Learning the Tamil Barakhadi (தமிழ் எழுத்துக்கள் – உயிர்மெய் எழுத்துக்கள்) is the first step toward mastering Tamil reading and writing. Tamil, one of the world’s oldest living languages, has a scientific and phonetic writing system. To read Tamil words correctly, one must understand how vowels (Uyir Ezhuthukal) and consonants (Mei Ezhuthukal) combine to form Uyirmei letters — this combination set is what we call Tamil Barakhadi.
This post gives you a complete guide to Tamil Barakhadi, including its full chart, pronunciation pattern, examples, and how to download or create your own PDF, charts, and worksheets for practice.
What is Tamil Barakhadi (Uyirmei Ezhuthukkal)?
The Tamil alphabet is made up of three parts:
- உயிர் எழுத்துகள் (Uyir Ezhuthukal) – 12 vowels
- மெய் எழுத்துகள் (Mei Ezhuthukal) – 18 consonants
- உயிர்மெய் எழுத்துகள் (Uyirmei Ezhuthukal) – 216 vowel-consonant combinations
When a vowel (sound) joins a consonant (base symbol), it forms a combined sound and symbol — that’s the Tamil Barakhadi.
For example:
- க + இ = கி
- க + உ = கு
- க + ஏ = கே
Thus, Barakhadi helps you pronounce, read, and write complete Tamil syllables.
Tamil Alphabets Overview
Vowels (Uyir Ezhuthukal)
அ, ஆ, இ, ஈ, உ, ஊ, எ, ஏ, ஐ, ஒ, ஓ, ஔ
Consonants (Mei Ezhuthukal)
க், ங், ச், ஞ், ட், ண், த், ந், ப், ம், ய், ர், ல், வ், ழ், ள், ற், ன்
When each consonant is combined with every vowel, we get the Uyirmei (Barakhadi) set.
Tamil Barakhadi Full Chart (Uyirmei Chart)
| Consonant | அ | ஆ | இ | ஈ | உ | ஊ | எ | ஏ | ஐ | ஒ | ஓ | ஔ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| க | க | கா | கி | கீ | கு | கூ | கெ | கே | கை | கொ | கோ | கௌ |
| ங | ங | ஙா | ஙி | ஙீ | ஙு | ஙூ | ஙெ | ஙே | ஙை | ஙொ | ஙோ | ஙௌ |
| ச | ச | சா | சி | சீ | சு | சூ | செ | சே | சை | சொ | சோ | சௌ |
| ஞ | ஞ | ஞா | ஞி | ஞீ | ஞு | ஞூ | ஞெ | ஞே | ஞை | ஞொ | ஞோ | ஞௌ |
| ட | ட | டா | டி | டீ | டு | டூ | டெ | டே | டை | டொ | டோ | டௌ |
| ண | ண | ணா | ணி | ணீ | ணு | ணூ | ணெ | ணே | ணை | ணொ | ணோ | ணௌ |
| த | த | தா | தி | தீ | து | தூ | தெ | தே | தை | தொ | தோ | தௌ |
| ந | ந | நா | நி | நீ | நு | நூ | நெ | நே | நை | நொ | நோ | நௌ |
| ப | ப | பா | பி | பீ | பு | பூ | பெ | பே | பை | பொ | போ | பௌ |
| ம | ம | மா | மி | மீ | மு | மூ | மெ | மே | மை | மொ | மோ | மௌ |
| ய | ய | யா | யி | யீ | யு | யூ | யெ | யே | யை | யொ | யோ | யௌ |
| ர | ர | ரா | ரி | ரீ | ரு | ரூ | ரெ | ரே | ரை | ரொ | ரோ | ரௌ |
| ல | ல | லா | லி | லீ | லு | லூ | லெ | லே | லை | லொ | லோ | லௌ |
| வ | வ | வா | வி | வீ | வு | வூ | வெ | வே | வை | வொ | வோ | வௌ |
| ழ | ழ | ழா | ழி | ழீ | ழு | ழூ | ழெ | ழே | ழை | ழொ | ழோ | ழௌ |
| ள | ள | ளா | ளி | ளீ | ளு | ளூ | ளெ | ளே | ளை | ளொ | ளோ | ளௌ |
| ற | ற | றா | றி | றீ | று | றூ | றெ | றே | றை | றொ | றோ | றௌ |
| ன | ன | னா | னி | னீ | னு | னூ | னெ | னே | னை | னொ | னோ | னௌ |
Tamil Barakhadi PDF and Chart
You can create or download Tamil Barakhadi PDFs for easy offline learning.
A standard PDF includes:
- Full Barakhadi Chart (Uyirmei combinations)
- Vowel and Consonant tables separately
- Pronunciation guide in English transliteration
- Color-coded rows for easy reading (each consonant family in a unique color)
Keep a laminated version of this chart in your classroom, home, or study area for daily visual memory.
Tamil Barakhadi Worksheets
Practice makes perfect!
For kids or beginners, printable worksheets are the best way to master Tamil Barakhadi writing.
Here are ideas for worksheet activities:
- Trace each Tamil Barakhadi letter (dotted lines for handwriting practice)
- Match the consonant to its correct vowel form
- Fill in the missing letter (e.g., க + ___ = கே)
- Color the letters according to vowel type
- Read aloud and write down five examples of words using each Barakhadi (e.g., கி → கிடங்கு, கு → குமரன்)
By practicing 1 or 2 consonant rows daily, learners can complete the entire Barakhadi in less than two weeks.
Tamil Barakhadi Pictures and Visual Learning
Visual memory plays a huge role in Tamil literacy. Create or use colorful Barakhadi wall charts or digital flashcards that combine:
- Tamil letter
- Picture of an object beginning with that sound
- Pronunciation in Roman English
For example:
- கா – காகம் (crow)
- சி – சிங்கம் (lion)
- மு – முரசு (drum)
These image associations help children remember sounds and meanings together.
Step-by-Step Method to Learn Tamil Barakhadi
- Learn vowels (Uyir) first.
- Learn consonants (Mei) next.
- Combine each consonant with each vowel using Barakhadi chart.
- Write and pronounce each combination aloud.
- Use worksheets for reinforcement.
- Read simple Tamil words made from Barakhadi letters.
- Revise older rows every 2–3 days.
This simple approach ensures both reading and writing fluency.
Top 5 FAQs on Tamil Barakhadi
Q1. What is Tamil Barakhadi?
Tamil Barakhadi is the complete set of vowel-consonant combinations (Uyirmei Ezhuthukkal) in Tamil. Each consonant combines with every vowel to form a unique sound and symbol.
Q2. How many Tamil Barakhadi letters are there?
There are 12 vowels and 18 consonants. Their combinations form 216 Uyirmei letters, making a total of 247 Tamil characters when all are counted together.
Q3. Why is Barakhadi important in Tamil?
It helps learners understand how Tamil syllables are constructed, ensuring accurate pronunciation, spelling, and reading of words.
Q4. How can I practice Tamil Barakhadi daily?
Use printed charts, tracing worksheets, and pronunciation drills. Practice one consonant row per day and revise older ones frequently.
Q5. Can children learn Tamil Barakhadi through pictures?
Yes! Picture-based charts make Barakhadi learning fun and memorable for kids. Each letter can be linked to an image starting with that sound.
Conclusion
Mastering the Tamil Barakhadi opens the door to reading, writing, and understanding Tamil fluently. Whether you’re a beginner, student, or parent teaching your child, using Barakhadi charts, PDFs, worksheets, and picture aids can make learning engaging and effective.