Phrases in English and equivalent in Tamil with phonetic guide
General Phrases
I was recently asked by an American student who was traveling to Tamil Nadu, India (the southeastern state of India). This student was interested in communicating with the locals and was very much enthused about learning the Tamil language as this person would spend few months (long enough to interact with locals but not long enough to afford a special tutor for learning the Tamil language formally). The student chose to meet with me because of my involvement with Tallahassee Tamil Community and Tallahassee Tamil Sangam. The student was born and brought in the United States of America and didn’t know any Indian languages and has not traveled to India before. But the student would spend few months in a rural area as part of an educational training. The student is likely to return one more time in about a year later.
I quickly realized this may be a good opportunity for me to put together some resources for people like this student and those who would like to visit Tamil Nadu. So I and spent about two hours researching about what all common phrases a traveler would need to know. My own family’s travels to Japan, France, Germany, and Italy helped me in selecting some of the phrases.
Later on, I met with this person and gave the tables shown in next few pages. I also spent some time talking to this person in Tamil and its pronunciation. The table is my first attempt and the Tamil sentences shown are in the colloquial style rather than strict spoken Tamil. The sentences are intended to address everyday people rather than elders and seniors. English is different from many Indian languages in one important category; English language doesn’t change depending upon the level of respect of the addressee but Indian languages do. So be aware of this aspect.
KEYWORDS:
Important phrases, Travel Phrase, Tamil Phrases, English Travel Phrases and its Tamil Equivalent, Phrases used while traveling, Travel, Foreign Travel, Travelers to Tamil Nadu, Tamilnad, Tamilnadu, Tamil, Visitor, Visiting Tamil Nad, Visit, Travel companion, தமிழ், தமிழ் மொழி, தமிழ் நாடு, பிரயாணம், ரயில் பயணம், தமிழ் வார்த்தைகள், அடிக்கடி பயன் படும் தமிழ் வாசகங்கள், தமிழ் கேள்விகள், தமிழ் பதில்கள், பயணி, வழிப்போக்கர், பயணக்காரன், பார்வையாளர், விருந்தாளி, வருநர், வந்திருப்பவர்.
Phrase in English |
Phrase in Tamil (transliterated) |
In written Tamil (colloquial) |
My name is “ “ |
En pear “ “ |
என் பெயர் “ “ |
What is your (w/ respect) name? |
Onga pear enna? |
உங்க பெயர் என்ன? |
What is your (casual) name? |
On pear enna? |
உன் பெயர் என்ன? |
Hello |
Vannakkam |
வணக்கம் |
Thanks |
Nandri |
நன்றி |
I am okay! |
Nan nalla irukkan |
நான் நல்ல இருக்கேன் |
How about you? |
Neenga nalla irrukkingala |
நீங்க நல்ல இருக்கீங்களா? |
Nice to meet [you] |
[Ungala] parthathula santhosham |
[உங்கள] பார்த்துல சந்தோஷம் |
Are you doing well? |
Sovkkiayama? |
சௌக்கியமா? |
I am doing well! |
Nan sovkkiyam |
நான் சௌக்கியம் |
Bye (I will see you later) |
Poyittu varan (leave & come back) |
பொய்ட்டு வரேன் |
Phrase in English |
Phrase in Tamil (transliterated) |
In written Tamil (colloquial) |
|
|
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Bye |
Varan (come back) |
வரேன் |
Good morning |
Kalai vannakkam |
காலை வணக்கம் |
Good evening |
Malai vannakkam |
மாலை வணக்கம் |
Good night |
Apparam parkalam (will see you later) |
அப்பறம் பார்க்கலாம் |
Excuse me |
Mannikkanum |
மன்னிக்கணும் |
I don’t know Tamil |
Tamil theriyathu |
தமிழ் தெரியாது |
I know little Tamil |
Konchayam Tamil theriyum |
தமிழ் கொஞ்சம் தெரியும் |
Please |
Thayavu seithu |
தயவு செய்து |
Please excuse me |
Thayavu seithu mannikanum |
தயவு செய்து மன்னிக்கணும் |
How much is this apple? |
Apple velai enna? |
ஆப்பிள் வெலை என்ன? |
Where is the train station? |
Train station enga? |
ட்ரின் ஸ்டேசன் எங்க? |
Where is the bus stand? |
Bus stand enga erukku? |
பஸ் ஸ்டாண்டு எங்க இருக்கு? |
No |
Illa |
இல்ல/வேண்டாம் |
Phrase in English |
Phrase in Tamil (transliterated) |
In written Tamil (colloquial) |
Yes |
Aamam |
ஆமாம் |
I want |
Aenakku venum |
எனக்கு வேணும் |
I don’t want |
Aenakku vendam |
எனக்கு வேண்டாம் |
I am hungry |
Aenakku pacikkuthu |
எனக்கு பசிக்குது |
I am thirsty |
Aenakku thanni venum (I want water) |
எனக்கு தண்ணி வேணும் |
Nice |
Nalla erukku |
நல்லா இருக்கு |
Not good |
Nalla illai |
நல்லா இல்ல |
Where is hospital/doctor’s office? |
Hospiatl/doctor office enga irrukku? |
ஆஸ்பத்திரி எங்க இருக்கு? |
Where is police station? |
Police station enga errkku? |
போலீஸ் ஸ்டேசன் எங்க இருக்கு? |
I have a head ache |
Ankku thalai valikkuthu |
எனக்கு தலை வலிக்குது |
I have a stomach ache |
Ankku (en) vayatha valikkuthu |
எனக்கு வயத்தை வலிக்குது |
I am afraid |
Anukku payam irrukkuthu |
எனக்கு பயமா இருக்குது |
Don’t touch me! |
Ennai thodathe! |
என்னை தொடாதே |
Stand clear off me! |
Ennai thalli nillunga! |
என்னை தள்ளி நில்லுங்க |
Fire! Fire! |
Thee or Nerruppu |
தீ! நெருப்பு |
Where is the rest room? |
Bathroom enga irrukku |
பாத் ரூம் எங்க இருக்கு? |
Where is ladies room? |
Ladies bathroom enga irrukku? |
லேடீஸ் பாத் ரூம் எங்க இருக்கு? |
Shopping Phrases used while traveling abroad (english and in Tamil)
Phrase in English |
Phrase in Tamil (transliterated) |
In written Tamil (colloquial) |
Where is dress shop? |
Thuni kadai enga irrkku? |
துணிக்கடை எங்க இருக்கு? |
Where is a hotel? |
Hotel enga irrukku? |
ஹோட்டல் எங்க இருக்கு? |
Where is my room? |
En room enga irrkku? |
என் ரூம் எங்க இருக்கு? |
How to go to hotel? |
Hotelkku eppadi porathu? |
ஹோட்டலுக்கு எப்படி போறது? |
Where is vegetable shop |
Kai curry kadai enga irrukku? |
காய்கறி கடை எங்க இருக்கு? |
How much is this? |
Edhu evvalu? |
இது எவ்வளது? |
Too much |
Adigam |
அதிகம் |
Too little |
Kuraivu |
குறைவு |
I want fresh |
Pudusa venum |
புதுசா வேணும் |
Is it clean? |
Suthama irrukka? |
சுத்தமா இருக்கா? |
Don’t want |
Vendaam |
வேண்டாம் |
Want |
Vennum |
வேணும் |
I don’t want |
Aenakku vendam |
எனக்கு வேண்டாம் |
I want |
Aenakku vennum |
எனக்கு வேணும் |
I am hungry |
Aenakku pacikkuthu |
எனக்கு பசிக்குது |
Phrase in English |
Phrase in Tamil (transliterated) |
In written Tamil (colloquial) |
I am thirsty |
Aenakku thanni venum (I want water) |
எனக்கு தண்ணி தவிக்குது |
Nice |
Nalla erukku |
நல்லா இருக்கு |
Not good |
Nalla illai |
நல்லா இல்ல |
What is the size |
Size enna |
சைஸ் என்ன? |
I will come back |
Apparam varan |
அப்பறம் வரேன் |
I want coffee |
Coffee venum |
காபி வேணும் |
I want (black) coffee with no sugar and no milk |
Coffee sakkari podama pal illama venum |
காபி சக்கரை போடம பால் இல்லமே வேணும் |
Waiter! |
Server |
சர்வர் |
Check please! |
Bill kodnuga |
பில் கொடுங்க |
Delicious (food) |
Tasta irrukkuthu |
டேஸ்டா இருக்கு |
Numbers and colors (in Tamizh and English)
Number |
In Tamil |
Color |
In Tami |
1 |
Onnu |
Green |
Pachai |
2 |
Rendu |
Red |
Seppu |
3 |
Munu |
White |
Vellai |
4 |
Nalu |
Black |
Karruppu |
5 |
Anchu |
Blue |
Neelam |
6 |
Aaru |
Yellow |
Mancha |
7 |
Aelu |
Pink |
Rose |
8 |
Aettu |
Brown |
Brown |
9 |
Onpathu |
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10 |
Patthu |
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100 |
Nuru |
|
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200 |
Rendu Nuru |
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300 |
Munu Nuru |
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1000 |
Aeiyaram |
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Words used in America |
Equivalent words in India |
Waiter |
Server |
Check please |
Bill please |
Elevator |
Lift |
Gas station |
Petrol Bunk |
Gas(oline) |
Petrol |
Line |
Queue |
First floor |
Ground floor |
Second floor |
First floor |
Bike |
Cycle |
Cell phone number |
Mobile number |
Excuse me |
Pardon me |
You are welcome! |
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Common Verbs and Nouns in English and Tamil (for foreigners visiting Tamil nadu)
Verb |
In Tamil |
Noun |
In Tami |
Sit |
Utkar |
Name |
Peyar |
Stand |
Alunthiru |
House |
Veedu |
Run |
Odu |
Road |
Road/salai |
Walk |
Nada |
Lane |
Theru |
See |
Par |
Temple |
Koil |
Eat |
Sappidu |
God/Goddess |
Sami |
Drink |
Kudi |
Bus,van,car,train,plane |
Bus,van,car,train,plane |
Lie down |
Padu |
Up |
Mela |
Sleep |
Thungu |
Down |
Kela |
Come |
Va |
Front |
Munnala |
Go |
Po |
Back |
Pinnala |
Read |
Padi |
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Sing |
Padu |
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Important Phrases For English Speaking Travelers To Tamilnadu Part-01