Chillu letters and chandrakkala in Malayalam, explained
Quick answerChillu letters (ൻ ർ ൽ ൾ ൺ) are consonants with no vowel, written as their own shapes, usually at the end of a word: അവൻ is avan. The chandrakkala (്) also removes a vowel: at the end of a word it is said as a short 'u' (വീട് is veeTu), and between two consonants it joins them into one shape (ക + ് + ക = ക്ക).
The chillu letters
| Chillu | From | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ൻ | ന | n | അവൻ avan (he) |
| ർ | ര | r | അവർ avar (they) |
| ൽ | ല | l | കപ്പൽ kappal (ship) |
| ൾ | ള | L | അവൾ avaL (she) |
| ൺ | ണ | N | കൺ kaN (eye) |
The three jobs of the chandrakkala (്)
- At the end of a word it is said as a short 'u' (സംവൃതോകാരം): പൂവ് poovu (flower), വീട് veeTu (house).
- Between consonants it joins them into one shape, a conjunct (കൂട്ടക്ഷരം): ക + ് + ക = ക്ക.
- On its own after a consonant it simply removes the built-in 'a'.
Common joined consonants
| Joined | Made of | Sounds like | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ക്ക | ക ് ക | kk | കൊക്ക് kokku (crane) |
| ത്ത | ത ് ത | tth | തത്ത thattha (parrot) |
| ന്റ | ന ് റ | nt | എന്റെ ente (my) |
| ന്ത | ന ് ത | nth | ചന്തം chantham (beauty) |
| ഞ്ഞ | ഞ ് ഞ | nnj | മഞ്ഞ mannja (yellow) |
| ങ്ങ | ങ ് ങ | nng | തേങ്ങ thEnnga (coconut) |
| റ്റ | റ ് റ | t | കുറ്റി kuti (peg) |
| ക്ഷ | ക ് ഷ | ksh | ക്ഷേത്രം kshEthram (temple) |
Frequently asked questions
Is a chillu letter the same as a consonant with chandrakkala?
They sound the same — a consonant with no vowel — but a chillu has its own shape and is used mainly at the end of a word; ് at the end of a word is said as a short 'u'.
Why does ന്റ sound like 'nt'?
It joins ന and റ; in speech the pair is said 'nt', as in എന്റെ (ente, my).
How do I write a joined consonant?
As one shape. Type the word into Letterstroke to watch the joined shape written in order.