Free survival kit

Tamil survival kit

The 45 essential phrases and 30 key words to get by in Tamil when travelling.

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  • 45 phrases
  • 30 key words in the PDF
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Greetings

TamilRomanizationEnglish
Vanakkamva-NAK-kamHello / Greetings
Kaalai vanakkamKAA-lai va-NAK-kamGood morning
Maalai vanakkamMAA-lai va-NAK-kamGood evening
Eppadi irukkireergal?EP-pa-di i-RUK-ki-REER-gal?How are you?
Nalla irukken, nandriNAL-la i-RUK-ken, NAN-driFine, thank you
Ungalai sandhiththadhil magizhchiun-GA-lai san-di-TI-da-til ma-GIZH-chiNice to meet you
Poyttu vareinPOY-tu VA-raynGoodbye
Meendum sandhippomMEEN-doom san-DIP-pomSee you soon
Dayavu seydhuDA-ya-vu SEY-dhuPlease
Romba nandriROM-ba NAN-driThank you very much

Asking for directions

TamilRomanizationEnglish
... engae irukku?... EN-gay i-RUK-ku?Where is... ?
Idadhu pakkami-DA-du PAK-kamTo the left
Valadhu pakkamva-LA-du PAK-kamTo the right
Naeradi sellungalNAY-ra-di SEL-lun-galStraight ahead
Naan vazhi thavari vittennaan VA-zhi ta-VA-ri VIT-tenI am lost
Enakku udhavi seya mudiyuma?e-NAK-ku u-DA-vi SE-ya mu-DI-yu-ma?Can you help me?
Vimaana nilaiyam engae?vi-MAA-na ni-LAI-yam EN-gay?How do I get to the airport?
Inge nirutthungalIN-ge ni-RUT-tun-galStop here

Emergencies

TamilRomanizationEnglish
Kaappaatrungal!KAAP-paat-run-gal!Help!
Kaavalargalai azhaiyungal!KAA-va-lar-ga-lai a-ZHAI-yun-gal!Call the police!
Enakku doctor thevaie-NAK-ku DOK-ter THE-vaiI need a doctor
Ambulance kuppidungal!AM-bu-lance KUP-pi-dun-gal!Call an ambulance!
Enakku ... ottadhue-NAK-ku ... OT-ta-duI am allergic to...
En porul thirudappattadhuen PO-rul ti-RU-da-PAT-ta-duI have been robbed
Maruththuvamanai engae?ma-RUT-tu-va-MA-nai EN-gay?Where is the hospital?
Enakku udambu sariyillaie-NAK-ku u-DAM-bu sa-RI-yil-laiI don't feel well

At the restaurant

TamilRomanizationEnglish
Irandu peruku oru mesai venumi-RAN-du PE-ru-ku O-ru ME-sai VAY-numA table for two, please
Menu kodungalME-nu KO-dun-galThe menu, please
Neengal edhai parinthurai seyveergal?NEEN-gal e-DAI pa-RIN-tu-rai sey-VEER-gal?What do you recommend?
Naan saivamnaan SAI-vamI am vegetarian
Idhu romba ruchi!i-DU ROM-ba RU-chi!This is delicious!
Bill kodungalbil KO-dun-galThe bill, please
Thanneer venumTAN-neer VAY-numWater, please
Adhigam kaaram vendaama-DI-gam KAA-ram VEN-daamNot too spicy

At the hotel

TamilRomanizationEnglish
Ennidam booking irukkuEN-ni-dam BOOK-ing i-RUK-kuI have a reservation
Enakku oru arai venume-NAK-ku O-ru A-rai VAY-numI would like a room
Check-out evvalavu manikku?check-out EV-va-la-vu MA-nik-ku?Until what time is check-out?
Wi-Fi ilavasama?WAI-fai i-LA-va-sa-ma?Is Wi-Fi free?
AC velai seyyavillaiAY-see VE-lai sey-ya-VIL-laiThe air conditioning is not working
Towel kondu varungalTAU-el KON-du va-RUN-galCan you bring towels?

Getting around

TamilRomanizationEnglish
... ku oru ticket... ku O-ru TIK-ketA ticket to...
Train evvalavu manikku selum?tren EV-va-la-vu MA-nik-ku SE-lum?What time does the train leave?
Rayil nilaiyam engae?RA-yil ni-LAI-yam EN-gay?Where is the train station?
Taxi evvalavu?TAK-si EV-va-la-vu?How much is the taxi?
Inge ennai irakkivudungalIN-ge EN-nai i-RAK-ki-VU-dun-galDrop me here

30 key words to remember

TamilRomanizationEnglish
AamaamYes
IllaiIL-laiNo
NandriNAN-driThank you
Paravaayillaipa-ra-VAA-yil-laiYou're welcome
MannikavumMAN-ni-ka-vumSorry
ThanneerTAN-neerWater
SaappaduSAAP-pa-duFood
Hotelho-TAYLHotel
Vimaana nilaiyamvi-MAA-na ni-LAI-yamAirport
Maruththuvamanaima-RUT-tu-va-MA-naiHospital
Kaaval nilaiyamKAA-val ni-LAI-yamPolice
Marundhagamma-RUN-da-gamPharmacy
Valadhuva-LA-duRight
Idadhui-DA-duLeft
PakkathulaPAK-ka-tu-laNear
DooramDOO-ramFar
Evvalavu?EV-va-la-vu?How much?
Engae?EN-gay?Where?
Eppozhudhu?ep-PO-zhu-du?When?
IndruIN-druToday
NaalaiNAA-laiTomorrow
SandhaiSAN-daiMarket
TaxiTAK-siTaxi
BusbasBus
RupaaiRU-paaiRupee
Unavagamu-NA-va-gamRestaurant
Kuliyalaraiku-LI-ya-la-raiToilet
CardkardCard
PhonefonPhone
Thirandhirukkuti-RAN-di-RUK-kuOpen

In context: 5 scenes to get by

On arrival

You land at Chennai airport in the early evening. You greet the immigration officer with Vanakkam and joined palms, then ask for directions to the taxi exit.

  • Vanakkam (va-NAK-kam) : Hello / Greetings
  • Ungalai sandhiththadhil magizhchi (un-GA-lai san-di-TI-da-til ma-GIZH-chi) : Nice to meet you
  • ... engae irukku? (... EN-gay i-RUK-ku?) : Where is... ?
  • Vimaana nilaiyam engae? (vi-MAA-na ni-LAI-yam EN-gay?) : How do I get to the airport?

In the taxi

The driver loads your suitcase and asks for your destination. You tell him your hotel, you want to confirm the price before leaving, then you ask him to stop right in front of the entrance.

  • Rayil nilaiyam engae? (RA-yil ni-LAI-yam EN-gay?) : Where is the train station?
  • Taxi evvalavu? (TAK-si EV-va-la-vu?) : How much is the taxi?
  • Inge nirutthungal (IN-ge ni-RUT-tun-gal) : Stop here
  • Meendum sandhippom (MEEN-doom san-DIP-pom) : See you soon

At the popular mess

You walk into a vegetarian mess where food is served on a banana leaf. You greet, ask for the menu, specify that you are vegetarian and want it not too spicy, then settle the bill.

  • Menu kodungal (ME-nu KO-dun-gal) : The menu, please
  • Naan saivam (naan SAI-vam) : I am vegetarian
  • Enakku oru arai venum (e-NAK-ku O-ru A-rai VAY-num) : I would like a room
  • Adhigam kaaram vendaam (a-DI-gam KAA-ram VEN-daam) : Not too spicy

In an emergency

You feel sick after a meal. You ask where the nearest hospital is, you mention that you are allergic to certain foods and you ask for help.

  • Kaappaatrungal! (KAAP-paat-run-gal!) : Help!
  • Enakku udambu sariyillai (e-NAK-ku u-DAM-bu sa-RI-yil-lai) : I don't feel well
  • Enakku ... ottadhu (e-NAK-ku ... OT-ta-du) : I am allergic to...
  • Enakku doctor thevai (e-NAK-ku DOK-ter THE-vai) : I need a doctor

On departure

On departure morning, you confirm check-out time at the reception, then take a taxi to the airport. Before leaving, you warmly say goodbye to the hotel team with Vanakkam.

  • Wi-Fi ilavasama? (WAI-fai i-LA-va-sa-ma?) : Is Wi-Fi free?
  • Vimaana nilaiyam engae? (vi-MAA-na ni-LAI-yam EN-gay?) : How do I get to the airport?
  • Poyttu varein (POY-tu VA-rayn) : Goodbye
  • Meendum sandhippom (MEEN-doom san-DIP-pom) : See you soon

Cultural notes

  1. "Vanakkam", accompanied by palms joined at chest level (Anjali Mudra), is the universal greeting in Tamil Nadu and Tamil Sri Lanka. It works from morning to evening, for hello as well as goodbye, in any context.
  2. Use "neenga" (you formal) rather than "nee" (you informal) with strangers, elders, hotel and restaurant staff. Using "nee" with an elder is seen as disrespectful.
  3. Traditional eating is done with the right hand only, especially for meals served on a banana leaf. The left hand is considered impure in the context of meals.
  4. The question "Saaptingala?" (have you eaten?) is the cultural equivalent of "how are you?". You are not necessarily being offered food, it is a courteous way to check in.
  5. Before entering a Hindu temple (Madurai, Kanchipuram, Rameswaram), remove your shoes and cover your shoulders. Some temples restrict access to non-Hindus in the inner sanctum, respect the signs.
  6. Tamil has two distinct registers: the literary language (centhamil) reserved for writing and formal speech, and the everyday language (kotunthamil) spoken daily. Learn the everyday register for travel.
  7. Small popular eateries (mess, tiffin centre) serve a thali or a full vegetarian meal on a banana leaf. Accept the refills offered by the server, it is a sign of hospitality, and do not refuse the sambar offered at the end.
  8. Sensitive topics include Tamil politics in Sri Lanka and caste rivalries. Cinema (Kollywood, actors Rajinikanth or Vijay), food and cricket are universal conversation topics that open hearts.

Keep the whole kit on your phone

The 45 phrases, 30 key words and the cultural notes in a PDF to keep offline or print. We also send it to you by e-mail.

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About this kit

Tamil is spoken by around 86 million people in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and the global diaspora. With this kit, you have the bare minimum to get by in Chennai, Madurai, Jaffna or in Little India in Singapore.

Tamil (Tamizh) is one of the oldest classical languages still spoken in the world, with inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century BCE. It has around 86 million speakers in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Sri Lanka (Northern and Eastern provinces), Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius and a vast diaspora (Canada, UK, France, Reunion, South Africa). It is a Dravidian language, unrelated to Hindi or Sanskrit, written in a 247-character Brahmic abugida derived from Tamil-Brahmi. Tamil operates in two registers: centhamil (literary and formal language) and kotunthamil (everyday spoken language). For French-speaking travelers, Tamil opens the door to the ancient temples of Madurai, Thanjavur and Rameswaram, the beaches of Mahabalipuram, the Nilgiri mountains, but also to the Tamil neighborhoods of Singapore or Reunion. Tamil culture is famous for its warm hospitality, its vegetarian cuisine served on banana leaves, its cinema (Kollywood) and festivals such as Pongal. The universal greeting "Vanakkam", accompanied by joined palms, works from morning to evening. This kit gathers the bare essentials to handle an arrival in Chennai, a taxi ride, a meal in a popular mess, a temple visit, a medical emergency and a smooth departure. With these phrases in hand, you will earn immediate respect from any Tamil you meet.

Sources and references

Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.

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