# English phrases for friends and small talk, with Tamil meanings

> Here are 14 everyday English phrases for friends and small talk, taken from real conversations in Shinar's English course for Tamil speakers, set in Chennai. Each phrase comes with what it means in Tamil. A good one to start with: “What are you doing on Saturday?”, which in Tamil is “சாட்டர்டே என்ன பண்ற?”.

Page: https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil/phrases/social/ · part of [English for Tamil speakers](https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil.md) · coming soon to Google Play

## 14 English phrases for friends and small talk

| Tamil | English |
|---|---|
| சாட்டர்டே என்ன பண்ற? | What are you doing on Saturday? |
| ஐயோ, சாரி! நான் உங்கள பாக்கல. | Oh, sorry! I didn't see you. |
| நீங்க என்ன பண்றீங்க? | What do you do? |
| ஆன்ட்டி, சாப்பாடு ரொம்ப ருசியா இருக்கு! | Aunty, the food is really tasty! |
| வணக்கம்! உங்க பேரு என்ன? | Hello! What is your name? |
| மீனா, நேத்து ஏன் என்கிட்ட பேசல? | Meena, why didn't you talk to me yesterday? |
| ரோஹன், யாரு கல்யாணம் பண்ணிக்கப் போறாங்க னு சொல்லு! | Rohan, guess who's getting married! |
| முதல்ல யாரு பேட்டிங்? | Who's batting first? |
| ஈவ்னிங் ஷோக்கு ரெண்டு டிக்கெட். | Two tickets for the evening show. |
| சனிக்கிழமை விக்னேஷ் பர்த்டே. சர்ப்ரைஸ் பார்ட்டி வெக்கலாமா? | Saturday is Vignesh’s birthday. Shall we throw a surprise party? |
| பூஜா, நீ புனேக்கு போறது நிஜமா? | Pooja, is it true you're moving to Pune? |
| ஒண்ணும் இல்ல. ஏன்? | Nothing much. Why? |
| பரவால்ல. உங்களுக்கு ஒண்ணும் ஆகலியே? | It's okay. You're alright, aren't you? |
| நான் டீச்சர். நீங்க? | I'm a teacher. And you? |

## Key English words

| English | Meaning (Tamil) |
|---|---|
| what are you doing | என்ன பண்றீங்க |
| on Saturday | சனிக்கிழமை அன்று |
| sorry | மன்னிக்கவும் |
| I didn't see you | நான் உங்களை பார்க்கல |
| what do you do | நீங்க என்ன வேலை பண்றீங்க |
| the food | சாப்பாடு |
| really tasty | ரொம்ப ருசியா |
| what is your name | உங்க பேர் என்ன |
| why didn't you | ஏன் நீ ... இல்ல |
| talk to me | என்கிட்ட பேச |
| yesterday | நேத்து |
| guess | சொல்லு பார்ப்போம் |
| getting married | கல்யாணம் பண்ணிக்கப் போறாங்க |
| who's batting first | முதல்ல யார் பேட்டிங் |
| two tickets | ரெண்டு டிக்கெட் |
| evening show | சாயங்கால ஷோ |

## Questions about English for friends and small talk

### How do you say “சாட்டர்டே என்ன பண்ற?” in English?

“What are you doing on Saturday?”. It comes from the Shinar scene “Making weekend plans”.

### What are common English words for friends and small talk?

Some of the first English words and phrases you will hear in these conversations: what are you doing (என்ன பண்றீங்க), on Saturday (சனிக்கிழமை அன்று), sorry (மன்னிக்கவும்), I didn't see you (நான் உங்களை பார்க்கல), what do you do (நீங்க என்ன வேலை பண்றீங்க), the food (சாப்பாடு).

### Are these English phrases formal or everyday?

They are everyday spoken English, the way people in India actually talk at the market, at work and at home, not textbook English.

### How can I practise these English phrases?

Each phrase comes from a full conversation in Shinar (Making weekend plans, Oops, sorry!, What do you do?, Dinner at a friend's home). You hear the scene in Tamil first, then in English, then learn every word. Shinar is coming soon to Google Play.

## More English phrase guides

- [Shopping and Bargaining](https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil/phrases/shopping.md)
- [Food and Eating Out](https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil/phrases/food.md)
- [Travel and Getting Around](https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil/phrases/travel.md)
- [Family](https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil/phrases/family.md)
- [Everyday Life](https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil/phrases/everyday.md)
- [At Home](https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil/phrases/home.md)
- [Health and the Doctor](https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil/phrases/health.md)
- [School and College](https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil/phrases/school.md)
- [Work and the Office](https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil/phrases/work.md)
- [Festivals and Celebrations](https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil/phrases/festivals.md)