Tamil phrasebook
Tamil (தமிழ்) is a classical language and the language closest to Proto-Dravidian among the Dravidian language family. Spoken predominantly by Tamils in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore, it has smaller communities of speakers in many other countries via the world. As of 2013, it is the 18-20 most spoken language, with over seventy eight million speakers worldwide. It is one of the official languages of India, Singapore and Sri Lanka. It is also a language of medium of instruction in schools in Mauritius, Réunion, Canada, Fiji, Seychelles and many other countries.
Pronunciation guide Edit
Vowels Edit
Each english vowel has a long and brief pair in tamil:
a  brief like “a” in the indian pronunciation of “apple”, or english ‘u’ sound in ‘cup’, ‘cut’ a  long sound like “a” in “amen” or ‘far’ e  brief sound is like ‘e’ in “bed” or ‘e’ in ‘moist’ (often silent at the end of a word) e long sound is like ‘ey’ in ‘whey’ or i  brief sound like ‘i’ in ‘it’ i  long sound like ‘ee’ in ‘keep’ o  brief sound like ‘o’ in ‘hot’ o  long sound like ‘o’ on ‘stove’ u  brief sound like ‘u’ in ‘put’ u  long sound like ‘oo’ in ‘hoop’
Consonants Edit
Common diphthongs Edit
Phrase list Edit
Basics Edit
ingE yArukkAvathu Angilam theriyuma? Help!  uthavi veeNdum உதவி வேண்டும். Look out!  sariyaaga paar. சரியாக பார் Good morning.  kaalai vaNakkam. காலை வணக்கம் Good evening.  maalai vaNakkam. மாலை வணக்கம் Good night (to sleep)  nalliravu-நல்லிரவு (இரவு வணக்கம்) Secret.  Ragasiyam செகுத்து(இரகசியம்) I’m looking forward to.   Naan yethirparthu kondirukirEn -நான் எதிர்பார்த்து கொண்டிருக்கிறேன் Have a pleasant journey.  Ungal payanam nandraaga amayattum.- உங்கள் பயணம் நன்றாக அமையட்டும். (ungaL) payanam inithAgattum! I wish you have a nice day  Intha Nal Iniyia Nalaga Malarum- இந்த நாள் இனிய நாளாக மலரும்.
Headline text Edit
At this point, the fake phoneticizations of English are going to stop, and be substituted by ellipses.
Problems Edit
Impatiently waiting : Avaloda irukkEn (spoken)
Numbers Edit
number _____ (train, bus, etc.)  number _____ (. ) half  half (arai) less  less (kuraivu/ kuraivaaga) more  more (athigam)
Time Edit
Clock time Edit
Duration Edit
Days Edit
Months Edit
All dates provided below are approximate, varying by one or two days in the Gregorian Calendar depending on adjustments made to the calendar each year, to bring it in alignment with astronomic observations.
January  15th January to 15th February (Thai) February  15th February to 15th March (Maasi) March  15th March to 15th April (Panguni) April  15th April to 15th May (Chithirai) May  15th May to 15th June (Vaikasi) June  15th June to 15th July (Aani) July  15th July to 15th August (Aadi) August  15th August to 15th September (Aavani) September  15th September to 15th October (Purattasi) October  15th October to 15th November (Aippasi) November  15th November to 15th December (Kaarthikai) December  15th December to 15th January (Margali)
The year starts on the very first day of the month of Chithirai, usually the 15th of April.
Writing time and date Edit
Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.
Colors Edit
Transportation Edit
Bus and train Edit
Directions Edit
how to go there ? : anga eppadi povathu ?
How do I get to _____ ?  _____ ku eppadi pOvathu? (. ) . the train station?  . pugai vandi nilayam (. ) . the bus station?  . perunthu nilayam (. ) . the airport?  . vimaana nilayam (. ) . downtown?  . nagaram (. ) . the youth hostel?  . ilaingar viduthi(. ) . the _____ hotel?  . thangum viduthi (. ) . the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?  . the America/Canadia/Australia/Brithaaniya thootharagam(. ) Where are there a lot of.   engey niraya. (. ) irukkum? . hotels?  thangum viduthi? (. ) . restaurants?  unavagam (. ) . bars?  mathubaana kadai (. ) . sites to see?  . sutri parkum idam? (. ) Can you demonstrate me on the map?  varai padathil kaata mudiyumaa? (. ) street  theru (. ) Turn left.  idathu pakkam thirumbavum. (. ) Turn right.  valathu pakkam thirumbavum. (. ) left  idam (. ) right  valam (. ) straight ahead  naer (. ) towards the _____  _____ pakkamaga (. ) past the _____  _____ thaandi (. ) before the _____  _____ munnaal (. ) Witness for the _____.  _____ irukkiratha paarungal. (. ) intersection  sandhippu (. ) north  vadakku (. ) south  therku (. ) east  kilakku (. ) west  maErku (. ) uphill  mEdu (. ) downhill  pallam (. )