Position-Based Pronunciation
Rule of thumb: look at the next vowel for ச (i/e → ch; else → s). For other consonants, think position: initial vs between vowels, doubled, or after a nasal.
How consonant sounds vary by the following vowel and by position (initial, intervocalic, doubled, after a nasal). This explains why ச alternates between “ch” and “s”, and summarizes broader patterns.
ச (ca): ch vs s
- i/e → cha
- others → sa
- between vowels → s
- ச்ச → ch-ch
Double letters = strong/long sound (Gemination)
- When a consonant is doubled, hold it a bit longer. It sounds stronger/harder.
- க்க → like kk: அக்கம் akkam
- ப்ப → pp: அப்பம் appam
- த்த → tt: பத்து pattu
- ட்ட → ṭṭ: பட்டம் paṭṭam
- ச்ச → ch-ch: அச்சு acchu
- Idea: see two of the same letter? Make it longer/stronger.
Between vowels = softer sound (Intervocalic softening)
- If a consonant sits between two vowels, it often softens.
- க softens (like a gentle h/g): ஆகும் → āgum (not a hard k)
- த softens (like dh/d): அது → adhu
- ப softens (like v/b): பாவை → pāvai
- ச softens to s: பேசு → pēsu (not pēchu)
- Idea: vowels on both sides = make the middle consonant gentle.
After a nasal = “voiced” pair (it buzzes)
- When a nasal (ங, ந, ம, ண, ஞ) comes before a stop, the pair sounds buzzier/voiced.
- ங் + க → ங்க = ngg: சங்கம் saṅgam
- ந் + த → ந்த = ndh/nd: இந்த indha
- ம் + ப → ம்ப = mb: சம்பளம் sambalam
- ண் + ட → ண்ட = ṇḍ: கண்டு kaṇḍu
- ஞ் + ச → ஞ்ச/ஞ்சி = nj/ch: அஞ்சு añju
- Idea: nasal first? Make the next consonant sound like it starts with a buzz (ng/nd/mb/ṇḍ/nj).
At the start of a word = hard sound
- At the beginning of a word, plain stops are hard:
- க = k, த = t, ட = ṭ, ப = p (e.g., கடல் kaṭal, தமிழ் tamiḻ, பல் pal).
- ச follows the special rule you learned: “cha” before i/e, otherwise “sa.”
Quick poster (rules at a glance)
- Double letters (க்க/ப்ப/த்த/ட்ட/ச்ச) → make it long & strong.
- Between vowels → soften: க → h/g, த → dh/d, ப → v/b, ச → s.
- After a nasal → make a voiced pair: ங்க (ngg), ந்த (ndh/nd), ம்ப (mb), ண்ட (ṇḍ), ஞ்ச (nj).
- Word start → hard k, t, ṭ, p.
- ச at start or anywhere → use the i/e = “cha”, others = “sa” rule.