Learning Tamil, one of the oldest living languages, can be an enriching experience. For advanced learners, expanding vocabulary is crucial to understanding nuanced conversations, literature, and media. This article introduces key Tamil words and phrases that will help you elevate your language skills to an advanced level.
Advanced vocabulary in Tamil not only involves knowing words but also understanding their context, usage, and nuances. Here are some critical words and phrases that can help you communicate more effectively.
1. **เฎจเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฏ (Netru)** – This word means “yesterday.” It’s commonly used in both casual and formal conversations. For example, “เฎจเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฏ เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎเฎฟเฎฉเฎฟเฎฎเฎพ เฎชเฎพเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎ เฎเฏเฎฉเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฉเฏ” (Netru naan cinema paarka sendren) means “Yesterday, I went to watch a movie.”
2. **เฎจเฎพเฎณเฏ (Naalai)** – This translates to “tomorrow.” Example: “เฎจเฎพเฎณเฏ เฎฎเฎพเฎฒเฏ เฎเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฏ เฎเฎจเฏเฎคเฎฟเฎเฏเฎเฎฒเฎพเฎฎเฏ” (Naalai maalai ennai sandikkalam) meaning “You can meet me tomorrow evening.”
3. **เฎฎเฏเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฎพเฎฒเฏ (Munnaal)** – This means “before.” It can be used in sentences like, “เฎ เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฎพเฎฒเฏ เฎชเฎพเฎฐเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎฉเฏ” (Avarai munnaal partheen) meaning “I saw him before.”
4. **เฎชเฎฟเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฎพเฎฒเฏ (Pinnaal)** – This translates to “after.” For instance, “เฎ เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎชเฎฟเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฎพเฎฒเฏ เฎตเฎจเฏเฎคเฎพเฎฐเฏ” (Avar pinnaal vandhaar) means “He came after.”
1. **เฎ เฎฑเฏเฎชเฏเฎคเฎฎเฏ (Arputham)** – This means “wonderful” or “marvelous.” It’s a great word to use when you want to express admiration. For example, “เฎ เฎคเฏ เฎเฎฐเฏ เฎ เฎฑเฏเฎชเฏเฎคเฎฎเฎพเฎฉ เฎ เฎฉเฏเฎชเฎตเฎฎเฏ” (Adhu oru arputhamaana anubavam) translates to “That was a wonderful experience.”
2. **เฎ เฎเฎพเฎคเฎพเฎฐเฎฃเฎฎเฏ (Asaadhaaranam)** – This translates to “extraordinary.” You might say, “เฎ เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎ เฎเฎพเฎคเฎพเฎฐเฎฃเฎฎเฎพเฎฉ เฎฎเฎฉเฎฟเฎคเฎฐเฏ” (Avar asaadhaarana maana manidhar) meaning “He is an extraordinary person.”
3. **เฎตเฎฟเฎฐเฏเฎฎเฏเฎชเฎคเฏเฎคเฎเฏเฎ (Virumbathakka)** – This means “desirable.” For instance, “เฎเฎคเฏ เฎเฎฐเฏ เฎตเฎฟเฎฐเฏเฎฎเฏเฎชเฎคเฏเฎคเฎเฏเฎ เฎตเฏเฎฒเฏ” (Idhu oru virumbathakka velai) translates to “This is a desirable job.”
1. **เฎ เฎคเฎฟเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟ (Adhirchi)** – This word means “shock.” It’s useful in many emotional contexts. Example: “เฎ เฎจเฏเฎค เฎเฏเฎฏเฏเฎคเฎฟ เฎเฎฉเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎ เฎคเฎฟเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟ เฎ เฎณเฎฟเฎคเฏเฎคเฎคเฏ” (Andha seidhi enakku adhirchi alithathu) meaning “That news shocked me.”
2. **เฎเฎจเฏเฎคเฏเฎทเฎฎเฏ (Santhosham)** – This means “happiness.” For example, “เฎ เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎคเฎฉเฎคเฏ เฎตเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฎฟเฎฏเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎเฎจเฏเฎคเฏเฎทเฎฎเฎพเฎ เฎเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฎพเฎฐเฏ” (Avar thanadhu vetriil santhoshamaaga irundhaar) meaning “He was happy with his success.”
3. **เฎ เฎตเฎฎเฎพเฎฉเฎฎเฏ (Avamaanam)** – This translates to “humiliation.” You might hear, “เฎ เฎคเฏ เฎเฎฉเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎ เฎตเฎฎเฎพเฎฉเฎฎเฎพเฎ เฎเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฎคเฏ” (Adhu enakku avamaanamaaga irundhathu) meaning “That was humiliating for me.”
1. **เฎตเฎฟเฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎเฎฟเฎเฏเฎ (Vimarsikka)** – This means “to criticize.” For instance, “เฎ เฎตเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎฏ เฎตเฏเฎฒเฏเฎคเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎตเฎฟเฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎเฎฟเฎเฏเฎเฎชเฏเฎชเฎ เฎตเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ” (Avarudiya velai than vimarsikkapadaveyndum) translates to “His work needs to be criticized.”
2. **เฎ เฎฑเฎฟเฎฏเฎชเฏเฎชเฎเฏเฎคเฏเฎค (Ariyappadutha)** – This translates to “to inform.” Example: “เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎตเฏ เฎชเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฎฟ เฎ เฎฑเฎฟเฎฏเฎชเฏเฎชเฎเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฉเฏ” (Naan unnai mudivu patri ariyappaduthugiren) meaning “I am informing you about the decision.”
3. **เฎฎเฎฑเฏเฎชเฎเฎฟเฎฏเฏเฎฎเฏ (Marupadiyum)** – This means “to repeat.” For example, “เฎ เฎคเฏ เฎฎเฎฑเฏเฎชเฎเฎฟเฎฏเฏเฎฎเฏ เฎเฏเฎฏเฏเฎฏ เฎตเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฎพเฎฎเฏ” (Adhai marupadiyum seyya vendaam) translates to “Do not repeat that.”
Idiomatic expressions are essential to sound more like a native speaker. They often carry meanings that are not immediately obvious from the individual words.
1. **เฎเฎฃเฏเฎฎเฏเฎเฏ (Kanmuudu)** – This idiom means “to turn a blind eye.” For instance, “เฎ เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎ เฎตเฏเฎตเฎชเฏเฎชเฏเฎคเฏ เฎเฎฃเฏเฎฎเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎฐเฏ” (Avar avvappozhudu kanmuudugiraar) translates to “He often turns a blind eye.”
2. **เฎเฎฉเฎตเฏเฎเฏ เฎเฎพเฎฃ (Kanavai kaana)** – This means “to dream.” Example: “เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎชเฏเฎฐเฎฟเฎฏ เฎเฎฉเฎตเฏเฎเฏ เฎเฎพเฎฃเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฉเฏ” (Naan periya kanavai kaangiren) meaning “I dream big.”
3. **เฎเฎเฎฒเฏ เฎเฎดเฏเฎชเฏเฎชเฏ (Udal uzhaippu)** – This idiom means “physical effort.” For example, “เฎเฎเฎฒเฏ เฎเฎดเฏเฎชเฏเฎชเฎฟเฎฒเฏเฎฒเฎพเฎฎเฎฒเฏ เฎตเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฎฟ เฎเฎฟเฎเฏเฎฏเฎพเฎคเฏ” (Udal uzhaippillaamal vetri kidayaadhu) translates to “Without physical effort, there is no success.”
1. **เฎจเฎฃเฏเฎชเฎฐเฏ (Nanbar)** – This means “friend.” For example, “เฎ เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎเฎฉเฏ เฎจเฏเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฏ เฎจเฎฃเฏเฎชเฎฐเฏ” (Avar en nerungiya nanbar) meaning “He is my close friend.”
2. **เฎเฎคเฎฟเฎฐเฎฟ (Ethiri)** – This translates to “enemy.” Example: “เฎ เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฏเฎเฏเฎฏ เฎเฎคเฎฟเฎฐเฎฟ” (Avar ennudaya ethiri) meaning “He is my enemy.”
3. **เฎ เฎฐเฎเฎฉเฏ (Arasan)** – This means “king.” For example, “เฎ เฎฐเฎเฎฉเฏ เฎจเฎพเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎเฎเฏเฎเฎฟ เฎเฏเฎฏเฏเฎคเฎพเฎฐเฏ” (Arasan naattai aatchi seidhaar) meaning “The king ruled the country.”
1. **เฎเฎฃเฎฟเฎคเฎฎเฏ (Kanidham)** – This translates to “mathematics.” Example: “เฎเฎฃเฎฟเฎคเฎฎเฏ เฎเฎฉเฎคเฏ เฎชเฎฟเฎเฎฟเฎคเฏเฎค เฎชเฎพเฎเฎฎเฏ” (Kanidham enadhu piditha paadam) meaning “Mathematics is my favorite subject.”
2. **เฎ เฎฑเฎฟเฎตเฎฟเฎฏเฎฒเฏ (Ariviyal)** – This means “science.” For instance, “เฎ เฎฑเฎฟเฎตเฎฟเฎฏเฎฒเฏ เฎฎเฎฟเฎเฎตเฏเฎฎเฏ เฎเฏเฎตเฎพเฎฐเฎธเฏเฎฏเฎฎเฎพเฎฉเฎคเฏ” (Ariviyal mikavum suvaarsiyamaanadhu) translates to “Science is very interesting.”
3. **เฎคเฏเฎดเฎฟเฎฒเฏเฎจเฏเฎเฏเฎชเฎฎเฏ (Thozhilnutpam)** – This translates to “technology.” You might say, “เฎคเฏเฎดเฎฟเฎฒเฏเฎจเฏเฎเฏเฎชเฎฎเฏ เฎตเฏเฎเฎฎเฎพเฎ เฎฎเฏเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฏเฎฑเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎคเฏ” (Thozhilnutpam vegamaaga munnerugiradhu) meaning “Technology is advancing rapidly.”
1. **เฎ เฎฎเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฐเฏ (Amaichar)** – This means “minister.” For example, “เฎ เฎฎเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฐเฏ เฎชเฏเฎคเฎฟเฎฏ เฎคเฎฟเฎเฏเฎเฎเฏเฎเฎณเฏ เฎ เฎฑเฎฟเฎตเฎฟเฎคเฏเฎคเฎพเฎฐเฏ” (Amaichar pudhiya thittangalai arivithaar) meaning “The minister announced new plans.”
2. **เฎชเฎฟเฎฐเฎคเฎฎเฎฐเฏ (Pradhanmar)** – This translates to “Prime Minister.” Example: “เฎชเฎฟเฎฐเฎคเฎฎเฎฐเฏ เฎจเฎพเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎพเฎฐเฏ” (Pradhanmar naattai munneetrugiraar) meaning “The Prime Minister is developing the country.”
3. **เฎ เฎฐเฎเฎฟเฎฏเฎฒเฏ (Arasiyal)** – This means “politics.” For instance, “เฎ เฎฐเฎเฎฟเฎฏเฎฒเฏ เฎฎเฎฟเฎเฎตเฏเฎฎเฏ เฎเฎฟเฎเฏเฎเฎฒเฎพเฎฉเฎคเฏ” (Arasiyal mikavum sikkalaanadhu) translates to “Politics is very complicated.”
1. **เฎเฎฏเฎฑเฏเฎเฏ (Iyarkai)** – This word means “nature.” Example: “เฎเฎฏเฎฑเฏเฎเฏเฎฏเฏเฎชเฏ เฎชเฎพเฎคเฏเฎเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฎคเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฏเฎฎเฏ” (Iyarkaiyai paadhukaapadhu mukkiyam) meaning “Protecting nature is important.”
2. **เฎคเฎฐเฏเฎฃเฎฎเฏ (Tharunam)** – This translates to “opportunity.” For instance, “เฎเฎจเฏเฎค เฎคเฎฐเฏเฎฃเฎคเฏเฎคเฏ เฎชเฎฏเฎฉเฏเฎชเฎเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎณเฏ” (Indha tharunathai payanpaduthungal) meaning “Utilize this opportunity.”
3. **เฎ เฎฉเฏเฎชเฎตเฎฎเฏ (Anubavam)** – This means “experience.” You might say, “เฎ เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎจเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฏ เฎ เฎฉเฏเฎชเฎตเฎฎเฏ เฎเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฎตเฎฐเฏ” (Avar niraiya anubavam kondavar) meaning “He is a person with a lot of experience.”
1. **เฎเฎเฏเฎเฎฎเฏ (Sattam)** – This translates to “law.” Example: “เฎเฎเฏเฎเฎฎเฏ เฎ เฎฉเฏเฎตเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ เฎเฎฎเฎฎเฏ” (Sattam anavarukkum samam) meaning “Law is equal for everyone.”
2. **เฎจเฏเฎคเฎฟเฎฎเฎฉเฏเฎฑเฎฎเฏ (Neethimandram)** – This means “court.” For instance, “เฎจเฏเฎคเฎฟเฎฎเฎฉเฏเฎฑเฎฎเฏ เฎคเฏเฎฐเฏเฎชเฏเฎชเฎณเฎฟเฎคเฏเฎคเฎคเฏ” (Neethimandram theerppalithadhu) translates to “The court gave its verdict.”
3. **เฎตเฎดเฎเฏเฎเฎฑเฎฟเฎเฎฐเฏ (Vazhakkarinyar)** – This translates to “lawyer.” Example: “เฎ เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎเฎฐเฏ เฎชเฏเฎเฎดเฏเฎชเฏเฎฑเฏเฎฑ เฎตเฎดเฎเฏเฎเฎฑเฎฟเฎเฎฐเฏ” (Avar oru pugazhpetra vazhakkarinyar) meaning “He is a renowned lawyer.”
1. **เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎตเฎฎเฏ (Maruthuvam)** – This means “medicine.” For instance, “เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎตเฎฎเฏ เฎจเฎฎเฏ เฎตเฎพเฎดเฏเฎตเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฏเฎฎเฏ” (Maruthuvam nam vaazhvill mukkiyam) translates to “Medicine is important in our life.”
2. **เฎจเฏเฎฏเฎพเฎณเฎฟ (Noyyaali)** – This translates to “patient.” Example: “เฎจเฏเฎฏเฎพเฎณเฎฟ เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎตเฎฎเฎฉเฏเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎตเฎจเฏเฎคเฎพเฎฐเฏ” (Noyyaali maruthuvamanai kku vandhaar) meaning “The patient came to the hospital.”
3. **เฎเฎฟเฎเฎฟเฎเฏเฎเฏ (Sikichai)** – This means “treatment.” For instance, “เฎเฎฟเฎเฎฟเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎเฎเฎฉเฏ เฎคเฏเฎเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฏเฎคเฏ” (Sikichai udanae thodangiyadhu) translates to “The treatment started immediately.”
1. **เฎชเฏเฎฐเฏเฎณเฏ (Porul)** – This translates to “meaning” or “substance.” Example: “เฎเฎจเฏเฎค เฎตเฎพเฎฐเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎฏเฎฟเฎฉเฏ เฎชเฏเฎฐเฏเฎณเฏ เฎเฎฉเฏเฎฉ?” (Indha varthaiyin porul enna?) meaning “What is the meaning of this word?”
2. **เฎฎเฎพเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฎฎเฏ (Maatram)** – This means “change.” For instance, “เฎฎเฎพเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฎฎเฏ เฎ เฎตเฎเฎฟเฎฏเฎฎเฏ” (Maatram avasiyam) translates to “Change is necessary.”
3. **เฎเฎฎเฏเฎ (Samuga)** – This translates to “social.” Example: “เฎเฎฎเฏเฎ เฎเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎดเฏเฎชเฏเฎชเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฏเฎฎเฏ” (Samuga oththuzhaippu mukkiyam) meaning “Social cooperation is important.”
1. **เฎชเฎพเฎเฎฒเฏ (Paadal)** – This means “song.” For example, “เฎ เฎจเฏเฎค เฎชเฎพเฎเฎฒเฏ เฎฎเฎฟเฎเฎตเฏเฎฎเฏ เฎชเฎฟเฎฐเฎชเฎฒเฎฎเฎพเฎฉเฎคเฏ” (Andha paadal mikavum pirapalamaanadhu) meaning “That song is very popular.”
2. **เฎเฎตเฎฟเฎคเฏ (Kavidhai)** – This translates to “poetry.” For instance, “เฎ เฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎเฎฐเฏ เฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎจเฏเฎค เฎเฎตเฎฟเฎเฎฐเฏ” (Avar oru sirandha kavignar) meaning “He is a great poet.”
3. **เฎจเฎพเฎเฎเฎฎเฏ (Naadagam)** – This means “drama” or “play.” You might say, “เฎจเฎพเฎเฎเฎฎเฏ เฎ เฎฐเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฒเฏ เฎจเฎเฎจเฏเฎคเฎคเฏ” (Naadagam arangil nadandhadhu) meaning “The drama took place on the stage.”
1. **เฎตเฎฃเฎฟเฎเฎฎเฏ (Vanigam)** – This translates to “business.” Example: “เฎตเฎฃเฎฟเฎเฎฎเฏ เฎตเฎณเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ เฎตเฎฐเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎคเฏ” (Vanigam valarndhu varugiradhu) meaning “Business is growing.”
2. **เฎชเฏเฎฐเฏเฎณเฎพเฎคเฎพเฎฐเฎฎเฏ (Porulaadhaarum)** – This means “economics.” For instance, “เฎชเฏเฎฐเฏเฎณเฎพเฎคเฎพเฎฐเฎฎเฏ เฎจเฎฎเฏ เฎจเฎพเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฉเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎคเฎฉเฏเฎฎเฏ” (Porulaadhaarum nam naatin muthanmai) translates to “Economics is the foundation of our country.”
3. **เฎฎเฏเฎคเฎฒเฏเฎเฏ (Mudhalidu)** – This translates to “investment.” Example: “เฎฎเฏเฎคเฎฒเฏเฎเฏ เฎเฏเฎฏเฏเฎตเฎคเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฏเฎฎเฏ” (Mudhalidu seivadhu mukkiyam) meaning “Investing is important.”
Mastering advanced Tamil vocabulary requires dedication and practice. By integrating these words and phrases into your daily conversations and writing, you can significantly enhance your fluency and comprehension. Remember, learning a language is a journey, and every new word you learn brings you one step closer to mastering it. Happy learning!
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