Learn Tamil Through English - Tamil Alphabets, Tamil Phrases, Tamil Input Tools

Q: How to learn Tamil with English?

To learn Tamil through English, start with simple words and phrases like "Vanakkam" (Hello), "Eppadi irukkeenga?" (How are you?) , and numbers (e.g., Ondru - 1, Rendu - 2). Familiarize yourself with the Tamil alphabet , beginning with vowels (அ, ஆ, இ) and consonants (க, ச, ட), and practice writing them regularly. Gradually build your vocabulary with common words (e.g., Amma - Mother, Appa - Father) and practice forming basic sentences . Use resources like Tamil Translation website , apps, flashcards, and videos , and immerse yourself in Tamil media like songs and movies to improve comprehension and pronunciation.

Q: How many English words originated from Tamil?

There are approximately 50 to 100 English words that are believed to have originated from Tamil , depending on the criteria used for inclusion (direct borrowing versus indirect adaptation through other languages). Many of these words entered English during the colonial era via Portuguese, Dutch, or Arabic traders before being adopted directly into English. Some well-known English words that originated from Tamil are: Curry (கறி - Kari) , Ginger (இஞ்சி - Inji) , Coir (கயிறு - Kayiru) , and Mango (மாங்காய் - Māngai) , to name a few.

Q: Is Tamil easy to learn?

Learning Tamil can be moderately challenging for English speakers due to its unique script, grammar, and vocabulary . Tamil follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order and has a phonetic alphabet, which may require time to master. The pronunciation can be tricky, with sounds not found in English. When compared to other Dravidian languages like Telugu, Kannada, or Malayalam, Tamil is often considered easier for beginners because it has fewer vowels and consonants and can be easily pronounced. Telugu and Kannada have more complex verb conjugations and a larger set of compound letters. Malayalam, on the other hand, has a more intricate script with additional letters, making reading and writing slightly harder.

Tamil is one of the oldest languages in the world. It has a unique script and pronunciation system. This language can initially seem challenging. However, starting with English as a bridge helps learners understand the basics. These basics include pronunciation, sentence structure, and common phrases. By using the Roman alphabet, learners can quickly become familiar with Tamil sounds and words.

Below are various ways beginners can learn Tamil.

Begin by learning simple, everyday phrases that are common in Tamil-speaking households. For example, phrases like:

Vanakkam (வணக்கம்) – "Hello" or "Greetings"
Eppadi Irukkinga? (எப்படி இருக்கிங்க?) – "How are you?"
Naan nalla irukken (நான் நல்லா இருக்கேன்) – "I am fine".
Nanri (நன்றி) – "Thank you".
Dayavu seythu (தயவு செய்து) – "Please".
Maṉṉikkavum (மன்னிக்கவும்) – "Sorry/Excuse me".

For a more extensive list of essential phrases, check out our section on Greetings and Pleasantries in Tamil.

Starting with the Tamil alphabet is an excellent way to begin your language journey, particularly for beginners. The Tamil script is distinct and involves learning its characters, including vowels, consonants, and compound letters.

The Tamil script consists of 247 characters grouped into following categories:

Vowels (உயிரெழுத்துக்கள்) – 12 letters: அ (a), ஆ (aa), இ (i), ஈ (ee), உ (u), ஊ (oo), எ (e), ஏ (ay), ஐ (ai), ஒ (o), ஓ (oh), ஔ (au)
Consonants (மெய்யெழுத்துக்கள்) – 18 letters:க (ka), ங (nga), ச (cha), ஞ (nya), ட (ṭa), ண (ṇa), த (ta), ந (na), ப (pa), ம (ma), ய (ya), ர (ra), ல (la), வ (va), ழ (ḻa), ள (ḷa), ற (ṟa), ன (ṉa)
Compound Letters (உயிர்மெய்யெழுத்துக்கள்): These are formed by combining vowels and consonants. Each consonant pairs with a vowel to create a distinct sound.
For example,
க (ka) + ஆ (aa) = கா (kaa): The basic consonant "க" (ka) is combined with the vowel "ஆ" (aa) to form the sound "கா" (kaa), which is pronounced as a longer "kaa".

Writing Tamil words using the English alphabet is another important step in learning Tamil. Once you've learned how to pronounce each letter, start practicing writing them using a transliteration tool that facilitates the conversion of Tamil words written in English into Tamil script.

For example,

Typing "Vanakkam" in Roman letters would be converted into வணக்கம், which means "Hello".
Typing "Aasai" in Roman letters would be converted into ஆசை, which means "Desire or Wish".
Typing "Vannam" in Roman letters would be converted into வண்ணம், which means "Color".
Typing "Kavithai" in Roman letters would be converted into கவிதை, which means "Poem".

Another effective method to learn Tamil through English is by using online interactive tools like Google Translate or English to Tamil translation tools that allow you to input simple English phrases and instantly receive their Tamil equivalents.

For example, typing the phrase 'Today is a nice day, isn`t it?' into a translation tool will provide you with the Tamil translation இன்று ஒரு நல்ல நாள், இல்லையா? (Inru oru nalla nal, illaiya?), along with its English transliteration, helping you understand both the script and pronunciation.