Language/Tamil/Grammar/Pronouns

Pronouns

Pronouns for First person singular – plurals and second person singular – plurals are easy to learn because they are similar to English:

	First person	Second person
Singular	I =  நான் – Naan	You  =  நீ – ni
Plural	We = நாங்கள் (NaangkaL) or நாம் (Naam)	You = நீங்கள் – niingkaL

However for the third person singular and plurals it's a little bit more complicated:

In English, we say “he went here” and “he went there”. No confusion about distance – whether it is here or there, “He” is always “He”! 

But, Tamil distinguishes “he” in two forms – if he is close to you, “He” = இவன் (ivan) and if he is away from you, “He” = அவன் (avan)!

Similarly, “She”, “They”, and “It” also have two variations. We can summarize it in the table given below:

Pronoun	If close to you	If away from you
He	இவன் (Ivan)	அவன் (avan)
She	இவள் (ivaL)	அவள் (avaL)
They (uyarthiNai)	இவர்கள் (ivarkaL)	அவர்கள் (avarkaL)
It	இது (ithu) remember ,this resembles “this”	அது (athu) remember, this resembles “that”
They (ahriNai)	இவை (ivai) can be compared with “these”	அவை (avai) can be compared with “those”

Now, I can imagine the confusion on your face – “What does uyarthiNai and ahriNai means?” o.O

The Tamil language divides all creatures into two groups – உயர்திணை (uyarthiNai) and அஃறிணை (ahriNai) 

உயர்திணை literally (high caste) humans are known as uyarthiNai. Supernatural living beings like gods, demons are also considered as uyarthiNai.

Eg: ஆசிரியர் (aasiriyar – teacher), தாய் (thaay – Mom) தந்தை (thanthai – dad), சிறுவன் (Siruvan – Boy)

அஃறிணை (litt. other than high caste) = dead, non-viable and all living beings except humans are known as ahrinai.

Eg: மாடு (maadu – Cow), காகம் (kaakam – Crow), புத்தகம் (Puththakam – Book),   வீடு (viidu – Home) 

The third person plural அவர்கள்/ இவர்கள் is usually referred to uyarthiNai in Tamil while இவை/அவை referred to ahrinai. 

Summary:

• Tamil differs in mentioning second person and third person singular and plural depending on its distance from us!!
• Tamil Grammar divides all creatures into two groups – uyarthiNai and ahriNai.
• Humans, Gods and demons are uyarthiNai while all other creature are ahriNai.
• Third person plural differs in Tamil depending on their “caste”

	Singluar		Plural
1st Person	நான்	I	நாம்	we (listener included)
			நாங்கள்	we (listener not included)
2nd Person	நீ	you	நீங்கள்	you
	நீங்கள்	you (with respect)
3rd person	அவன்	he	அவர்கள்	they
	அவள்	she
	அவர்	he/she (respect)
	அது	it	அவை	they ("those things")

Sources

• https://www.learntamil.com
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCPOAP7uI48
• https://fos.cmb.ac.lk/blog/lets-learn-tamil-grammar-introduction-pronouns-lesson-05/