Learning basic vocabulary is crucial in building Tamil knowledge for beginners as it builds the foundation for learning the language and mastering its intricacies. Being one of the ancient languages on earth, Tamil remains one of the most widely spoken language. To be more precise, it remains the eighteenth most spoken language among 7000 plus languages in the globe. Tamil is known for its rich literature and culture, and more so, Tamilians are known for their attachment to the language.

The blog endeavors to help Tamil learners with Tamil language words and their meanings so they can get a hold of the Tamil terms and Tamil words list. 

Tamil language words- Basic Tamil to English words

To start with, 

The translation or meaning of basic vocabulary in Tamil is 

தொடக்கத்திற்கான சொற்களஞ்சியம், ‘thodakathirkana sorkalanjiyam’

Do you know that the Tamil language has more than 4 lakh unique words? This is three times more than the number of unique words in English listed in the Oxford English Dictionary. 

Why is it important to learn Tamil?

Knowing the basic Tamil words helps in communicating with your fellow Tamils. It could become easy for you to get along with the Tamil community in your area.

It is easy for you to travel across as there are more than 80 million Tamil speakers across the world. Knowing the basic words in Tamil would help interact with the locals especially when you travel across South Asian countries. 

Tamil language has rich literature and attachment to traditional values. Learning Tamil language opens a door of opportunities to yourself.  

Learning Tamil helps you to establish a native connect. It is also a way to carry forward Tamil to the next generation of kids and ensure that they maintain the lineage. 

Basic Tamil to English words

This section describes some of the basic Tamil terms that are essential in day-to-day conversation. In order to start learning Tamil words, one must know the basic characters, which are vowels and consonants. 

Tamil vowels:

அ a ஆ ā  இ i ஈ ī உ u ஊ ū எ e ஏ ē ஐ ai ஒ o  ஓ ō ஒள au ஃ atk 

Tamil consonants:

க ka ங na ச cha ஞnga டta  ணna த tha ந na ப pa ம ma ய ya ர ra லla வ va ழzha ளla றrah ன na. There are 247 characters that are an integration of the vowels and consonants.

Tamil terms for food

1. Breakfast – Kaalai unavu – காலை உணவு
2. Lunch – Madhiya Unavu – மதிய உணவு
3. Dinner – Iravu Unavu – இரவு உணவு
4. Tea – Thaeneer – தேநீர்
5. Coffee – Kulambi – குளம்பி
6. Bread -Rotti – ரொட்டி
7. Butter -Vennai – வெண்ணெய்
8. Milk -Paal – பால்
9. Rice – Saadham – சாதம்
10. Gravy – Kuzhambu – குழம்பு

Tamil language words for Vegetables

1.  Brinjal – Kaththarikkaay – கத்திரிக்காய்

2. Broad Beans – Avarakai – அவரைக்காய்

3. Cabbage – Muttaikoas – முட்டைகோஸ்

4. Corn – Makkaasoalam – மக்காச்சோளம்

5. Cucumber – Vellarikkaay – வெள்ளரிக்காய்

6. Drumstick – Murungkaikkaay – முருங்கைக்காய்

7. Carrot – carrot -கேரட்

8. Ladys Finger – Vendaikkaay – வெண்டைக்காய்

9. Onion- Vengkaayam – வெங்காயம்

10. Tomato – Thakkaali – தக்காளி

Tamil terms for Fruits

1. Guava – Koyya – கொய்யா
2. Custard Apple – Seethaapazham – சீத்தாப்பழம்
3. Jackfruit – Palaa Pazham – பலாப்பழம்
4. Mango – Maampazham – மாம்பழம்
5. Papaya – Pappaali – பப்பாளி
6. Pineapple – Annaasi – அன்னாசி
7. Pomegranate – Maadhulai – மாதுளை
8. Watermelon – Tharpoosani – தர்பூசணி
9. Banana – Vaazhai Pazham – வாழைப்பழம்
10. Grape – Thiraatchai – திராட்சை

Tamil terms for emotions

1. Fear – பயம் Bayam
2. Anger – கோபம்/சினம் – Koabam/சினம்
3. Anxiety – பதட்டம் – Padhattam
4. Brave – துணிச்சல் – Thunichal
5. Envy பொறாமை Poraamai
6. Tired களைப்பு Kalaippu
7. Worry – Kavalai – கவலை
8. Jealous – Poraamai – பொறாமை
9. Selfishness – Suyanalam – சுயநலம்
10. Shame – Avamaanam – அவமானம்
11. Shock – Athirchi – அதிர்ச்சி
12. Shy – Koocham – கூச்சம்
13. Selfishness – Suyanalam – சுயநலம்
14. Shame – Avamaanam – அவமானம்
15.  Shock – Athirchi- அதிர்ச்சி
16.  Shy – Koocham – கூச்சம்

Tamil words for days of the week

1. Monday – Thingal – திங்கள்
2. Tuesday – Sevvaai – செவ்வாய்
3. Wednesday – Budhan – புதன்
4. Thursday – Viyaazhan – வியாழன்
5. Friday – Vellikilamai – வெள்ளிக் கிழமை
6. Saturday – Sani – சனி
7. Sunday – Gnaayiru – ஞாயிறு

Important functions in Tamil.

1. Independence Day – Sudhanthira thinam – சுதந்திர தினம்
2. Republic Day – குடியரசு தினம் – Kudiyarasu Thinam
3. Birthday – பிறந்த நாள் – Pirantha naal
4. Engagement – Nichayatharththam – நிச்சயதார்த்தம்
5. Marriage – Thirumanam – திருமணம்
6. Reception – Varavaerppu – வரவேற்பு
7. Anniversary – Aandu Vizha -ஆண்டுவிழா

Games in Tamil

1. Cricket – Mattaippandhu – மட்டைப்பந்து
2. Cycling – Mithivandi Oattuthal – மிதிவண்டி ஓட்டுதல்
3. Football – Kaalpandhu – கால்பந்து
4. Volleyball – கைப்பந்து
5. Walking – Nadaththal – நடத்தல்
6. Martial arts – Tharkaappuk Kalai – தற்காப்புக் கலை
7. Running – Oadudhal – ஓடுதல்
8. Badminton – Poopandhu – பூப்பந்து
9. Basketball – Koodaippandhu – கூடைப்பந்து
10. Boxing – Kuththusandai – குத்துச்சண்டை

Tamil terms for colors

1. Orange – Aaranju – ஆரஞ்சு
2. Red – Sivappu – சிவப்பு
3. White – Vellai – வெள்ளை
4. Yellow – Manjal – மஞ்சள்
5. Brown – Paluppu – பழுப்பு 
6. Grey – Saambal – சாம்பல்
7. Green – Pachchai – பச்சை
8. Black கருப்பு Karuppu
9. Blue – neelam- நீலம்

Tamil words for shapes

1. Circle – Vattam – வட்டம்
2. Square – Sathuram – சதுரம்
3. Triangle – Mukkoanam – முக்கோணம்
4. Cylinder – Urulai – உருளை
5. Sphere – Koalam – கோளம்

Tamil words for names of birds

1. Crow – Kaagam – காகம்
2. Peacock – Mayil – மயில்
3. Hen – Koazhi – கோழி
4. Cock – Saeval – சேவல்
5. Crane – Kokku – கொக்கு
6. Parrot – Kili – கிளி
7. Duck – Vaaththu – வாத்து
8. Sparrow – Sittukkuruvi – சிட்டுக்குருவி
9. Woodpecker – Marangoththi – மரங்கொத்தி
10. Owl – Aandhai – ஆந்தை
11. Pig – Pandri – பன்றி
12. Tiger – Puli – புலி

Insect names in Tamil

1. Butterfly – Pattaam Poochi – பட்டாம் பூச்சி
2. Cockroach – Karappaan Poochi – கரப்பான் பூச்சி
3. Fly – Ee – ஈ
4. Ant – Erumbu – எறும்பு
5. Bee – Thaeni – தேனீ
6. Mosquito – Kosu – கொசு
7. Spider – Silandhi – சிலந்தி
8. Worm – Puzhu – புழு
9. Grasshopper – Vettukkili – வெட்டுக்கிளி

Animal names in Tamil

1. Cat – Poonai – பூனை
2. Cow – Pasu – பசு 
3. Deer – Maan – மான்
4. Dog – Naai – நாய்
5. Donkey – Kazhudhai – கழுதை
6. Elephant – Yaanai – யானை
7. Goat – Vellaadu – வெள்ளாடு
8. Lion – சிங்கம் – Singam
9. Monkey – Kurangu – குரங்கு
10. Mouse – Eli- எலி

How to learn Tamil at home?

If you are looking for ways to learn Tamil at home, there are ample options. Especially for people who have moved overseas and settled there, learning Tamil and helping the next generation carry forward the legacy of Tamil culture remains at the forefront of their intentions. The easiest of them is to apply for online Tamil classes from Powerkid Tamil Academy. 

Other ways to learn Tamil at home and expose children to Tamil culture includes, 

• Celebrating Tamil festivals, 
• Wearing a traditional, Tamil attire on important occasions
• Watching Tamil movies and trying to comprehend the dialogues in the movie.
• Using pictures and resources available online. 
• Learning through You Tube videos and online courses.
• Getting along with a Tamil community and becoming a part of online Tamil forums. 
• Preparing Tamil food and taking your children to a Tamil restaurant
• Reading Tamil books, literature, and moral stories. 
• Reading Tamil news papers and understanding the news articulated there. 

Learn Tamil online

If you are looking for an online class in Tamil,  Powerkid Tamil Academy is the right choice. We offer one on one online class in Tamil, where we help learner learn basic Tamil to English words, so as to help the learner learn Tamil online at their own pace and speed. This way, the learner also gets the maximum attention from the tutor and opportunities to interact with them in Tamil. Apart from classes, we also provide unlimited study resources and guide so as to help them learn intuitively and grasp quickly. Online Tamil class in Powerkid Tamil Academy is handled directly by Tamil speaking native teachers and the sessions are handles through English. The Tamil words are taught with English spellings, translations, and meanings for beginners to understand better. You get an opportunity to master basic Tamil vocabulary – Learn Tamil online. 

Sign up to our online Tamil class at at www.powerkidtamil.com. Talk to us at  +1 (512) 575-3590 or +91 74033 33135.