Tamil phrase guide
Tamil phrases for everyday life, with meanings
Here are 14 everyday Tamil phrases for everyday life, taken from real conversations in Shinar's Tamil course, set in Chennai. Each phrase is written in English letters with Tamil script alongside, and its English meaning. A good one to start with: “Oru karumbu juice kudunga.” (ஒரு கரும்பு ஜூஸ் குடுங்க.), which means “One sugarcane juice, please.”.
14 Tamil phrases for everyday life
Real lines from 4 Shinar scenes: Paying by phone, Calling a friend, Good morning, It's raining!.
| English | Tamil |
|---|---|
| One sugarcane juice, please. | Oru karumbu juice kudunga.ஒரு கரும்பு ஜூஸ் குடுங்க. |
| Hello, where are you? | Hello, enga irukka?ஹலோ, எங்க இருக்க? |
| Good morning! Did you sleep well? | Good morning! Nallaa thoonginiyaa?குட் மார்னிங்! நல்லா தூங்கினியா? |
| Look, it's raining heavily. | Paaru, mazhai semmaiyaa peyyudhu.பாரு, மழை செம்மையா பெய்யுது. |
| Thirty rupees. | Muppadhu rooba.முப்பது ரூபா. |
| I'm on the way. Stuck in traffic. | Vazhila irukken. Traffic-la maattikitten.வழியில இருக்கேன். டிராஃபிக்ல மாட்டிக்கிட்டேன். |
| Yes, I slept well. What time is it? | Aamaa, nallaa thoonginen. Mani enna?ஆமா, நல்லா தூங்கினேன். மணி என்ன? |
| Oh no! I didn't bring an umbrella. | Aiyo! Naan kudai edutthuttu varala.ஐயோ! நான் குடை எடுத்துட்டு வரல. |
| Can I pay by phone? I don't have cash. | Phone-la pay pannalaamaa? Cash illa.போன்ல பே பண்ணலாமா? கேஷ் இல்ல. |
| How much longer will it take? | Innum evvalavu neram aagum?இன்னும் எவ்வளவு நேரம் ஆகும்? |
| It's eight o'clock. Get up quickly. | Ettu mani aachu. Seekiram ezhundhiru.எட்டு மணி ஆச்சு. சீக்கிரம் எழுந்திரு. |
| Take mine. I have two. | Ennodatha eduthukko. Enkitta rendu irukku.என்னோடத எடுத்துக்கோ. என்கிட்ட ரெண்டு இருக்கு. |
| Yes, scan this QR code. | Pannalaam, indha QR scan pannunga.பண்ணலாம், இந்த க்யூஆர் ஸ்கேன் பண்ணுங்க. |
| Another twenty minutes. | Innum irubadhu nimisham.இன்னும் இருபது நிமிஷம். |
Key Tamil words in these phrases
| Tamil | Meaning |
|---|---|
| oru | one |
| karumbu | sugarcane |
| juice | juice |
| kudunga | give |
| enga | where |
| irukka | are you |
| nallaa | well |
| thoonginiyaa | did you sleep |
| paaru | look |
| mazhai | rain |
| semmaiyaa | heavily |
| peyyudhu | is falling |
| muppadhu | thirty |
| rooba | rupees |
| vazhila | on the way |
| irukken | am |
Questions about Tamil for everyday life
How do you say “One sugarcane juice, please.” in Tamil?
“Oru karumbu juice kudunga.” (ஒரு கரும்பு ஜூஸ் குடுங்க.). This phrase comes from the Shinar scene “Paying by phone”.
What are common Tamil words for everyday life?
Some of the first Tamil words you will hear in these conversations: oru (one), karumbu (sugarcane), juice (juice), kudunga (give), enga (where), irukka (are you).
Are these Tamil phrases formal or everyday?
They are everyday spoken Tamil as heard in Chennai, including the English words people naturally mix in, not textbook-formal Tamil.
How can I practise these Tamil phrases?
Each phrase comes from a full conversation in Shinar (Paying by phone, Calling a friend, Good morning, It's raining!). You hear the scene in English first, then in Tamil, then learn every word. Shinar is coming soon to Google Play.