Tamil Language
Dr. Natarajan Meghanathan
Professor of Computer Science
Jackson State University, MS
E-mail: [email protected]
Tamil: Introduction
• Spoken mainly in southern India
• 90% of the speakers of Tamil are from a state called
Tamilnadu in India
• Tamil is also spoken in neighboring states of Tamilnadu
as well as in Northern Srilanka (about 20% of the
population of Srilanka speaks tamil).
• Tamil is one of the official languages of India, Srilanka
and Singapore.
• Member of the Dravidian family of languages
– There are a total of 30 languages in this family
– 225 million speakers in total, concentrated in south India
• The Dravidian language family is distinct from the IndoEuropean language family (that includes Hindi and other
Indian languages)
Website: http://www.thetamillanguage.com/
Tamil Alphabet
• Tamil Vowels
– 12 in numbers
• Tamil Consonants
– 18 in numbers
Tamil Vowel - 1
Pronounced: AH
As in: Amazon, Uncle, Umbrella
Tamil Vowel - 2
Pronounced: AAH
As in: Awe, Aunt, Audio
An elongation of ‘ah’
Tamil Vowel - 3
Pronounced: e
As in: ink, ill, image
Tamil Vowel - 4
Pronounced: ee
As in: Sweet, Treat, Tweet
An elongation of ‘ee’
Tamil Vowel - 5
Pronounced: wu
As in: book, took, pull, put, push
Tamil Vowel - 6
Pronounced: wuu
As in: shoot, route, fool
Tamil Vowel - 7
Pronounced: ey
As in: egg, empty
Tamil Vowel - 8
Pronounced: eyy
As in: ale, male, tale, whale, pale
Tamil Vowel - 9
Pronounced: i
As in: eye
Tamil Vowel - 10
Pronounced: o
As in: omit, total, opinion
Tamil Vowel - 11
Pronounced: ohh
As in: open, own
Tamil Vowel - 12
Pronounced: ow
As in: how, fowl, now
Tamil Vowels – Recap (1)
ah
Amazon, Uncle, Umbrella
aah
Aunty, Ask, Awe, Audio
e
Ink, Ill, Image
ee
Meet, Sweet, Treat, Tweet
wu
Would, Put, Pull
wuu
Shoot, Root, Fool
Tamil Vowels – Recap (2)
ey
Egg, Empty, Yell
eyy
Ale, Yale, Ate, Male, Tale
I
I, Eye, Ice
o
Omit, Opinion
oo
Vote, Open, Own
ow
how, fowl, now
Tamil Consonants
• The consonants are pronounced by
touching the tongue to a location on the
upper portion of the mouth.
• Consonants are written with a dot on the
top of the symbol.
• There are 18 consonants.
• Consonants could combine with vowels to
form consonant vowels.
– 18 consonants x 12 vowels = 216 consonant
vowels.
Tamil Consonant - 1
Pronounced: ik
As in: book, talk
Consonant Vowels of
‘ka’
Family
i
is
silent
(1)
ik +
ah
=
ka
ik +
aah
=
kaa
ik +
e
=
ke
ik +
ee
=
kee
ik +
wu
=
ku
ik +
wuu
=
kuu
Consonant Vowels of
‘ka’
Family
i
is
silent
(2)
ik +
ey
=
ke
ik +
eyy
=
kay
ik +
I
=
kai
ik +
o
=
ko
ik +
oo
=
koo
ik +
ow
=
kow
Words involving
Elder Sister
akka
Crow
kaakka
Hand
kai
Crane
kokku
and its cons.
Tamil Consonant - 2
Pronounced: ith
As in: width, bathe
Consonant Vowels of
‘tha’
Family
i
is
silent
(1)
ith +
ah
=
tha
ith +
aah
=
thaa
ith +
e
=
the
ith +
ee
=
thee
ith +
wu
=
thu
ith +
wuu
=
thuu
Consonant Vowels of
‘tha’
Family
i
is
silent
(2)
ith +
ey
=
they
ith +
eyy
=
theay
ith +
I
=
thai
ith +
o
=
tho
ith +
oo
=
thoo
ith +
ow
=
thow
Words involving
Fire
and its cons. (1)
thee
Messenger
(sent to broker
peace between
two warring
people/factions)
thuuthu
Prayerful
துதி
(typically
through
singing)
thuthe
Praise
(typically
to appease
someone)
கைத
Story
kathai
Words involving
and its cons. (2)
Stitch
thai
A tamil month
(Jan 15-Feb 14)
தாத்தா
தாது
தாத்தா
அது
இது
Grandfather thaatha
Mineral
Ore
thaathu
Grandfather thaatha
That one
adhu
This one
idhu
feathers thogai
ேதாைக Bird’s
collectively
Which
எது yedhu
ஏது
What
yaedhu
Tamil Consonant - 3
Pronounced: ich
As in: coach, beach
Consonant Vowels of
(1)
ich +
ah
=
sa
ich +
aah
=
saa
ich +
e
=
si
ich +
ee
=
see
i
is
silent
ich +
wu
=
su
c pron.
as
s
ich +
wuu
=
suu
‘sa’
Family
Consonant Vowels of
(2)
ich +
ey
=
say
ich +
eyy
=
saey
ich +
I
=
sai
ich +
o
=
so
i
is
silent
ich +
oo
=
soo
c pron.
as
s
ich +
ow
=
sow
‘sa’
Family
Words involving
ைசைக Gesture
saigai
ெசாத்து Property
sothu
and its cons. (1)
(land, house)
சாது
Saint
சத்து
Nutrition
sathu
காசு
தைச
Cash
kaasu
saathu
(indian saint)
Muscle
thasai
ேதாைச
Indian-style
pancake
dosai
Tamil Consonant - 4
Pronounced: it
As in: kit, sit
Consonant Vowels of
(1)
ah
=
da
it +
aah
=
daa
it
+
e
=
de
it
+
ee
=
dee
i
is
silent
it
+
wu
=
do
t pron.
as
d
it
+
wuu
=
doo
‘da’
Family
it
+
Consonant Vowels of
‘da’
Family
i
is
silent
t pron.
as
d
(2)
ey
=
de
it +
eyy
=
day
it
+
I
=
dai
it
+
o
=
though
it
+
oo
=
dhough
+
ow
=
it
it
+
dow
Words involving
எைட
Weight
edai
சைட
Braided
sadai
and its cons. (1)
(hair)
சட்ைட Shirt
sattai
சாட்ைட
கைட
saattai
குடி
ெகாடு
Whip
Give
kodu
ேகாைட
Summer koodai
ெகாைட
Alms
kodai
Donation
Store kadai
Shop
Drink
(verb)
kudi
Tamil Consonant - 5
Pronounced: ip
As in: tip, hip
Consonant Vowels of
‘pa’
Family
i
is
silent
(1)
ip +
ah
=
pa
ip +
aah
=
paa
ip +
e
=
pe
ip +
ee
=
pee
ip +
wu
=
pu
ip +
wuu
=
puu
Consonant Vowels of
‘pa’
Family
i
is
silent
(2)
ip +
ey
=
pay
ip +
eyy
=
paey
ip +
I
=
pai
ip +
o
=
po
ip +
oo
=
poo
ip +
ow
=
pow
Words involving
ைப
pai
Bag
ேபட்ைட
and its cons. (1)
Slum
pettai
ேபச்சு
Speech
ேபத்தி
Granddaughter pethi
ெதாப்ைப
பச்ைச
பசு
பாட்டி
பாப்பா
அப்பா
Belly
pechu
thopai
pachai
pasu
Cow
Grandmother paatti
Baby
paapa
Father appa
Green
Tamil Consonant - 6
Pronounced: ir
As in: trill, triumph
Consonant Vowels of
‘ra’
Family
i
is
silent
(1)
ir
+
ah
=
ra
ir
+
aah
=
raa
ir +
e
=
re
ir +
ee
=
ree
ir +
wu
=
ru
ir +
wuu
=
ruu
Consonant Vowels of
‘ra’
Family
i
is
silent
(2)
ir
+
ey
=
ra
ir
+
eyy
=
raa
ir +
I
=
re
ir +
o
=
ree
ir +
oo
=
ru
ir +
ow
=
ruu
Words involving
and its cons. (1)
ேசறு
Mud, Slush seru
ேசாறு
Rice
புறா
Pigeon
புற்று
Cancer
soru
(colloquial)
pura
Putru
காற்று
Air/Wind
கற்று
பற்று
Learn
கற்பு
ெபாறி
kaatru
katru
Grapple/Seize patru
Chastity
(Virtuosity)
Fry (Verb)
Trap (Noun)
karpu
pori
Tamil Consonant - 7
Pronounced: oy
As in: viceroy
Consonant Vowels of
‘ya’
Family
o
is
silent
(1)
oy +
ah
=
ya
oy +
aah
=
yaa
oy +
e
=
yi
oy +
ee
=
yee
oy +
wu
=
yu
oy +
wuu
=
yuu
Consonant Vowels of
‘ya’
Family
o
is
silent
(2)
oy +
ey
=
ye
oy +
eyy
=
yae
oy +
I
=
yai
oy +
o
=
yo
oy +
oo
=
yoo
oy +
ow
=
yow
Words involving
பாய்
ைபயா
ேபய்
paai
Mat
Boy
(colloquial)
ேயாகா Yoga
and its cons. (1)
paiya
yoga
pei
Ghost
ெசய்
Do (command) sei
தாய்
ெபாய்
Mother thai
Lie
poi
ெமய்
True
mei
Tamil Consonant - 8
Pronounced: re (ir)
or
As in: bore, sore
Consonant Vowels of
‘ra’
Family
e
is
silent
(1)
re +
ah
=
ra
re +
aah
=
raa
re +
e
=
ri
re +
ee
=
ree
re +
wu
=
ru
re +
wuu
=
ruu
Consonant Vowels of
‘ra’
Family
e
is
silent
(2)
re +
ey
=
re
re +
eyy
=
rae
re +
I
=
rai
re +
o
=
ro
re +
oo
=
roo
re +
ow
=
rou
Words involving
ெபய
Name
peyar
பயி
Crop
paiya
உயி
Life
uyir
தயி
Yogurt
thayir
ேபா
கைர
Battle
pore
யா
karai
Shore
Dissolve
Who?
yaar
and its cons. (1)
Tamil Consonant - 9
Pronounced: iv
As in: dive, naïve, drive
Consonant Vowels of
‘va’
Family
i
is
silent
(1)
iv +
ah
=
va
iv +
aah
=
vaa
iv +
e
=
vi
iv +
ee
=
we
iv +
wu
=
wu
iv +
wuu
=
wuu
Consonant Vowels of
‘va’
Family
i
is
silent
(2)
iv +
ey
=
ve
iv +
eyy
=
way
iv +
I
=
why
iv +
o
=
vo
iv +
oo
=
voo
iv +
ow
=
vow
Words involving
வாய்
Mouth
வாைட Odor
vaai
vaadai
வைட
Dumplings vadai
விைத
Seed
தைட
ஓைட
and its cons. (1)
(indian style)
Ban
vidhai
thadai
Stream, Brook oodai
ேவ Root where
விைட Answer vidai
Words involving
and its cons. (2)
வாயு Gas, Air vaayu
வாத்ைத Word vaarthai
வியைவ
Sweat vyarvai
சாவி Key saavi
காவி Brown kaavi
பாைவ Vision, View paarvai
எைவ Which yevai
House veedu
வடு
&
சீ வு Slash
seevu
Comb (v)
Tamil Consonant - 10
Pronounced: il, ill
As in: mill, trill, kill
Consonant Vowels of
‘la’
Family
i
is
silent
(1)
il
+
ah
=
la
il
+
aah
=
laa
il
+
e
=
li
il
+
ee
=
lee
il
+
wu
=
lu
il
+
wuu
=
luu
Consonant Vowels of
‘la’
Family
i
is
silent
(2)
il
+
ey
=
le
il
+
eyy
=
lay
il
+
I
=
lie
il
+
o
=
lo
il
+
oo
=
low
il
+
ow
=
love
Words involving
விைல
காைல
சிைல
வைல
vilai
Morning kaalai
silai
Statue
Net
valai
Price
பால் Milk paal
பல் Tooth pal
தபால் Post thapal
and its cons. (1)
Tamil Consonant - 11
Pronounced: im
As in: image, improve
Consonant Vowels of
‘ma’
Family
i
is
silent
(1)
im +
ah
=
ma
im +
aah
=
maa
im +
e
=
mi
im +
ee
=
mee
im +
wu
=
mu
im +
wuu
=
muu
Consonant Vowels of
‘ma’
Family
i
is
silent
(2)
im +
ey
=
may
im +
eyy
=
maey
im +
I
=
my
im +
o
=
mo
im +
oo
=
moo
im +
ow
=
mow
Words involving
மாைல
மைல
மாமா
மாவு
மைட
மரம்
மயி
மாடு
இடம்
Evening maalai
Garland
Mountain malai
Flour
maama
maavu
Sluice
madai
Uncle
(gate to control
the flow of water)
Hair
maram
mayir
Cow
maadu
Tree
Location idam
and its cons. (1)
Tamil Consonant - 12
Pronounced: ind
As in: india, wind
Consonant Vowels of
‘na’
Family
i&d
are
silent
(1)
ind +
ah
=
na
ind +
aah
=
naa
ind +
e
=
ni
ind +
ee
=
nee
ind +
wu
=
nu
ind +
wuu
=
nuu
Consonant Vowels of
‘na’
Family
i&d
are
silent
(2)
ind +
ey
=
ne
ind +
eyy
=
ney
ind +
I
=
nai
ind +
o
=
no
ind +
oo
=
noo
ind +
ow
=
now
Words involving
இந்தியா
தந்ைத
நில்
நிலவு
India
and its cons. (1)
india
Father thandai
Stop
nil
Moon
nilavu
ந&
You
nee
ந&
Water
neer
சந்ைத
சந்திப்பு
Marketplace
Appointment
Junctional
santhai
sandhippu
நிம்மதி Relief nimmathi
நிச்சயம் Definitely nichayam
ேநாய் noi
ெநாடி Second nodi
(time unit)
Disease
(generic)
Tamil Consonant - 13
Pronounced: el, le
(less stronger than il)
As in: pearl, tale
Consonant Vowels of
‘La’
Family
e
is
silent
(1)
el +
ah
=
la
el +
aah
=
laa
el +
e
=
li
el +
ee
=
lee
el +
wu
=
lu
el +
wuu
=
luu
Consonant Vowels of
‘La’
Family
e
is
silent
(2)
el +
ey
=
ley
el +
eyy
=
lay
el +
I
=
lie
el +
o
=
lo
el +
oo
=
loo
el +
ow
=
low
Words involving
and its cons. (1)
ேகள்வி Question kelvi
தாள் Sheet of paper taal
தக்காளி Tomato takkali
தவைள Frog tavalai
விைளவு
vilaivu
Effect
Consequence
எள்
Sesame yell
உள்ேள Inside Ulle
ெவளிேய Outside veliye
Push
தள்ளு
tallu
mappillai
மாப்பிள்ைள Groom
Son-in-law
School pallee
பள்ளி
வைளவு Bend valaivu
Curve
Tamil Consonant - 14
Pronounced: il
As in: tamil
Consonant Vowels of
‘la’
Family
i&h
are
silent
(1)
ilh +
ah
=
la
ilh +
aah
=
laa
ilh +
e
=
li
ilh +
ee
=
lee
ilh +
wu
=
lu
ilh +
wuu
=
luu
Consonant Vowels of
‘la’
Family
i&h
are
silent
(2)
ilh +
ey
=
ley
ilh +
eyy
=
leyy
ilh +
I
=
lai
ilh +
o
=
lo
ilh +
oo
=
loo
ilh +
ow
=
low
Words involving
and its cons. (1)
வாழ்க்ைக Living, Life valkkai
வழக்கு Case in court valakku
வழக்கம் Usual, Custom valakkam
மைழ Rain malai
பிைழ Error pilai
Survive
உைழப்பு
Toil, Labor
ulaipu
ஒழுக்கம்
Discipline
olukkam
ெமழுகு
சீ ழ்
Candle
Pus
meluku
seel
Tamil Consonant - 15
Pronounced: in
As in: vitamin, robin
Consonant Vowels of
‘na’
Family
i
is
silent
(1)
in +
ah
=
na
in +
aah
=
naa
in +
e
=
ni
in +
ee
=
nee
in +
wu
=
nu
in +
wuu
=
nuu
Consonant Vowels of
‘na’
Family
i
is
silent
(2)
in +
ey
=
ne
in +
eyy
=
nae
in +
I
=
nai
in +
o
=
no
in +
oo
=
noo
in +
ow
=
now
Words involving
மீ ன் Fish
நான் I
என் My
ஏன் Why
மான் Deer
ெமன்ைம
ேமன்ைம
வன்ைம
and its cons. (1)
mean
naan
en
aen
maan
Softer menmai
Greatness maenmai
Predominance
Strongly vanmai
Tamil Consonant - 16
Pronounced: inn
As in: inner, innovate
Consonant Vowels of
‘Na’
Family
i&n
are
silent
(1)
inn +
ah
=
na
inn +
aah
=
naa
inn +
e
=
ne
inn +
ee
=
nee
inn +
wu
=
nu
inn +
wuu
=
nuu
Consonant Vowels of
‘Na’
Family
i&n
are
silent
(2)
inn +
ey
=
ne
inn +
eyy
=
nae
inn +
I
=
nai
inn +
o
=
no
inn +
oo
=
noo
inn +
ow
=
now
Words involving
and its cons. (1)
தண்ண& Water thanneer
கண்ண& Tears kanneer
பண்பாடு Culture panpadu
Waste veen
வண்
&
kann
Eye
கண்
கண்டனம் Condemnation kandanam
mann
Soil
மண்
Tamil Consonant - 17
Pronounced: ing
As in: ping, string
Words involving
தங்ைக
சங்கம்
வங்கி
சிங்கம்
தங்கம்
மாங்கா
தூங்க
and its cons. (1)
Younger Sister thangai
Club, Association sangam
Bank vangi
Lion singam
Gold
thangam
Mango manga
Sleep thoonga
ெவங்காயம்
Onion vengayam
Tamil Consonant - 18
Pronounced: nch
As in: staunch, lunch
Words involving
லஞ்சம்
பஞ்சம்
Bribe
lanjam
Famine panjam
Scarcity
ெகாஞ்சம்
தஞ்சம்
and its cons. (1)
Little
konjam
Asylum tanjam