Writing Tamil words using PramukhIME is as easy as writing our names in English. For quick help, checkout the following image. This image shows which letter(s)
will be typed when you press a particular key (combination). Press F9 (or your preferred Shortcut Key) to switch between currently selected language and last selected language.
Note: Typing is case-sensitive. Typing small "a" and capital "A" will yield different letters. Make sure "Caps Lock" key is not ON.
Vowel
அ = a
ஆ = aa/A
இ = i
ஈ = ee/I/ii
உ = u
ஊ = oo/U/uu
எ = e
ஏ = E/ae
ஐ = ai
ஒ = o
ஓ = O/oa
ஔ = au/ou/ow
அஂ = aM/a.n/a.m
அஃ = a:
Consonant
க் = k/kh/g/gh/c
ங் = NG
ச் = ch
ஜ் = j
ஞ் = NY/Gn/gn
ட் = t/d/T/D
ண் = N
த் = th/dh/Th/Dh
ந் = n/nh
ன் = nH
ப் = p/b
ம் = m
ய் = y
ர் = r
ற் = R
ல் = l
ழ் = z/zh
வ் = v/w
ஶ் = Sh
ஷ் = sh
ஸ் = S/s
ஹ் = h/H
ள் = L
க்ஷ் = ksh/x
Additional Consonant
ஃப் = ph/f
ஃஸ் = X
ஃஜ் = Z
Vowel Sign
ா = aa/A
ி = i
ீ = ee/I/ii
ு = u
ூ = oo/U/uu
ெ = e
ே = E/ae
ை = ai
ொ = o
ோ = O/oa
ௌ = au/ou/ow
ௗ = aU (AU Length Mark)
ஂ = M/.n/.m (Anusvar)
ஃ = : (Aytham/Visarg)
Note: Dotted round symbol represents placeholder for consonant character
Digit
If the setting "Digit in English" is not set, Tamil and English digits are typed this way
௦ = 0, ௧ = 1, ௨ = 2, ௩ = 3, ௪ = 4, ௫ = 5, ௬ = 6, ௭ = 7, ௮ = 8, ௯ = 9
0 = 0-, 1 = 1-, 2 = 2-, 3 = 3-, 4 = 4-, 5 = 5-, 6 = 6-, 7 = 7-, 8 = 8-, 9 = 9-
If the setting "Digit in English" is set, Tamil and English digits are typed this way
௦ = 0-, ௧ = 1-, ௨ = 2-, ௩ = 3-, ௪ = 4-, ௫ = 5-, ௬ = 6-, ௭ = 7-, ௮ = 8-, ௯ = 9-
0 = 0, 1 = 1, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5, 6 = 6, 7 = 7, 8 = 8, 9 = 9Additional Digit
௰ = 1@ (Ten)
௱ = 1* (One hundred)
௲ = 1' (One thousand)
Other
் = See example (Pulli/Viram)
௳ = Dy (Naal/Day sign)
௴ = Mo (Maatham/Month sign)
௵ = Yr (Varundam/Year sign)
௶ = Db (Patru/Debit sign)
௷ = Cr (Varavu/Credit sign)
௸ = Ab (Merpadi/As Above sign)
௹ = Rs- (Rupai/Rupee sign)
௺ = No (Enn/Number sign)
। = | (Devanagari danda)
॥ = || (Devanagari double danda)
₹ = Rs (Indian Rupee sign)
ௐ = OM (Aum)
卐 = +- (Swastika sign)
Zero Width Joiner = -- (2 Dashes)
Zero Width Non Joiner = --- (3 Dashes)
Note: Dotted round symbol represents placeholder for consonant character
Symbol
The English symbols [ ] { } ( ) < > - + / = ; . , ' " ? ! % \ _ & $ @ # ~ * ^ are transliterated into the same symbols.
Symbols : | have special meaning. You can type this way
: = :-
| = |-
These symbols will type Tamil characters first but if "-" will be followed, it will remove previously typed Tamil character and then type the symbol.
Rule
-
Consonant is followed by vowel sign character to make a live consonant.
Example
க கா கி கீ கு கூ கே கெ கை கோ கொ கௗ கௌ கஂ கஃ
ka kaa ki kee ku koo kE ke kai kO ko kaU kau kaM ka:
-
Two or more consecutive consonants make consonant cluster. The last consonant takes the full form and all preceding consonants within cluster take half form
Example
ஸ்ரீ = sree
-
Special consonant cluster forms (ligature) will be automatically created if it is available in the font. Look at the examples for clarification. All possible ligatures may not be given in the example. Try typing the consonant combinations according to ligature pronounciation and it will work. For example, try typing "vidhyaa", "viDyaa", "vidyaa" to get the correct ligature for "dy" in "vidyaa".
-
Character "-" is followed by consonant will be transliterated as ் (Pulli/Viram)
Example
க் க்ஹ் த் ட்ஹ் ந் ந்ஹ் ழ் ழ்ஹ் ஷ் ஸ்ஹ்
kh k-h th t-h nh n-h zh z-h sh s-h
-
If two english characters are making one Tamil Vowel (i.e. ai, au), then "-" character is used to separate them into two different vowels.
Example
ஐந்து = ainthu
அஇந்து = a-inthu
-
Character "n" transliterates to "ந்" or "ன்" depending on the following rules
Character(s)
|
Transliterated to
|
nh
|
ந்
|
nH
|
ன்
|
nk/ng
|
ங்க்
|
ngh
|
ன்க்
|
nj/nch
|
ஞ்ச்
|
nt/nd
|
ண்ட்
|
nth/ndh
|
ந்த்
|
ndr
|
ன்ற்
|
"n" in non first letter position
|
ன்
|
Else
|
ந்
|
- Special rules for other character(s)
Character(s)
|
Transliterated to
|
tr
|
ற்ற்
|
s (followed by vowel sign)
|
ச்
|
oi/aai/ei/oai
|
ய்
|
eo
|
ியோ
|
Example
வணக்கம் = vaNakkam
நன்றி = nandri
ஸ்ரீ = sree
உணவு = uNavu
ஐ = ai
அஇ = a-i
ஔ = au
அஉ = a-u
நீங்க = neenga
நன்றி = nandri
மஞ்சு = manju
பந்தம் = bandham
நகர் = nhagar
நன்கு = nanghu
கேட்டு = kaettu