Language/Tamil/Vocabulary/Greetings-and-Introductions

Tamil Vocabulary → Daily Life Vocabulary → Greetings and Introductions

As a Tamil language teacher of 20 years, I am excited to introduce you to the Tamil language and its culture. In this lesson, we will focus on daily life vocabulary, specifically greetings and introductions in Tamil. This lesson is designed for complete beginners who want to learn how to communicate in Tamil.

Basic Greetings

Let's start with the basics. In Tamil culture, greeting someone is a way of showing respect and acknowledging their presence. Here are a few common Tamil greetings:

Tamil	Pronunciation	English
வணக்கம் (vaṇakkam)	van-uh-kum	Greetings
வாழ்த்துக்கள் (vāḻttukkaḷ)	vahl-thoo-kull	Congratulations
நல்வணக்கம் (nal-vaṇakkam)	naal-vuh-kum	Good morning
காலை வணக்கம் (kālai vaṇakkam)	kah-lie van-uh-kum	Good afternoon
மாலை வணக்கம் (mālai vaṇakkam)	mah-lie van-uh-kum	Good evening
இனிய காலை (iṉiya kālai)	in-ie-ya kah-lie	Have a good day
இனிய இரவு (iṉiya iravu)	in-ie-ya ee-ra-voo	Good night

Simply saying "vanakkam" is the most common way of greeting someone in Tamil. It is used in both formal and informal situations. However, using "vāḻttukkaḷ" or "congratulations" is preferred in formal situations.

Introducing Yourself

After greeting someone, introducing yourself is the next step. Here are some simple Tamil phrases that will help you introduce yourself:

• நான் (nān) - I
• என் பெயர் (en peyar) - My name
• இது (idhu) - This is
• என் மாணவர் (en māṇavar) - Student

So, if you want to introduce yourself in Tamil, you can say "Nān Eniya, en peyar Rajesh. En māṇavar." which translates to "I am Rajesh, a student."

Asking About Someone

In addition to introducing yourself, you should also know how to ask about someone. Here are some phrases that can help you get started:

• உங்கள் பெயர் என்ன? (uṅkaḷ peyar eṉṉa?) - What is your name?
• நீ யார்? (nē yār?) - Who are you?
• அவர் எப்படி இருக்கின்றார்? (avar eppaṭi irukkiṉṟār?) - How is he/she?
• அவர் எங்கிருக்கின்றார்? (avar eṅkirukkiṉṟār?) - Where is he/she?

By asking these questions, you can learn more about your conversation partner and keep the conversation going.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have taken the first step in learning Tamil by learning how to greet someone and introduce yourself. Continue practicing these phrases until you are comfortable using them. Don't be afraid to practice with native Tamil speakers or other learners. Remember, the more you practice, the more confident you will become. Stay tuned for our next lesson on numbers and time.

Sources

• Tamil Phrases, Words, Sentences and Expressions | Linguanaut
• Greetings and Introduction Lesson1 - Learn Tamil Online-Best Tamil ...
• Greetings In Tamil: 50+ Best Words And Phrases - Ling App
• Free Online Course: Learn Tamil Through English from YouTube ...

Table of Contents - Tamil Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Tamil Grammar

• Tamil Script and Pronunciation
• Nouns and Pronouns

  ---

Daily Life Vocabulary

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Time
• Food and Drink
• Family and Relationships
• Travel and Transportation

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Profession and Work Vocabulary

• Jobs and Professions
• Office and Workplace
• Business Communication

  ---

Tamil Culture and Customs

• Festivals and Celebrations
• Art and Music
• Cuisine and Eating Habits
• Tamil Cinema

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Adverbs

  ---

Health and Fitness Vocabulary

• Body Parts and Symptoms
• Physical Fitness and Exercise

  ---

Cases and Postpositions

• Nominative and Accusative Cases
• Postpositions

  ---

Nature, Environment and Wildlife Vocabulary

• Flora and Fauna
• Environment and Pollution

  ---

Tamil Literature and History

• Sangam Literature
• Chola Empire

  ---

Negation and Interrogation

• Negation
• Interrogation

Related Lessons

• Nature
• Family and Relationships
• Days of the week
• Jobs
• Idiomatic Expressions
• Food
• Numbers
• Food and Drink
• Flora and Fauna
• Family