The vowel AI as the i in pride. The shape ai is used as an initial in the dictionary and in poetry, but elsewhere the Telugus use a secondary form ayi “AYI” instead: The secondary form ayiayi is used in poetry as a dissyllable, whenever the metre requires two short syllables for AI, which is one long. The Y in ayi is not pronounced. Thus ayidu is not pronounced ayidu, but ai-du. In Telugu words there is this liberty of spelling; but the longer form ayi ought never to be used in words of Sanscrit origin.