

d̪ʱɐ

◌

(152)

The pendulum strikes again –

t̪ʰ

d̪ʱ

థ

ధ

For d̪ʱ , this is the only thing differentiating it from d̪

d̪

d̪ʱ

(153)

These words aren’t too difficult

ధ

వ

తథ

(154)

Here you go

t̪it̪ʰi st̪ʰit̪i

date according to the lunar calendar status, condition

d̪ʱʋɐn̪i bud̪d̪ʱi

ధ

tone, note intelligence

d̪ʱruʋəmu t̪ɐt̪ʰjəmu

వ

తథ

Earth’s pole truth, fact

pɐd̪d̪ʱət̪i mitʰʊn̪əmu

పద

న

(155)

ʈ

ʈʰ

(156)

ɖ

ɖʱ

(157)

These are the letters we’ve just seen –

ʈʰ

ɖʱ

(158)

ʈʰə

ɖʱə

ఠ

ఢ

ʈʰɪ

ɖʱɪ

ʈʰʊ

ɖʱʊ

(159)

ʈʰe

ɖʱe

ʈʰo

ɖʱo

(160)

ʈʰ

ʈʰɐ

ʈʰi

ʈʰu

ʈʰe

ʈʰo

ఠ

ɖʱ

ɖʱɐ

ɖʱi

ɖʱu

ɖʱe

ɖʱo

ఢ

Note the slightly different shape of these letters from other i letters

ʈʰi

ɖʱi

(161)

Here are the mini versions of the letters we’ve just seen

◌్ +

ʈʰɐ

=

ʈʰɐ

ఠ

◌

ɖʱɐ

ఢ

◌

(162)

d̪

d̪ɐ

d̪i

d̪u

d̪e

d̪o

ద

ɖ

ɖɐ

ɖi

ɖu

ɖe

ɖo

డ

t̪ʰ

t̪ʰɐ

t̪ʰi

t̪ʰu

t̪ʰe

t̪ʰo

థ

d̪ʱ

d̪ʱɐ

d̪ʱi

d̪ʱu

d̪ʱe

d̪ʱo

ధ

(163)

As do all their mini versions –

d̪ɐ

◌

ɖɐ

◌

t̪ʰɐ

◌

d̪ʱɐ

◌

ɖʱɐ

(164)

These sets of letters too look similar –

r

rɐ

ri

ru

re

ro

ర

ʈʰ

ʈʰɐ

ʈʰi

ʈʰu

ʈʰe

ʈʰo

ఠ

But their mini versions don’t!

rɐ

(165)

Both these sets of letters have a dot in the middle

t̪ʰ

t̪ʰɐ

t̪ʰi

t̪ʰu

t̪ʰe

t̪ʰo

థ

ʈʰ

ʈʰɐ

ʈʰi

ʈʰu

ʈʰe

ʈʰo

ఠ

As do their mini versions

t̪ʰɐ

◌

(166)

Here are some Telugu words that have ʈʰ in various forms ɦɐʈʰəmu

హఠ

obstinacy, stubbornness pɐʈʰən̪əmu

పఠన

reading, learning kɐʈʰɪn̪əmu

క న

difficult

Unfortunately, many words that use ʈʰ and ɖʱ also use letters and signs that we haven’t seen yet

(167)

ɭ

l in hold

l in boulder

It sounds similar to

l

(168)

ʃ

sh in ash tray

To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue curls right back and touches the roof of your mouth In everyday speech, it’s mostly pronounced the same as

ɕ

(169)

ɭ

ʃ

(170)

ɭɐ

ʃɐ

ɭɪ

ʃɪ

ɭʊ

ʃʊ

(171)

And this is how they are modified to make the combo letters for e and o

ɭe

ʃe

ɭo

ʃo

(172)

ɭ

ɭɐ

ɭi

ɭu

ɭe

ɭo

ళ

ʃ

ʃɐ

ʃi

ʃu

ʃe

ʃo

(173)

And here are their mini versions When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –