So, we had the lesson, exercise & quiz for the first two alphabets of Malayalam (that sound exactly like the first two alphabets of Thamizh & Hindi)
അ = அ = अ = the 'a' sound as in under
ആ = ஆ = आ = the 'aa' sound as in far
As one can discern, both characters appear very similar, except for the small extra hook in the right bottom in the case of the long sound!
Now, the second set of two vowels (e,ee / இ, ஈ / इ, ई / ഇ , ഈ)
As in the case of first two, these are exact equivalents of their counterparts in Thamizh & Hindi.
On the other hand, the English part of the first one is somewhat tricky When it's read as an alphabet only, the equivalent is "e" ; but when it occurs in words, it sounds the way how English letter 'i' sounds in words (it, in, India, impossible)
ഇ
Let's get the words for these letters, to practice :
ഇന്ത്യ - இந்த்ய / इन्द्य / inthya (India)
ഇളയരാജ - இளயராஜ / इलयराज / Ilayaraaja (Ilayaraajaa)
ഇഷ്ടം - இஷ்டம் / इष्टम / ishtam (Desire)
ഇവിടെ - இவிடெ / इविडे / ivide (Here)
The character looks somewhat like the Thamizh ஐ but with a flat line in the bottom portion.
Time for vinyl covers, for ഇ
First one is quite a long name, please focus only on the first character
ഇത്തിരിപ്പൂവേ ചുവന്ന പൂവേ (iththirippoovE chuvanna poovE)
As you probably figured out, "poovE" means same in both Malayalam & Thamizh ("hey flower!")
The second one is ഇന്നല്ലെങ്കില് നാളെ (innallengil nALe)
This title roughly means "tomorrow, if not today".
Many TN-ers have a small confusion initially in Kerala w.r.t. "yesterday & today" words. (Not as clearly distinct as in Thamizh)
ഇന്നലെ ("innale" means yesterday)
ഇന്ന് ('innu' means today)
ഈ
A few words for practice of this fourth letter:
ഈ - ஈ / ई / ee - The letter is also a word, means "this", for e.g. "ee puzha" means this river
ഈറ്റ - ஈற்ற (ஈட்ட) / ईटट / eetta - Reed , not as translated in movie posters inside TN "இன்ப தாகம்" )
ഈച്ച - ஈச்ச / ईच्छ / eechcha - Fly / Housefly (thEn eechcha means honey bee)
ഈന്തപ്പന - ஈந்தப்பன / ईंदप्पन / eenthappana - Date palm, the tree that produces dates - I mean fruits
As one can see ഈ shares the first character same as its short form (ഇ) with an extra hook on the right top ("superscript" kind).
We'll see this hook on the right top used for some more letters too, as we progress! So, please make note of this "super script" thingy!
Two vinyls for ഈ
Unfortunately, I don't know anything about these movies or the two movies posted above for the kuRil
(If someone finds the vinyl covers or the associated movies offensive - due to their reputation for adult / pAluRavu content or something like that, please let me know...we can find alternates).
ഈ വഴി മാത്രം (ee vazhi mAthram, only this way)
ഈറ്റില്ലം (eetrillam, labour room...eetru = delivery + illam = home)
