YUNOVA · Spoken Malayalam
Module 10: Malayalam script and reading
Malayalam alphabet vowels
Key points
- Malayalam has short and long vowels like അ, ആ, ഇ, ഈ.
- Each vowel has a separate sign when it joins a consonant.
- Learn vowels in pairs to hear the short and long difference.
Malayalam consonants and signs
Key points
- Each consonant carries a built-in a sound, like ക (ka).
- Vowel signs change that sound, as in കി (ki) and കു (ku).
- The chandrakkala ് removes the vowel sound from a consonant.
Reading Malayalam words and signboards
Key points
- Start with short common words on shops, buses and road signs.
- Break each word into consonant and vowel-sign parts.
- Read slowly aloud, then check the meaning from context.