1-10. Pure Tamil ontru etc but spoken onnu rendu is Chennai instant. Number two changes: irandu written, rendu spoken.

Counting things: oru book, rendu pen – oru is one as article before noun, shortened form.

Tens to 100. Tamil tens add pathu? Actually 20 irupadhu = iru+padhu. Learn pattern: muppadhu 30 (mu+ppadhu).

Phone number: recite digit by digit using onnu, rendu. Rs 150 says nooru ambadhu.

Number sentences:

• Oru coffee kudunga – One coffee please.
• Rendu kilo thakkali – Two kilos tomato.
• Auto ku muppadhu rupaai – Thirty rupees for auto.
• En number 9-8-7-… – My number.

Thousand: Aayiram = 1000. Rendu aayiram 2000. Latcham = lakh (1 lakh).

Pronunciation Tips:

• Onnu – not ondu? Tamil onnu with nn.
• Rendu – soft r, not rolled hard.
• Moondru – moo-ndru with nd cluster.
• Anju – not anchu? Actually aindhu written anju spoken.
• Thonnooru 90 – tho-nnoo-ru double nn.

Common Mistakes:

• Saying aaru as six and also river? Same spelling but context – aaru river vs aaru six different tone? Actually same aaru six vs aaru river – homonym, context needed.
• Using onbadhu as ombadhu is spoken but okay.
• Confusing pathu (10) with patthu (ten? same) but paththu vs pathu both okay.
• Counting people: muuvar for three people? Formal moovar but spoken moop per?

Cultural Note: Tamil has pure Dravidian numbers cherished in Thirukural. Bus numbers like 29C, 12G famous. Auto fare used to be odd numbers like Rs 47. Bargaining uses kuraichi? Konjam kammiya? Numbers plus hand gestures common. Pongal price: karumbu 50 rupaai.

Practice:

1. Count 1-20 aloud with audio.
2. Say your age: En vayasu irubathu aidhu – 25.
3. Price: Idhu aaru rupaai? Actually 6 rupees? Realistic 60.
4. Phone: Say digits slow.
5. Add: Onnu plus rendu = moondru.