50 Essential Words You Need to Know for Tamil at the C1 Level

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Learning a new language is an enriching experience, and mastering Tamil, one of the classical languages of the world, can be incredibly rewarding. To reach a C1 level in Tamil, you need to have an extensive vocabulary that allows for fluency and comprehension in various contexts. This article will introduce you to 50 essential Tamil words that will help you navigate conversations, literature, and media at an advanced level. These words are not only common but also crucial for understanding the nuances of Tamil culture and communication.

Everyday Verbs

1. **เฎชเฏ‡เฎšเฏ** (Pesu) – To speak
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎคเฎฎเฎฟเฎดเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎชเฏ‡เฎšเฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฏ‡เฎฉเฏ. (Naan Tamilil pesugiren.) – I speak in Tamil.

2. **เฎตเฎพ** (Vaa) – To come
– Example: เฎ…เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎตเฏ€เฎŸเฏเฎŸเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎ•เฏ เฎตเฎฐเฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎฐเฏ. (Avar veettirkku varugiraar.) – He is coming home.

3. **เฎชเฏ‹** (Poo) – To go
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎชเฎณเฏเฎณเฎฟเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฏ เฎชเฏ‹เฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฏ‡เฎฉเฏ. (Naan pallikku pogiren.) – I am going to school.

4. **เฎšเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฎฟเฎŸเฏ** (Saapidhu) – To eat
– Example: เฎจเฏ€เฎ™เฏเฎ•เฎณเฏ เฎšเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฎฟเฎŸเฏเฎŸเฏ€เฎฐเฏเฎ•เฎณเฎพ? (Neengal saapitteergalaa?) – Did you eat?

5. **เฎชเฎพเฎฐเฏ** (Paar) – To see/watch
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎชเฎŸเฎฎเฏ เฎชเฎพเฎฐเฏเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฏ‡เฎฉเฏ. (Naan padam paarkkiren.) – I am watching a movie.

Descriptive Adjectives

6. **เฎ…เฎดเฎ•เฎพเฎฉ** (Azhagaan) – Beautiful
– Example: เฎ…เฎตเฎณเฏ เฎ…เฎดเฎ•เฎพเฎฉเฎตเฎณเฏ. (Aval azhagaanaval.) – She is beautiful.

7. **เฎจเฎฒเฏเฎฒ** (Nalla) – Good
– Example: เฎ‡เฎคเฏ เฎจเฎฒเฏเฎฒ เฎชเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฎ•เฎฎเฏ. (Idhu nalla puthagam.) – This is a good book.

8. **เฎชเฏ†เฎฐเฎฟเฎฏ** (Periya) – Big
– Example: เฎ…เฎจเฏเฎค เฎตเฏ€เฎŸเฏ เฎชเฏ†เฎฐเฎฟเฎฏเฎคเฏ. (Andha veedu periyadhu.) – That house is big.

9. **เฎšเฎฟเฎฑเฎฟเฎฏ** (Siriya) – Small
– Example: เฎ‡เฎคเฏ เฎ’เฎฐเฏ เฎšเฎฟเฎฑเฎฟเฎฏ เฎชเฎฟเฎฐเฎšเฏเฎšเฎฉเฏˆ. (Idhu oru siriyapratchanai.) – This is a small problem.

10. **เฎตเฏ‡เฎ•เฎฎเฎพเฎฉ** (Vegamaan) – Fast
– Example: เฎ…เฎตเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฏ‡เฎ•เฎฎเฎพเฎ• เฎ“เฎŸเฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎฉเฏ. (Avan vegamaaga odugiraan.) – He is running fast.

Common Nouns

11. **เฎจเฎพเฎŸเฏ** (Naadu) – Country
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎŽเฎฉเฏ เฎจเฎพเฎŸเฏเฎŸเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎ‡เฎฐเฏเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฏ‡เฎฉเฏ. (Naan en naatil irukkiren.) – I am in my country.

12. **เฎฎเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎณเฏ** (Makkal) – People
– Example: เฎฎเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎณเฏ เฎšเฎจเฏเฎคเฏˆเฎฏเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎ‡เฎฐเฏเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎฐเฏเฎ•เฎณเฏ. (Makkal sandhaiyil irukkiraargal.) – People are in the market.

13. **เฎ•เฎพเฎฒเฏˆ** (Kaalai) – Morning
– Example: เฎ•เฎพเฎฒเฏˆ เฎตเฎฃเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎฎเฏ! (Kaalai vanakkam!) – Good morning!

14. **เฎฎเฎพเฎฒเฏˆ** (Maala) – Evening
– Example: เฎฎเฎพเฎฒเฏˆ เฎจเฏ‡เฎฐเฎฎเฏ เฎ…เฎดเฎ•เฎพเฎฉเฎคเฏ. (Maala neram azhagaanadhu.) – Evening time is beautiful.

15. **เฎจเฎฃเฏเฎชเฎฐเฏ** (Nanbar) – Friend
– Example: เฎ…เฎตเฎฉเฏ เฎŽเฎฉเฏ เฎจเฎฃเฏเฎชเฎฉเฏ. (Avan en nanban.) – He is my friend.

Useful Adverbs

16. **เฎคเฏŠเฎŸเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ** (Thodarnthu) – Continuously
– Example: เฎ…เฎตเฎฉเฏ เฎคเฏŠเฎŸเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ เฎชเฎŸเฎฟเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎฉเฏ. (Avan thodarnthu padikkiraan.) – He is studying continuously.

17. **เฎตเฎฟเฎฐเฏˆเฎตเฎพเฎ•** (Viraivaga) – Quickly
– Example: เฎตเฎฟเฎฐเฏˆเฎตเฎพเฎ• เฎšเฏ†เฎฒเฏ. (Viraivaga sel.) – Go quickly.

18. **เฎฎเฏ†เฎฒเฏเฎฒ** (Mella) – Slowly
– Example: เฎ…เฎตเฎณเฏ เฎฎเฏ†เฎฒเฏเฎฒ เฎชเฏ‡เฎšเฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎณเฏ. (Aval mella pesugiraal.) – She is speaking slowly.

19. **เฎ…เฎคเฎฟเฎ•เฎฎเฎพเฎ•** (Adhigamaaga) – Excessively
– Example: เฎจเฏ€ เฎ…เฎคเฎฟเฎ•เฎฎเฎพเฎ• เฎšเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฎฟเฎŸเฎพเฎคเฏ‡. (Nee adhigamaaga saappidathee.) – Don’t eat excessively.

20. **เฎฎเฏ€เฎฃเฏเฎŸเฏเฎฎเฏ** (Meendum) – Again
– Example: เฎฎเฏ€เฎฃเฏเฎŸเฏเฎฎเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎฏเฎฑเฏเฎšเฎฟ เฎšเฏ†เฎฏเฏ. (Meendum muyarchi sei.) – Try again.

Important Conjunctions

21. **เฎ†เฎฉเฎพเฎฒเฏ** (Aanal) – But
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฎฐเฏเฎตเฏ‡เฎฉเฏ, เฎ†เฎฉเฎพเฎฒเฏ เฎ…เฎตเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฎฐเฎฎเฎพเฎŸเฏเฎŸเฎพเฎฉเฏ. (Naan varuven, aanal avan varamaataan.) – I will come, but he won’t.

22. **เฎŽเฎฉเฎตเฏ‡** (Enave) – Therefore
– Example: เฎŽเฎฉเฎตเฏ‡, เฎจเฏ€เฎ™เฏเฎ•เฎณเฏ เฎชเฎŸเฎฟเฎ•เฏเฎ• เฎตเฏ‡เฎฃเฏเฎŸเฏเฎฎเฏ. (Enave, neengal padikka vendum.) – Therefore, you should study.

23. **เฎเฎฉเฏ†เฎฉเฎฟเฎฒเฏ** (Yenendil) – Because
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎ‡เฎฐเฏเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฏ‡เฎฉเฏ เฎเฎฉเฏ†เฎฉเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎตเฏ‡เฎฒเฏˆ เฎฎเฏเฎŸเฎฟเฎจเฏเฎคเฎคเฏ. (Naan irukkiren yenendil velai mudindhadhu.) – I am here because work is over.

24. **เฎ…เฎฒเฏเฎฒเฎคเฏ** (Alladhu) – Or
– Example: เฎจเฏ€ เฎ•เฎพเฎชเฎฟ เฎ…เฎฒเฏเฎฒเฎคเฏ เฎคเฏ‡เฎจเฏ€เฎฐเฏ เฎ•เฏเฎŸเฎฟเฎชเฏเฎชเฎพเฎฏเฎพ? (Nee kaapi alladhu theneer kudippaayaa?) – Will you drink coffee or tea?

25. **เฎฎเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฎเฏ** (Mattrum) – And
– Example: เฎ…เฎตเฎฉเฏ เฎœเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎฎเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฎเฏ เฎœเฏ‡เฎฎเฏเฎธเฏ. (Avan Jaan mattrum James.) – He is John and James.

Prepositions You Should Know

26. **เฎฎเฏเฎฉเฏ** (Mun) – Before
– Example: เฎ…เฎตเฎฉเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฎจเฏเฎคเฎพเฎฉเฏ. (Avan mun vandhaan.) – He came before.

27. **เฎชเฎฟเฎฉเฏ** (Pin) – After
– Example: เฎ…เฎตเฎณเฏ เฎšเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฎพเฎŸเฏเฎŸเฎฟเฎฉเฏ เฎชเฎฟเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฎจเฏเฎคเฎพเฎณเฏ. (Aval saapaatin pin vandhaal.) – She came after dinner.

28. **เฎ‰เฎณเฏเฎณเฏ‡** (Ulle) – Inside
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฏเฏ เฎตเฏ€เฎŸเฏเฎŸเฎฟเฎฉเฏ เฎ‰เฎณเฏเฎณเฏ‡ เฎ‰เฎณเฏเฎณเฎคเฏ. (Naai veetin ulle ulladhu.) – The dog is inside the house.

29. **เฎตเฏ†เฎณเฎฟเฎฏเฏ‡** (Velie) – Outside
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฏ€เฎŸเฏเฎŸเฎฟเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฏ†เฎณเฎฟเฎฏเฏ‡ เฎ‡เฎฐเฏเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฏ‡เฎฉเฏ. (Naan veetin velie irukkiren.) – I am outside the house.

30. **เฎฎเฏ‡เฎฒเฏ** (Mel) – On
– Example: เฎชเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฎ•เฎฎเฏ เฎฎเฏ‡เฎšเฏˆเฎฏเฎฟเฎฉเฏ เฎฎเฏ‡เฎฒเฏ เฎ‰เฎณเฏเฎณเฎคเฏ. (Puthagam mesaiyin mel ulladhu.) – The book is on the table.

Expressions of Time

31. **เฎ‡เฎฉเฏเฎฑเฏ** (Indru) – Today
– Example: เฎ‡เฎฉเฏเฎฑเฏ เฎจเฎฒเฏเฎฒ เฎจเฎพเฎณเฏ. (Indru nalla naal.) – Today is a good day.

32. **เฎจเฏ‡เฎฑเฏเฎฑเฏ** (Netru) – Yesterday
– Example: เฎจเฏ‡เฎฑเฏเฎฑเฏ เฎชเฎณเฏเฎณเฎฟเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฏ เฎชเฏ‹เฎฉเฏ‡เฎฉเฏ. (Netru pallikku poaneen.) – I went to school yesterday.

33. **เฎจเฎพเฎณเฏˆ** (Naalai) – Tomorrow
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎณเฏˆ เฎจเฎพเฎฎเฏ เฎšเฎจเฏเฎคเฎฟเฎชเฏเฎชเฏ‹เฎฎเฏ. (Naalai naam sandhippom.) – We will meet tomorrow.

34. **เฎ‡เฎชเฏเฎชเฏŠเฎดเฏเฎคเฏ** (Ippo) – Now
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎ‡เฎชเฏเฎชเฏŠเฎดเฏเฎคเฏ เฎตเฏ‡เฎฒเฏˆ เฎšเฏ†เฎฏเฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฏ‡เฎฉเฏ. (Naan ippo velai seygiren.) – I am working now.

35. **เฎฎเฎพเฎฒเฏˆ** (Maalai) – Evening
– Example: เฎฎเฎพเฎฒเฏˆ เฎจเฏ‡เฎฐเฎฎเฏ เฎ…เฎดเฎ•เฎพเฎฉเฎคเฏ. (Maalai neram azhagaanadhu.) – Evening time is beautiful.

Describing Quantity

36. **เฎ…เฎคเฎฟเฎ•เฎฎเฏ** (Adhigam) – More
– Example: เฎจเฏ€เฎ™เฏเฎ•เฎณเฏ เฎ…เฎคเฎฟเฎ•เฎฎเฏ เฎชเฎŸเฎฟเฎ•เฏเฎ• เฎตเฏ‡เฎฃเฏเฎŸเฏเฎฎเฏ. (Neengal adhigam padikka vendum.) – You should study more.

37. **เฎ•เฏเฎฑเฏˆเฎตเฏ** (Kuraivu) – Less
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎ•เฏเฎฑเฏˆเฎตเฎพเฎ• เฎšเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฎฟเฎŸเฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฏ‡เฎฉเฏ. (Naan kuraivaga saappidugiren.) – I eat less.

38. **เฎฎเฎฟเฎ•เฎตเฏเฎฎเฏ** (Migavum) – Very
– Example: เฎ‡เฎคเฏ เฎฎเฎฟเฎ•เฎตเฏเฎฎเฏ เฎšเฏเฎตเฏˆเฎฏเฎพเฎ• เฎ‰เฎณเฏเฎณเฎคเฏ. (Idhu migavum suvaayaga ulladhu.) – This is very tasty.

39. **เฎšเฎฟเฎฒ** (Sila) – Some
– Example: เฎšเฎฟเฎฒ เฎฎเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎณเฏ เฎตเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ เฎตเฎฟเฎŸเฏเฎŸเฎพเฎฐเฏเฎ•เฎณเฏ. (Sila makkal vandhu vitaarhal.) – Some people have come.

40. **เฎŽเฎฒเฏเฎฒเฎพเฎฎเฏ** (Ellam) – All
– Example: เฎŽเฎฒเฏเฎฒเฎพเฎฎเฏ เฎจเฎฒเฏเฎฒเฎคเฏ. (Ellam nalladhu.) – Everything is good.

Important Pronouns

41. **เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ** (Naan) – I
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎคเฎฎเฎฟเฎดเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎชเฏ‡เฎšเฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฏ‡เฎฉเฏ. (Naan Tamilil pesugiren.) – I speak in Tamil.

42. **เฎจเฏ€** (Nee) – You (informal)
– Example: เฎจเฏ€ เฎŽเฎฉเฏเฎฉ เฎšเฏ†เฎฏเฏเฎตเฎพเฎฏเฏ? (Nee enna seyvaai?) – What will you do?

43. **เฎ…เฎตเฎฐเฏ** (Avar) – He/She (formal)
– Example: เฎ…เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎŽเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฏˆ เฎชเฎพเฎฐเฏเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎฐเฏ. (Avar ennai paarkkiraar.) – He/She is looking at me.

44. **เฎจเฎพเฎฎเฏ** (Naam) – We (inclusive)
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฎเฏ เฎŽเฎฒเฏเฎฒเฏ‹เฎฐเฏเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฏเฎฎเฏ เฎ‰เฎคเฎต เฎตเฏ‡เฎฃเฏเฎŸเฏเฎฎเฏ. (Naam ellorukkum udhava vendum.) – We should help everyone.

45. **เฎ…เฎคเฏ** (Adhu) – It
– Example: เฎ…เฎคเฏ เฎŽเฎฉเฏเฎฉ? (Adhu enna?) – What is that?

Expressing Feelings

46. **เฎšเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ‹เฎทเฎฎเฏ** (Santhosham) – Happiness
– Example: เฎŽเฎฉเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฏ เฎšเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ‹เฎทเฎฎเฏ. (Enakku santhosham.) – I am happy.

47. **เฎคเฏเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎฎเฏ** (Dhukkam) – Sadness
– Example: เฎ…เฎตเฎณเฏเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฏ เฎคเฏเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎฎเฏ. (Avalukku dhukkam.) – She is sad.

48. **เฎ•เฏ‹เฎชเฎฎเฏ** (Kobam) – Anger
– Example: เฎ…เฎตเฎฉเฏเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฏ เฎ•เฏ‹เฎชเฎฎเฏ เฎตเฎฐเฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฎคเฏ. (Avanukku kobam varugiradhu.) – He is getting angry.

49. **เฎชเฎฏเฎฎเฏ** (Bayam) – Fear
– Example: เฎŽเฎฉเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฏ เฎชเฎฏเฎฎเฏ เฎ‡เฎฒเฏเฎฒเฏˆ. (Enakku bayam illai.) – I am not afraid.

50. **เฎ†เฎšเฏˆ** (Aasai) – Desire
– Example: เฎŽเฎฉเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฏ เฎ’เฎฐเฏ เฎ†เฎšเฏˆ เฎ‡เฎฐเฏเฎ•เฏเฎ•เฎฟเฎฑเฎคเฏ. (Enakku oru aasai irukiradhu.) – I have a desire.

By familiarizing yourself with these 50 essential Tamil words, you’ll be well on your way to achieving C1 proficiency. Practice using these words in sentences, and try to incorporate them into your daily conversations. Not only will this expand your vocabulary, but it will also deepen your understanding of Tamil culture and communication. Happy learning!

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