Tamil phrase guide
Tamil phrases for travel and getting around, with meanings
Here are 14 everyday Tamil phrases for travel and getting around, 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: “Madam, naan gate kitta irukken. Neenga enga?” (மேடம், நான் கேட் கிட்ட இருக்கேன். நீங்க எங்க?), which means “Madam, I'm at the gate. Where are you?”.
14 Tamil phrases for travel and getting around
Real lines from 7 Shinar scenes: Your cab is here, Buying a train ticket, Catching an auto, Catching the bus, I lost my phone! and more.
| English | Tamil |
|---|---|
| Madam, I'm at the gate. Where are you? | Madam, naan gate kitta irukken. Neenga enga?மேடம், நான் கேட் கிட்ட இருக்கேன். நீங்க எங்க? |
| One ticket to Madurai, please. | Madurai-kku oru ticket kudunga.மதுரைக்கு ஒரு டிக்கெட் குடுங்க. |
| Will you come to T. Nagar? | T. Nagar varuveengalaa?டி. நகர் வருவீங்களா? |
| Does this bus go to Tambaram? | Indha bus Tambaram pogumaa?இந்த பஸ் தாம்பரம் போகுமா? |
| Sir, my phone is lost. | Saar, en phone kaanaama pochu.சார், என் போன் காணாம போச்சு. |
| Excuse me, where is the metro station? | Excuse me, metro station enga irukku?எக்ஸ்க்யூஸ் மீ, மெட்ரோ ஸ்டேஷன் எங்க இருக்கு? |
| I have a booking under the name Joseph. | Joseph per-la booking irukku.ஜோசப் பேர்ல புக்கிங் இருக்கு. |
| I'm coming in two minutes. | Rendu nimishathula varen.ரெண்டு நிமிஷத்துல வரேன். |
| Which train? | Endha train?எந்த ட்ரெயின்? |
| I'll come, get in. Two hundred rupees. | Varen, ukkaarunga. Irunooru rooba.வரேன், உக்காருங்க. இருநூறு ரூபா. |
| Yes, it does. Get in quickly. | Pogum, seekiram yerunga.போகும், சீக்கிரம் ஏறுங்க. |
| Where did you lose it? | Enga tholaicheenga?எங்க தொலைச்சீங்க? |
| Go straight, then take a left. | Nera ponga, apram left edunga.நேரா போங்க, அப்புறம் லெஃப்ட் எடுங்க. |
| Yes, sir. Please show your ID. | Aamaa saar. Unga ID kaattunga.ஆமா சார். உங்க ஐடி காட்டுங்க. |
Key Tamil words in these phrases
| Tamil | Meaning |
|---|---|
| naan | I |
| gate kitta | near the gate |
| irukken | am |
| neenga | you |
| enga | where |
| madurai-kku | to Madurai |
| oru | one |
| ticket | ticket |
| kudunga | give |
| T. Nagar | T. Nagar (shopping area) |
| varuveengalaa | will you come |
| indha | this |
| bus | bus |
| tambaram | Tambaram |
| pogumaa | does it go |
| en | my |
Questions about Tamil for travel and getting around
How do you say “Madam, I'm at the gate. Where are you?” in Tamil?
“Madam, naan gate kitta irukken. Neenga enga?” (மேடம், நான் கேட் கிட்ட இருக்கேன். நீங்க எங்க?). This phrase comes from the Shinar scene “Your cab is here”.
What are common Tamil words for travel and getting around?
Some of the first Tamil words you will hear in these conversations: naan (I), gate kitta (near the gate), irukken (am), neenga (you), enga (where), madurai-kku (to Madurai).
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 (Your cab is here, Buying a train ticket, Catching an auto, Catching the bus). You hear the scene in English first, then in Tamil, then learn every word. Shinar is coming soon to Google Play.