Kannada Script Reference
Independent vowels, vowel signs (mātrā), consonants (व्यंजन/ವ್ಯಂಜನ), common conjuncts, numerals, and special signs — typeset with Noto Sans Kannada for accurate shaping.
Independent Vowels ಸ್ವರಗಳು
Full vowel letters that can stand alone.
ಅ
(a)
as in “about”
ಆ
(aa)
as in “father”
ಇ
(i)
as in “bit”
ಈ
(ee)
as in “meet”
ಉ
(u)
as in “put”
ಊ
(oo)
as in “boot”
ಋ
(ri)
vocalic r
ೠ
(rr)
long vocalic r (rare)
ಌ
(l)
vocalic l (rare)
ೡ
(ll)
long vocalic l (rare)
ಎ
(e)
as in “get”
ಏ
(ee)
as in “they”
ಐ
(ai)
as in “aisle”
ಒ
(o)
as in “pot”
ಓ
(oo)
as in “boat”
ಔ
(au)
as in “cow”
Vowel-based Endings
ಅಂ
(am)
nasal ending
ಅಃ
(ah)
aspirated ending
Dependent Vowels (Mātrā) ಮಾತ್ರೆಗಳು
Attach to consonants. Shown with dotted circle (◌) and example on ಕ (ka).
◌ಾ
(aa)
ಕ + ◌ಾ → ಕಾ
◌ಿ
(i)
ಕ + ◌ಿ → ಕಿ
◌ೀ
(ii / ee)
ಕ + ◌ೀ → ಕೀ
◌ು
(u)
ಕ + ◌ು → ಕು
◌ೂ
(uu / oo)
ಕ + ◌ೂ → ಕೂ
◌ೃ
(ri)
ಕ + ◌ೃ → ಕೃ
◌ೄ
(rr)
ಕ + ◌ೄ → ಕೄ
◌ೢ
(l)
ಕ + ◌ೢ → ಕೢ
◌ೣ
(ll)
ಕ + ◌ೣ → ಕೣ
◌ೆ
(e)
ಕ + ◌ೆ → ಕೆ
◌ೇ
(ee)
ಕ + ◌ೇ → ಕೇ
◌ೈ
(ai)
ಕ + ◌ೈ → ಕೈ
◌ೊ
(o)
ಕ + ◌ೊ → ಕೊ
◌ೋ
(oo)
ಕ + ◌ೋ → ಕೋ
◌ೌ
(au)
ಕ + ◌ೌ → ಕೌ
್
virāma
ಕ + ್ → ಕ್ (bare consonant)
Kannada Consonants ವ್ಯಂಜನಗಳು
Core set grouped by place of articulation.
ಕ
(ka)
ಖ
(kha)
ಗ
(ga)
ಘ
(gha)
ಙ
(nga)
ಚ
(ca/cha)
ಛ
(cha)
ಜ
(ja)
ಝ
(jha)
ಞ
(nya)
ಟ
(ṭa)
ಠ
(ṭha)
ಡ
(ḍa)
ಢ
(ḍha)
ಣ
(ṇa)
ತ
(ta)
ಥ
(tha)
ದ
(da)
ಧ
(dha)
ನ
(na)
ಪ
(pa)
ಫ
(pha / fa)
ಬ
(ba)
ಭ
(bha)
ಮ
(ma)
ಯ
(ya)
ರ
(ra)
ಲ
(la)
ವ
(va/wa)
ಶ
(sha)
ಷ
(ssa)
ಸ
(sa)
ಹ
(ha)
ಳ
(ḷa)
Common Conjuncts (select)
ಕ್ಷ
(kṣa)
ಜ್ಞ
(jña)
ಶ್ರ
(śra)
Rendering of conjuncts varies by font; Noto Sans Kannada supports common forms.
Kannada Numerals ಅಂಕೆಗಳು
Native digits ೦–೯.
೦
[0]
೧
[1]
೨
[2]
೩
[3]
೪
[4]
೫
[5]
೬
[6]
೭
[7]
೮
[8]
೯
[9]
Special Signs ಚಿಹ್ನೆಗಳು
Common orthographic signs in Kannada.
ಁ
candrabindu
ಂ
anusvara
ಃ
visarga
್
virāma (halant)
಼
nukta (rare/loan sounds)
.
period
,
comma
।
danda
॥
double danda