Tamil phrase guide
Tamil phrases for friends and small talk, with meanings
Here are 14 everyday Tamil phrases for friends and small talk, 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: “Saturday enna panra?” (சாட்டர்டே என்ன பண்ற?), which means “What are you doing on Saturday?”.
14 Tamil phrases for friends and small talk
Real lines from 11 Shinar scenes: Making weekend plans, Oops, sorry!, What do you do?, Dinner at a friend's home, Meeting someone new and more.
| English | Tamil |
|---|---|
| What are you doing on Saturday? | Saturday enna panra?சாட்டர்டே என்ன பண்ற? |
| Oh, sorry! I didn't see you. | Aiyo, sorry! Naan ungala paakala.ஐயோ, சாரி! நான் உங்கள பாக்கல. |
| What do you do? | Neenga enna panreenga?நீங்க என்ன பண்றீங்க? |
| Aunty, the food is really tasty! | Aunty, saapadu romba ruchiyaa irukku!ஆன்ட்டி, சாப்பாடு ரொம்ப ருசியா இருக்கு! |
| Hello! What is your name? | Vanakkam! Unga peru enna?வணக்கம்! உங்க பேரு என்ன? |
| Meena, why didn't you talk to me yesterday? | Meena, nethu yen enkitta pesala?மீனா, நேத்து ஏன் என்கிட்ட பேசல? |
| Rohan, guess who's getting married! | Rohan, yaaru kalyaanam pannikkaporaanga nu sollu!ரோஹன், யாரு கல்யாணம் பண்ணிக்கப் போறாங்க னு சொல்லு! |
| Who's batting first? | Modhalla yaaru batting?முதல்ல யாரு பேட்டிங்? |
| Two tickets for the evening show. | Evening show-ku rendu ticket.ஈவ்னிங் ஷோக்கு ரெண்டு டிக்கெட். |
| Saturday is Vignesh’s birthday. Shall we throw a surprise party? | Sani kizhamai Vignesh birthday. Surprise party vekkalaamaa?சனிக்கிழமை விக்னேஷ் பர்த்டே. சர்ப்ரைஸ் பார்ட்டி வெக்கலாமா? |
| Pooja, is it true you're moving to Pune? | Pooja, nee Pune-ku poradhu nijamaa?பூஜா, நீ புனேக்கு போறது நிஜமா? |
| Nothing much. Why? | Onnum illa. Yen?ஒண்ணும் இல்ல. ஏன்? |
| It's okay. You're alright, aren't you? | Paravaala. Ungalukku onnum aagaliye?பரவால்ல. உங்களுக்கு ஒண்ணும் ஆகலியே? |
| I'm a teacher. And you? | Naan teacher. Neenga?நான் டீச்சர். நீங்க? |
Key Tamil words in these phrases
| Tamil | Meaning |
|---|---|
| enna | what |
| panra | are you doing |
| aiyo | oh no |
| naan | I |
| ungala | you |
| paakala | didn’t see |
| neenga | you |
| panreenga | do |
| saapadu | food |
| romba | very |
| ruchiyaa | tasty |
| irukku | is |
| vanakkam | hello |
| unga | your |
| peru | name |
| nethu | yesterday |
Questions about Tamil for friends and small talk
How do you say “What are you doing on Saturday?” in Tamil?
“Saturday enna panra?” (சாட்டர்டே என்ன பண்ற?). This phrase comes from the Shinar scene “Making weekend plans”.
What are common Tamil words for friends and small talk?
Some of the first Tamil words you will hear in these conversations: enna (what), panra (are you doing), aiyo (oh no), naan (I), ungala (you), paakala (didn’t see).
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 (Making weekend plans, Oops, sorry!, What do you do?, Dinner at a friend's home). You hear the scene in English first, then in Tamil, then learn every word. Shinar is coming soon to Google Play.