The core consonant letters.

• ಕka'k' as in 'skip' (unaspirated)
• ಗga'g' as in 'go'
• ಚca'ch' as in 'church' (unaspirated)
• ಜja'j' as in 'jug'
• ಟṭaretroflex 't' — tongue curled back to roof of mouth
• ಡḍaretroflex 'd' — tongue curled back
• ಣṇaretroflex 'n' — tongue curled back
• ತtadental 't' — tongue on back of teeth, as Spanish 't'
• ದdadental 'd' — tongue on back of teeth, as French 'd'
• ನnadental 'n' as in 'no'
• ಪpa'p' as in 'spin' (unaspirated)
• ಬba'b' as in 'bat'
• ಮma'm' as in 'man'
• ಯya'y' as in 'yes'
• ರratapped/rolled 'r' as in Spanish 'pero'
• ಲla'l' as in 'love'
• ವva'v/w' as in 'van' (soft)
• ಸsa's' as in 'sun'
• ಹha'h' as in 'house'
• ಳḷaretroflex 'l' — tongue curled back, no English equivalent