What is ഗുണിതം (gunitham) in Malayalam?
Quick answerഗുണിതം (gunitham) is the set of combinations made by adding each vowel sign to a consonant: ക കാ കി കീ കു കൂ കൃ കെ കേ കൈ കൊ കോ കൗ. Learn it for one consonant and you know the pattern for all of them, because every sign attaches the same way.
The pattern on ക
| ക + sign | Reads | Where the sign goes |
|---|---|---|
| കാ | kaa | after |
| കി | ki | after |
| കീ | kee | after |
| കു | ku | below / after |
| കൂ | koo | below / after |
| കൃ | kru | below / after |
| കെ | ke | before (on the left) |
| കേ | kE | before (on the left) |
| കൈ | kai | before (on the left) |
| കൊ | ko | both sides |
| കോ | kO | both sides |
| കൗ | kau | both sides / after |
| കം | kam | ം after: adds m |
| ക് | k | ് removes the vowel |
Signs that come first
െ, േ and ൈ are written to the left of the consonant, so a child writes them first, then the consonant: for കെ, write െ, then ക. They are still said after the consonant — ke, not ek.
ൊ, ോ and ൌ wrap the consonant: one part on the left (െ or േ) and one on the right (ാ or ൗ). Write the left part, then the consonant, then the right part.
Why it is worth learning
Almost every syllable in Malayalam is a consonant plus a sign, so the ഗുണിതം chart is the bridge from knowing letters to reading words: കേരളം is kE-ra-Lam — കേ, ര, ളം.
Frequently asked questions
What does ഗുണിതം mean?
It is the traditional name for the chart of every consonant combined with every vowel sign.
Which vowel signs are written before the consonant?
െ, േ and ൈ — and the left half of ൊ, ോ and ൌ.
Is കൗ written with ൌ or ൗ?
Modern Malayalam usually uses the au length mark ൗ (കൗ); the older two-part sign ൌ (കൌ) is also seen.