Tamil phrase guide
Tamil phrases for school and college, with meanings
Here are 14 everyday Tamil phrases for school and college, 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: “Divya, lunch-ukku enna kondu vandha?” (திவ்யா, லஞ்சுக்கு என்ன கொண்டு வந்த?), which means “Divya, what did you bring for lunch?”.
14 Tamil phrases for school and college
Real lines from 3 Shinar scenes: Lunch break, Low marks, Exam tomorrow.
| English | Tamil |
|---|---|
| Divya, what did you bring for lunch? | Divya, lunch-ukku enna kondu vandha?திவ்யா, லஞ்சுக்கு என்ன கொண்டு வந்த? |
| Divya, why are you crying? What happened? | Divya, yen azhura? Enna aachu?திவ்யா, ஏன் அழுற? என்ன ஆச்சு? |
| Arjun, did you finish the science syllabus? | Arjun, science syllabus mudichiyaa?அர்ஜுன், சயின்ஸ் சிலபஸ் முடிச்சியா? |
| Tamarind rice. And you? | Puliyodharai. Nee?புளியோதரை. நீ? |
| I got only forty in maths. | Maths-la naarpadhu maark dhaan vandhudhu.மேத்ஸ்ல நாப்பது மார்க் தான் வந்துது. |
| No, two chapters are still left. | Illa, innum rendu chapter baakki.இல்ல, இன்னும் ரெண்டு சாப்டர் பாக்கி. |
| Idli again. I'm so bored of it. | Thirumbavum idli. Bore adikkudhu.திரும்பவும் இட்லி. போர் அடிக்குது. |
| It's okay. It's just one exam. | Paravaala. Idhu oru exam dhaane.பரவால்ல. இது ஒரு எக்ஸாம் தானே. |
| Same here. I'm really tense. | Enakkum adhe dhaan. Romba tension-aa irukku.எனக்கும் அதே தான். ரொம்ப டென்ஷனா இருக்கு. |
| Shall we share? Take some of mine. | Share pannalaamaa? Ennodhu konjam eduthukko.ஷேர் பண்ணலாமா? என்னோடது கொஞ்சம் எடுத்துக்கோ. |
| Amma will scold me a lot. | Amma romba thittuvaanga.அம்மா ரொம்ப திட்டுவாங்க. |
| Sir said questions will come from chapter five. | Anjaavadhu chapter-lerundhu question varum nu sir sonnaaru.அஞ்சாவது சாப்டர்லருந்து கொஸ்டின் வரும் னு சார் சொன்னாரு. |
| Thank you! Your mother cooks really well. | Thank you! Unga amma romba nallaa samaippaanga.தேங்க் யூ! உங்க அம்மா ரொம்ப நல்லா சமைப்பாங்க. |
| Don't worry. I'll come home with you and talk to her. | Bayapadaadhe. Naanum un veetukku vandhu pesuren.பயப்படாதே. நானும் உன் வீட்டுக்கு வந்து பேசுறேன். |
Key Tamil words in these phrases
| Tamil | Meaning |
|---|---|
| lunch-ukku | for lunch |
| enna | what |
| kondu vandha | did you bring |
| yen | why |
| azhura | are you crying |
| enna aachu | what happened |
| mudichiyaa | did you finish |
| puliyodharai | tamarind rice |
| nee | you |
| maths-la | in maths |
| naarpadhu | forty |
| maark | marks |
| dhaan | only |
| vandhudhu | came |
| illa | no |
| innum | still |
Questions about Tamil for school and college
How do you say “Divya, what did you bring for lunch?” in Tamil?
“Divya, lunch-ukku enna kondu vandha?” (திவ்யா, லஞ்சுக்கு என்ன கொண்டு வந்த?). This phrase comes from the Shinar scene “Lunch break”.
What are common Tamil words for school and college?
Some of the first Tamil words you will hear in these conversations: lunch-ukku (for lunch), enna (what), kondu vandha (did you bring), yen (why), azhura (are you crying), enna aachu (what happened).
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 (Lunch break, Low marks, Exam tomorrow). You hear the scene in English first, then in Tamil, then learn every word. Shinar is coming soon to Google Play.