Tamil phrase guide
Tamil phrases for work and the office, with meanings
Here are 14 everyday Tamil phrases for work and the office, 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: “Hello, naan Kavya. Inniki join panninen.” (ஹலோ, நான் காவ்யா. இன்னிக்கு ஜாயின் பண்ணினேன்.), which means “Hello, I'm Kavya. I joined today.”.
14 Tamil phrases for work and the office
Real lines from 7 Shinar scenes: First day at work, Project timeline, Lunch with colleagues, Daily stand-up, Asking for leave and more.
| English | Tamil |
|---|---|
| Hello, I'm Kavya. I joined today. | Hello, naan Kavya. Inniki join panninen.ஹலோ, நான் காவ்யா. இன்னிக்கு ஜாயின் பண்ணினேன். |
| Ravi, when will the login feature be ready? | Ravi, login feature eppo ready aagum?ரவி, லாகின் ஃபீச்சர் எப்போ ரெடி ஆகும்? |
| What did you bring for lunch? | Lunch-ukku enna kondu vandheenga?லஞ்சுக்கு என்ன கொண்டு வந்தீங்க? |
| Keerthi, what did you do yesterday? | Keerthi, nethu enna panneenga?கீர்த்தி, நேத்து என்ன பண்ணீங்க? |
| Sir, I need leave on Friday. | Saar, velli kizhamai enakku leave venum.சார், வெள்ளிக்கிழமை எனக்கு லீவ் வேணும். |
| Is the presentation ready? | Presentation ready-aa?பிரசன்டேஷன் ரெடியா? |
| Did you hear? Our new manager is from Bangalore. | Kelvippatteengalaa? Namma pudhu manager Bangalore-lerundhu.கேள்விப்பட்டீங்களா? நம்ம புது மேனேஜர் பெங்களூர்லருந்து. |
| Welcome! I'm Suresh, your team lead. | Welcome! Naan Suresh, unga team lead.வெல்கம்! நான் சுரேஷ், உங்க டீம் லீட். |
| It'll take two more days. | Innum rendu naal aagum.இன்னும் ரெண்டு நாள் ஆகும். |
| Puliyodharai and potato curry. | Puliyodharai, urulaikizhangu poriyal.புளியோதரை, உருளைக்கிழங்கு பொரியல். |
| I fixed the payment bug. | Payment bug-a fix panninen.பேமென்ட் பக்க ஃபிக்ஸ் பண்ணினேன். |
| Why? Is everything okay? | Yen? Ellaam seriyaa irukkaa?ஏன்? எல்லாம் சரியா இருக்கா? |
| Almost. Two slides are left. | Kittathatta. Rendu slide baakki irukku.கிட்டத்தட்ட. ரெண்டு ஸ்லைட் பாக்கி இருக்கு. |
| Really? What is he like? | Nijamaavaa? Avaru eppadi?நிஜமாவா? அவரு எப்படி? |
Key Tamil words in these phrases
| Tamil | Meaning |
|---|---|
| naan | I |
| inniki | today |
| join panninen | joined |
| eppo | when |
| ready aagum | will be ready |
| lunch-ukku | for lunch |
| enna | what |
| kondu vandheenga | did you bring |
| nethu | yesterday |
| panneenga | did you do |
| velli kizhamai | Friday |
| enakku | I |
| venum | need |
| ready-aa | is it ready |
| kelvippatteengalaa | did you hear |
| namma | our |
Questions about Tamil for work and the office
How do you say “Hello, I'm Kavya. I joined today.” in Tamil?
“Hello, naan Kavya. Inniki join panninen.” (ஹலோ, நான் காவ்யா. இன்னிக்கு ஜாயின் பண்ணினேன்.). This phrase comes from the Shinar scene “First day at work”.
What are common Tamil words for work and the office?
Some of the first Tamil words you will hear in these conversations: naan (I), inniki (today), join panninen (joined), eppo (when), ready aagum (will be ready), lunch-ukku (for lunch).
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 (First day at work, Project timeline, Lunch with colleagues, Daily stand-up). You hear the scene in English first, then in Tamil, then learn every word. Shinar is coming soon to Google Play.