Tamil phrase guide
Tamil phrases for health and the doctor, with meanings
Here are 14 everyday Tamil phrases for health and the doctor, 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: “Enakku thalai vali. Oru tablet kudunga.” (எனக்கு தலை வலி. ஒரு டேப்லெட் குடுங்க.), which means “I have a headache. Please give me a tablet.”.
14 Tamil phrases for health and the doctor
Real lines from 3 Shinar scenes: At the pharmacy, At the doctor's, Booking an appointment.
| English | Tamil |
|---|---|
| I have a headache. Please give me a tablet. | Enakku thalai vali. Oru tablet kudunga.எனக்கு தலை வலி. ஒரு டேப்லெட் குடுங்க. |
| What's the problem? | Enna prachanai?என்ன பிரச்சனை? |
| I need to see the heart doctor. | Naan heart doctor-a paakkanum.நான் ஹார்ட் டாக்டர பாக்கணும். |
| Take this after food, twice a day. | Idha saapaattukku apram, naalukku rendu thadava podunga.இதை சாப்பாட்டுக்கு அப்புறம், நாளுக்கு ரெண்டு தடவ போடுங்க. |
| I've had a fever for two days. | Rendu naalaa kaaichal.ரெண்டு நாளா காய்ச்சல். |
| Do you have an appointment? | Appointment irukkaa?அப்பாயின்ட்மென்ட் இருக்கா? |
| Do I need to see a doctor? | Doctor-a paakkanumaa?டாக்டர பாக்கணுமா? |
| Do you have a cough or cold? | Irumal, jaladosham irukkaa?இருமல், ஜலதோஷம் இருக்கா? |
| No. Is the doctor in today? | Illa. Doctor inniki irukkaangalaa?இல்ல. டாக்டர் இன்னிக்கு இருக்காங்களா? |
| If it doesn't ease by tomorrow, yes. | Naalaikkulla korayalanna, paarunga.நாளைக்குள்ள குறையலன்னா, பாருங்க. |
| A little cough. And body aches. | Konjam irumal. Odambu valiyum irukku.கொஞ்சம் இருமல். உடம்பு வலியும் இருக்கு. |
| Yes, after five in the evening. | Irukkaanga, saayangaalam anju manikku apram.இருக்காங்க, சாயங்காலம் அஞ்சு மணிக்கு அப்புறம். |
| It's a viral fever. Rest for three days. | Viral fever. Moonu naal rest edunga.வைரல் ஃபீவர். மூணு நாள் ரெஸ்ட் எடுங்க. |
| Please book it for me. My name is Saritha. | Enakku book pannunga. En peru Saritha.எனக்கு புக் பண்ணுங்க. என் பேரு சரிதா. |
Key Tamil words in these phrases
| Tamil | Meaning |
|---|---|
| enakku | I have |
| thalai | head |
| vali | pain |
| oru | one |
| kudunga | give |
| enna | what |
| prachanai | problem |
| naan | I |
| doctor-a | the doctor |
| paakkanum | need to see |
| idha | this |
| saapaattukku apram | after food |
| naalukku | a day |
| rendu thadava | twice |
| podunga | take |
| rendu naalaa | for two days |
Questions about Tamil for health and the doctor
How do you say “I have a headache. Please give me a tablet.” in Tamil?
“Enakku thalai vali. Oru tablet kudunga.” (எனக்கு தலை வலி. ஒரு டேப்லெட் குடுங்க.). This phrase comes from the Shinar scene “At the pharmacy”.
What are common Tamil words for health and the doctor?
Some of the first Tamil words you will hear in these conversations: enakku (I have), thalai (head), vali (pain), oru (one), kudunga (give), enna (what).
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 (At the pharmacy, At the doctor's, Booking an appointment). You hear the scene in English first, then in Tamil, then learn every word. Shinar is coming soon to Google Play.