Letter ಡ (ḍa) (Topic 3) in Module 4 – Kannada-Letters (BG)

ಡ — Letter (ḍa)

• English sound anchor: drum (retroflex d)

• Kannada words:
• ಡಮರು ('ḍamaru') — Small drum (Shiva's)
• ಡಾಕ್ಟರ್ ('ḍākṭar') — Doctor
• ಡಾಳು ('ḍāḷu') — Gaudy / Showy

Half Letter ಡ್ (ḍa halant)

Adding the virama (್) below ಡ creates the half letter ಡ್ — it silences the inherent 'a' and allows this consonant to join the next one directly.

The halant form ಡ್ appears in conjunct consonants and cluster words.

How to Write ಡ

Watch the animated stroke order below. Each stroke is drawn in sequence — follow the arrows.

Stroke order animation via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.