Kannada Alphabet (ಕನ್ನಡ ವರ್ಣಮಾಲೆ)

All vowels and consonants of the Kannada script with pronunciation, vowel signs, barakhadi, conjuncts and numerals. Tap any letter to hear it.

Kannada is written in the Kannada script, a Brahmic script used for the Kannada language of Karnataka. It is an abugida: each consonant carries an inherent "a" sound, and vowel signs are attached to change it. Its rounded letter shapes make it look very close to the Telugu script, and the two scripts evolved from the same old Kadamba-Chalukya script.

The Kannada alphabet, called varnamale, is commonly taught as 49 letters: 13 swaras (vowels), 2 yogavahakas (the signs anusvara ಅಂ and visarga ಅಃ) and 34 vyanjanas (consonants). 13 + 2 + 34 = 49. Some books count differently because two old letters, ಱ and ೞ, are no longer used in modern writing.

Every consonant combines with every vowel sign to form a full table called kagunita (the Kannada name for barakhadi). When two consonants join with no vowel between them, the second is written as a smaller subscript form called an ottakshara. Learn the letters first, then kagunita, then ottakshara, and you can read any Kannada text.

Kannada Vowels (ಸ್ವರಗಳು)

Kannada Consonants (ವ್ಯಂಜನಗಳು)

ಕ-ವರ್ಗ (Ka varga, velar)

ಚ-ವರ್ಗ (Cha varga, palatal)

ಟ-ವರ್ಗ (Ta varga, retroflex)

ತ-ವರ್ಗ (Ta varga, dental)

ಪ-ವರ್ಗ (Pa varga, labial)

ಅವರ್ಗೀಯ (Avargeeya, non-varga consonants)

Vowel Signs (Matras)

When a vowel follows a consonant, it is written as a sign attached to the consonant instead of as a full letter.

Vowel	Sign	With ಕ	Sound
ಅ	-	ಕ	ka
ಆ	◌ಾ	ಕಾ	kaa
ಇ	◌ಿ	ಕಿ	ki
ಈ	◌ೀ	ಕೀ	kee
ಉ	◌ು	ಕು	ku
ಊ	◌ೂ	ಕೂ	koo
ಋ	◌ೃ	ಕೃ	kru
ಎ	◌ೆ	ಕೆ	ke
ಏ	◌ೇ	ಕೇ	kae
ಐ	◌ೈ	ಕೈ	kai
ಒ	◌ೊ	ಕೊ	ko
ಓ	◌ೋ	ಕೋ	koh
ಔ	◌ೌ	ಕೌ	kau
ಅಂ	◌ಂ	ಕಂ	kam
ಅಃ	◌ಃ	ಕಃ	kah

Kannada Barakhadi Chart

Every consonant combined with every vowel sign. Scroll sideways on small screens, and tap any syllable to hear it.

Common Conjunct Letters

Conjuncts join two or more consonants with no vowel between them into a single shape.

Kannada Numerals

Kagunita and Ottakshara

Kagunita (ಕಗುಣಿತ) is the table made by joining each consonant with each vowel sign: ಕ, ಕಾ, ಕಿ, ಕೀ, ಕು, ಕೂ, ಕೃ, ಕೆ, ಕೇ, ಕೈ, ಕೊ, ಕೋ, ಕೌ, ಕಂ, ಕಃ. Reciting it for all 34 consonants is the standard way Kannada children learn to read.

Ottakshara (ಒತ್ತಕ್ಷರ) is the Kannada system for joining consonants. The first consonant keeps its normal shape and the second is written below it in a small form, as in ಕ್ಕ, ನ್ನ and ಸ್ತ. A vowel sign applies to the whole cluster, so ಕ್ಕ with ಉ becomes ಕ್ಕು, as in ಬೆಕ್ಕು (bekku, cat).

Kannada vs Telugu script

Kannada and Telugu letters look alike because both scripts grew from the same old Kadamba-Chalukya script. Both are rounded, both have long vowels and a full consonant series, and both use subscript forms for conjuncts. The letter shapes still differ: for example Kannada ಕ, ಚ and ಮ differ clearly from Telugu క, చ and మ. The two scripts have separate Unicode blocks, so text in one cannot be read as the other without learning the letters. A reader of one script can usually learn the other quickly.

Type in Kannada with an English keyboard

Practise the letters by typing them. Type words in English letters and get Kannada script instantly, with no special keyboard needed.

Open Kannada Typing Tool

Frequently Asked Questions

How many letters are there in the Kannada alphabet?

The Kannada alphabet is commonly taught as 49 letters: 13 swaras, 2 yogavahakas and 34 vyanjanas. Other counts exist because some books also list the obsolete letters ಱ and ೞ, or leave out ಋ and the two yogavahakas. The 49-letter set is the one used in most schools.

What are swaras, yogavahakas and vyanjanas in Kannada?

Swaras are the 13 vowels: ಅ ಆ ಇ ಈ ಉ ಊ ಋ ಎ ಏ ಐ ಒ ಓ ಔ. Yogavahakas are the 2 signs ಅಂ (anusvara) and ಅಃ (visarga), which depend on a vowel and are not vowels or consonants by themselves. Vyanjanas are the 34 consonants, from ಕ to ಳ.

What is kagunita in Kannada?

Kagunita is the Kannada name for the barakhadi: the table of every consonant combined with every vowel sign, such as ಕ ಕಾ ಕಿ ಕೀ ಕು ಕೂ. It shows how each vowel changes the consonant, and learning it lets you read any syllable.

What is an ottakshara in Kannada?

An ottakshara is a conjunct, where two consonants join with no vowel between them. The second consonant is written in a smaller subscript form under or after the first, as in ಕ್ಕ, ತ್ರ and ಸ್ತ. Common examples include ಕ್ಷ (ksha) and ಜ್ಞ (jna).

What is the difference between short and long e and o in Kannada?

Kannada keeps short and long forms of e and o as separate vowels. Short ಎ (ೆ) and ಒ (ೊ) are quick sounds, as in ele (leaf) and onte (camel). Long ಏ (ೇ) and ಓ (ೋ) are held longer, as in eni (ladder) and odu (to read). On this page the long forms are written ae and oh, and the short forms e and o.

How can I learn the Kannada alphabet quickly?

Learn the 13 vowels first, then one consonant varga at a time, saying the example word for each letter aloud. Then practise the kagunita for a few consonants each day, and move on to ottakshara. Reading signboards and simple children books helps the shapes stick. Tapping a letter on this page plays its sound.

Is Kannada the same as Telugu?

No. Kannada and Telugu are different Dravidian languages with separate scripts, although the letter shapes are similar and the two scripts share a common ancestor. A Kannada reader will notice the likeness but cannot read Telugu text without learning its letters.

How do I type Kannada on an English keyboard?

Use the English to Kannada typing tool at /english-to-kannada-typing/. Type Kannada words in English letters, for example amma, and the tool converts them into ಅಮ್ಮ. To translate whole sentences instead, use the translation page at /english-to-kannada-translation/.