Read the ta script — consonants.

• க்k (ka)like the 'k' in 'kite' (softens to a 'g' sound between vowels)
• ங்ṅ (nga)like the 'ng' in 'singer'
• ச்c (cha)like the 'ch' in 'chair' (often a soft 's' sound at the start of a word)
• ஞ்ñ (nya)like the 'ny' in 'canyon'
• ட்ṭ (ta)a hard 't' with the tongue curled back (retroflex), like in 'try'
• ண்ṇ (na)an 'n' with the tongue curled back (retroflex), like in 'corner'
• த்t (tha)a soft 't'/'th' with the tongue on the teeth (dental), like 'th' in 'thin'; softens toward 'th' in 'this' between vowels
• ந்n (na)a soft 'n' with the tongue on the teeth (dental), like in 'month'
• ப்p (pa)like the 'p' in 'spin' (softens to a 'b' sound between vowels)
• ம்m (ma)like the 'm' in 'moon'
• ய்y (ya)like the 'y' in 'yes'
• ர்r (ra)a light tapped 'r', like the 'tt' in American 'butter'
• ல்l (la)like the 'l' in 'love'
• வ்v (va)like the 'v' in 'van' (softer, near 'w')
• ழ்ḻ (zha)a unique curled-back sound between 'r' and 'l', no English equivalent
• ள்ḷ (la)an 'l' with the tongue curled back (retroflex), heavier than plain 'l'
• ற்ṟ (ra)a hard trilled or rolled 'r', stronger than ர்
• ன்ṉ (na)an 'n' like in 'no', made at the gum ridge (alveolar)