Kannada Consonants Individual

ಕ

/ka/ As 'k' in kite

ಖ

/kha/ Coupled sound of 'k', 'h'= 'kh'

ಗ

/ga/ As 'g' in gun

ಘ

/gha/ Coupled sound of 'g', 'h'= 'gh'

ಙ

/gna/ As 'gn' in gnome. Does not produce a particular sound: Just used for articulation of tongue while pronouncing the next word

ಚ

/ca/ As 'ch' in chair

ಛ

/cha/ This sound is not available in English. The tongue touches a bit away (to the inner side) from the teeth while pronouncing 'ch' as in chair.

ಜ

/ja/ As 'j' in jug

ಝ

/jha/ This sound is not available in English. This is produced using the naval sounds while the tongue touches the upper part of mouth cavity.

ಞ

/gnaa/ Just like 'gn' of gnome with a slight up movement of tongue. No particular sound just articulation while speaking.

ಟ

/ta/ As 't' in top

ಠ

/tha/ Hard sound of 't'. Not available in English.

ಡ

/dda/ As 'd' in dark

ಢ

/ddha/ Coupled sound of 'd' and 'h'= 'dh'. Not available in English but as 'dh' in Indian musical instrument 'dhol'.

ಣ

/nna/ Nasal sound when the tongue touches a bit away from teeth. In ನ, the tongue touches the roots of the teeth.

ತ

/tha/ Soft sound of 't' as used in the name of country Bharat

ಥ

/thaa/ As 'th' in thermo

ದ

/da/ As 'th' in the

ಧ

/dha/ Not available in English. Again, naval sound produced by coupling soft 'd' and 'h'= 'dh'.

ನ

/na/ As 'n' in man

ಪ

/pa/ As 'p' in push

ಫ

/pha/ Sound of 'f' if pronounced with closed lips. 'f' of German language.

ಬ

/ba/ As 'b' in ban

ಭ

/bha/ Not available in English. Coupled sound of 'b' and 'h'= 'bh'.

ಮ

/ma/ As 'm' in mass

ಯ

/ya/ As 'y' in yacht

ರ

/ra/ As 'r' in run

ಲ

/la/ As 'l' in love

ಳ

/La/ Special "l" sound of Indian languages where the tongue touches deeper part of upper part of mouth cavity towards the throat.

ವ

/va/ As 'v' in vowel

ಶ

/sha/ As 'sh' in shot

ಷ

/ssha/ Sound of 'sh' when the tongue touches the roots of the teeth. In ಶ, the tongue touches the upper part of mouth cavity.

ಸ

/sa/ As 's' in sound

ಹ

/ha/ As 'h' in has

ಜ್ಞ

/jna/ Coupled sound of 'j' and 'n'= 'jn'

ತ್ರ

/tra/ Coupled sound of soft 't' and 'r'—'tr'.

ಕ್ಷ

/ksha/ Coupled sound of 'k', 's', 'h'= 'ksh'. A bit similar to 'x'

ಶ್ರ

/shra/ coupled sound of 's', 'h', 'r'='shr'. As 'shr' in shroud