Would you like to visit any of these wonderful places\u00a0or be able to interact with Tamil-speaking family members? With our list of essential Tamil words, you won\u2019t just be able to get by. You might even impress the locals!<\/p>\n
Table of Contents<\/span><\/h2>\n\nTamil Greetings<\/a><\/h2>\nVa\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Hello<\/a><\/h3>\nK\u0101lai va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Good morning<\/a><\/h3>\nMatiya va\u1e47akkam <\/em>– Good afternoon<\/a><\/h3>\nM\u0101lai va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Good evening<\/a><\/h3>\nI\u1e49iya iravu<\/em> – Good night<\/a><\/h3>\nEppa\u1e6di irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em> – How are you?<\/a><\/h3>\nBasic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/a><\/h2>\nBasic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/a><\/h2>\nTamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Tamil Greetings<\/h2>\n![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/you-hispanic-smile-slim-man-250x375.jpg\")
Hand photo created by luis_molinero – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nHow many languages can you say \u201cHello\u201d in? If you stop to think about it for a minute, the answer might surprise you. The reason why we all know so many foreign\u00a0greetings (the reason why every language course starts with a lesson on greetings, in fact) is that language is a means for communication. It\u2019s\u00a0a powerful tool to interact with people whose lives are so vastly different from ours. It\u2019s no wonder, then, that we have decided to kick off this list with a few Tamil words for saying Hello.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Hello<\/h3>\nNow, after such a long flight (and such a big investment!), why not make a bit of an effort and learn a few more greetings? For example, you can change the way you greet people depending on the time of day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>K\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good morning<\/h3>\nDid you wake all energetic and in the mood for conversation? Use this phrase to start the day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Matiya\u00a0va\u1e47akkam\u00a0<\/em>– Good afternoon
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\nUse this one between noon and sunset. (Just in case you\u2019re wondering, \u201csunset\u201d is c\u016briya<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>astama<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>am<\/i><\/em>\u00a0in Tamil.)<\/p>\n<\/a>M\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good evening<\/h3>\n<\/b>Did you just walk\u00a0into a restaurant wearing your best clothes? Say this phrase to get yourself noticed. And if you get a compliment, say Na<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>i<\/i><\/em>, which means \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>I\u1e49iya\u00a0iravu<\/em>\u00a0– Good night<\/h3>\nAs in English, the Tamil phrase for \u201cGood night\u201d is similar to \u201cgoodbye.\u201d\u00a0So,\u00a0say this one only when you\u2019re going to bed (try not to yawn, though).<\/p>\n
Now that you know how to greet people, the next step is to ask them how they are.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Eppa\u1e6di\u00a0irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em>\u00a0– How are you?<\/h3>\nHopefully, you will get one of these answers:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>nalam<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m fine.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>ci<\/i><\/em>\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>antatai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ceytu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ko<\/i><\/em>\u1e47\u1e6d<\/i><\/em>irukki<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>\u0113<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m doing great.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Arumai<\/i><\/em>, <\/i><\/em>n\u012b<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u0101<\/i><\/em>?<\/i><\/em>– Awesome, and you?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
However, if you get Atu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>u<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>v\u0113lai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>illai<\/i><\/em>, it might be time to terminate the conversation, as it means \u201cIt\u2019s none of your business.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Basic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/h2>\nNow, if you really want to engage in conversation, \u201cHello\u201d or \u201cGood morning\u201d won\u2019t do. Do you want to get your interlocutor\u2019s attention? Then,\u00a0say one (or a few) of the following phrases.<\/p>\n
\n- U\u1e49\u00a0peyar\u00a0e\u1e49\u1e49a?<\/em>\u00a0– What\u2019s your name?\u00a0\/ E\u1e49\u00a0peyar…<\/em>\u00a0– My name is\u2026
\nAsking for somebody\u2019s name is always a good way to show interest and friendliness. Sometimes, however, you will find yourself in situations in which you\u2019ll need to be courteous rather than friendly.<\/li>\n- Tayavuceytu<\/em>\u00a0– Please.<\/li>\n
- Na\u1e49\u1e5fi<\/em>– Thank you.<\/li>\n
- U\u1e45ka\u1e37aivarav\u0113\u1e5fki\u1e5f\u014dm<\/em>\u00a0– You\u2019re welcome.
\nIt\u2019s also very important that you learn Tamil expressions for asking for help in case you\u2019ve lost track of a conversation. (True, a confounded face might do, but it\u2019s always better to use language to show that you\u2019re making an effort.)<\/li>\n- E\u1e49akkupuriyavillai<\/em>\u00a0– I don\u2019t\u00a0understand<\/li>\n
- Ataim\u012b\u1e47\u1e6dum\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Could you repeat that, please?<\/li>\n
- I\u1e49\u1e49ummetuv\u0101ka\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?\u00a0<\/em>– Can you say that more slowly?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Basic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/h2>\nThe state of Tamil Nadu has the third-longest coastline in India at about 907 km. Also, the western, southern, and northwestern areas are known for their beautiful hills and rich vegetation. It\u2019s no wonder, then, so many people want to learn Tamil to visit this fascinating place.<\/p>\n
![\"Traveler](\"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/female-tourists-spread-their-arms-min-700x467.jpg\")
Background photo created by jcomp – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nIf you\u2019ve decided to travel to a Tamil-speaking spot, make sure you write down the following expressions.<\/p>\n
\n- N\u012b\u1e45ka\u1e37\u0101\u1e45kilam\u00a0p\u0113cuki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37\u0101?<\/em> – Do you speak English?<\/li>\n
- Ita\u1e49vilai\u00a0evva\u1e37avu?\u00a0<\/em>– How much does this cost?<\/li>\n
- Ka\u1e3bippa\u1e5faika\u1e37e\u1e45k\u0113?<\/em>\u00a0– Where are the toilets?<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytuoru\u00a0p\u012br\u00a0<\/em>– One beer, please.<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytu\u00a0rac\u012btu\u00a0ko\u1e6dukka\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Can I have the bill, please?<\/li>\n
- Arukilu\u1e37\u1e37a\u00a0maruttuvama\u1e49ai\/va\u1e45ki\/h\u014d\u1e6d\u1e6dal\u00a0e\u1e45k\u0113?\u00a0<\/em>– Where is the nearest hospital\/bank\/hotel?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Tamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/h2>\nNo matter what their first language is, family is very important for Indian people\u00a0(you might even be learning Tamil words\u00a0to talk to your Indian relatives!). Therefore, if you\u2019re feeling confident about your speaking skills and you want to have a long conversation with someone from Tamil Nadu, asking them about their relatives or telling them about yours is a great place to start! (Just make sure you don\u2019t get too forward!)<\/p>\n
![\"Indian](\"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/indian-man-forest-male-traditional-turban-international-family-summer-forest-min-700x467.jpg\")
Hand photo created by prostooleh – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nThe first thing you\u2019ll need to do is Tamil words for family members. Here are a few:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>Amma<\/i><\/em><\/i>– mother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Appa<\/i><\/em><\/i>– father<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thaatha <\/i><\/em>– grandfather<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Paati<\/i><\/em>– grandmother (Wait, doesn\u2019t this one sound more like Grandpa?)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Chithi<\/i><\/em>– mother’s sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Mama<\/i><\/em>– uncle (Nope, we didn\u2019t make a mistake here!)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Athai – <\/i><\/em>(aunt)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Akka <\/i><\/em>– elder sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thangai\/thangachi<\/i><\/em>– younger sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Anna<\/i><\/em>– elder brother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thambi <\/i><\/em>– younger brother<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As you\u00a0can\u00a0see, there are different Tamil words for siblings depending on their position in the family.<\/p>\n
With these Tamil words and expressions, we hope you can do more than ask for a beer in a pub or find the nearest bank. By memorizing a few of the phrases above, you can show Tamil-speaking people that you appreciate their language and culture and that you\u2019ve made an effort to communicate with them on their own terms (literally!).<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial Tamil Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nDo you want to go beyond the word level and start working on your speaking skills? Impress your friends and relatives and bond with them at a whole new level by becoming fluent in Tamil! Learn Tamil with the best qualified native teachers in your city or online.\u00a0Explore our tailor-made<\/u>\u00a0Tamil<\/u>\u00a0courses<\/u><\/a>\u00a0or send us a quick message on our website!<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tamil is considered\u00a0a classical language of India. Its ancient origins and\u00a0substantial body of literature put it in…","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":8401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1237,1190],"tags":[507,14,314],"class_list":["post-8398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-resources","category-tamil","tag-phrases","tag-vocabulary","tag-words"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8398"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9393,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions\/9393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Tamil Greetings<\/a><\/h2>\nVa\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Hello<\/a><\/h3>\nK\u0101lai va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Good morning<\/a><\/h3>\nMatiya va\u1e47akkam <\/em>– Good afternoon<\/a><\/h3>\nM\u0101lai va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Good evening<\/a><\/h3>\nI\u1e49iya iravu<\/em> – Good night<\/a><\/h3>\nEppa\u1e6di irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em> – How are you?<\/a><\/h3>\nBasic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/a><\/h2>\nBasic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/a><\/h2>\nTamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Tamil Greetings<\/h2>\nHand photo created by luis_molinero – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nHow many languages can you say \u201cHello\u201d in? If you stop to think about it for a minute, the answer might surprise you. The reason why we all know so many foreign\u00a0greetings (the reason why every language course starts with a lesson on greetings, in fact) is that language is a means for communication. It\u2019s\u00a0a powerful tool to interact with people whose lives are so vastly different from ours. It\u2019s no wonder, then, that we have decided to kick off this list with a few Tamil words for saying Hello.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Hello<\/h3>\nNow, after such a long flight (and such a big investment!), why not make a bit of an effort and learn a few more greetings? For example, you can change the way you greet people depending on the time of day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>K\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good morning<\/h3>\nDid you wake all energetic and in the mood for conversation? Use this phrase to start the day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Matiya\u00a0va\u1e47akkam\u00a0<\/em>– Good afternoon
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\nUse this one between noon and sunset. (Just in case you\u2019re wondering, \u201csunset\u201d is c\u016briya<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>astama<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>am<\/i><\/em>\u00a0in Tamil.)<\/p>\n<\/a>M\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good evening<\/h3>\n<\/b>Did you just walk\u00a0into a restaurant wearing your best clothes? Say this phrase to get yourself noticed. And if you get a compliment, say Na<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>i<\/i><\/em>, which means \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>I\u1e49iya\u00a0iravu<\/em>\u00a0– Good night<\/h3>\nAs in English, the Tamil phrase for \u201cGood night\u201d is similar to \u201cgoodbye.\u201d\u00a0So,\u00a0say this one only when you\u2019re going to bed (try not to yawn, though).<\/p>\n
Now that you know how to greet people, the next step is to ask them how they are.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Eppa\u1e6di\u00a0irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em>\u00a0– How are you?<\/h3>\nHopefully, you will get one of these answers:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>nalam<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m fine.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>ci<\/i><\/em>\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>antatai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ceytu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ko<\/i><\/em>\u1e47\u1e6d<\/i><\/em>irukki<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>\u0113<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m doing great.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Arumai<\/i><\/em>, <\/i><\/em>n\u012b<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u0101<\/i><\/em>?<\/i><\/em>– Awesome, and you?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
However, if you get Atu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>u<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>v\u0113lai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>illai<\/i><\/em>, it might be time to terminate the conversation, as it means \u201cIt\u2019s none of your business.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Basic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/h2>\nNow, if you really want to engage in conversation, \u201cHello\u201d or \u201cGood morning\u201d won\u2019t do. Do you want to get your interlocutor\u2019s attention? Then,\u00a0say one (or a few) of the following phrases.<\/p>\n
\n- U\u1e49\u00a0peyar\u00a0e\u1e49\u1e49a?<\/em>\u00a0– What\u2019s your name?\u00a0\/ E\u1e49\u00a0peyar…<\/em>\u00a0– My name is\u2026
\nAsking for somebody\u2019s name is always a good way to show interest and friendliness. Sometimes, however, you will find yourself in situations in which you\u2019ll need to be courteous rather than friendly.<\/li>\n- Tayavuceytu<\/em>\u00a0– Please.<\/li>\n
- Na\u1e49\u1e5fi<\/em>– Thank you.<\/li>\n
- U\u1e45ka\u1e37aivarav\u0113\u1e5fki\u1e5f\u014dm<\/em>\u00a0– You\u2019re welcome.
\nIt\u2019s also very important that you learn Tamil expressions for asking for help in case you\u2019ve lost track of a conversation. (True, a confounded face might do, but it\u2019s always better to use language to show that you\u2019re making an effort.)<\/li>\n- E\u1e49akkupuriyavillai<\/em>\u00a0– I don\u2019t\u00a0understand<\/li>\n
- Ataim\u012b\u1e47\u1e6dum\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Could you repeat that, please?<\/li>\n
- I\u1e49\u1e49ummetuv\u0101ka\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?\u00a0<\/em>– Can you say that more slowly?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Basic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/h2>\nThe state of Tamil Nadu has the third-longest coastline in India at about 907 km. Also, the western, southern, and northwestern areas are known for their beautiful hills and rich vegetation. It\u2019s no wonder, then, so many people want to learn Tamil to visit this fascinating place.<\/p>\n
Background photo created by jcomp – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nIf you\u2019ve decided to travel to a Tamil-speaking spot, make sure you write down the following expressions.<\/p>\n
\n- N\u012b\u1e45ka\u1e37\u0101\u1e45kilam\u00a0p\u0113cuki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37\u0101?<\/em> – Do you speak English?<\/li>\n
- Ita\u1e49vilai\u00a0evva\u1e37avu?\u00a0<\/em>– How much does this cost?<\/li>\n
- Ka\u1e3bippa\u1e5faika\u1e37e\u1e45k\u0113?<\/em>\u00a0– Where are the toilets?<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytuoru\u00a0p\u012br\u00a0<\/em>– One beer, please.<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytu\u00a0rac\u012btu\u00a0ko\u1e6dukka\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Can I have the bill, please?<\/li>\n
- Arukilu\u1e37\u1e37a\u00a0maruttuvama\u1e49ai\/va\u1e45ki\/h\u014d\u1e6d\u1e6dal\u00a0e\u1e45k\u0113?\u00a0<\/em>– Where is the nearest hospital\/bank\/hotel?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Tamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/h2>\nNo matter what their first language is, family is very important for Indian people\u00a0(you might even be learning Tamil words\u00a0to talk to your Indian relatives!). Therefore, if you\u2019re feeling confident about your speaking skills and you want to have a long conversation with someone from Tamil Nadu, asking them about their relatives or telling them about yours is a great place to start! (Just make sure you don\u2019t get too forward!)<\/p>\n
Hand photo created by prostooleh – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nThe first thing you\u2019ll need to do is Tamil words for family members. Here are a few:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>Amma<\/i><\/em><\/i>– mother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Appa<\/i><\/em><\/i>– father<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thaatha <\/i><\/em>– grandfather<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Paati<\/i><\/em>– grandmother (Wait, doesn\u2019t this one sound more like Grandpa?)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Chithi<\/i><\/em>– mother’s sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Mama<\/i><\/em>– uncle (Nope, we didn\u2019t make a mistake here!)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Athai – <\/i><\/em>(aunt)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Akka <\/i><\/em>– elder sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thangai\/thangachi<\/i><\/em>– younger sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Anna<\/i><\/em>– elder brother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thambi <\/i><\/em>– younger brother<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As you\u00a0can\u00a0see, there are different Tamil words for siblings depending on their position in the family.<\/p>\n
With these Tamil words and expressions, we hope you can do more than ask for a beer in a pub or find the nearest bank. By memorizing a few of the phrases above, you can show Tamil-speaking people that you appreciate their language and culture and that you\u2019ve made an effort to communicate with them on their own terms (literally!).<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial Tamil Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nDo you want to go beyond the word level and start working on your speaking skills? Impress your friends and relatives and bond with them at a whole new level by becoming fluent in Tamil! Learn Tamil with the best qualified native teachers in your city or online.\u00a0Explore our tailor-made<\/u>\u00a0Tamil<\/u>\u00a0courses<\/u><\/a>\u00a0or send us a quick message on our website!<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tamil is considered\u00a0a classical language of India. Its ancient origins and\u00a0substantial body of literature put it in…","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":8401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1237,1190],"tags":[507,14,314],"class_list":["post-8398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-resources","category-tamil","tag-phrases","tag-vocabulary","tag-words"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8398"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9393,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions\/9393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
K\u0101lai va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Good morning<\/a><\/h3>\nMatiya va\u1e47akkam <\/em>– Good afternoon<\/a><\/h3>\nM\u0101lai va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Good evening<\/a><\/h3>\nI\u1e49iya iravu<\/em> – Good night<\/a><\/h3>\nEppa\u1e6di irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em> – How are you?<\/a><\/h3>\nBasic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/a><\/h2>\nBasic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/a><\/h2>\nTamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Tamil Greetings<\/h2>\nHand photo created by luis_molinero – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nHow many languages can you say \u201cHello\u201d in? If you stop to think about it for a minute, the answer might surprise you. The reason why we all know so many foreign\u00a0greetings (the reason why every language course starts with a lesson on greetings, in fact) is that language is a means for communication. It\u2019s\u00a0a powerful tool to interact with people whose lives are so vastly different from ours. It\u2019s no wonder, then, that we have decided to kick off this list with a few Tamil words for saying Hello.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Hello<\/h3>\nNow, after such a long flight (and such a big investment!), why not make a bit of an effort and learn a few more greetings? For example, you can change the way you greet people depending on the time of day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>K\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good morning<\/h3>\nDid you wake all energetic and in the mood for conversation? Use this phrase to start the day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Matiya\u00a0va\u1e47akkam\u00a0<\/em>– Good afternoon
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\nUse this one between noon and sunset. (Just in case you\u2019re wondering, \u201csunset\u201d is c\u016briya<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>astama<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>am<\/i><\/em>\u00a0in Tamil.)<\/p>\n<\/a>M\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good evening<\/h3>\n<\/b>Did you just walk\u00a0into a restaurant wearing your best clothes? Say this phrase to get yourself noticed. And if you get a compliment, say Na<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>i<\/i><\/em>, which means \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>I\u1e49iya\u00a0iravu<\/em>\u00a0– Good night<\/h3>\nAs in English, the Tamil phrase for \u201cGood night\u201d is similar to \u201cgoodbye.\u201d\u00a0So,\u00a0say this one only when you\u2019re going to bed (try not to yawn, though).<\/p>\n
Now that you know how to greet people, the next step is to ask them how they are.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Eppa\u1e6di\u00a0irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em>\u00a0– How are you?<\/h3>\nHopefully, you will get one of these answers:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>nalam<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m fine.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>ci<\/i><\/em>\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>antatai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ceytu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ko<\/i><\/em>\u1e47\u1e6d<\/i><\/em>irukki<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>\u0113<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m doing great.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Arumai<\/i><\/em>, <\/i><\/em>n\u012b<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u0101<\/i><\/em>?<\/i><\/em>– Awesome, and you?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
However, if you get Atu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>u<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>v\u0113lai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>illai<\/i><\/em>, it might be time to terminate the conversation, as it means \u201cIt\u2019s none of your business.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Basic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/h2>\nNow, if you really want to engage in conversation, \u201cHello\u201d or \u201cGood morning\u201d won\u2019t do. Do you want to get your interlocutor\u2019s attention? Then,\u00a0say one (or a few) of the following phrases.<\/p>\n
\n- U\u1e49\u00a0peyar\u00a0e\u1e49\u1e49a?<\/em>\u00a0– What\u2019s your name?\u00a0\/ E\u1e49\u00a0peyar…<\/em>\u00a0– My name is\u2026
\nAsking for somebody\u2019s name is always a good way to show interest and friendliness. Sometimes, however, you will find yourself in situations in which you\u2019ll need to be courteous rather than friendly.<\/li>\n- Tayavuceytu<\/em>\u00a0– Please.<\/li>\n
- Na\u1e49\u1e5fi<\/em>– Thank you.<\/li>\n
- U\u1e45ka\u1e37aivarav\u0113\u1e5fki\u1e5f\u014dm<\/em>\u00a0– You\u2019re welcome.
\nIt\u2019s also very important that you learn Tamil expressions for asking for help in case you\u2019ve lost track of a conversation. (True, a confounded face might do, but it\u2019s always better to use language to show that you\u2019re making an effort.)<\/li>\n- E\u1e49akkupuriyavillai<\/em>\u00a0– I don\u2019t\u00a0understand<\/li>\n
- Ataim\u012b\u1e47\u1e6dum\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Could you repeat that, please?<\/li>\n
- I\u1e49\u1e49ummetuv\u0101ka\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?\u00a0<\/em>– Can you say that more slowly?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Basic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/h2>\nThe state of Tamil Nadu has the third-longest coastline in India at about 907 km. Also, the western, southern, and northwestern areas are known for their beautiful hills and rich vegetation. It\u2019s no wonder, then, so many people want to learn Tamil to visit this fascinating place.<\/p>\n
Background photo created by jcomp – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nIf you\u2019ve decided to travel to a Tamil-speaking spot, make sure you write down the following expressions.<\/p>\n
\n- N\u012b\u1e45ka\u1e37\u0101\u1e45kilam\u00a0p\u0113cuki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37\u0101?<\/em> – Do you speak English?<\/li>\n
- Ita\u1e49vilai\u00a0evva\u1e37avu?\u00a0<\/em>– How much does this cost?<\/li>\n
- Ka\u1e3bippa\u1e5faika\u1e37e\u1e45k\u0113?<\/em>\u00a0– Where are the toilets?<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytuoru\u00a0p\u012br\u00a0<\/em>– One beer, please.<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytu\u00a0rac\u012btu\u00a0ko\u1e6dukka\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Can I have the bill, please?<\/li>\n
- Arukilu\u1e37\u1e37a\u00a0maruttuvama\u1e49ai\/va\u1e45ki\/h\u014d\u1e6d\u1e6dal\u00a0e\u1e45k\u0113?\u00a0<\/em>– Where is the nearest hospital\/bank\/hotel?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Tamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/h2>\nNo matter what their first language is, family is very important for Indian people\u00a0(you might even be learning Tamil words\u00a0to talk to your Indian relatives!). Therefore, if you\u2019re feeling confident about your speaking skills and you want to have a long conversation with someone from Tamil Nadu, asking them about their relatives or telling them about yours is a great place to start! (Just make sure you don\u2019t get too forward!)<\/p>\n
Hand photo created by prostooleh – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nThe first thing you\u2019ll need to do is Tamil words for family members. Here are a few:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>Amma<\/i><\/em><\/i>– mother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Appa<\/i><\/em><\/i>– father<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thaatha <\/i><\/em>– grandfather<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Paati<\/i><\/em>– grandmother (Wait, doesn\u2019t this one sound more like Grandpa?)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Chithi<\/i><\/em>– mother’s sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Mama<\/i><\/em>– uncle (Nope, we didn\u2019t make a mistake here!)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Athai – <\/i><\/em>(aunt)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Akka <\/i><\/em>– elder sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thangai\/thangachi<\/i><\/em>– younger sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Anna<\/i><\/em>– elder brother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thambi <\/i><\/em>– younger brother<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As you\u00a0can\u00a0see, there are different Tamil words for siblings depending on their position in the family.<\/p>\n
With these Tamil words and expressions, we hope you can do more than ask for a beer in a pub or find the nearest bank. By memorizing a few of the phrases above, you can show Tamil-speaking people that you appreciate their language and culture and that you\u2019ve made an effort to communicate with them on their own terms (literally!).<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial Tamil Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nDo you want to go beyond the word level and start working on your speaking skills? Impress your friends and relatives and bond with them at a whole new level by becoming fluent in Tamil! Learn Tamil with the best qualified native teachers in your city or online.\u00a0Explore our tailor-made<\/u>\u00a0Tamil<\/u>\u00a0courses<\/u><\/a>\u00a0or send us a quick message on our website!<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tamil is considered\u00a0a classical language of India. Its ancient origins and\u00a0substantial body of literature put it in…","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":8401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1237,1190],"tags":[507,14,314],"class_list":["post-8398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-resources","category-tamil","tag-phrases","tag-vocabulary","tag-words"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8398"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9393,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions\/9393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
M\u0101lai va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Good evening<\/a><\/h3>\nI\u1e49iya iravu<\/em> – Good night<\/a><\/h3>\nEppa\u1e6di irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em> – How are you?<\/a><\/h3>\nBasic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/a><\/h2>\nBasic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/a><\/h2>\nTamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Tamil Greetings<\/h2>\nHand photo created by luis_molinero – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nHow many languages can you say \u201cHello\u201d in? If you stop to think about it for a minute, the answer might surprise you. The reason why we all know so many foreign\u00a0greetings (the reason why every language course starts with a lesson on greetings, in fact) is that language is a means for communication. It\u2019s\u00a0a powerful tool to interact with people whose lives are so vastly different from ours. It\u2019s no wonder, then, that we have decided to kick off this list with a few Tamil words for saying Hello.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Hello<\/h3>\nNow, after such a long flight (and such a big investment!), why not make a bit of an effort and learn a few more greetings? For example, you can change the way you greet people depending on the time of day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>K\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good morning<\/h3>\nDid you wake all energetic and in the mood for conversation? Use this phrase to start the day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Matiya\u00a0va\u1e47akkam\u00a0<\/em>– Good afternoon
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\nUse this one between noon and sunset. (Just in case you\u2019re wondering, \u201csunset\u201d is c\u016briya<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>astama<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>am<\/i><\/em>\u00a0in Tamil.)<\/p>\n<\/a>M\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good evening<\/h3>\n<\/b>Did you just walk\u00a0into a restaurant wearing your best clothes? Say this phrase to get yourself noticed. And if you get a compliment, say Na<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>i<\/i><\/em>, which means \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>I\u1e49iya\u00a0iravu<\/em>\u00a0– Good night<\/h3>\nAs in English, the Tamil phrase for \u201cGood night\u201d is similar to \u201cgoodbye.\u201d\u00a0So,\u00a0say this one only when you\u2019re going to bed (try not to yawn, though).<\/p>\n
Now that you know how to greet people, the next step is to ask them how they are.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Eppa\u1e6di\u00a0irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em>\u00a0– How are you?<\/h3>\nHopefully, you will get one of these answers:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>nalam<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m fine.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>ci<\/i><\/em>\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>antatai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ceytu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ko<\/i><\/em>\u1e47\u1e6d<\/i><\/em>irukki<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>\u0113<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m doing great.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Arumai<\/i><\/em>, <\/i><\/em>n\u012b<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u0101<\/i><\/em>?<\/i><\/em>– Awesome, and you?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
However, if you get Atu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>u<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>v\u0113lai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>illai<\/i><\/em>, it might be time to terminate the conversation, as it means \u201cIt\u2019s none of your business.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Basic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/h2>\nNow, if you really want to engage in conversation, \u201cHello\u201d or \u201cGood morning\u201d won\u2019t do. Do you want to get your interlocutor\u2019s attention? Then,\u00a0say one (or a few) of the following phrases.<\/p>\n
\n- U\u1e49\u00a0peyar\u00a0e\u1e49\u1e49a?<\/em>\u00a0– What\u2019s your name?\u00a0\/ E\u1e49\u00a0peyar…<\/em>\u00a0– My name is\u2026
\nAsking for somebody\u2019s name is always a good way to show interest and friendliness. Sometimes, however, you will find yourself in situations in which you\u2019ll need to be courteous rather than friendly.<\/li>\n- Tayavuceytu<\/em>\u00a0– Please.<\/li>\n
- Na\u1e49\u1e5fi<\/em>– Thank you.<\/li>\n
- U\u1e45ka\u1e37aivarav\u0113\u1e5fki\u1e5f\u014dm<\/em>\u00a0– You\u2019re welcome.
\nIt\u2019s also very important that you learn Tamil expressions for asking for help in case you\u2019ve lost track of a conversation. (True, a confounded face might do, but it\u2019s always better to use language to show that you\u2019re making an effort.)<\/li>\n- E\u1e49akkupuriyavillai<\/em>\u00a0– I don\u2019t\u00a0understand<\/li>\n
- Ataim\u012b\u1e47\u1e6dum\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Could you repeat that, please?<\/li>\n
- I\u1e49\u1e49ummetuv\u0101ka\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?\u00a0<\/em>– Can you say that more slowly?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Basic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/h2>\nThe state of Tamil Nadu has the third-longest coastline in India at about 907 km. Also, the western, southern, and northwestern areas are known for their beautiful hills and rich vegetation. It\u2019s no wonder, then, so many people want to learn Tamil to visit this fascinating place.<\/p>\n
Background photo created by jcomp – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nIf you\u2019ve decided to travel to a Tamil-speaking spot, make sure you write down the following expressions.<\/p>\n
\n- N\u012b\u1e45ka\u1e37\u0101\u1e45kilam\u00a0p\u0113cuki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37\u0101?<\/em> – Do you speak English?<\/li>\n
- Ita\u1e49vilai\u00a0evva\u1e37avu?\u00a0<\/em>– How much does this cost?<\/li>\n
- Ka\u1e3bippa\u1e5faika\u1e37e\u1e45k\u0113?<\/em>\u00a0– Where are the toilets?<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytuoru\u00a0p\u012br\u00a0<\/em>– One beer, please.<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytu\u00a0rac\u012btu\u00a0ko\u1e6dukka\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Can I have the bill, please?<\/li>\n
- Arukilu\u1e37\u1e37a\u00a0maruttuvama\u1e49ai\/va\u1e45ki\/h\u014d\u1e6d\u1e6dal\u00a0e\u1e45k\u0113?\u00a0<\/em>– Where is the nearest hospital\/bank\/hotel?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Tamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/h2>\nNo matter what their first language is, family is very important for Indian people\u00a0(you might even be learning Tamil words\u00a0to talk to your Indian relatives!). Therefore, if you\u2019re feeling confident about your speaking skills and you want to have a long conversation with someone from Tamil Nadu, asking them about their relatives or telling them about yours is a great place to start! (Just make sure you don\u2019t get too forward!)<\/p>\n
Hand photo created by prostooleh – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nThe first thing you\u2019ll need to do is Tamil words for family members. Here are a few:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>Amma<\/i><\/em><\/i>– mother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Appa<\/i><\/em><\/i>– father<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thaatha <\/i><\/em>– grandfather<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Paati<\/i><\/em>– grandmother (Wait, doesn\u2019t this one sound more like Grandpa?)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Chithi<\/i><\/em>– mother’s sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Mama<\/i><\/em>– uncle (Nope, we didn\u2019t make a mistake here!)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Athai – <\/i><\/em>(aunt)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Akka <\/i><\/em>– elder sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thangai\/thangachi<\/i><\/em>– younger sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Anna<\/i><\/em>– elder brother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thambi <\/i><\/em>– younger brother<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As you\u00a0can\u00a0see, there are different Tamil words for siblings depending on their position in the family.<\/p>\n
With these Tamil words and expressions, we hope you can do more than ask for a beer in a pub or find the nearest bank. By memorizing a few of the phrases above, you can show Tamil-speaking people that you appreciate their language and culture and that you\u2019ve made an effort to communicate with them on their own terms (literally!).<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial Tamil Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nDo you want to go beyond the word level and start working on your speaking skills? Impress your friends and relatives and bond with them at a whole new level by becoming fluent in Tamil! Learn Tamil with the best qualified native teachers in your city or online.\u00a0Explore our tailor-made<\/u>\u00a0Tamil<\/u>\u00a0courses<\/u><\/a>\u00a0or send us a quick message on our website!<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tamil is considered\u00a0a classical language of India. Its ancient origins and\u00a0substantial body of literature put it in…","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":8401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1237,1190],"tags":[507,14,314],"class_list":["post-8398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-resources","category-tamil","tag-phrases","tag-vocabulary","tag-words"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8398"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9393,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions\/9393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Eppa\u1e6di irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em> – How are you?<\/a><\/h3>\nBasic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/a><\/h2>\nBasic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/a><\/h2>\nTamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Tamil Greetings<\/h2>\nHand photo created by luis_molinero – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nHow many languages can you say \u201cHello\u201d in? If you stop to think about it for a minute, the answer might surprise you. The reason why we all know so many foreign\u00a0greetings (the reason why every language course starts with a lesson on greetings, in fact) is that language is a means for communication. It\u2019s\u00a0a powerful tool to interact with people whose lives are so vastly different from ours. It\u2019s no wonder, then, that we have decided to kick off this list with a few Tamil words for saying Hello.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Hello<\/h3>\nNow, after such a long flight (and such a big investment!), why not make a bit of an effort and learn a few more greetings? For example, you can change the way you greet people depending on the time of day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>K\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good morning<\/h3>\nDid you wake all energetic and in the mood for conversation? Use this phrase to start the day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Matiya\u00a0va\u1e47akkam\u00a0<\/em>– Good afternoon
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\nUse this one between noon and sunset. (Just in case you\u2019re wondering, \u201csunset\u201d is c\u016briya<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>astama<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>am<\/i><\/em>\u00a0in Tamil.)<\/p>\n<\/a>M\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good evening<\/h3>\n<\/b>Did you just walk\u00a0into a restaurant wearing your best clothes? Say this phrase to get yourself noticed. And if you get a compliment, say Na<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>i<\/i><\/em>, which means \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>I\u1e49iya\u00a0iravu<\/em>\u00a0– Good night<\/h3>\nAs in English, the Tamil phrase for \u201cGood night\u201d is similar to \u201cgoodbye.\u201d\u00a0So,\u00a0say this one only when you\u2019re going to bed (try not to yawn, though).<\/p>\n
Now that you know how to greet people, the next step is to ask them how they are.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Eppa\u1e6di\u00a0irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em>\u00a0– How are you?<\/h3>\nHopefully, you will get one of these answers:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>nalam<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m fine.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>ci<\/i><\/em>\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>antatai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ceytu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ko<\/i><\/em>\u1e47\u1e6d<\/i><\/em>irukki<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>\u0113<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m doing great.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Arumai<\/i><\/em>, <\/i><\/em>n\u012b<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u0101<\/i><\/em>?<\/i><\/em>– Awesome, and you?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
However, if you get Atu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>u<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>v\u0113lai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>illai<\/i><\/em>, it might be time to terminate the conversation, as it means \u201cIt\u2019s none of your business.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Basic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/h2>\nNow, if you really want to engage in conversation, \u201cHello\u201d or \u201cGood morning\u201d won\u2019t do. Do you want to get your interlocutor\u2019s attention? Then,\u00a0say one (or a few) of the following phrases.<\/p>\n
\n- U\u1e49\u00a0peyar\u00a0e\u1e49\u1e49a?<\/em>\u00a0– What\u2019s your name?\u00a0\/ E\u1e49\u00a0peyar…<\/em>\u00a0– My name is\u2026
\nAsking for somebody\u2019s name is always a good way to show interest and friendliness. Sometimes, however, you will find yourself in situations in which you\u2019ll need to be courteous rather than friendly.<\/li>\n- Tayavuceytu<\/em>\u00a0– Please.<\/li>\n
- Na\u1e49\u1e5fi<\/em>– Thank you.<\/li>\n
- U\u1e45ka\u1e37aivarav\u0113\u1e5fki\u1e5f\u014dm<\/em>\u00a0– You\u2019re welcome.
\nIt\u2019s also very important that you learn Tamil expressions for asking for help in case you\u2019ve lost track of a conversation. (True, a confounded face might do, but it\u2019s always better to use language to show that you\u2019re making an effort.)<\/li>\n- E\u1e49akkupuriyavillai<\/em>\u00a0– I don\u2019t\u00a0understand<\/li>\n
- Ataim\u012b\u1e47\u1e6dum\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Could you repeat that, please?<\/li>\n
- I\u1e49\u1e49ummetuv\u0101ka\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?\u00a0<\/em>– Can you say that more slowly?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Basic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/h2>\nThe state of Tamil Nadu has the third-longest coastline in India at about 907 km. Also, the western, southern, and northwestern areas are known for their beautiful hills and rich vegetation. It\u2019s no wonder, then, so many people want to learn Tamil to visit this fascinating place.<\/p>\n
Background photo created by jcomp – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nIf you\u2019ve decided to travel to a Tamil-speaking spot, make sure you write down the following expressions.<\/p>\n
\n- N\u012b\u1e45ka\u1e37\u0101\u1e45kilam\u00a0p\u0113cuki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37\u0101?<\/em> – Do you speak English?<\/li>\n
- Ita\u1e49vilai\u00a0evva\u1e37avu?\u00a0<\/em>– How much does this cost?<\/li>\n
- Ka\u1e3bippa\u1e5faika\u1e37e\u1e45k\u0113?<\/em>\u00a0– Where are the toilets?<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytuoru\u00a0p\u012br\u00a0<\/em>– One beer, please.<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytu\u00a0rac\u012btu\u00a0ko\u1e6dukka\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Can I have the bill, please?<\/li>\n
- Arukilu\u1e37\u1e37a\u00a0maruttuvama\u1e49ai\/va\u1e45ki\/h\u014d\u1e6d\u1e6dal\u00a0e\u1e45k\u0113?\u00a0<\/em>– Where is the nearest hospital\/bank\/hotel?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Tamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/h2>\nNo matter what their first language is, family is very important for Indian people\u00a0(you might even be learning Tamil words\u00a0to talk to your Indian relatives!). Therefore, if you\u2019re feeling confident about your speaking skills and you want to have a long conversation with someone from Tamil Nadu, asking them about their relatives or telling them about yours is a great place to start! (Just make sure you don\u2019t get too forward!)<\/p>\n
Hand photo created by prostooleh – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nThe first thing you\u2019ll need to do is Tamil words for family members. Here are a few:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>Amma<\/i><\/em><\/i>– mother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Appa<\/i><\/em><\/i>– father<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thaatha <\/i><\/em>– grandfather<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Paati<\/i><\/em>– grandmother (Wait, doesn\u2019t this one sound more like Grandpa?)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Chithi<\/i><\/em>– mother’s sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Mama<\/i><\/em>– uncle (Nope, we didn\u2019t make a mistake here!)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Athai – <\/i><\/em>(aunt)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Akka <\/i><\/em>– elder sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thangai\/thangachi<\/i><\/em>– younger sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Anna<\/i><\/em>– elder brother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thambi <\/i><\/em>– younger brother<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As you\u00a0can\u00a0see, there are different Tamil words for siblings depending on their position in the family.<\/p>\n
With these Tamil words and expressions, we hope you can do more than ask for a beer in a pub or find the nearest bank. By memorizing a few of the phrases above, you can show Tamil-speaking people that you appreciate their language and culture and that you\u2019ve made an effort to communicate with them on their own terms (literally!).<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial Tamil Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nDo you want to go beyond the word level and start working on your speaking skills? Impress your friends and relatives and bond with them at a whole new level by becoming fluent in Tamil! Learn Tamil with the best qualified native teachers in your city or online.\u00a0Explore our tailor-made<\/u>\u00a0Tamil<\/u>\u00a0courses<\/u><\/a>\u00a0or send us a quick message on our website!<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tamil is considered\u00a0a classical language of India. Its ancient origins and\u00a0substantial body of literature put it in…","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":8401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1237,1190],"tags":[507,14,314],"class_list":["post-8398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-resources","category-tamil","tag-phrases","tag-vocabulary","tag-words"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8398"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9393,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions\/9393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Basic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/a><\/h2>\nTamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Tamil Greetings<\/h2>\nHand photo created by luis_molinero – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nHow many languages can you say \u201cHello\u201d in? If you stop to think about it for a minute, the answer might surprise you. The reason why we all know so many foreign\u00a0greetings (the reason why every language course starts with a lesson on greetings, in fact) is that language is a means for communication. It\u2019s\u00a0a powerful tool to interact with people whose lives are so vastly different from ours. It\u2019s no wonder, then, that we have decided to kick off this list with a few Tamil words for saying Hello.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Hello<\/h3>\nNow, after such a long flight (and such a big investment!), why not make a bit of an effort and learn a few more greetings? For example, you can change the way you greet people depending on the time of day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>K\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good morning<\/h3>\nDid you wake all energetic and in the mood for conversation? Use this phrase to start the day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Matiya\u00a0va\u1e47akkam\u00a0<\/em>– Good afternoon
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\nUse this one between noon and sunset. (Just in case you\u2019re wondering, \u201csunset\u201d is c\u016briya<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>astama<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>am<\/i><\/em>\u00a0in Tamil.)<\/p>\n<\/a>M\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good evening<\/h3>\n<\/b>Did you just walk\u00a0into a restaurant wearing your best clothes? Say this phrase to get yourself noticed. And if you get a compliment, say Na<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>i<\/i><\/em>, which means \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>I\u1e49iya\u00a0iravu<\/em>\u00a0– Good night<\/h3>\nAs in English, the Tamil phrase for \u201cGood night\u201d is similar to \u201cgoodbye.\u201d\u00a0So,\u00a0say this one only when you\u2019re going to bed (try not to yawn, though).<\/p>\n
Now that you know how to greet people, the next step is to ask them how they are.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Eppa\u1e6di\u00a0irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em>\u00a0– How are you?<\/h3>\nHopefully, you will get one of these answers:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>nalam<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m fine.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>ci<\/i><\/em>\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>antatai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ceytu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ko<\/i><\/em>\u1e47\u1e6d<\/i><\/em>irukki<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>\u0113<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m doing great.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Arumai<\/i><\/em>, <\/i><\/em>n\u012b<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u0101<\/i><\/em>?<\/i><\/em>– Awesome, and you?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
However, if you get Atu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>u<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>v\u0113lai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>illai<\/i><\/em>, it might be time to terminate the conversation, as it means \u201cIt\u2019s none of your business.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Basic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/h2>\nNow, if you really want to engage in conversation, \u201cHello\u201d or \u201cGood morning\u201d won\u2019t do. Do you want to get your interlocutor\u2019s attention? Then,\u00a0say one (or a few) of the following phrases.<\/p>\n
\n- U\u1e49\u00a0peyar\u00a0e\u1e49\u1e49a?<\/em>\u00a0– What\u2019s your name?\u00a0\/ E\u1e49\u00a0peyar…<\/em>\u00a0– My name is\u2026
\nAsking for somebody\u2019s name is always a good way to show interest and friendliness. Sometimes, however, you will find yourself in situations in which you\u2019ll need to be courteous rather than friendly.<\/li>\n- Tayavuceytu<\/em>\u00a0– Please.<\/li>\n
- Na\u1e49\u1e5fi<\/em>– Thank you.<\/li>\n
- U\u1e45ka\u1e37aivarav\u0113\u1e5fki\u1e5f\u014dm<\/em>\u00a0– You\u2019re welcome.
\nIt\u2019s also very important that you learn Tamil expressions for asking for help in case you\u2019ve lost track of a conversation. (True, a confounded face might do, but it\u2019s always better to use language to show that you\u2019re making an effort.)<\/li>\n- E\u1e49akkupuriyavillai<\/em>\u00a0– I don\u2019t\u00a0understand<\/li>\n
- Ataim\u012b\u1e47\u1e6dum\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Could you repeat that, please?<\/li>\n
- I\u1e49\u1e49ummetuv\u0101ka\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?\u00a0<\/em>– Can you say that more slowly?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Basic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/h2>\nThe state of Tamil Nadu has the third-longest coastline in India at about 907 km. Also, the western, southern, and northwestern areas are known for their beautiful hills and rich vegetation. It\u2019s no wonder, then, so many people want to learn Tamil to visit this fascinating place.<\/p>\n
Background photo created by jcomp – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nIf you\u2019ve decided to travel to a Tamil-speaking spot, make sure you write down the following expressions.<\/p>\n
\n- N\u012b\u1e45ka\u1e37\u0101\u1e45kilam\u00a0p\u0113cuki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37\u0101?<\/em> – Do you speak English?<\/li>\n
- Ita\u1e49vilai\u00a0evva\u1e37avu?\u00a0<\/em>– How much does this cost?<\/li>\n
- Ka\u1e3bippa\u1e5faika\u1e37e\u1e45k\u0113?<\/em>\u00a0– Where are the toilets?<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytuoru\u00a0p\u012br\u00a0<\/em>– One beer, please.<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytu\u00a0rac\u012btu\u00a0ko\u1e6dukka\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Can I have the bill, please?<\/li>\n
- Arukilu\u1e37\u1e37a\u00a0maruttuvama\u1e49ai\/va\u1e45ki\/h\u014d\u1e6d\u1e6dal\u00a0e\u1e45k\u0113?\u00a0<\/em>– Where is the nearest hospital\/bank\/hotel?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Tamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/h2>\nNo matter what their first language is, family is very important for Indian people\u00a0(you might even be learning Tamil words\u00a0to talk to your Indian relatives!). Therefore, if you\u2019re feeling confident about your speaking skills and you want to have a long conversation with someone from Tamil Nadu, asking them about their relatives or telling them about yours is a great place to start! (Just make sure you don\u2019t get too forward!)<\/p>\n
Hand photo created by prostooleh – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nThe first thing you\u2019ll need to do is Tamil words for family members. Here are a few:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>Amma<\/i><\/em><\/i>– mother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Appa<\/i><\/em><\/i>– father<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thaatha <\/i><\/em>– grandfather<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Paati<\/i><\/em>– grandmother (Wait, doesn\u2019t this one sound more like Grandpa?)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Chithi<\/i><\/em>– mother’s sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Mama<\/i><\/em>– uncle (Nope, we didn\u2019t make a mistake here!)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Athai – <\/i><\/em>(aunt)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Akka <\/i><\/em>– elder sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thangai\/thangachi<\/i><\/em>– younger sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Anna<\/i><\/em>– elder brother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thambi <\/i><\/em>– younger brother<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As you\u00a0can\u00a0see, there are different Tamil words for siblings depending on their position in the family.<\/p>\n
With these Tamil words and expressions, we hope you can do more than ask for a beer in a pub or find the nearest bank. By memorizing a few of the phrases above, you can show Tamil-speaking people that you appreciate their language and culture and that you\u2019ve made an effort to communicate with them on their own terms (literally!).<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial Tamil Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nDo you want to go beyond the word level and start working on your speaking skills? Impress your friends and relatives and bond with them at a whole new level by becoming fluent in Tamil! Learn Tamil with the best qualified native teachers in your city or online.\u00a0Explore our tailor-made<\/u>\u00a0Tamil<\/u>\u00a0courses<\/u><\/a>\u00a0or send us a quick message on our website!<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tamil is considered\u00a0a classical language of India. Its ancient origins and\u00a0substantial body of literature put it in…","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":8401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1237,1190],"tags":[507,14,314],"class_list":["post-8398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-resources","category-tamil","tag-phrases","tag-vocabulary","tag-words"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8398"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9393,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions\/9393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/a>Tamil Greetings<\/h2>\nHand photo created by luis_molinero – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nHow many languages can you say \u201cHello\u201d in? If you stop to think about it for a minute, the answer might surprise you. The reason why we all know so many foreign\u00a0greetings (the reason why every language course starts with a lesson on greetings, in fact) is that language is a means for communication. It\u2019s\u00a0a powerful tool to interact with people whose lives are so vastly different from ours. It\u2019s no wonder, then, that we have decided to kick off this list with a few Tamil words for saying Hello.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Hello<\/h3>\nNow, after such a long flight (and such a big investment!), why not make a bit of an effort and learn a few more greetings? For example, you can change the way you greet people depending on the time of day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>K\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good morning<\/h3>\nDid you wake all energetic and in the mood for conversation? Use this phrase to start the day!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Matiya\u00a0va\u1e47akkam\u00a0<\/em>– Good afternoon
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\nUse this one between noon and sunset. (Just in case you\u2019re wondering, \u201csunset\u201d is c\u016briya<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>astama<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>am<\/i><\/em>\u00a0in Tamil.)<\/p>\n<\/a>M\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good evening<\/h3>\n<\/b>Did you just walk\u00a0into a restaurant wearing your best clothes? Say this phrase to get yourself noticed. And if you get a compliment, say Na<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>i<\/i><\/em>, which means \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>I\u1e49iya\u00a0iravu<\/em>\u00a0– Good night<\/h3>\nAs in English, the Tamil phrase for \u201cGood night\u201d is similar to \u201cgoodbye.\u201d\u00a0So,\u00a0say this one only when you\u2019re going to bed (try not to yawn, though).<\/p>\n
Now that you know how to greet people, the next step is to ask them how they are.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Eppa\u1e6di\u00a0irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em>\u00a0– How are you?<\/h3>\nHopefully, you will get one of these answers:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>nalam<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m fine.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>N\u0101<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em><\/i>ci<\/i><\/em>\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>antatai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ceytu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ko<\/i><\/em>\u1e47\u1e6d<\/i><\/em>irukki<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>\u0113<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>\u00a0– I\u2019m doing great.<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Arumai<\/i><\/em>, <\/i><\/em>n\u012b<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u0101<\/i><\/em>?<\/i><\/em>– Awesome, and you?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
However, if you get Atu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>u<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>v\u0113lai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>illai<\/i><\/em>, it might be time to terminate the conversation, as it means \u201cIt\u2019s none of your business.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Basic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/h2>\nNow, if you really want to engage in conversation, \u201cHello\u201d or \u201cGood morning\u201d won\u2019t do. Do you want to get your interlocutor\u2019s attention? Then,\u00a0say one (or a few) of the following phrases.<\/p>\n
\n- U\u1e49\u00a0peyar\u00a0e\u1e49\u1e49a?<\/em>\u00a0– What\u2019s your name?\u00a0\/ E\u1e49\u00a0peyar…<\/em>\u00a0– My name is\u2026
\nAsking for somebody\u2019s name is always a good way to show interest and friendliness. Sometimes, however, you will find yourself in situations in which you\u2019ll need to be courteous rather than friendly.<\/li>\n- Tayavuceytu<\/em>\u00a0– Please.<\/li>\n
- Na\u1e49\u1e5fi<\/em>– Thank you.<\/li>\n
- U\u1e45ka\u1e37aivarav\u0113\u1e5fki\u1e5f\u014dm<\/em>\u00a0– You\u2019re welcome.
\nIt\u2019s also very important that you learn Tamil expressions for asking for help in case you\u2019ve lost track of a conversation. (True, a confounded face might do, but it\u2019s always better to use language to show that you\u2019re making an effort.)<\/li>\n- E\u1e49akkupuriyavillai<\/em>\u00a0– I don\u2019t\u00a0understand<\/li>\n
- Ataim\u012b\u1e47\u1e6dum\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Could you repeat that, please?<\/li>\n
- I\u1e49\u1e49ummetuv\u0101ka\u00a0colla\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?\u00a0<\/em>– Can you say that more slowly?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Basic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/h2>\nThe state of Tamil Nadu has the third-longest coastline in India at about 907 km. Also, the western, southern, and northwestern areas are known for their beautiful hills and rich vegetation. It\u2019s no wonder, then, so many people want to learn Tamil to visit this fascinating place.<\/p>\n
Background photo created by jcomp – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nIf you\u2019ve decided to travel to a Tamil-speaking spot, make sure you write down the following expressions.<\/p>\n
\n- N\u012b\u1e45ka\u1e37\u0101\u1e45kilam\u00a0p\u0113cuki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37\u0101?<\/em> – Do you speak English?<\/li>\n
- Ita\u1e49vilai\u00a0evva\u1e37avu?\u00a0<\/em>– How much does this cost?<\/li>\n
- Ka\u1e3bippa\u1e5faika\u1e37e\u1e45k\u0113?<\/em>\u00a0– Where are the toilets?<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytuoru\u00a0p\u012br\u00a0<\/em>– One beer, please.<\/li>\n
- Tayavuceytu\u00a0rac\u012btu\u00a0ko\u1e6dukka\u00a0mu\u1e6diyum\u0101?<\/em>\u00a0– Can I have the bill, please?<\/li>\n
- Arukilu\u1e37\u1e37a\u00a0maruttuvama\u1e49ai\/va\u1e45ki\/h\u014d\u1e6d\u1e6dal\u00a0e\u1e45k\u0113?\u00a0<\/em>– Where is the nearest hospital\/bank\/hotel?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Tamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/h2>\nNo matter what their first language is, family is very important for Indian people\u00a0(you might even be learning Tamil words\u00a0to talk to your Indian relatives!). Therefore, if you\u2019re feeling confident about your speaking skills and you want to have a long conversation with someone from Tamil Nadu, asking them about their relatives or telling them about yours is a great place to start! (Just make sure you don\u2019t get too forward!)<\/p>\n
Hand photo created by prostooleh – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nThe first thing you\u2019ll need to do is Tamil words for family members. Here are a few:<\/p>\n
\n- <\/i>Amma<\/i><\/em><\/i>– mother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Appa<\/i><\/em><\/i>– father<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thaatha <\/i><\/em>– grandfather<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Paati<\/i><\/em>– grandmother (Wait, doesn\u2019t this one sound more like Grandpa?)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Chithi<\/i><\/em>– mother’s sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Mama<\/i><\/em>– uncle (Nope, we didn\u2019t make a mistake here!)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Athai – <\/i><\/em>(aunt)<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Akka <\/i><\/em>– elder sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thangai\/thangachi<\/i><\/em>– younger sister<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Anna<\/i><\/em>– elder brother<\/li>\n
- <\/i>Thambi <\/i><\/em>– younger brother<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As you\u00a0can\u00a0see, there are different Tamil words for siblings depending on their position in the family.<\/p>\n
With these Tamil words and expressions, we hope you can do more than ask for a beer in a pub or find the nearest bank. By memorizing a few of the phrases above, you can show Tamil-speaking people that you appreciate their language and culture and that you\u2019ve made an effort to communicate with them on their own terms (literally!).<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial Tamil Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nDo you want to go beyond the word level and start working on your speaking skills? Impress your friends and relatives and bond with them at a whole new level by becoming fluent in Tamil! Learn Tamil with the best qualified native teachers in your city or online.\u00a0Explore our tailor-made<\/u>\u00a0Tamil<\/u>\u00a0courses<\/u><\/a>\u00a0or send us a quick message on our website!<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tamil is considered\u00a0a classical language of India. Its ancient origins and\u00a0substantial body of literature put it in…","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":8401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1237,1190],"tags":[507,14,314],"class_list":["post-8398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-resources","category-tamil","tag-phrases","tag-vocabulary","tag-words"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8398"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9393,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions\/9393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Hand photo created by luis_molinero – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n How many languages can you say \u201cHello\u201d in? If you stop to think about it for a minute, the answer might surprise you. The reason why we all know so many foreign\u00a0greetings (the reason why every language course starts with a lesson on greetings, in fact) is that language is a means for communication. It\u2019s\u00a0a powerful tool to interact with people whose lives are so vastly different from ours. It\u2019s no wonder, then, that we have decided to kick off this list with a few Tamil words for saying Hello.<\/p>\n Now, after such a long flight (and such a big investment!), why not make a bit of an effort and learn a few more greetings? For example, you can change the way you greet people depending on the time of day!<\/p>\n Did you wake all energetic and in the mood for conversation? Use this phrase to start the day!<\/p>\n Use this one between noon and sunset. (Just in case you\u2019re wondering, \u201csunset\u201d is c\u016briya<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>astama<\/i><\/em>\u1e49<\/i><\/em>am<\/i><\/em>\u00a0in Tamil.)<\/p>\n <\/b>Did you just walk\u00a0into a restaurant wearing your best clothes? Say this phrase to get yourself noticed. And if you get a compliment, say Na<\/i><\/em>\u1e49\u1e5f<\/i><\/em>i<\/i><\/em>, which means \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n As in English, the Tamil phrase for \u201cGood night\u201d is similar to \u201cgoodbye.\u201d\u00a0So,\u00a0say this one only when you\u2019re going to bed (try not to yawn, though).<\/p>\n Now that you know how to greet people, the next step is to ask them how they are.<\/p>\n Hopefully, you will get one of these answers:<\/p>\n However, if you get Atu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>u<\/i><\/em>\u1e45<\/i><\/em>ka<\/i><\/em>\u1e37<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>v\u0113lai<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>illai<\/i><\/em>, it might be time to terminate the conversation, as it means \u201cIt\u2019s none of your business.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, if you really want to engage in conversation, \u201cHello\u201d or \u201cGood morning\u201d won\u2019t do. Do you want to get your interlocutor\u2019s attention? Then,\u00a0say one (or a few) of the following phrases.<\/p>\n The state of Tamil Nadu has the third-longest coastline in India at about 907 km. Also, the western, southern, and northwestern areas are known for their beautiful hills and rich vegetation. It\u2019s no wonder, then, so many people want to learn Tamil to visit this fascinating place.<\/p>\n Background photo created by jcomp – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n If you\u2019ve decided to travel to a Tamil-speaking spot, make sure you write down the following expressions.<\/p>\n No matter what their first language is, family is very important for Indian people\u00a0(you might even be learning Tamil words\u00a0to talk to your Indian relatives!). Therefore, if you\u2019re feeling confident about your speaking skills and you want to have a long conversation with someone from Tamil Nadu, asking them about their relatives or telling them about yours is a great place to start! (Just make sure you don\u2019t get too forward!)<\/p>\n Hand photo created by prostooleh – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n The first thing you\u2019ll need to do is Tamil words for family members. Here are a few:<\/p>\n As you\u00a0can\u00a0see, there are different Tamil words for siblings depending on their position in the family.<\/p>\n With these Tamil words and expressions, we hope you can do more than ask for a beer in a pub or find the nearest bank. By memorizing a few of the phrases above, you can show Tamil-speaking people that you appreciate their language and culture and that you\u2019ve made an effort to communicate with them on their own terms (literally!).<\/p>\n \u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial Tamil Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\n Do you want to go beyond the word level and start working on your speaking skills? Impress your friends and relatives and bond with them at a whole new level by becoming fluent in Tamil! Learn Tamil with the best qualified native teachers in your city or online.\u00a0Explore our tailor-made<\/u>\u00a0Tamil<\/u>\u00a0courses<\/u><\/a>\u00a0or send us a quick message on our website!<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tamil is considered\u00a0a classical language of India. Its ancient origins and\u00a0substantial body of literature put it in…","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":8401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1237,1190],"tags":[507,14,314],"class_list":["post-8398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-resources","category-tamil","tag-phrases","tag-vocabulary","tag-words"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8398"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9393,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8398\/revisions\/9393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/a>Va\u1e47akkam<\/em> – Hello<\/h3>\n
<\/a>K\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good morning<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Matiya\u00a0va\u1e47akkam\u00a0<\/em>– Good afternoon
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/a>M\u0101lai\u00a0va\u1e47akkam<\/em>\u00a0– Good evening<\/h3>\n
<\/a>I\u1e49iya\u00a0iravu<\/em>\u00a0– Good night<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Eppa\u1e6di\u00a0irukki\u1e5f\u012brka\u1e37?<\/em>\u00a0– How are you?<\/h3>\n
\n
<\/a>Basic Tamil Words & Phrases for Every Day<\/h2>\n
\n
\nAsking for somebody\u2019s name is always a good way to show interest and friendliness. Sometimes, however, you will find yourself in situations in which you\u2019ll need to be courteous rather than friendly.<\/li>\n
\nIt\u2019s also very important that you learn Tamil expressions for asking for help in case you\u2019ve lost track of a conversation. (True, a confounded face might do, but it\u2019s always better to use language to show that you\u2019re making an effort.)<\/li>\n<\/a>Basic Tamil Words for Travellers<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/a>Tamil Words for Members of Your Family<\/h2>\n
\n