Telugu character tables

This document lists the per-character shaping information needed to shape Telugu text.

Contents

• Telugu character table

• Vedic Extensions character table

• Miscellaneous character table

Telugu character table

Telugu glyphs should be classified as in the following table. Codepoints in the Telugu block with no assigned meaning are designated as unassigned in the Unicode category column.

Assigned codepoints with a null in the Shaping class column evoke no special behavior from the shaping engine. Note that this does include some valid codepoints, such as currency marks, punctuation, and other symbols.

Note: the NUMBER and SYMBOL Shaping classes are important during syllable identification, but generally evoke no further special behavior during the rest of the shaping process.

The Mark-placement subclass column indicates mark-placement positioning for codepoints in the Mark category. Assigned, non-mark codepoints have a null in this column and evoke no special mark-placement behavior. Marks tagged with [Mn] in the Unicode category column are categorized as non-spacing; marks tagged with [Mc] are categorized as spacing-combining.

Some codepoints in the following table use a Shaping class that differs from the codepoint’s Unicode General Category. The Shaping class takes precedence during OpenType shaping, as it captures more specific, script-aware behavior.

Table 77 Telugu character table

Codepoint	Unicode category	Shaping class	Mark-placement subclass	Glyph
U+0C00	Mark [Mn]	BINDU	TOP_POSITION	ఀ Combining Candrabindu Above
U+0C01	Mark [Mc]	BINDU	RIGHT_POSITION	ఁ Candrabindu
U+0C02	Mark [Mc]	BINDU	RIGHT_POSITION	ం Anusvara
U+0C03	Mark [Mc]	VISARGA	RIGHT_POSITION	ః Visarga
U+0C04	Mark [Mn]	BINDU	TOP_POSITION	ఄ Combining Anusvara Above
U+0C05	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	అ A
U+0C06	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఆ Aa
U+0C07	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఇ I
U+0C08	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఈ Ii
U+0C09	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఉ U
U+0C0A	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఊ Uu
U+0C0B	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఋ Vocalic R
U+0C0C	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఌ Vocalic L
U+0C0D	unassigned
U+0C0E	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఎ E
U+0C0F	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఏ Ee
U+0C10	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఐ Ai
U+0C11	unassigned
U+0C12	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఒ O
U+0C13	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఓ Oo
U+0C14	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ఔ Au
U+0C15	Letter	CONSONANT	null	క Ka
U+0C16	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ఖ Kha
U+0C17	Letter	CONSONANT	null	గ Ga
U+0C18	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ఘ Gha
U+0C19	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ఙ Nga
U+0C1A	Letter	CONSONANT	null	చ Ca
U+0C1B	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ఛ Cha
U+0C1C	Letter	CONSONANT	null	జ Ja
U+0C1D	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ఝ Jha
U+0C1E	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ఞ Nya
U+0C1F	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ట Tta
U+0C20	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ఠ Ttha
U+0C21	Letter	CONSONANT	null	డ Dda
U+0C22	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ఢ Ddha
U+0C23	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ణ Nna
U+0C24	Letter	CONSONANT	null	త Ta
U+0C25	Letter	CONSONANT	null	థ Tha
U+0C26	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ద Da
U+0C27	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ధ Dha
U+0C28	Letter	CONSONANT	null	న Na
U+0C29	unassigned
U+0C2A	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ప Pa
U+0C2B	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ఫ Pha
U+0C2C	Letter	CONSONANT	null	బ Ba
U+0C2D	Letter	CONSONANT	null	భ Bha
U+0C2E	Letter	CONSONANT	null	మ Ma
U+0C2F	Letter	CONSONANT	null	య Ya
U+0C30	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ర Ra
U+0C31	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ఱ Rra
U+0C32	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ల La
U+0C33	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ళ Lla
U+0C34	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ఴ Llla
U+0C35	Letter	CONSONANT	null	వ Va
U+0C36	Letter	CONSONANT	null	శ Sha
U+0C37	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ష Ssa
U+0C38	Letter	CONSONANT	null	స Sa
U+0C39	Letter	CONSONANT	null	హ Ha
U+0C3A	unassigned
U+0C3B	unassigned
U+0C3C	Mark [Mn]	NUKTA	BOTTOM_POSITION	఼ Nukta
U+0C3D	Letter	AVAGRAHA	null	ఽ Avagraha
U+0C3E	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	TOP_POSITION	ా Sign Aa
U+0C3F	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	TOP_POSITION	ి Sign I
U+0C40	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	TOP_POSITION	ీ Sign Ii
U+0C41	Mark [Mc]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	RIGHT_POSITION	ు Sign U
U+0C42	Mark [Mc]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	RIGHT_POSITION	ూ Sign Uu
U+0C43	Mark [Mc]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	RIGHT_POSITION	ృ Sign Vocalic R
U+0C44	Mark [Mc]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	RIGHT_POSITION	ౄ Sign Vocalic Rr
U+0C45	unassigned
U+0C46	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	TOP_POSITION	ె Sign E
U+0C47	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	TOP_POSITION	ే Sign Ee
U+0C48	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	TOP_AND_BOTTOM_POSITION	ై Sign Ai
U+0C49	unassigned
U+0C4A	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	TOP_POSITION	ొ Sign O
U+0C4B	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	TOP_POSITION	ో Sign Oo
U+0C4C	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	TOP_POSITION	ౌ Sign Au
U+0C4D	Mark [Mn]	VIRAMA	TOP_POSITION	్ Virama
U+0C4E	unassigned
U+0C4F	unassigned
U+0C50	unassigned
U+0C51	unassigned
U+0C52	unassigned
U+0C53	unassigned
U+0C54	unassigned
U+0C55	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	TOP_POSITION	ౕ Length Mark
U+0C56	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	BOTTOM_POSITION	ౖ Ai Length Mark
U+0C57	unassigned
U+0C58	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ౘ Tsa
U+0C59	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ౙ Dza
U+0C5A	Letter	CONSONANT	null	ౚ Rrra
U+0C5B	unassigned
U+0C5C	unassigned
U+0C5D	Letter	CONSONANT_DEAD	null	ౝ Nakaara Pollu
U+0C5E	unassigned
U+0C5F	unassigned
U+0C60	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ౠ Vocalic Rr
U+0C61	Letter	VOWEL_INDEPENDENT	null	ౡ Vocalic Ll
U+0C62	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	BOTTOM_POSITION	ౢ Sign Vocalic L
U+0C63	Mark [Mn]	VOWEL_DEPENDENT	BOTTOM_POSITION	ౣ Sign Vocalic Ll
U+0C64	unassigned
U+0C65	unassigned
U+0C66	Number	NUMBER	null	౦ Digit Zero
U+0C67	Number	NUMBER	null	౧ Digit One
U+0C68	Number	NUMBER	null	౨ Digit Two
U+0C69	Number	NUMBER	null	౩ Digit Three
U+0C6A	Number	NUMBER	null	౪ Digit Four
U+0C6B	Number	NUMBER	null	౫ Digit Five
U+0C6C	Number	NUMBER	null	౬ Digit Six
U+0C6D	Number	NUMBER	null	౭ Digit Seven
U+0C6E	Number	NUMBER	null	౮ Digit Eight
U+0C6F	Number	NUMBER	null	౯ Digit Nine
U+0C70	unassigned
U+0C71	unassigned
U+0C72	unassigned
U+0C73	unassigned
U+0C74	unassigned
U+0C75	unassigned
U+0C76	unassigned
U+0C77	Punctuation	null	null	౷ Sign Siddham
U+0C78	Number	NUMBER	null	౸ Fraction Zero Odd P
U+0C79	Number	NUMBER	null	౹ Fraction One Odd P
U+0C7A	Number	NUMBER	null	౺ Fraction Two Odd P
U+0C7B	Number	NUMBER	null	౻ Fraction Three Odd P
U+0C7C	Number	NUMBER	null	౼ Fraction One Even P
U+0C7D	Number	NUMBER	null	౽ Fraction Two Even P
U+0C7E	Number	NUMBER	null	౾ Fraction Three Even P
U+0C7F	Symbol	SYMBOL	null	౿ Tuumu

Vedic Extensions character table

Sanskrit runs written in the Telugu script may also include characters from the Vedic Extensions block. These characters should be classified as follows.

Note: See the Vedic Extensions document for additional information.

Table 78 Vedic Extensions character table

Codepoint	Unicode category	Shaping class	Mark-placement subclass	Glyph
U+1CD0	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	TOP_POSITION	᳐ Tone Karshana
U+1CD1	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	TOP_POSITION	᳑ Tone Shara
U+1CD2	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	TOP_POSITION	᳒ Tone Prenkha
U+1CD3	Punctuation	null	null	᳓ Sign Nihshvasa
U+1CD4	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	OVERSTRUCK	᳔ Tone Midline Svarita
U+1CD5	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	BOTTOM_POSITION	᳕ Tone Aggravated Independent Svarita
U+1CD6	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	BOTTOM_POSITION	᳖ Tone Independent Svarita
U+1CD7	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	BOTTOM_POSITION	᳗ Tone Kathaka Independent Svarita
U+1CD8	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	BOTTOM_POSITION	᳘ Tone Candra Below
U+1CD9	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	BOTTOM_POSITION	᳙ Tone Kathaka Independent Svarita Schroeder
U+1CDA	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	TOP_POSITION	᳚ Tone Double Svarita
U+1CDB	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	TOP_POSITION	᳛ Tone Triple Svarita
U+1CDC	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	BOTTOM_POSITION	᳜ Tone Kathaka Anudatta
U+1CDD	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	BOTTOM_POSITION	᳝ Tone Dot Below
U+1CDE	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	BOTTOM_POSITION	᳞ Tone Two Dots Below
U+1CDF	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	BOTTOM_POSITION	᳟ Tone Three Dots Below
U+1CE0	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	TOP_POSITION	᳠ Tone Rigvedic Kashmiri Independent Svarita
U+1CE1	Mark [Mc]	CANTILLATION	RIGHT_POSITION	᳡ Tone Atharavedic Independent Svarita
U+1CE2	Mark [Mn]	AVAGRAHA	OVERSTRUCK	᳢ Sign Visarga Svarita
U+1CE3	Mark [Mn]	null	OVERSTRUCK	᳣ Sign Visarga Udatta
U+1CE4	Mark [Mn]	null	OVERSTRUCK	᳤ Sign Reversed Visarga Udatta
U+1CE5	Mark [Mn]	null	OVERSTRUCK	᳥ Sign Visarga Anudatta
U+1CE6	Mark [Mn]	null	OVERSTRUCK	᳦ Sign Reversed Visarga Anudatta
U+1CE7	Mark [Mn]	null	OVERSTRUCK	᳧ Sign Visarga Udatta With Tail
U+1CE8	Mark [Mn]	AVAGRAHA	OVERSTRUCK	᳨ Sign Visarga Anudatta With Tail
U+1CE9	Letter	SYMBOL	null	ᳩ Sign Anusvara Antargomukha
U+1CEA	Letter	null	null	ᳪ Sign Anusvara Bahirgomukha
U+1CEB	Letter	null	null	ᳫ Sign Anusvara Vamagomukha
U+1CEC	Letter	SYMBOL	null	ᳬ Sign Anusvara Vamagomukha With Tail
U+1CED	Mark [Mn]	AVAGRAHA	BOTTOM_POSITION	᳭ Sign Tiryak
U+1CEE	Letter	SYMBOL	null	ᳮ Sign Hexiform Long Anusvara
U+1CEF	Letter	null	null	ᳯ Sign Long Anusvara
U+1CF0	Letter	null	null	ᳰ Sign Rthang Long Anusvara
U+1CF1	Letter	SYMBOL	null	ᳱ Sign Anusvara Ubhayato Mukha
U+1CF2	Letter	CONSONANT_DEAD	null	ᳲ Sign Ardhavisarga
U+1CF3	Letter	CONSONANT_DEAD	null	ᳳ Sign Rotated Ardhavisarga
U+1CF4	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	TOP_POSITION	᳴ Tone Candra Above
U+1CF5	Letter	CONSONANT_WITH_STACKER	null	ᳵ Sign Jihvamuliya
U+1CF6	Letter	CONSONANT_WITH_STACKER	null	ᳶ Sign Upadhmaniya
U+1CF7	Mark [Mc]	null	null	᳷ Sign Atikrama
U+1CF8	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	null	᳸ Tone Ring Above
U+1CF9	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	null	᳹ Tone Double Ring Above
U+1CFA	Letter	PLACEHOLDER	null	ᳺ Sign Double Anusvara Antargomukha
U+1CFB	unassigned
U+1CFC	unassigned
U+1CFD	unassigned
U+1CFE	unassigned
U+1CFF	unassigned

Miscellaneous character table

In addition to general punctuation, runs of Telugu text often use the danda (U+0964) and double danda (U+0965) punctuation marks from the Devanagari block. Telugu text can also incorporate the udatta (U+0951) and anudatta (U+0952) signs from the Devanagari block.

Table 79 Additional punctuation character table

Codepoint	Unicode category	Shaping class	Mark-placement subclass	Glyph
U+0951	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	TOP_POSITION	॑ Udatta
U+0952	Mark [Mn]	CANTILLATION	BOTTOM_POSITION	॒ Anudatta
U+0964	Punctuation	null	null	। Danda
U+0965	Punctuation	null	null	॥ Double Danda

Other important characters that may be encountered when shaping runs of Telugu text include the dotted-circle placeholder (U+25CC), the zero-width joiner (U+200D) and zero-width non-joiner (U+200C), and the no-break space (U+00A0).

The dotted-circle placeholder is frequently used when displaying a dependent vowel (matra) or a combining mark in isolation. Real-world text syllables may also use other characters, such as hyphens or dashes, in a similar placeholder fashion; shaping engines should cope with this situation gracefully.

Table 80 Miscellaneous character table

Codepoint	Unicode category	Shaping class	Mark-placement subclass	Glyph
U+00A0	Separator	PLACEHOLDER	null	No-break space
U+200C	Other	NON_JOINER	null	‌ Zero-width non-joiner
U+200D	Other	JOINER	null	‍ Zero-width joiner
U+2010	Punctuation	PLACEHOLDER	null	‐ Hyphen
U+2011	Punctuation	PLACEHOLDER	null	‑ No-break hyphen
U+2012	Punctuation	PLACEHOLDER	null	‒ Figure dash
U+2013	Punctuation	PLACEHOLDER	null	– En dash
U+2014	Punctuation	PLACEHOLDER	null	— Em dash
U+25CC	Symbol	DOTTED_CIRCLE	null	◌ Dotted circle

The zero-width joiner (ZWJ) is primarily used to prevent the formation of a conjunct from a “Consonant,Halant,Consonant” sequence. The sequence “Consonant,Halant,ZWJ,Consonant” blocks the formation of a conjunct between the two consonants.

Note, however, that the “Consonant,Halant” subsequence in the above example may still trigger a half-forms feature. To prevent the application of the half-forms feature in addition to preventing the conjunct, the zero-width non-joiner (ZWNJ) must be used instead. The sequence “Consonant,Halant,ZWNJ,Consonant” should produce the first consonant in its standard form, followed by an explicit “Halant”.

A secondary usage of the zero-width joiner is to prevent the formation of “Reph”. An initial “Ra,Halant,ZWJ” sequence should not produce a “Reph”, where an initial “Ra,Halant” sequence without the zero-width joiner otherwise would.

The no-break space (NBSP) is primarily used to display those codepoints that are defined as non-spacing (marks, dependent vowels (matras), below-base consonant forms, and post-base consonant forms) in an isolated context, as an alternative to displaying them superimposed on the dotted-circle placeholder. These sequences will match “NBSP,ZWJ,Halant,Consonant”, “NBSP,mark”, or “NBSP,matra”.