The independent vowel letters.

• അashort 'a' as in 'about'
• ആaalong 'aa' as in 'father'
• ഇishort 'i' as in 'sit'
• ഈiilong 'ee' as in 'see'
• ഉushort 'u' as in 'put'
• ഊuulong 'oo' as in 'food'
• ഋruvocalic 'ru', as in 'rishi' (rare, Sanskrit-origin words)
• എeshort 'e' as in 'bet'
• ഏeelong 'ay' as in 'pay' (no glide)
• ഐaidiphthong 'ai' as in 'aisle'
• ഒoshort 'o' as in 'pot'
• ഓoolong 'oh' as in 'go' (no glide)
• ഔaudiphthong 'ow' as in 'cow'