Useful phrases in Tamil
Source : http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/tamil.php
The earliest known Tamil inscriptions date back to at least 500 BC. The oldest literary text in
Tamil, Tolkāppiyam, was composed around 200 BC. The Tamil alphabet is is thought to have
evolved from the Brahmi script, though some scholars believe that its origins go back to the
Indus script.
The alphabet is well suited to writing literary Tamil, centamil. However it is ill-suited to writing
colloquial Tamil, koduntamil. During the 19th century, attempts were made to create a written
version of the colloquial spoken language. Nowadays the colloquial written language appears
mainly in school books and in passages of dialogue in fiction.
Tamil, a Dravidian language spoken by around 52 million people in Indian, Sri Lanka, Malaysia,
Mauritius, Vietnam, Singapore, Canada, the USA, UK and Australia. It is the first language of
the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and is spoken by a significant minority of people (2 million) in
north-eastern Sri Lanka.
Formal Tamil or செநதமிழ [centamiḻ] is generally used in formal writing and speech, while
informal Tamil or ச ொடுநதமிழ [koṭuntamiḻ] is used in everyday coversation, also in cinema,
theatre and popular entertainment on television and radio, and many politicians use it to bring
themselves closer to their audience.
English செநதமிழ [centamiḻ]
(Formal Tamil)
Welcome வொருங ள (vaarungal)
Hello வணக ம! (vanakkam)
How are you?
Fine, thank you
எபபடி இருக ினறர ள
(eppadi irukkindriirgal)
நனறொ இருக ினறறன
(nadraaga irukkindren)
Long time no see உங ளைப பொரதது நிளறய நொட ள ஆ ிவிடடது
(ungalai paarttu niraiya naatkal aaki vittathu)
What's your name?
My name is ...
உங ள சபயர எனன?
(ungal peyar enna?)
என சபயர ... (en peru ...)
Where are you from?
I'm from ...
உங ள செொநத ஊர எது?
(ungal sondha oor edhu?)
என செொநத ஊர ....
(en sondha oor ...)
Pleased to meet you உங ளை பொரததது மி வும ெநறதொஷம
(ungalai paarthathu migavum sandhosham)
Good morning ொளை வணக ம
(kaalai vanakkam)
Good afternoon மதிய வணக ம
(madhiya vanakkam)
Good evening மொளை வணக ம
(maalai vanakkam)
Good night இரவு வணக ம
(iravu vanakkam)
Goodbye றபொய விடடு வரு ிறறன
(poy vittu varugiren) அபபுறம பொரக ைொறம
(appuram parkkalaame)
Good luck நலவொழததுக ள
(nal vaazthukkal)
Cheers/Good health! நல ஆறரொக ியம சபரு
(nal aarokkiyam peruga)
Have a nice day இநத நொள இனிய நொைொ அளமயடடும
(indha naal iniya naalaaga amayattum)
Bon appetit ம ிழநது உணணுங ள
(magizhnthu unnungal)
Bon voyage இனிய பயணம சதொடரடடும
(iniya paya num thodaratum)
I don't understand புரியவிலளை (puriyavillai)
Please speak more
slowly
சமதுவொ றபசுங ள
(medhuvaaga pesungal)
Please say
that again
திருமப செொலலுங ள
(thirumba sollungal)
Please write it down எழுதி ச ொளளுங ள
(ezhudhi kollungal)
Do you speak Tamil?
Yes, a little
நங ள தமிழ றபசுவர ைொ?
(neengal Thamizh pesuveergalaa?)
ச ொஞெம றபசுறவன
(konjam pesuven)
How do you say ...
in Tamil?
அளத ... தமிழில எபபடி செொலலுவர ள?
(adhai ... Thamizhil eppadi solluveergal?)
Excuse me மனனிக றவணடும
(mannikka vendum)
How much is this? இது எவவைவு
(idhu evvalavu?)
Sorry எனளன மனனிக றவணடும
(ennai manniththu vidungal)
Thank you
Response
நனறி (nandri) மி நனறி (miga nandri)
உங ளுககு நலவரவு
(ungalukku nalvaravu)
Where's the toilet? குைியைளற எஙற உளைது?
(kuliyalarai engai ullathu?)
I love you நொன உனளன ொதைிக ிறறன
(naan unnai kaadhalikkiren)
Get well soon உங ள உடல விளரவொ குணம அளடயடடும
(ungal udal viraivaaga gunam adaiyattum)
Leave me alone! எனளன தனியொ இருக விடுங ள
(ennai thaniyaaga irukka vidungal)
Help!
Fire!
Stop!
ொபபொறறுங ள! (kaappaatrungal)
சநருபபு! (neruppu)
நில! (nil)
Call the police! ொவைர ளை அளழயுங ள!
(kaavalargalai azhaiyungal)
Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year
ிறிஸதுமஸ மறறும இனிய புததொணடு
வொழததுக ள
(Christmas matrum puthaandu vaazthukkal)
Happy Birthday இனிய பிறநத நொள நலவொழததுக ள
(iniya pirandha naal nalvaazthukkal)
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