The independent vowel letters.

• ಅashort 'a' as in 'about'
• ಆālong 'aa' as in 'father'
• ಇishort 'i' as in 'bit'
• ಈīlong 'ee' as in 'see'
• ಉushort 'u' as in 'put'
• ಊūlong 'oo' as in 'food'
• ಋṛvocalic 'ri', as in 'rishi' (rare, in loanwords)
• ಎeshort 'e' as in 'bed'
• ಏēlong 'e' as in 'fey' (held longer)
• ಐaidiphthong 'ai' as in 'aisle'
• ಒoshort 'o' as in 'pot'
• ಓōlong 'o' as in 'go' (held longer)
• ಔaudiphthong 'au' as in 'cow'