Tamil basics

gertie · Jan 22nd, 2007, 16:49

Hiya,

Can anyone help me out with a few Tamil basic phrases? Just things such as hello, how are you, how much etc etc. Phonetic spelling would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Gertie

icetea · Jan 22nd, 2007, 17:16

I can tell you the very few words I know, until some more knowledgeable IM members come around:
"ama" = yes
"illay" = no
"venda" = I don't want/need
"tiriadhu" = I don't know/understand
"nandri" = thank you
"chery" or "shery" = alright, OK
"vanakkam" = hello (polite, I think)
"sab" = food
"tani" = water

For "how much" I either use English or "kitna?" (that's Hindi).

With this "rich" vocabulary

and with English I can get around in Chennai. I have a "Learn Tamil" booklet somewhere, but it proved useless for me because it insisted on learning the script first and that scared me away...

Digital Drifter · Jan 22nd, 2007, 21:29

sappadu= food/meals though "meals" is pretty much universally understood.

idhu yenna vilai? - "how much does this cost?"

& since I lack imagination, you'll have ot ask for the phrases for me to give you the translation.

ISN · Jan 22nd, 2007, 22:02

If you want to get a jumpstart in Tamil go to a bookstore and get a English – Tamil dictionary.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gertie

Hiya,

Can anyone help me out with a few Tamil basic phrases? Just things such as hello, how are you, how much etc etc. Phonetic spelling would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Gertie

icetea · Jan 22nd, 2007, 22:05

I think that's not of too much use, ISN...unless one has a native around to correct the pronunciation. Words are quite complicated and people might not understand what she is trying to say. I'm not sure that Tamil is the kind of language one can pick up from books..especially not dictionaries.

Nick-H · Jan 22nd, 2007, 22:11

Too true.

Like... the differences between the Tamil words for 'yes' and 'mother'

ISN · Jan 22nd, 2007, 22:42

Well you have to start at some place; the dictionary will be a good place to start, but if you want to really learn Tamil you have to find a tutor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by icetea

I think that's not of too much use, ISN...unless one has a native around to correct the pronunciation. Words are quite complicated and people might not understand what she is trying to say. I'm not sure that Tamil is the kind of language one can pick up from books..especially not dictionaries.

icetea · Jan 23rd, 2007, 09:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Too true. Like... the differences between the Tamil words for 'yes' and 'mother'

You mean amma and ama? Oh that's a mystery. I can argue with my husband over things like these for minutes, and claim they sound just the same

He keeps repeating the 2 different words to me and I swear they sound (ok..almost) identical. Or he corrects some of my Hindi words and I'm throughly puzzled because he seems to be pronouncing exactly the same!!

gertie · Jan 23rd, 2007, 09:41

Thanks for the phrases. I do have a 'Learn tamil in 4 weeks' book, I bought it 6 weeks ago and I'm still on page 1!
I agree with icetea that the pronounciation is the difficult bit. I am trying to listen to spoken tamil as much as possible to get my ear in, but its not helping much yet.
I've heard learning tamil described as 'teaching the tongue to dance'! Sounds about right to me!
I plan to get a tutor soon, but just wanted a couple of basics, so ta.

By the way, do I say 'Vanakkam' or 'kaaley vanakkam' as a general greeting? What does the each word mean?

Gertie

icetea · Jan 23rd, 2007, 09:54

Where is ranggs? He could help us out here...

I don't know what "kaaley" means, but Vanakkam will do as a general greeting. Maybe kaaley makes it more formal, I don't know.

"Poitu vare" would be Goodbye, btw.

Digital Drifter · Jan 23rd, 2007, 10:17

Vanankkam should do. "kaaley vannakkam" is a translation of "good morning". I'd be surprised if anyone in Tamil went about wishing using the time of day words. Vanakkam is generic one as much as hello.

kaaley-morning

sirensongs · Jan 23rd, 2007, 10:37

Tamil is certainly difficult if not impossible to learn from a book alone - you need ear training and immersion. (This, from someone - me - who speaks a magnificient 3 dozen words or so, ha.) The sounds (unlike those of Hindi, I think) and "feeling" are just too different from western languages.

In the cities, I get by well with English, which people seem to prefer, as any mangling of Tamil meets with a look as though I'm murdering their mother (which in a way, I suppose is true).

capt_mahajan · Jan 23rd, 2007, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirensongs

In the cities, I get by well with English, which people seem to prefer, as any mangling of Tamil meets with a look as though I'm murdering their mother (which in a way, I suppose is true).

My grandfather was the Head of English at an Indian University.
For some obscure reason, my grandmother would switch from Dogri/Punjabi to her poor English whenever they quarrelled.

And he would be calmly sit there and correct her English, while tut-tutting... "you are murdering the language."

Needless to say, this infuriated her even more.

Aparajith · Jan 23rd, 2007, 10:47

Kaalay = Morning
Maalay = Evening

So "Kaalay Vanakkam" could be approximated to "Good Morning"

You need to be careful while transilerating Tamil in English for the non-Tamils

Because "AAma" = Yes whil "aMMA" = Mother

capt_mahajan · Jan 23rd, 2007, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aparajith

You need to be careful while transilerating Tamil in English for the non-Tamils

Because "AAma" = Yes whil "aMMA" = Mother

and "yes, mother" would be?

Jan 22nd, 2007, 16:49	#1
gertie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 156	Tamil basics Hiya, Can anyone help me out with a few Tamil basic phrases? Just things such as hello, how are you, how much etc etc. Phonetic spelling would be appreciated! Thanks, Gertie

Jan 22nd, 2007, 21:29	#3
Digital Drifter bang a whore? Bangalore Dammit! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,878	sappadu= food/meals though "meals" is pretty much universally understood. idhu yenna vilai? - "how much does this cost?" & since I lack imagination, you'll have ot ask for the phrases for me to give you the translation. __________________ Click here for the Indiamike train guide in PDF

Jan 22nd, 2007, 22:11	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,829	Too true. Like... the differences between the Tamil words for 'yes' and 'mother' __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jan 23rd, 2007, 10:37	#12
sirensongs Eeny meeny mango Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: All India Permit (somewhere between Delhi & Dharamsala) Posts: 1,213	Tamil is certainly difficult if not impossible to learn from a book alone - you need ear training and immersion. (This, from someone - me - who speaks a magnificient 3 dozen words or so, ha.) The sounds (unlike those of Hindi, I think) and "feeling" are just too different from western languages. In the cities, I get by well with English, which people seem to prefer, as any mangling of Tamil meets with a look as though I'm murdering their mother (which in a way, I suppose is true). __________________ *"Why do people go to India to find themselves? India is where you go to lose* yourself."** Feringhee: The India Diaries

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Jan 22nd, 2007, 17:16	#2
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	I can tell you the very few words I know, until some more knowledgeable IM members come around: "ama" = yes "illay" = no "venda" = I don't want/need "tiriadhu" = I don't know/understand "nandri" = thank you "chery" or "shery" = alright, OK "vanakkam" = hello (polite, I think) "sab" = food "tani" = water For "how much" I either use English or "kitna?" (that's Hindi). With this "rich" vocabulary and with English I can get around in Chennai. I have a "Learn Tamil" booklet somewhere, but it proved useless for me because it insisted on learning the script first and that scared me away...

Jan 22nd, 2007, 22:05	#5
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	I think that's not of too much use, ISN...unless one has a native around to correct the pronunciation. Words are quite complicated and people might not understand what she is trying to say. I'm not sure that Tamil is the kind of language one can pick up from books..especially not dictionaries.

Jan 23rd, 2007, 09:41	#9
gertie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 156	Thanks for the phrases. I do have a 'Learn tamil in 4 weeks' book, I bought it 6 weeks ago and I'm still on page 1! I agree with icetea that the pronounciation is the difficult bit. I am trying to listen to spoken tamil as much as possible to get my ear in, but its not helping much yet. I've heard learning tamil described as 'teaching the tongue to dance'! Sounds about right to me! I plan to get a tutor soon, but just wanted a couple of basics, so ta. By the way, do I say 'Vanakkam' or 'kaaley vanakkam' as a general greeting? What does the each word mean? Gertie

Jan 23rd, 2007, 09:54	#10
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	Where is ranggs? He could help us out here... I don't know what "kaaley" means, but Vanakkam will do as a general greeting. Maybe kaaley makes it more formal, I don't know. "Poitu vare" would be Goodbye, btw.

Jan 23rd, 2007, 10:17	#11
Digital Drifter bang a whore? Bangalore Dammit! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,878	Vanankkam should do. "kaaley vannakkam" is a translation of "good morning". I'd be surprised if anyone in Tamil went about wishing using the time of day words. Vanakkam is generic one as much as hello. kaaley-morning

Jan 23rd, 2007, 10:47	#14
Aparajith Wandering inside myself Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 79	Kaalay = Morning Maalay = Evening So "Kaalay Vanakkam" could be approximated to "Good Morning" You need to be careful while transilerating Tamil in English for the non-Tamils Because "AAma" = Yes whil "aMMA" = Mother

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