Answers for Quiz #1 (അ,ആ)

The correct answers :

1. A K അന്തോണി : A.K. அந்தோணி (A.K.Antony pronounced "unthONi") begins with short 'അ'

2. ആദം & ഹവ്വ : ஆதம் & ஹவ்வ (Adam & Eve pronounced "Adham & havva") begins with long 'ആ'

3. അടൽ ബിഹാരി വാജ്‌പേയി : அடல் பிஹாரி வாஜ்பேயி (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) begins with short 'അ'

4. ആഫ്രിക്ക : ஆஃப்ரிக்க (Africa pronounced Afrikka) begins with long 'ആ'

5. അമേരിക്ക : அமேரிக்க (America pronounced amErikka) begins with short 'അ'

6. അഡ്‌ലൈഡ് : அட்லைட் (Adelaide pronounced ad-lied) begins with short 'അ'

7. ആദി ഭഗവന് : ஆதி பகவன் (Adhi Bhagavan) begins with long 'ആ'

8. അച്ചുവിന്റെ അമ്മ : அச்சுவின்டெ அம்ம (achuvinde amma) both words begin with short 'അ'

9. ആലപ്പുഴ : ஆலப்புழ (Alappuzha, formerly known as Alleppey) begins with long 'ആ'

10. ആലുവ : ஆலுவ (Aluva, formerly known as Alwaye) begins with long 'ആ'

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!