Tamil Vocabulary for Furniture and Household Items: A Guide to Your Home

Our home is the center of our world, the space where we live, relax, and spend time with our families. The objects that fill our homes—the furniture we sit on, the items we use for cooking, the things we use to keep our space clean—are a fundamental part of our daily lives. For anyone learning the Tamil language, building a strong foundation in home vocabulary in Tamil is one of the most practical and useful things you can do. It is the language of everyday life, the words you will use time and time again in your own house. This is the core of practical Tamil for the home.

This comprehensive guide is designed to be your room-by-room tour of the house, providing you with the essential Tamil words for furniture and the most common household items in Tamil. For parents, this is a perfect resource for teaching your children the names of the objects they see and use every single day, making language learning a natural and integrated part of your family life.

Part 1: The Living Room (வரவேற்பறை – Varavēṟpaṟai)

This is the room where the family gathers and where we welcome our guests.

Furniture (மரச்சாமான்கள் – Maraccāmāṉkaḷ):

• Chair – நாற்காலி (Nāṟkāli)
• Sofa / Couch – சோபா (Sōpā) – The English word is very common.
• Table – மேசை (Mēcai)
• Coffee Table – காபி மேசை (Kāpi mēcai)
• Shelf / Bookshelf – அலமாரி (Alamāri)
• Door – கதவு (Katavu)
• Window – ஜன்னல் (Jaṉṉal)
• Carpet / Rug – தரைவிரிப்பு (Taraivirippu)

Household Items:

• Television – தொலைக்காட்சி (Tolaikkāṭci)

– Fan – மின்விசிறி (Miṉviciṟi)

– Light – விளக்கு (Viḷakku)

– Clock – கடிகாரம் (Kaṭikāram)

– Telephone – தொலைபேசி (Tolaipēci)

– Picture / Photo – படம் (Paṭam)

– Curtain – திரைச்சீலை (Tiraiccīlai)

Part 2: The Bedroom (படுக்கையறை – Paṭukkaiyaṟai)

This is the place for rest and sleep.

Furniture:

• Bed – கட்டில் (Kaṭṭil)
• Mattress – மெத்தை (Mettai)
• Pillow – தலையணை (Talaiyaṇai)
• Blanket / Bedsheet – போர்வை (Pōrvai) / படுக்கை விரிப்பு (Paṭukkai virippu)
• Cupboard / Wardrobe – அலமாரி (Alamāri) – The same word is used for a cupboard.
• Dresser / Dressing Table – அலங்கார மேசை (Alaṅkāra mēcai)
• Mirror – கண்ணாடி (Kaṇṇāṭi)

Part 3: The Kitchen (சமையலறை – Camaiyalaṟai)

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it has its own rich vocabulary.

Appliances and Fixtures:

• Stove – அடுப்பு (Aṭuppu)
• Refrigerator – குளிர்சாதன பெட்டி (Kuḷircātaṉap peṭṭi) – Often just called “ஃப்ரிட்ஜ்” (phrij).
• Sink – சિંક (Ciṅk) – The English word is used.
• Mixer / Grinder – மிக்சி (Miksi)

Utensils and Cookware (பாத்திரங்கள் – Pāttiraṅkaḷ):

• Plate – தட்டு (Taṭṭu)
• Cup / Tumbler – குவளை (Kuvaḷai)
• Spoon – கரண்டி (Karaṇṭi)
• Fork – முள்கரண்டி (Muḷkaraṇṭi)
• Knife – கத்தி (Katti)
• Pot / Vessel – பானை (Pāṉai) / பாத்திரம் (Pāttiram)
• Pan – கடாய் (Kaṭāy)
• Box / Container – பெட்டி (Peṭṭi)

Part 4: The Bathroom (குளியலறை – Kuḷiyalaṟai)

Essential vocabulary for personal hygiene.

• Bathroom – குளியலறை (Kuḷiyalaṟai)

– Toilet – கழிப்பறை (Kaḻippaṟai)

• Tap / Faucet – குழாய் (Kuḻāy)
• Water – தண்ணீர் (Taṇṇīr)
• Soap – சோப்பு (Sōppu)
• Towel – துண்டு (Tuṇṭu)
• Bucket – வாளி (Vāḷi)
• Mug – குவளை (Kuvaḷai)
• Mirror – கண்ணாடி (Kaṇṇāṭi)

Part 5: General Household Items and Cleaning Supplies

These are the items that are used all around the house.

• House – வீடு (Vīṭu)
• Room – அறை (Aṟai)
• Key – சாவி (Cāvi)

– Lock – பூட்டு (Pūṭṭu)

– Broom – துடைப்பம் (Tuṭaippam)

– Mop – மாப் (Māp) – The English word is common.

– Trash Can / Dustbin – குப்பைத் தொட்டி (Kuppait toṭṭi)

– Stairs – படிக்கட்டுகள் (Paṭikkaṭṭukaḷ)

– Wall – சுவர் (Cuvar)

– Floor – தரை (Tarai)

– Roof / Ceiling – கூரை (Kūrai)

Learning Through Daily Life: The Best Way to Practice

The best way to master this home vocabulary in Tamil is to make it a part of your daily routine.

• Label Your Home: This is a fantastic activity to do with your children. Write the Tamil names of furniture and household items on sticky notes and stick them on the actual objects around your house. This constant visual reinforcement is an incredibly powerful learning tool.

– Narrate Your Day: As you go about your daily chores, try to narrate what you are doing in simple Tamil. “நான் கதவைத் திறக்கிறேன்.” (Nāṉ katavait tiṟakkiṟēṉ.) – “I am opening the door.” “நான் நாற்காலியில் உட்காருகிறேன்.” (Nāṉ nāṟkāliyil uṭkārukiṟēṉ.) – “I am sitting on the chair.”

– Play “Find the Object”: A simple game for kids. Call out the Tamil name of an object in the room, and have them run and find it. “மேசை எங்கே?” (Mēcai eṅkē?) – “Where is the table?”

Conclusion: The Language of Our Everyday World

Learning the Tamil words for furniture and the other common household items in Tamil is a fundamental and incredibly practical part of the language learning journey. It is the vocabulary that allows us to describe our immediate surroundings, to talk about our daily lives, and to feel truly at home in the language. By making a conscious effort to use these words every day, you will find that this essential vocabulary quickly becomes a natural and effortless part of your conversational Tamil.