Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Tamil words and phrases you need to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.
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Hello.
How much is it?|
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...
The Top 20 ... |
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onga pēru enna? What is your name? en pēru ... My name is ... epDi irukkīnga? How are you? nallā irukkēn. nīngaLā? Fine. And you? ... enge? Where is ...? kaZipparai enge? āN/peN Where is the toilet? Men/Women mannikkaNum. Sorry. Excuse me. oNNum piraccane ille. oNNum kaśTamē ille. No problem. enakku ... vēNum. I want ... enakku ... vēNDām. I don't want ... |
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Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...
The Top 30 ... |
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nīnga engerundu varrīnga? Where are you from? nān āstrēliyāvulerundu varrēn. I am from Australia. billu kuDunga. The bill, please. enakku vaZi teriyale. I'm lost. niruttunga! kāttirunga! Stop! Wait! inge, ange. Here, there. Tæksi. ōTTal. vimānam nilaiyam. sTēśan. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. enakku ... piDikkum. I like ... enakku ... piDikkādu. I don't like ... oNNu (oru), reNDu, mūNu, nālu, anju. one, two, three, four, five. āru, ēZu, eTTu, ombadu, pattu. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: amerikkāvulerundu - from America kanaDāvulerundu - from Canada ingilāndulerundu - from England ayarlāndulerundu - from Ireland nyūzīlāndulerundu - from New Zealand |
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Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...
Useful Extras ... |
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cīyars! Cheers! nalla / keTTa good / bad periya / cinna big / small pakkattule / dūram near / far kuraivu / adigam less / more innoru / pōdum another / enough nān saivam. I am vegetarian. nān kari sāpDuvadille. I don't eat meat. ... kōZi ... ... chicken. ... mīn ... ... fish. enakku paruppu vake aleji. I am allergic to nuts. ... kadale ... ... peanuts. ... mīn ... ... fish. ... kaDal chānta ... ... seafood. ... muTTai ... ... eggs. |
Vowels:
A vowel with a macron indicates a long vowel, ie. ō is a long o
a is pronounced weakly as schwa ə (e as in brother)
-ām and -ān are pronounced as ã (nasal a)
-am and -ōm are pronounced as õ (nasal o)
-an and -ēn are pronounced as ẽ (nasal ɛ)
-um is pronounced as ũ (nasal u) or sometimes as ã (nasal a)
Consonants:
ś is pronounced as sh
v is pronounced as ʋ (midway between w and v)
Capital letters indicate retroflex consonants.
eg. D = ɖ (retroflex d)
(Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.)
A vowel with a macron indicates a long vowel, ie. ō is a long o
a is pronounced weakly as schwa ə (e as in brother)
-ām and -ān are pronounced as ã (nasal a)
-am and -ōm are pronounced as õ (nasal o)
-an and -ēn are pronounced as ẽ (nasal ɛ)
-um is pronounced as ũ (nasal u) or sometimes as ã (nasal a)
Consonants:
ś is pronounced as sh
v is pronounced as ʋ (midway between w and v)
Capital letters indicate retroflex consonants.
eg. D = ɖ (retroflex d)
(Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.)