Kannada Letters & Alphabet Guide

Complete reference for Kannada vowels, consonants and numbers with English pronunciation

About Kannada Script: Kannada is written in the Kannada script, an abugida belonging to the Brahmic family. It has 16 vowels (Swara), 34 consonants (Vyanjana), and special characters. Kannada is the official language of Karnataka and one of the classical languages of India.
Vowels (Swara) Consonants (Vyanjana) Numbers Try Kannada Typing →

Kannada Vowels — ಸ್ವರಗಳು (Swaragalu)

KannadaTransliterationPronunciationExample Word
ಅaas in "about"ಅಮ್ಮ (amma - mother)
ಆaa / Aas in "father"ಆಕಾಶ (aakaasha - sky)
ಇias in "sit"ಇಲ್ಲ (illa - no)
ಈee / Ias in "see"ಈಶ್ವರ (Ishwara - God)
ಉuas in "put"ಉಪ್ಪು (uppu - salt)
ಊoo / Uas in "food"ಊರು (ooru - village)
ಎeas in "bed"ಎಲೆ (ele - leaf)
ಏEas in "they"ಏನು (enu - what)
ಐaias in "kite"ಐದು (aidu - five)
ಒoas in "hot"ಒಲೆ (ole - stove)
ಓOas in "go"ಓಡು (oodu - run)
ಔauas in "cow"ಔಷಧ (oushadha - medicine)

Kannada Consonants — ವ್ಯಂಜನಗಳು (Vyanjanagalu)

KannadaType to getPronunciationExample Word
ಕkak as in "kit"ಕಾಲು (kaalu - leg)
ಖkhakh aspiratedಖರ್ಚು (kharchu - expense)
ಗgag as in "go"ಗಂಟೆ (gante - bell)
ಘghagh aspiratedಘಟನೆ (ghatane - incident)
ಚchach as in "chair"ಚಂದ್ರ (chandra - moon)
ಛchhachh aspiratedಛತ್ರಿ (chhatri - umbrella)
ಜjaj as in "jar"ಜಲ (jala - water)
ಝjhajh aspiratedಝರಿ (jhari - stream)
ಟTaretroflex tಟೊಪ್ಪಿ (toppi - cap)
ಡDaretroflex dಡಬ್ಬ (dabba - box)
ಣNaretroflex nಗಣಿತ (ganita - maths)
ತtat (soft)ತಾಯಿ (tayi - mother)
ಥthath aspiratedಥಾಲಿ (thaali - plate)
ದdad (soft)ದಾರಿ (daari - path)
ಧdhadh aspiratedಧನ (dhana - wealth)
ನnan as in "not"ನೀರು (neeru - water)
ಪpap as in "pen"ಪಾಲು (paalu - milk)
ಫphaph / f soundಫಲ (phala - fruit)
ಬbab as in "bat"ಬಂಗಾರ (bangaara - gold)
ಭbhabh aspiratedಭಾಷೆ (bhaashe - language)
ಮmam as in "man"ಮನೆ (mane - house)
ಯyay as in "yes"ಯಾರು (yaaru - who)
ರrar (rolled)ರಾತ್ರಿ (raatri - night)
ಲlal as in "lip"ಲೋಕ (loka - world)
ವvav as in "van"ವನ (vana - forest)
ಶshash as in "ship"ಶಕ್ತಿ (shakti - power)
ಸsas as in "sun"ಸಮಯ (samaya - time)
ಹhah as in "hat"ಹೃದಯ (hrudaya - heart)
ಳLaretroflex lಬೆಳ್ಳಿ (beLLi - silver)
ಕ್ಷkshaksh combinedಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ (kshamisi - forgive)

Kannada Numbers — ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಗಳು

NumberKannadaPronunciation
0ಸೊನ್ನೆsonne
1ಒಂದುondu
2ಎರಡುeradu
3ಮೂರುmooru
4ನಾಲ್ಕುnaalku
5ಐದುaidu
6ಆರುaaru
7ಏಳುelu
8ಎಂಟುentu
9ಒಂಬತ್ತುombattu
10ಹತ್ತುhattu
100ನೂರುnooru
1000ಸಾವಿರsaavira
Start Typing in Kannada: Try our free English to Kannada Typing tool. Type any word in English phonetically and press Space — it converts to Kannada script instantly.

🔗 Related Resources