This 9th lesson teaches an important aspect in Tamil which is the interrogative form also called questions. In addition, there is a list of vocabulary terms about misunderstanding and finally some commonly used phrases. I will try to give examples using both vocabulary and grammar. That way it will be easy for you to see the words when they are separate and when they are in a sentence. Going through the whole page should take about 30 min. Make sure to read the pronunciation and hear the audio as well. If you have any question about this course, please email me directly at Tamil Classes.
Questions
Being able to ask questions is what makes us curious beings, which in turns broadens our knowledge. It is no different when it comes to learning Tamil. You will always be asking questions, and the following are some tools to help you in that quest.
The following are the 5 Ws + "how" commonly used adverbs to express the interrogative form. Most likely, whenever a question needs to be asked, one of them should be used. The table contains 3 columns (English, Tamil, and Audio). Make sure you repeat each word after hearing it by either clicking on the audio button or by reading the pronunciation. That should help with memorization as well as improving your pronunciation.
Interrogative Form in Tamil
Questions
Tamil
Audio
How?
எப்படி?/எவ்வாறு? eppadi/ evvaaRu?
What?
என்ன? enna?
When?
எப்போது? eppOdhu?
Where?
எங்கே? engE
Who?
யார்? yAr?
Why?
ஏன்? En?
Now we will try to implement the adverbs above into full Tamil sentences. That way you will be able to use the word not only by itself but embedded in a structure.
Tamil Questions in a Sentence
Can I come?
நான் வரட்டுமா? nAn varattumA?
Can I help you?
நான் உங்களுக்கு உதவட்டுமா? nAn ungaLukku udhavattumA?
Can you help me?
நீங்கள் எனக்கு உதவ முடியுமா? nIngal enakku udhava mudiyumA?
Do you know her?
அவளை உனக்குத் தெரியுமா? avaLai unakkuth theriyumA?
Do you speak English?
நீங்கள் ஆங்கிலம் பேசுவீர்களா? nIngaL Ankilam pEsuvIrkaLA?
How difficult is it?
இது எவ்வளவு கடினம் தெரியுமா? idhu evvaLvu kadinam theriyumA?
How far is this?
இது எவ்வளவு தூரம்? idhu evvaLavu dhUram?
How much is this?
இதன் விலை என்ன? idhan vilai enna?
How would you like to pay?
நீ எப்படி செலுத்த விரும்புகிறாய்? nI eppadi seluththa virumbugiRAy?
What is this called?
இதை என்னவென்று அழைக்க வேண்டும்? idhai ennavendRu azhaikka vENdum?
What is your name?
உன்னுடைய பெயர் என்ன? unnudaiya peyar enna?
What time is it?
மணி என்ன? maNi enna?
When can we meet?
நாம் எப்போது சந்திப்போம்? nAm eppOdhu sandhippOm?
Where do you live?
நீ எங்கே வசிக்கிறாய்? nI engE vasikkiRAy?
Who is knocking at the door?
கதவை யார் தட்டுகிறார்கள்? kadhavai yAr thattukiRArkaL?
Why is it expensive?
இது ஏன் விலையுயர்ந்தது? idhu En vilaiyuyarndhadhu?
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact me using the Tamil contact form on the header above.
Vocabulary List about Misunderstanding
There are times when you will not understand what a person said in Tamil, or simply that you want them to repeat a word. The following are 24 expressions used to clear misunderstandings. Very essential to any conversation!
Misunderstanding in Tamil
Misunderstanding
Tamil
Audio
Can you repeat?
மீண்டும் உங்களால் கூற முடியுமா? mINdum ungaLaal kURa mudiyumaa?
Can you speak slowly?
உங்களால் மெதுவாக பேச முடியுமா? ungaLaal medhuvAga pEsa mudiyumaa?
Did you understand what I said?
நான் என்ன கூறினேன் என்று உங்களுக்கு புரிந்ததா? nAn enna kURinEn endru ungaLukku purindhadhaa?
Don't worry!
கவலைப்படாதே! kavalaippadAdhE!
Excuse me? (i.e. I beg your pardon?)
என்னை மன்னித்து விடுங்கள்? (அதாவது, என்னை மன்னிக்குமாறு உங்களை வேண்டி கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறேன்?) ennai manniththu vidungal? (adhaavadhu, naan ungalai mannikkiREn?)
How do you say "OK" in French?
ஃபிரெஞ்சில் “ஓ.கே.” என்பதை எப்படி கூறவேண்டும்? frenchil ""OK"" enbadhai eppadi kURavENdum?
I don't know!
எனக்கு தெரியாது! enakku theriyAdhu!
I don't understand!
எனக்கு புரியவில்லை! enakku puriyavillai!
I need to practice my French
என்னுடைய ஃபிரெஞ்சு மொழிக்கான பயிற்சி எனக்குத் தேவை ennudaiya french mozhikkaana payiRchchi enakkuth thEvai
Is that right?
அது சரியா? adhu sariyA?
Is that wrong?
அது தவறா? adhu thavaRA?
Mistake
பிழை pizhai
My French is bad
என்னுடைய ஃபிரெஞ்சு மொழி மோசமாக உள்ளது ennudaiya french mozhi mOsamAga uLLadhu
ஆங்கிலத்தில் அந்த வார்த்தையின் அர்த்தம் என்ன? Angilaththil andha vArththaiyin arththam enna?
What is this?
இது என்ன? idhu enna?
What should I say?
நான் என்ன கூற வேண்டும்? nAn enna kURa vENdum?
What?
என்ன? enna?
What's that called in French?
ஃபிரெஞ்சில் அதை எப்படி கூறவேண்டும்? frenchil adhai eppadi kURavENdum?
Write it down please!
தயவு செய்து இதை எழுதவும்! dhayavu seydhu idhai ezhudhavum!
Daily Conversation in Tamil
Finally, a list of some common phrases that you might come across from time to time. For a complete list of commonly used sentences, please visit our Tamil Phrases page. Enjoy!
Common Expressions in Tamil
English
Tamil
Audio
This
இது idhu
That
அது adhu
Here
இங்கு ingu
There
அங்கு angu
In The Morning
காலையில் kAlaiyil
In the evening
மாலையில் mAlaiyil
At Night
இரவில் iravil
Really!
உண்மையாக! uNmaiyaaga!
Look!
பார்! pAr!
Hurry up!
சீக்கிரம் வா! sIkkiram vA!
Fun Facts
Language Quote: The oldest written language was believed to be written in about 4500 BC.
Congratulations! You finished your 9th lesson in Tamil about questions, and misunderstanding. Are you ready for the next lesson? We recommend Tamil Lesson 10. You can also simply click on one of the links below or go back to our Learn Tamil homepage.
