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.
1. **เฎชเฏเฎเฏ** (Pesu) – To speak
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎคเฎฎเฎฟเฎดเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎชเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฉเฏ. (Naan Tamilil pesugiren.) – I speak in Tamil.
2. **เฎตเฎพ** (Vaa) – To come
– Example: เฎ
เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎตเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎเฏ เฎตเฎฐเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎฐเฏ. (Avar veettirkku varugiraar.) – He is coming home.
3. **เฎชเฏ** (Poo) – To go
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎชเฎณเฏเฎณเฎฟเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎชเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฉเฏ. (Naan pallikku pogiren.) – I am going to school.
4. **เฎเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฎฟเฎเฏ** (Saapidhu) – To eat
– Example: เฎจเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎณเฏ เฎเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฎฟเฎเฏเฎเฏเฎฐเฏเฎเฎณเฎพ? (Neengal saapitteergalaa?) – Did you eat?
5. **เฎชเฎพเฎฐเฏ** (Paar) – To see/watch
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎชเฎเฎฎเฏ เฎชเฎพเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฉเฏ. (Naan padam paarkkiren.) – I am watching a movie.
6. **เฎ
เฎดเฎเฎพเฎฉ** (Azhagaan) – Beautiful
– Example: เฎ
เฎตเฎณเฏ เฎ
เฎดเฎเฎพเฎฉเฎตเฎณเฏ. (Aval azhagaanaval.) – She is beautiful.
7. **เฎจเฎฒเฏเฎฒ** (Nalla) – Good
– Example: เฎเฎคเฏ เฎจเฎฒเฏเฎฒ เฎชเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฎเฎฎเฏ. (Idhu nalla puthagam.) – This is a good book.
8. **เฎชเฏเฎฐเฎฟเฎฏ** (Periya) – Big
– Example: เฎ
เฎจเฏเฎค เฎตเฏเฎเฏ เฎชเฏเฎฐเฎฟเฎฏเฎคเฏ. (Andha veedu periyadhu.) – That house is big.
9. **เฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎฟเฎฏ** (Siriya) – Small
– Example: เฎเฎคเฏ เฎเฎฐเฏ เฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎฟเฎฏ เฎชเฎฟเฎฐเฎเฏเฎเฎฉเฏ. (Idhu oru siriyapratchanai.) – This is a small problem.
10. **เฎตเฏเฎเฎฎเฎพเฎฉ** (Vegamaan) – Fast
– Example: เฎ
เฎตเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฏเฎเฎฎเฎพเฎ เฎเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎฉเฏ. (Avan vegamaaga odugiraan.) – He is running fast.
11. **เฎจเฎพเฎเฏ** (Naadu) – Country
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎเฎฉเฏ เฎจเฎพเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฉเฏ. (Naan en naatil irukkiren.) – I am in my country.
12. **เฎฎเฎเฏเฎเฎณเฏ** (Makkal) – People
– Example: เฎฎเฎเฏเฎเฎณเฏ เฎเฎจเฏเฎคเฏเฎฏเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎฐเฏเฎเฎณเฏ. (Makkal sandhaiyil irukkiraargal.) – People are in the market.
13. **เฎเฎพเฎฒเฏ** (Kaalai) – Morning
– Example: เฎเฎพเฎฒเฏ เฎตเฎฃเฎเฏเฎเฎฎเฏ! (Kaalai vanakkam!) – Good morning!
14. **เฎฎเฎพเฎฒเฏ** (Maala) – Evening
– Example: เฎฎเฎพเฎฒเฏ เฎจเฏเฎฐเฎฎเฏ เฎ
เฎดเฎเฎพเฎฉเฎคเฏ. (Maala neram azhagaanadhu.) – Evening time is beautiful.
15. **เฎจเฎฃเฏเฎชเฎฐเฏ** (Nanbar) – Friend
– Example: เฎ
เฎตเฎฉเฏ เฎเฎฉเฏ เฎจเฎฃเฏเฎชเฎฉเฏ. (Avan en nanban.) – He is my friend.
16. **เฎคเฏเฎเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ** (Thodarnthu) – Continuously
– Example: เฎ
เฎตเฎฉเฏ เฎคเฏเฎเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ เฎชเฎเฎฟเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎฉเฏ. (Avan thodarnthu padikkiraan.) – He is studying continuously.
17. **เฎตเฎฟเฎฐเฏเฎตเฎพเฎ** (Viraivaga) – Quickly
– Example: เฎตเฎฟเฎฐเฏเฎตเฎพเฎ เฎเฏเฎฒเฏ. (Viraivaga sel.) – Go quickly.
18. **เฎฎเฏเฎฒเฏเฎฒ** (Mella) – Slowly
– Example: เฎ
เฎตเฎณเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎฒเฏเฎฒ เฎชเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎณเฏ. (Aval mella pesugiraal.) – She is speaking slowly.
19. **เฎ
เฎคเฎฟเฎเฎฎเฎพเฎ** (Adhigamaaga) – Excessively
– Example: เฎจเฏ เฎ
เฎคเฎฟเฎเฎฎเฎพเฎ เฎเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฎฟเฎเฎพเฎคเฏ. (Nee adhigamaaga saappidathee.) – Don’t eat excessively.
20. **เฎฎเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ** (Meendum) – Again
– Example: เฎฎเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎฏเฎฑเฏเฎเฎฟ เฎเฏเฎฏเฏ. (Meendum muyarchi sei.) – Try again.
21. **เฎเฎฉเฎพเฎฒเฏ** (Aanal) – But
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฎฐเฏเฎตเฏเฎฉเฏ, เฎเฎฉเฎพเฎฒเฏ เฎ
เฎตเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฎฐเฎฎเฎพเฎเฏเฎเฎพเฎฉเฏ. (Naan varuven, aanal avan varamaataan.) – I will come, but he won’t.
22. **เฎเฎฉเฎตเฏ** (Enave) – Therefore
– Example: เฎเฎฉเฎตเฏ, เฎจเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎณเฏ เฎชเฎเฎฟเฎเฏเฎ เฎตเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ. (Enave, neengal padikka vendum.) – Therefore, you should study.
23. **เฎเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฎฟเฎฒเฏ** (Yenendil) – Because
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฉเฏ เฎเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎตเฏเฎฒเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎจเฏเฎคเฎคเฏ. (Naan irukkiren yenendil velai mudindhadhu.) – I am here because work is over.
24. **เฎ
เฎฒเฏเฎฒเฎคเฏ** (Alladhu) – Or
– Example: เฎจเฏ เฎเฎพเฎชเฎฟ เฎ
เฎฒเฏเฎฒเฎคเฏ เฎคเฏเฎจเฏเฎฐเฏ เฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎชเฏเฎชเฎพเฎฏเฎพ? (Nee kaapi alladhu theneer kudippaayaa?) – Will you drink coffee or tea?
25. **เฎฎเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฎเฏ** (Mattrum) – And
– Example: เฎ
เฎตเฎฉเฏ เฎเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎฎเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฎเฏ เฎเฏเฎฎเฏเฎธเฏ. (Avan Jaan mattrum James.) – He is John and James.
26. **เฎฎเฏเฎฉเฏ** (Mun) – Before
– Example: เฎ
เฎตเฎฉเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฎจเฏเฎคเฎพเฎฉเฏ. (Avan mun vandhaan.) – He came before.
27. **เฎชเฎฟเฎฉเฏ** (Pin) – After
– Example: เฎ
เฎตเฎณเฏ เฎเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฎพเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฉเฏ เฎชเฎฟเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฎจเฏเฎคเฎพเฎณเฏ. (Aval saapaatin pin vandhaal.) – She came after dinner.
28. **เฎเฎณเฏเฎณเฏ** (Ulle) – Inside
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฏเฏ เฎตเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฉเฏ เฎเฎณเฏเฎณเฏ เฎเฎณเฏเฎณเฎคเฏ. (Naai veetin ulle ulladhu.) – The dog is inside the house.
29. **เฎตเฏเฎณเฎฟเฎฏเฏ** (Velie) – Outside
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฏเฎณเฎฟเฎฏเฏ เฎเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฉเฏ. (Naan veetin velie irukkiren.) – I am outside the house.
30. **เฎฎเฏเฎฒเฏ** (Mel) – On
– Example: เฎชเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฎเฎฎเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎเฏเฎฏเฎฟเฎฉเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎฒเฏ เฎเฎณเฏเฎณเฎคเฏ. (Puthagam mesaiyin mel ulladhu.) – The book is on the table.
31. **เฎเฎฉเฏเฎฑเฏ** (Indru) – Today
– Example: เฎเฎฉเฏเฎฑเฏ เฎจเฎฒเฏเฎฒ เฎจเฎพเฎณเฏ. (Indru nalla naal.) – Today is a good day.
32. **เฎจเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฏ** (Netru) – Yesterday
– Example: เฎจเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฏ เฎชเฎณเฏเฎณเฎฟเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎชเฏเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฏ. (Netru pallikku poaneen.) – I went to school yesterday.
33. **เฎจเฎพเฎณเฏ** (Naalai) – Tomorrow
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎณเฏ เฎจเฎพเฎฎเฏ เฎเฎจเฏเฎคเฎฟเฎชเฏเฎชเฏเฎฎเฏ. (Naalai naam sandhippom.) – We will meet tomorrow.
34. **เฎเฎชเฏเฎชเฏเฎดเฏเฎคเฏ** (Ippo) – Now
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎเฎชเฏเฎชเฏเฎดเฏเฎคเฏ เฎตเฏเฎฒเฏ เฎเฏเฎฏเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฉเฏ. (Naan ippo velai seygiren.) – I am working now.
35. **เฎฎเฎพเฎฒเฏ** (Maalai) – Evening
– Example: เฎฎเฎพเฎฒเฏ เฎจเฏเฎฐเฎฎเฏ เฎ
เฎดเฎเฎพเฎฉเฎคเฏ. (Maalai neram azhagaanadhu.) – Evening time is beautiful.
36. **เฎ
เฎคเฎฟเฎเฎฎเฏ** (Adhigam) – More
– Example: เฎจเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎณเฏ เฎ
เฎคเฎฟเฎเฎฎเฏ เฎชเฎเฎฟเฎเฏเฎ เฎตเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ. (Neengal adhigam padikka vendum.) – You should study more.
37. **เฎเฏเฎฑเฏเฎตเฏ** (Kuraivu) – Less
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎเฏเฎฑเฏเฎตเฎพเฎ เฎเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฎฟเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฉเฏ. (Naan kuraivaga saappidugiren.) – I eat less.
38. **เฎฎเฎฟเฎเฎตเฏเฎฎเฏ** (Migavum) – Very
– Example: เฎเฎคเฏ เฎฎเฎฟเฎเฎตเฏเฎฎเฏ เฎเฏเฎตเฏเฎฏเฎพเฎ เฎเฎณเฏเฎณเฎคเฏ. (Idhu migavum suvaayaga ulladhu.) – This is very tasty.
39. **เฎเฎฟเฎฒ** (Sila) – Some
– Example: เฎเฎฟเฎฒ เฎฎเฎเฏเฎเฎณเฏ เฎตเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ เฎตเฎฟเฎเฏเฎเฎพเฎฐเฏเฎเฎณเฏ. (Sila makkal vandhu vitaarhal.) – Some people have come.
40. **เฎเฎฒเฏเฎฒเฎพเฎฎเฏ** (Ellam) – All
– Example: เฎเฎฒเฏเฎฒเฎพเฎฎเฏ เฎจเฎฒเฏเฎฒเฎคเฏ. (Ellam nalladhu.) – Everything is good.
41. **เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ** (Naan) – I
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎคเฎฎเฎฟเฎดเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎชเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฉเฏ. (Naan Tamilil pesugiren.) – I speak in Tamil.
42. **เฎจเฏ** (Nee) – You (informal)
– Example: เฎจเฏ เฎเฎฉเฏเฎฉ เฎเฏเฎฏเฏเฎตเฎพเฎฏเฏ? (Nee enna seyvaai?) – What will you do?
43. **เฎ
เฎตเฎฐเฏ** (Avar) – He/She (formal)
– Example: เฎ
เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฏ เฎชเฎพเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎฐเฏ. (Avar ennai paarkkiraar.) – He/She is looking at me.
44. **เฎจเฎพเฎฎเฏ** (Naam) – We (inclusive)
– Example: เฎจเฎพเฎฎเฏ เฎเฎฒเฏเฎฒเฏเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ เฎเฎคเฎต เฎตเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ. (Naam ellorukkum udhava vendum.) – We should help everyone.
45. **เฎ
เฎคเฏ** (Adhu) – It
– Example: เฎ
เฎคเฏ เฎเฎฉเฏเฎฉ? (Adhu enna?) – What is that?
46. **เฎเฎจเฏเฎคเฏเฎทเฎฎเฏ** (Santhosham) – Happiness
– Example: เฎเฎฉเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎเฎจเฏเฎคเฏเฎทเฎฎเฏ. (Enakku santhosham.) – I am happy.
47. **เฎคเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฎเฏ** (Dhukkam) – Sadness
– Example: เฎ
เฎตเฎณเฏเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎคเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฎเฏ. (Avalukku dhukkam.) – She is sad.
48. **เฎเฏเฎชเฎฎเฏ** (Kobam) – Anger
– Example: เฎ
เฎตเฎฉเฏเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎเฏเฎชเฎฎเฏ เฎตเฎฐเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎคเฏ. (Avanukku kobam varugiradhu.) – He is getting angry.
49. **เฎชเฎฏเฎฎเฏ** (Bayam) – Fear
– Example: เฎเฎฉเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎชเฎฏเฎฎเฏ เฎเฎฒเฏเฎฒเฏ. (Enakku bayam illai.) – I am not afraid.
50. **เฎเฎเฏ** (Aasai) – Desire
– Example: เฎเฎฉเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎเฎฐเฏ เฎเฎเฏ เฎเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎคเฏ. (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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