Latin Alphabet for Tamil (Ilattin Eźuttu)

Ilattin Eźuttu is a way to write Tamil with the Latin alphabet devised by K. Srikrishna of Chennai, Tamil Nadu in India. One aim of this alphabet is to reduce illiteracy among Tamil speakers. Another is to create interest in the Tamil language among other people in India and elsewhere.

Ilattin Eźuttu

Ilattin Eźuttu alphabet

Notes

Dh, Nh and Th are digraphs, or combinations of two letters used to represent one sound.
Long vowels are represented by the acute accent on the vowel, e.g. Á for ஆ.
F and Z are only used in English loanwords.
S, X and Ħ are mostly used in words of Sanskrit origin.
The letters B, G, J, Dh and D are voiced letters. They mostly occur in middle of words.
The letter C can represent the sounds /s/ and /ʧ/. C can be pronounced as either /ʧ/ or /s/ and occur mostly in initial position. However, the geminated form of C, CC, can occur in the middle of words.
Geminated th is written as tth, and geminated d as ddh.

Download a script chart for Ilattin Eźuttu (Excel)

Sample Text

Mańidhap piŕiviyińar cakalarum cudhandhiramágavé piŕakkińŕańar. Avargał madhippilum urimaigałilum camamáńavargał. Avaŕgał niyáyatthaiyum mańacátciyaiyum iyaŕpanhbágavé peŕŕavargał. Avargał oruvarudańoruvar cagódara unharvup pánggil nadandhukołłal véndum.

Transliteration (Tamil script)

மனிதப் பிறவியினர் சகலரும் சுதந்திரமாகவே பிறக்கின்றனர்; அவர்கள் மதிப்பிலும் உரிமைகளிலும் சமமானவர்கள். அவர்கள் நியாயத்தையும் மனசாட்சியையும் இயற்பண்பாகப் பெற்றவர்கள். அவர்கள் ஒருவருடனொருவர் சகோதர உணர்வுப் பாங்கில் நடந்துகொள்ளல் வேண்டும்.

IPA Transcription

mənid̪ə piriʋijinər səgələrum sud̪ən̪d̪irəmaːgəʋeː pirəkːin̺d̺ranər | əvərgəɭ məd̪ipːilum uriməigəɭilum səməmaːnəʋərgəɭ | əvərgəɭ nijaːjatːəijum mənətt͡ʃaːʈt͡ʃijəijum ijərpəɳbaːgə pet̺rəʋərgəɭ | əvərgəɭ oruʋəruɖənoruʋər sagoːdəɾə uɳərʋɨ paːŋgil nəɖən̪d̪ʉkoɭɭəl veːɳɖum |

Transliteration

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

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