/r/LearningTamil

Photograph via snooOG

தமிழ் மொழி கற்பதற்கு ஒரு சப்ரெடிட் | A subreddit for learning the Tamil language.

/r/LearningTamil

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2

What is எட்iடாம் வேற்றுமை or the vocative case in Tamil and how does it work?

I‘m not sure if it is a “case” because apparently some say it isn’t one, but anyhow…

So, I know that -ஏ is a vocative suffix, but I’ve also been told that there are others, such as:

-ஓ

-அம்மா

-சே

-வா

I’m not sure what the differences are between them. On the contrary, I’ve further been told that there apparently isn’t any suffix that is added to the noun? So is there a vocative suffix or no?

Also, I’ve been told about using second-person conjugation for the verb. Is this true?

0 Comments
2025/02/02
15:02 UTC

3

What does -உம் ( or perhaps is -ஆலும்) mean?

I hear this suffix being used quite a lot, in phrases like “அது இருந்தாலும்” which, to me, just means “If it be there.” I know that -ஆல் is the “If” part but what is the “-உம்” doing?

1 Comment
2025/02/02
14:42 UTC

2

What sound does ஶ் make?

I asked my parents and they had no clue what this letter was. I think it’s a Grantha letter? I’m not sure. How do you use it?

1 Comment
2025/02/01
09:32 UTC

5

Tongue twisters

  1. உழலுங்குழல்களில் ஒருகுழல் குறுங்குழல்;

குறுங்குழல் முனையினில் உளதொரு கருங்குழல்.
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2. வள்ளத்தில் விழுந்த வெல்லம் கொழுத்த வெல்லம்.
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3. பொழிமழை புழைவழி ஆழியிலொழுகும்.
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4. யானை பிளிறிட ஊர் அலறல்.
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5. எட்டப்பன் சுட்டிட்டதோ எட்டேயப்பம்; சுட்டிட்டதில் ஈரப்பம் அரசுக்கப்பம்!
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6. கழநீர்வயலினில் கிளருங்களைகளை கிள்ளிக்களைந்தும் கழியவில்லை; கிளருங்களைகளை கிளறிக்களைந்திட களைந்தகளைகள் கிளரவில்லை!!
. ‌ 7. வழுவிய வளை கழலலுமாகாமல் உளது.
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9. மைஞ்ஞவில்வேளையில் அஞ்ஞைமடியினில் துஞ்சிய எழிலிளமஞ்ஞை.
. ‌ 9. பிட்டிட்டவொரு குழல்பிட்டை வட்டலில் இட்டிட்ட பாட்டியிடம் இன்னும் எட்டு பிட்டு பிட்டிட்டிடென்றார் பொக்கைவாய் பாட்டன்!
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10. கொள்கலனில் அரையளவு கொள்ளும் கொள்ளளவு உள்ள கொள்ளினைக்கொண்டு "கொள்கலனில் கொள்ளும் கொள்ளுமோ? கொள்ளாதோ?" என ஐயங்கொள்வதும் கொள்ளத்தகுந்தது ஆகுமோ?
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11. ஏழுருளிகளில் ஓருருளி வாலுருளி; அவ்வாலுருளி பாழுருளி.
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12. பரல் உருள கழல் உழலும்; கழல் உருள பரல் உழலும்.
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13. முன்றிலிருந்த கன்றியகனியைத் தின்றேனென்றான் கொன்றைவேந்தன்.
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14. அத்தை விற்ற குட்டி முட்டை குற்றமற்ற வாத்து முட்டை.
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15. நேற்று சென்று பெற்ற கன்று மாமரக்கன்று.
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17. எரிந்து முறிந்தமரக்கிளையை பரந்த ஏரியில் எறிந்தான்.
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18. முறிந்தமரத்தின் மீதொரு சிறகு விரித்த பெருத்த கறுத்த பூங்குருவி.
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19. இளமாவிலைமீதோரிழை (a fibre on a tender mango leaf).
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20. ஓடிய நரிகளில் ஒருநரி கிழநரி, கிழநரி பிடரியில் ஒருபிடி நரைமுடி.
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21. (Tamil Grantha letters for Sanskrit language) ஶிவக்ஷேத்ர ஶ்ரீப்ரஸாதம் விஶேஷ க்ஷீரான்னம்.

0 Comments
2025/02/01
00:52 UTC

5

Meaning of -டா & -டி in Spoken Tamil and their actual words in Tamil

#1. ஏடன் :
an exclamation addressed familiarly to a close Male friend or to a male of lower status than one who addresses him or a male child

ஏடா & அடா are other forms of ஏடன்.

And, டா is the short form of "ஏடன்/ஏடா/அடா" used in spoken Tamil.

Spoken Tamil examples: "வா டா‌", "போ டா", "தா டா", "ஏன் டா?"

அடே is a Vocative form used to call a male friend, etc.

Other forms used as exclamation commonly: அடடே, அடேடே, அடாடா, அடடா, etc.

#2. ஏடி :
an exclamation addressed familiarly to a close Female friend or to a woman of lower status than one who addresses her or a female child.

And, டி‌ is the short form of "ஏடி" used in spoken Tamil.

Spoken Tamil examples: "வா டி", "போ டி", "தா டி", "ஏன் டி?"

அடியே is a Vocative form used to call a female friend, etc.

2 Comments
2025/01/31
21:48 UTC

5

What does -டா mean after verbs?

I hear it in verbs like போடா which, to me, just sounds like “Go!” as an imperative verb, but what is the -டா doing exactly? Is it for emphasis or smth? Also, is this chiefly in spoken Tamil or is this in written Tamil too?

5 Comments
2025/01/31
20:31 UTC

5

How get a better accent

I speak some tamil and learning more and trying to get better, but if I record myself and listen to it, my accent or voice sounds really un-authentic with lots of influence of the english where I live, how can I change it to be better? Could I just speak to other tamil people with no accent?

4 Comments
2025/01/31
16:03 UTC

6

Written Tamil vs Spoken Tamil (Indian): என்று, என்றால், என்ற & என்கிற

Written Tamil ---> Spoken Tamil (Indian):
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#A. என்று ---> ன்னு:
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  1. அவனிடம் நான் வந்தேன் என்று சொல் (avaṉiḍam nāṉ vanthēṉ eṉḏṟů çol)---> அவன்கிட்ட நான் வந்தேன் ன்னு சொல்லு (avaṉkiṭṭa nāṉ vanthēṉ ṉṉů çollů) = Tell him that I came.

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2. திடீர் என்று காற்று அடித்தது (thiḍīr eṉḏṟů kāṯṟů aḍiththathu) ---> திடீர் ன்னு காத்து அடிச்சுது (thiḍīr ṉṉů kāthů aḍichuthu) = The wind blown suddenly.
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#B. என்றால் ---> ன்னா .

  1. அவன் வந்தான் என்றால் என்னிடம் சொல் (avaṉ vanthāṉ eṉḏṟāl eṉṉiḍam çol) ---> அவன் வந்தான் ன்னா என்கிட்ட சொல்லு (avaṉ vanthāṉ ṉṉā eṉkiṭṭa çollů) = Tell me if he comes.

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2. போ என்றால் போய்விடுவாயா? (Pō eṉḏṟāl pōyviḍuvāyā) ---> போ ன்னா போயிடுவியா? (Pō ṉṉā pōyḍuviyā) = Will you go if (I) say go?.
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3. செய்யமுடியாது என்றால் செய்யமுடியாது (çeyyamuḍiyāthu eṉḏṟāl çeyyamuḍiyāthu) ---> செய்யமுடியாது ன்னா செய்யமுடியாது (çeyyamuḍiyāthu ṉṉā çeyyamuḍiyāthu) = (I) can't do means (I) can't do.
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#C. என்ற ---> ன்ன .
this usage "என்ற ---> ன்ன" is mostly seen in Written Tamil only. This is mostly avoided in spoken Tamil.

  1. நான்தான் வருகிறேன் என்றேனே (nāṉtāṉ varukiṟēṉ eṉṟēṉ) ---> நான்தான் வர்றேன் ன்னேனே (nāṉtāṉ varṟēṉ ṉṉēṉē) = (approx.) I said that I am definitely coming.

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#Other usage related to it is "என்கிற ---> ன்கிற" is used in spoken Tamil.
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  1. அதைக் கீழே வை என்கிறேன் (athaik kīzhē vai eṉkiṟēṉ) ---> அதக் கீழ வையு ன்கிறே̃ (athak kīzha vaiyyů ṉkiṟē̃) = I say (you) put that down.

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2. ஒன்றாக சாப்பிடுவோம் என்கிறாள் (oṉṟāka çāppiḍuvōm eṉkiṟāḷ) ---> ஒன்னா சாப்பிடுவோ ன்கிறா (oṉṉā çāppiḍuvōm ṉkiṟā) = She says let's eat together .
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3. நேற்று சத்யா என்கிற பையன் வந்தான் (nēṯṟů Sathya eṉkiṟa paiyaṉ vanthāṉ) ---> நேத்து சத்யா ன்கிற பையன் வந்தான் (nēthů Sathya ṉkiṟa paiyaṉ vanthāṉ) = A boy called Sathya came yesterday.
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#Note:
"என்ற" is the adjectival past participle of the verb "என் (meaning 'to say')" and "என்கிற" is the adjectival present participle of the same aforesaid verb என்.

என்று is the Adverbial past participle.

In Spoken srilankan Tamil, "ன்ற" in "என்று, & என்றால்" retained its old pronunciation. And, it is pronounced as "என்று-eṉḏů" ---> "என்று-eṉḏů" & "என்றால்-eṉḏāl" ---> "என்றா-eṉḏā".

And, "என்கிற ---> ன்கிற" is pronounced similar to the Spoken Indian Tamil.

0 Comments
2025/01/31
12:35 UTC

4

Any Belgium-, Germany-, Netherlands-based Tamil learners?

வணக்கம் மக்களே,

I wanted to reach out to any Tamil learners who are close to Brussels, Antwerp, Amsterdam and Stuttgart. In the coming weeks I will be presenting a performance about the Tamil language and specifically the journey my mother and I have undertaken over the last year to learn the language as Tamil diaspora living in Australia and Belgium. I perform this show together with my mum and the majority is in Tamil.

I understand that this post might contravene the 'no advertising rule', but I think that this performance is extremely relevant for anyone learning Tamil (or any language for that matter).

The performance is on at

6/7 Feb - Kaaitheater, Brussels (BE)

10/11 Feb - Brakkegrond, Amsterdam (NL)

12/13 Feb - Monty, Antwerp (BE)

15/16 Feb - RAMPE, Stuttgart (DE)    

If anyone is still reading this far :) This project is part of a broader research, which I've been conducting for some years now, looking at how language learning can be helped by art/live-performance. So while the performance is presented as theatre or a piece of art, I also consider it a language-learning monologue.

Thanks for your time

0 Comments
2025/01/30
12:01 UTC

5

What is the pronunciation (spoken Tamil) of க in words such as புத்தகம், சமூக? The audio that accompanies my spoken Tamil textbook uses an "h" sound. However, I've heard "g" sound elsewhere.

2 Comments
2025/01/29
22:13 UTC

7

Written Tamil Verbs vs Spoken Tamil Verbs (major) pattern:

Many verbs show diaglossia of which the Past forms of the verbs show the maximum change. And in them, the verbs ending in "இ, ஐ, ய், உ, ர், ழ்" are important because they form the major chunk (all others are not much). Such verbs are categorised as அறி-Aṟi and பார்-Pār formulas (Refer the 4th and 11th entry from the 12 Formulas for the Conjugation of Tamil Verbs).
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Of the verbs ending in "இ, ஐ, ய், உ, ர், ழ்", the "Verbs ending in "இ, ஐ, ய்" alone gets changed" and the "Verbs ending in "உ, ர், ழ்" remains the same" .
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#A. 4th அறி-Aṟi:

1. "இ, ஐ, ய்": (ய்)ந்த் (nd) --> ஞ்ச் (ñj).
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1.1. அறி = அறிந்தேன் --> அறிஞ்சேன்.
1.2. மறை = மறைந்தேன் --> மறஞ்சேன்.
1.3. பாய் = பாய்ந்தேன் --> பாஞ்சேன்.
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2. "ர், ழ்": ந்த் (nd) --> ந்த் (nd).
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2.1. படர் = படர்ந்தேன் --> படர்ந்தேன்.
2.2. வாழ் = வாழ்ந்தேன் --> வாழ்ந்தேன்.

#B. 11th பார்-Pār:

1. "இ, ஐ, ய்": (ய்)த்த் (tt) --> ச்ச (cc).
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1.1. மடி = மடித்தேன் --> மடிச்சேன்.
1.2. படை = படைத்தேன் --> படச்சேன்.
1.3. சாய் = சாய்த்தேன் --> சாச்சேன்.
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2. "உ, ர், ழ்": த்த் (tt) --> த்த் (tt).
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2.1. எடு = எடுத்தேன் --> எடுத்தேன்.
2.2. சேர் = சேர்த்தேன் --> சேர்த்தேன்.
2.3. கவிழ் = கவிழ்த்தேன் --> கவிழ்த்தேன்.

0 Comments
2025/01/28
20:05 UTC

6

What does the Tamil idiom மூக்கில் விரலை வை mean? Put finger in nose?

For example, அவளுடைய திறமையைப் பார்த்து ஊரே மூக்கில் விரலை வைக்கிறது, as shown on this website. Google's translation: The town itself is amazed by her talent. Is this correct? So மூக்கில் விரலை வை means "be amazed"?

What's the logic though? Why does "put finger in nose" mean "be amazed"?

4 Comments
2025/01/25
03:51 UTC

5

Tamil Classes (20+)

Looking to join any in person (GTA area) or online Tamil classes catered towards young adults

8 Comments
2025/01/25
00:23 UTC

5

Translation opinion

Hi! I love this saying. It's hilarious. I am looking to translate feelings.
Does the grammar work? Would this Tamil work in a meme? Does it make sense? How would you translate it?

What do you think?

Life is hard
Being dumb makes it harder

வாழ்க்கை கஷ்டம் தான். 
முட்டாளுக்கு அதிகம் கஷ்டம் தான்.

1 Comment
2025/01/24
18:12 UTC

10

I find writing tamil really hard, and would like help

Basically I'm a 10th grader who's supposed to know how to read and write tamil, my basic reading skills are fine but the writing part is where things get nasty, i can write spellings but i have a deep deep problem with ன, ண, ர, ற, ள, ல present in words I just crash whenever I'm supposed to write words that has these words and to my bad luck these guys are present everywhere in sentences, would like help.

5 Comments
2025/01/24
14:21 UTC

6

What is the difference between pannalam and pannirulam

I think that pannirulam becomes pannivitulaam in written Tamil but I still don’t understand the difference in meaning can they be used interchangeably? What does the addition of -iru/-vitu mean

17 Comments
2025/01/22
15:40 UTC

7

Gerunds in Tamil?

Apparently according to Wikipedia there are 3 gerund forms in Tamil?

https://preview.redd.it/gcm6513yf6ee1.jpg?width=1543&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2dee3298fad373a13e45dcac03a7e48c8f7fbe71

How are each of them conjugated and how do they work? Do they work like English gerunds?

3 Comments
2025/01/20
16:40 UTC

7

How do you say “when” (as a conjunction)?

Note: I am NOT asking for “when” as in “When are we leaving?” I’m saying “when” as in “We’ll eat when he arrives” or “I loved maths when I was in school.” Examples would be nice

16 Comments
2025/01/20
16:33 UTC

9

Words because and by in Tamil

I know that people use multiple words and conjugation in Tamil to say because in Tamil such as aenna, -naale, -dhaale, and -athunaale but I don’t get the difference between these are these the same things can they be used interchangeably in each contexts or do the conjugations change the meaning I’m a bit confused on this. Secondly how do you say by in Tamil do you conjugate the verb with -al/-ale(I think means just by) ?

4 Comments
2025/01/20
04:03 UTC

7

How to make a negative sentence?

Hi all! I’m trying to learn Tamil. I’m of a non Tamil background.

I’m trying to find how to say negatives of a sentence. I know using ille as no or as a suffix of verbs but I’ve seen sentences without it.

Could someone explain how to turn a sentence like this “I did do this” to “I didn’t do this”? Any other examples will be great!

3 Comments
2025/01/20
03:52 UTC

9

And resources to learn Ancient Tamil?

I’m interested in Sangam literature so I was just wondering if there was any resources to learn Sangam Tamil. Also, I don’t have any flow of income so I need free resources, like free pdfs or a free YouTube course or smth

0 Comments
2025/01/19
17:26 UTC

19

Polite/respectful form for "she" is avanga?

I'm taking a course in Colloquial Tamil on UDEMY and they are teaching that the polite/respectful way of saying "she" is "avanga" (same as the word for "they"). So if I want to say that she (someone elder, like my mother) is singing, then I should say, "Avanga paadraanga." Is this correct?

Because I thought that "avar" (respectful form) could be used for either "he" or "she." But according to UDEMY, "avar" is used for "he" only and "avanga" is used for "she." Is this right?

10 Comments
2025/01/18
13:39 UTC

3

Tamil Equivalent of the word "Indoctrination"

As the title suggest..Can any fellow redditors suggest an apt tamil word for "indoctrination"

2 Comments
2025/01/17
09:21 UTC

7

Best youtube channels in tamil for a beginner

Vanakkam, i am a non tamil native intrested in tamil language, i had watched a lot of tamil movies and yes i know the basic tamil, but i need some youtube channel recommendations where i can enhance my vocabulary any recommendation is appreciated. Nandri

3 Comments
2025/01/16
09:49 UTC

3

What does ennai mean in Tamil does it mean me or myself or does it change based on the context ?

Also I’m pretty sure naane also means myself so what is the difference in usage

14 Comments
2025/01/10
17:21 UTC

3

What is the difference between பண்ணிக்கனும் and பண்ணனும், எடுத்திருலாம் and எடுத்துக்கலாம், பண்ணலாம், பண்ணிருலாம், பண்ணிக்கலாம்

18 Comments
2025/01/09
23:04 UTC

4

How do subordinating conjunctions work in Tamil ?

Words like if, because, even though, although, until, since, than etc.

67 Comments
2025/01/04
08:58 UTC

1

How do subordinating conjunctions work in Tamil ?

0 Comments
2025/01/04
08:19 UTC

5

What does the suffix -அச்சு indicate in Tamil

When you add the aforementioned suffix to a verb what does that mean ? For example வந்திருச்சு I’m not sure if I spelled that right or இருந்தாச்சு

3 Comments
2025/01/04
07:07 UTC

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