Tamil phrase guide
Tamil phrases for food and eating out, with meanings
Here are 14 everyday Tamil phrases for food and eating out, 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 chicken biryani kudunga.” (ஒரு சிக்கன் பிரியாணி குடுங்க.), which means “One chicken biryani, please.”.
14 Tamil phrases for food and eating out
Real lines from 6 Shinar scenes: Ordering biryani, Buying mangoes, Is lunch ready?, Chai at the tea stall, Pani puri stall and more.
| English | Tamil |
|---|---|
| One chicken biryani, please. | Oru chicken biryani kudunga.ஒரு சிக்கன் பிரியாணி குடுங்க. |
| Are these mangoes sweet? | Indha maambazham inippaa irukkaa?இந்த மாம்பழம் இனிப்பா இருக்கா? |
| Amma, I'm so hungry! | Amma, romba pasikkudhu!அம்மா, ரொம்ப பசிக்குது! |
| Brother, give us two teas. | Anna, rendu tea kudunga.அண்ணா, ரெண்டு டீ குடுங்க. |
| Anna, one plate of pani puri. | Anna, oru plate pani puri.அண்ணா, ஒரு பிளேட் பானி பூரி. |
| Athai, how do you make tomato rasam? | Athai, thakkaali rasam eppadi pannuvaanga?அத்தை, தக்காளி ரசம் எப்படி பண்ணுவாங்க? |
| Do you want it spicy? | Kaaram venumaa?காரம் வேணுமா? |
| Very sweet, madam. Salem mangoes. | Romba inippu, madam. Salem maambazham.ரொம்ப இனிப்பு, மேடம். சேலம் மாம்பழம். |
| Lunch is ready. Wash your hands. | Saapadu ready. Kai kazhuvikko.சாப்பாடு ரெடி. கை கழுவிக்கோ. |
| More sugar or less? | Sakkarai jaasthiyaa, kammiyaa?சக்கரை ஜாஸ்தியா, கம்மியா? |
| Spicy or sweet? | Kaaramaa, inippaa?காரமா, இனிப்பா? |
| First, soak the tamarind in water. | Modhalla, puliya thanniyila oora vai.முதல்ல, புளிய தண்ணியில ஊற வை. |
| Medium. And one cool drink too. | Medium. Innum oru cool drink.மீடியம். இன்னும் ஒரு கூல் டிரிங்க். |
| How much for a dozen? | Oru dozen evvalavu?ஒரு டஜன் எவ்வளவு? |
Key Tamil words in these phrases
| Tamil | Meaning |
|---|---|
| oru | one |
| biryani | biryani |
| kudunga | give |
| indha | these |
| maambazham | mangoes |
| inippaa | sweet |
| irukkaa | are they |
| amma | mum |
| romba | very |
| pasikkudhu | I’m hungry |
| anna | brother |
| rendu | two |
| tea | tea |
| plate | plate |
| athai | aunt / mother-in-law |
| thakkaali | tomato |
Questions about Tamil for food and eating out
How do you say “One chicken biryani, please.” in Tamil?
“Oru chicken biryani kudunga.” (ஒரு சிக்கன் பிரியாணி குடுங்க.). This phrase comes from the Shinar scene “Ordering biryani”.
What are common Tamil words for food and eating out?
Some of the first Tamil words you will hear in these conversations: oru (one), biryani (biryani), kudunga (give), indha (these), maambazham (mangoes), inippaa (sweet).
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 (Ordering biryani, Buying mangoes, Is lunch ready?, Chai at the tea stall). You hear the scene in English first, then in Tamil, then learn every word. Shinar is coming soon to Google Play.