Greetings and Introduction Lesson1

lessons

Lesson 1

  1. How do I say ‘Hello’ ?
  2. Family Relationships
  3. Numbers 1 -100 ( Written form, speech form, ordinal numbers) 
  4. Conversation – Part 1
  5. Exercise

 

Lesson 1

GREETINGS- How do I say ‘Hello!’ in Tamil


‘Hello’ is the word that we often use when we meet a person.  Just the same way, the word used to greet a person in Tamil is

VA/NAK/KAM

 வணக்கம்

Usually a joining of hands is accompanied with the word Vanakkam, just like when you shake hands to say Hello.

Remember…

  • In English, the greeting depends on the time we meet a person, i.e., Good morning, good afternoon and so on, but a simple Vanakkam is all you need to say, be it any time of the day or night.
  • You can say Vanakkam even when you take leave of the person.
  • The word Vanakkam can be followed by the name of the person you have met. Example : Vanakkam Sir / Vanakkam Raj.

If you are greeting a relative, you can use the name of the relationship too. Eg. Vanakkam Uncle / Vanakkam Mama மாமா ( mama is Uncle in Tamil). Before we o learn how to introduce ourselves, let’s learn about the relationships in Tamil.

Relationships

Father  – Appa ( Ap-pa)  அப்பா

Mother  – Amma (Am-ma)    அம்மா

Son – Magan (Ma-gan) மகன் ( MA as in Mug / GAN as in gun)

Daughter – Magal (Ma-gal)   மகள்( MA as in Mug / GAL as in seagull.)

For Siblings -கூடப்பிறந்தவர்கள்

Elder Brother – Annan (An-nan)  அண்ணன்          Younger Brother – Thambi (Tham-bi)   தம்பி

Elder Sister– Akka (Ak-ka)    அக்கா                          Younger sister – Thangai (Thang-ai)   தங்கை

Family tree

ThathaGrandfather –  Thatha தாத்தா is a common way of addressing both the paternal and maternal grandfathers.
Paatti
Grandmother – Paati பாட்டி is the way in which both the paternal and the maternal grandmothers are addressed. Aaya, Aachi, Appatha, Ammamma, Ammayi… also refers to the word ‘Grandmother.’

Relatives

Mother’s

Father’s
Brother – Maama மாமா Younger Brother – Chithappa சித்தப்பா
Elder Sister – Peria amma/ Perimma பெரியம்மா Elder Brother – Peria Appa/ Perippa பெரியப்பா
Younger sister – Chithi / Chinnamma சித்தி /சின்னம்மா Sister – Athai அத்தை
Maama’s wife – Athai அத்தை
 Athai’s husband – Maama
Periyappa’a wife – Periyamma பெரியம்மா Chithappa’s wife – Chithi சித்தி /சின்னம்மா

 

Conversation 1  How do I say….?

  1. Mozhi  மொழி (Language)
  2. Vaarthai வார்த்தை  (Word)
  3. Uchcharippu உச்சரிப்பு (Pronunciation)
  4. Enakku Tamil theriyaadhu. எனக்கு தமிழ் தெரியாது (I don’t know Tamil.)
  5. Enakku எனக்கு ___________theriyum தெரியும். (I know _______.)
  6. Naan Tamil kathittu irruken. நான் தமிழ் கத்திட்டுஇருக்கேன் (I am learning Tamil.)
  7. Naan Tamil padikiren. நான் தமிழ் படிக்கிறேன் (I am studying/ learning/ reading Tamil.)
  8. Enakku konjam Tamil pesa theriyum. எனக்கு கொஞ்சம் தமிழ் பேச தெரியும் (I know to talk some Tamil.)
  9. Naan idha sariya solrenna? நான் இத சரியா சொல்றேனா? (Am I saying this right?)
  10. Adhai Tamil-la eppadi solveenga?அதை எப்படி சொல்வீங்க?. (How do you say this in Tamil?)
  11. Idhukku enna artham? இதுக்கு என்ன அர்த்தம்? (What does it mean?)
  12. Neenga adha marubadi/ thirumba sollunga நீங்க அத மறுபடி / திரும்ப சொல்லுங்க (Please say it again.)
  13. Ungalukku purinjadha? உங்களுக்கு புரிஞ்சதா? (Do you understand?)
  14. Enakku purinjadhu. ஆமா எனக்கு புரிஞ்சது  (Yes, I understood.)
  15. Illa. Enakku puriyala. இல்ல எனக்கு புரியல (No. I don’t understand.)

 

Questioning in Tamil:

1.   Enna? என்ன?  ( What?) 2.   Eppo? எப்போ? ( When?)
3.   Yen? ஏன்? ( Why?) 4.   Edhu? எது? ( Which?)
5.   Eppadi? எப்படி? ( How?) 6.   Edhukku? எதுக்கு? ( Why?)
7.   Yaar?/ Yaaru? யார் / யாரு? ( Who?) 8.   Enga? எங்க? ( Where?)

 

Numbers in Tamil:

  Written form Speech Form Ordinal number Form
1 Ondru Onnu Ondraavadhu – First
2 Irandu Rendu Irandaavadhu
3 Moondru Moonu Moondraavadhu
4 Naangu Naalu Naangaavadhu
5 Aindhu Anji/anju Aindhaavadhu
6 Aaru Aaru Aaraavadhu
7 Ezhu Ezhu Ezhaavadhu
8 Ettu Ettu Ettaavadhu
9 Onbadhu Ombodhu Onbadhaavadhu
10 Paththu Paththu Paththaavadhu
11 Pathinonndru Pathinonnu Pathinonaavadhu
12 Panirandu Panirendu Panirendaavadhu
13 Padhimoondru Padhimoonu …..
14 Padhinaalu Padhinaalu …..
15 Padhinaindhu Padhinanju …..
16 Padhinaaru Padhinaaru …..
17 Padhinezhu Padhinezhu …..
18 Padhinettu Padhinettu ….
19 Pathonbadhu Pathombadhu ….
20 Irubadhu Iruvadhu ….
21 Irubathi Ondru Iruvathi onnu ….
22 Irubathi Irandu Iruvathi rendu ….
23 Irubathi Moondru Iruvathi moonu ….
24 Irubathi Naangu Iruvathi naalu ….
25 Irubath Aindhu Iruvathi anji ….
26 Irubath Aaru Iruvathi aaru ….
27 Irubath Ezhu …. ….
28 Irubath Ettu …. ….
29 Irubath Onbadhu …. ….
30 Muppadhu Muppadhu ….
40 Naarpadhu Naapadhu ….
50 Aimbadhu Ambadhu ….
60 Arubadhu Aruvadhu ….
70 Ezhubadhu Ezhuvadhu ….
80 Ennbadhu Ennbadhu ….
90 Thonnooru Thonnooru ….
100 Nooru Nooru ….

 We will learn more about numbers in the coming classes.

Exercise 1:

In Tamil, the word ‘aachu’  ஆச்சு means ‘happened’. Now put thefollowing question words in the right sentences:

( Yen / Enna / Edhukku / Eppo / Eppadi / Enge )

(ஏன் / என்ன / எதுக்கு / எப்போ / எப்படி / எங்கே)

  1. ______________ aachu? ( What happened?)
  2. ______________ aachu? ( Where did it happen?)
  3. ______________ aachu? (How did it happen?)
  4. ______________ aachu? (Why did it happen?)
  5. ______________ aachu? ( For what did it happen?)

How do you say these in Tamil:

1 5 9 3 6 2 10
8 12 17 11 18 13 19
20 28 23 25 27 30 22
34 38 33 30 39 33 35
41 44 48 42 50 49 46
52 58 51 50 53 59 55
67 61 60 63 69 64 68
71 77 75 79 73 72 78

 

What comes after:-

What comes before:-

  • 28, _____

  • 45, _____

  • 77, _____

  • 98, _____

  • 79, _____

  • 29, _____

  • _____, 75

  • _____, 13

  • _____, 21

  • _____, 49

  • _____, 83

  • _____, 100

 

Amma’s side

Amma

  1. Amma’s Dad is my ___________.
  2. Amma’s Mom is my ___________.
  3. Amma’s Brother is my ____________.
  4. Amma’s elder sister is my __________ .
  5. Amma’s younger sister is my _________.

Appa’s side

Appa

  1. Appa’s Dad is my ___________.
  2. Appa’s Mom is my ___________.
  3. Appa’s sister is my ____________.
  4. Appa’s elder brother is my __________ .
  5. Appa’s younger brother is my _________.

25 Comments

  1. Chaitanya PRABHU
    Chaitanya PRABHU on April 30, 2018 at 1:59 pm

    Dear Madam,

    Vanakkam,
    Thank you very much for this very useful website, Been born and brought up outside of Tamil Nadu, I have been searching for a online tutorial for learn my mother language. Its a great service and I am sure I will take up your courses soon to write this beautiful Language.

    Thank you for your great services. 🙂

    Reply
    • cr.sivan
      cr.sivan on December 14, 2018 at 4:38 pm

      very very usefull, Thankyou

      Reply
    • manu kumar k b
      manu kumar k b on February 6, 2019 at 11:23 am

      i forgot the some words and i am not comfertable with fluency

      Reply
  2. harshani kaushalya
    harshani kaushalya on November 8, 2018 at 2:26 am

    good

    Reply
  3. prakash
    prakash on November 12, 2018 at 10:50 am

    Chance eh illa semma tamil theriyathavanga easyah kathukalam

    nice best of luck

    Reply
  4. RAMA KRISHNA
    RAMA KRISHNA on November 13, 2018 at 5:03 am

    pl send the tamil class lessons

    Reply
    • Rk.raju
      Rk.raju on December 25, 2018 at 5:35 am

      Send me Tamil class lessons full

      Reply
  5. Sangeetha Satheeshkumar
    Sangeetha Satheeshkumar on November 16, 2018 at 3:00 pm

    Very useful website… highly recommended !!!

    Reply
  6. PAKIYARAJ
    PAKIYARAJ on November 18, 2018 at 7:47 am

    GOOOD

    Reply
  7. Riaz
    Riaz on November 24, 2018 at 9:03 am

    super

    Reply
  8. Balasubramaniam Sidamparam
    Balasubramaniam Sidamparam on December 2, 2018 at 3:42 pm

    Thank for arranging the lessons and now I am able to learn my mother tongue systematically.

    Reply
  9. Mahaboob Rahaman Shaik
    Mahaboob Rahaman Shaik on December 9, 2018 at 7:15 am

    I started learning Tamil alphabets, however looking for online words to do practice. Lesson wise details are helpful to understand and use words in regular usage. Material is helpful to do practice and check simultaneously.

    Reply
  10. SANTOSH P MASKE
    SANTOSH P MASKE on December 10, 2018 at 6:12 am

    ITS VERY USEFUL WEBSITE TO LEARN TAMIL.I LEARN TAMIL FROM THIS WEBSITE I SPEAK MARATHI, GUJARATI,HINDI AND ENGLISH SO I WILL INTERESTING TO LEARN MORE AND MORE LANGUAGES SO THIS WEBSITE IS USEFUL ME TO LEARN TAMIL LANGUAGE. THANKS

    Reply
  11. Hashini
    Hashini on December 11, 2018 at 1:40 am

    I truely wanted to learn Tamil. I believe language barrier is drifting people apart. So This online Tamil lesson is so valuable.

    Reply
  12. Namita
    Namita on December 11, 2018 at 8:41 pm

    Very useful for me.

    Reply
  13. Aniruddh
    Aniruddh on December 28, 2018 at 12:05 pm

    At last a good site to learn Tamil. You can relay on it.

    Reply
  14. Raghu Kumar
    Raghu Kumar on December 29, 2018 at 1:54 pm

    I really love to learn Tamil as soon as possible because of most of my friends are belonging to Tamil Nadu

    Reply
  15. Venkata Ramana
    Venkata Ramana on January 4, 2019 at 4:36 am

    Very Very useful and helpful. Thank you sir

    Reply
  16. Jaswant singh
    Jaswant singh on January 23, 2019 at 2:51 pm

    It’s very useful for me and others ,thnx

    Reply
  17. Md. Shahid Shah Zaman
    Md. Shahid Shah Zaman on January 28, 2019 at 3:45 am

    wonderful site. Thank you.

    Reply
  18. R Vijay Kumar
    R Vijay Kumar on February 4, 2019 at 6:11 am

    Madam/sir,

    This website is good. Please provide me Tamil language classes from basics to write a words in Tamil.

    Reply
  19. furtdso linopv
    furtdso linopv on February 8, 2019 at 1:35 pm

    I was reading through some of your articles on this site and I conceive this site is very informative ! Retain putting up.

    Reply
  20. Ashna Antony
    Ashna Antony on March 4, 2019 at 4:34 am

    I am a malayaly… I Love tamil so much i learn some of tamil from this session i like it very much… it can be also include examples in other languages it helps various peoples…

    Reply
  21. CHUKKA,SRINIVASA RAO
    CHUKKA,SRINIVASA RAO on March 6, 2019 at 4:06 pm

    THIS IS THE GOOD WAY LEARNING OF TAMIL THROUGH ENGLISH .

    Reply
  22. Harninderjit Singh
    Harninderjit Singh on March 10, 2019 at 3:17 am

    I belong to Punjab, trying to learn Tamil. Hopefully this site can guide me to a great extent

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *