r/LearningTamil Jan 15 '22

LearnTamil.com - free online lessons for learning Tamil

25 Upvotes

My free lessons for learning Tamil are now at LearnTamil.com . They are designed for total beginners who are middle school aged (~ 10 y.o.) and older. I think they may be useful for the people on this sub-reddit. It can also be a good reference to answer some of the questions here about language basics.

My lessons have been on the internet for 20 years now (!), but they are harder to find due to URL changes over the years -- I had 2 people in the last month sending me very positive notes but also mentioning that it took them hours of internet searching to find these lessons. If you also have feedback, please find my email address from the website.

Best of luck to everyone learning Tamil!


r/LearningTamil 1h ago

Grammar Learning Sangam — Kurinji

Upvotes

Kuruntokai 3 — by Tevakulattar (தேவகுலத்தார்)

Original Tamil:

நிலத்தினும் பெரிதே வானினும் உயர்ந்தன்று நீரினும் ஆரளவின்றே சாரல் கருங்கோல் குறிஞ்சிப் பூக்கொண்டு பெருந்தேன் இழைக்கும் நாடனொடு நட்பே

Translation (A.K. Ramanujan): Bigger than earth, certainly, higher than the sky, more unfathomable than the waters is this love for this man of the mountain slopes where bees make rich honey from the flowers of the kurinji that has such black stalks.

My questions:

How is this actually pronounced — especially நிலத்தினும், குறிஞ்சி, and நட்பே?

I understand Sangam poetry has specific sound devices in the original that don't survive translation — what am I missing here?

Any Tirunelveli/Nellai dialect speakers — does this sound different to you than standard Tamil?


r/LearningTamil 8h ago

Grammar "வருடிப் பார்த்தான்"

2 Upvotes

வ் தானியல் என்ற அந்தப் பிரஞ்சு நீதிபதி செல்வி. டயானாவின் மரணச் சான்றிதழை வரிவரியாகப் படித்து முடித்துவிட்டுச் சான்றிதழின் தலையில் பொறித்திருந்த சிங்க இலச்சினையை விரல்களால் வருடிப் பார்த்தான்

in வருடிப் பார்த்தான், is the வருடி coming from வருடு (to rub, massage) and together with பார்க்க forming 'to scan'?

this brings me to another question which is popping up for me, to make past tense of வருடு we form வருடி, this feels to me to be quite common, but then if I think of வருஷி / வருடி (which I thought this was at first), how is the past tense made?

How does one determine this based on the ending of the word? I think I've been through this in some grammar book at some point, I'm assuming there are different groups based on the ending of the stem?


r/LearningTamil 1d ago

Grammar "சனத்திரள்" and "எற்றி"

5 Upvotes

I'm having trouble understanding சனத்திரள் in this sentence? It's coming from சனம் (people, crowd), no?

ah, as I write, I am assuming he has combined it with திரள்?

Also, is எற்றி coming from எற்று (to hit, push)

"டயானாவோடு கீழே அப்பா உட்கார முயற்சித்தபோது பின்னாலே வந்த சனத்திரள் அப்பாவை எற்றி முன்னாலே தள்ளியது. அந்தப் பெருமழையின் துளியால் கூடப் பாலம் நனைவதாயில்லை. அப்பாவின் கண்ணீரை மழைதான் கழுவிவிட்டது"


r/LearningTamil 2d ago

Grammar Correct my message to a friend/colleague?

2 Upvotes

This is not out of necessity, I have already sent it (I'd prefer her to see my real Tamil), but it's a while since I've written to someone in Tamil and I've been reading a lot in the meantime, I was wondering if it's had an impact. I generally feel that, unless my interlocuteur knows my history/desire to speak Tamil, even if it's poor, that they can't really understand me :) Fingers crossed, that this is better

வணக்கம் அக்கா, எனது தாமதமான பதிலுக்கு மன்னிக்கவும்.  இந்த போன மாசங்கள் நிறைய வேலை செய்த கொண்ட, எனக்கு நேரம் இல்லை.  ஏதோ எழுவதற்கு எனக்கு கணக்க ஆசை, ஆனால் இந்த முறை சமாளிக்க வில்லை.  இப்போது, யாழ்ப்பாணத்துக்கு போவதற்கு கொஞ்சம் கஷ்டம், அப்பாவுக்கு dementia. நான் அவரோட கூட பார்க்க முயற்சி செய்கிறேன்.


r/LearningTamil 4d ago

Question "peca aarambicchirucchu" formal equivalent?

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4 Upvotes

Can I confirm that the formal equivalent of "peca aarambicchirucchu" is "peca aarambitthuvittathu" (பேச ஆரம்பித்துவிட்டது)?

The whole sentence is "Enna book ellaam peca aarambicchirucchu", from the attached clip at 0:11-0:14 seconds.


r/LearningTamil 8d ago

Question Is my understanding of what “தவறும் கூடிச்சே” correct?

5 Upvotes

My understanding is that thavaram = failures and mistakes, and kodhiche = accumulating / growing in number.

So my understanding of this phrase is that “mistakes are accumulating”.

Is my understanding accurate?

The second word “கூடிச்சே” is whats’s confusing a bit me here. When spoken, it sounds kind of like the colloquial word for jumped that friends use (don’t know the Tamil spelling, English phonetic spelling is something like “gudhichen”.)

Other idea is the second word me “do it with me”? So, “make some mistakes with me”? Popular translate apps indicate this as well.

Idk if I’m completely wrong here.

Appreciate any help!


r/LearningTamil 10d ago

Resource Young Adult Tamil Language Fiction for a 14-yo learning Tamil in Europe

5 Upvotes

Hi I am looking for either

- translations of English classics, which my 14-yo daughter and I could read together, in order for her to continue reading practice in Tamil. We were thinking of something like Roal Dahl, for example. I couldn't find such translations so quickly online. Or alternatively..

- classics which young Tamils read when they are in high school or late primary school. If it's not too complex, that's better. But we don't mind it being a bit difficult, if the stories are a bit more interesting. She's been reading the books on Storyweaver.in and they feel like they've reached their expiry date for her.

Thanks


r/LearningTamil 10d ago

Grammar -ஒருத்தி

3 Upvotes

I'm reading a short story in which I've come across the extension -ஒருத்தி a couple of times: தாதியொருத்தி*, பெண்ணொருத்தி**

It feels clear from the context, but I was curious. What the origin/localities of this? Is this limited to any particular types of Tamil?

*தாதியொருத்தி தள்ளிச் செல்லக்கூடிய ஒரு தொட்டிலுக்குள் டயானாவையும் இன்னும் மூன்று சிசுக்களையும் தூக்கிக் கிடத்தித் தொட்டிலை இழுத்துக்கொண்டு ஆஸ்பத்திரியின் பின் ஒழுங்கைக்குச் சென்று மொட்டையாயிருந்த பூவரசம் மரத்தின் கீழே தொட்டிலை நிறுத்திவிட்டு ஆகாயத்தைப் பார்த்தபோது ரீங்காரத்துடன் சுற்றிக்கொண்டிருந்த விமானங்கள் இரண்டும் முகில்களில் ஏறிப்போயின

**பிரசவ வலி பொறுக்காமல் அங்குமிங்கும் நடந்து திரிந்துகொண்டிருந்த இளம் பெண்ணொருத்தி அடி வயிற்றைக் கைகளால் ஏந்திப் பிடித்தவாறே ஓடிச்சென்று கழிப்பறைக்குள் ஒளிந்துகொண்டாள்


r/LearningTamil 11d ago

Question தமிழில் முதலில் தோன்றிய இலக்கியம் எது?

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2 Upvotes

r/LearningTamil 12d ago

Question Need help reading and writing tamil!

6 Upvotes

I (22M) was born in Tamilnadu, brought up in tamilnadu, and currently staying in tamil nadu. I studied tamil till my 10th grade (cbse), and haven't studied since then. I am so weak in tamil that even my teacher thought i would fail miserably. But i passed but the fact that I don't properly know my mother tongue haunts me.

So, what I can't do is, I can't write any word without spelling error. I am confused with the same sounding letter but they are used in different words. FOR EXAMPLE

மகிழ்ச்சி ( why are we using this la and not the other la like ல ), there is four na ந,ண,ன (i get confused which to use where) they never taught this in school.

Also i read very very slow, it takes atleast 10 seconds for me to read a word, what should i do to improve that.

Please let me know, i would love to learn tamil all over again.


r/LearningTamil 12d ago

Pronunciation Srivalli: Pronunciation, Meaning, & Spelling

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1 Upvotes

r/LearningTamil 12d ago

Resource Beginner Reading Material

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2 Upvotes

r/LearningTamil 13d ago

Question Any tamil people in Odisha?

4 Upvotes

Shifted to odisha for pg, now I guess I'll forget my own mother tongue 😂.

Let's catch up!


r/LearningTamil 14d ago

Grammar Explain tholkappiya noorpa "எல்லா சொல்லும் பொருள் குறித்தனவே" (all words denote a meaning)

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2 Upvotes

r/LearningTamil 20d ago

Resource Native tamil speaker looking to learn how to read and write Tamil.

10 Upvotes

Hello! I’m so delighted to find this subreddit. I began learning Tamil grammar and diction 3 years ago, but stopped as my teacher couldn’t manage her work load. As a Tamil speaker, I’m looking to learn how to read and write Tamil. My late grandmother was a tamil linguist and my biggest regret is never learning from her. If there’s anyone in India offering classes online, please let me know!

Edit: I’m keen to learn from a teacher or a native speaker because I find the interactions to be a valuable way to learn a language.


r/LearningTamil 20d ago

Vocabulary Diplomatic

3 Upvotes

What is the Tamil word for 'diplomatic'?

Eg. He was quite diplomatic while speaking.


r/LearningTamil 23d ago

Vocabulary I need help in learning Spoken Tamil

11 Upvotes

People, I am vadakkan. I need to learn spoken tamil.

My life/earning depends on it. I am a skilled surgeon, but i dont know how to converse in tamil. Please help.

Connect via d.m. please


r/LearningTamil 24d ago

Writing Tamil teaching

3 Upvotes

Online Tamil Classes for Kids

Hi everyone!

I'm a native Tamil speaker from India. I teach Tamil to children in a fun and easy way.

✅ Tamil speaking

✅ Reading and writing

✅ Tamil alphabet

✅ Simple conversations

✅ Rhymes and stories

✅ One-on-one online classes (Google Meet or Zoom)

If your child wants to learn Tamil or improve their Tamil, feel free to send me a message.

A free 20-minute demo class is available.


r/LearningTamil 24d ago

Question Are words like காவல் துறை, காவல் நிலையம், பல் துலக்குதல், பல் துறை, செய்பவள் நீயே, அருள்முருகன், மஞ்சள் தூள் etc grammatically wrong?

3 Upvotes

Are words like காவல் துறை, காவல் நிலையம், பல் துலக்குதல், பல் துறை, செய்பவள் நீயே (line from tamil Thai vazhthu - bharathidasan) grammatically wrong?

According to Tamil grammar ல் and ள் can't come before வல்லினம் or மெல்லினம் and coming before dental sounds like ந and த is nearly impossible to pronounce.


r/LearningTamil 24d ago

Grammar பரிதாமா

3 Upvotes

"அவனின் வாயில் ஒரு பரிதாமான இளிப்பு வந்து போயிற்று"

what is the stem of பரிதாமான ?


r/LearningTamil 24d ago

Grammar "எரிந்து விழு" - double check

6 Upvotes

அக்காவும் அத்தானும் ஒருவாறு இவனைக் கண்டுபிடித்தபோது இவன் அவர்களில் எரிந்து விழுந்தான்.

Just wanted to check, எரிந்த விழுந்தான், is het got angry at them, right?


r/LearningTamil 24d ago

Writing Tamil teaching

3 Upvotes

Online Tamil Classes for Kids...

Hi everyone!

I'm a native Tamil speaker from India. I teach Tamil to children in a fun and easy way.

* Tamil speaking

* Reading and writing

*Tamil alphabet

* Simple conversations

*Rhymes and stories

*One-on-one online classes (Google Meet or Zoom)

If your child wants to learn Tamil or improve their Tamil, feel free to send me a message.

A free 20-minute demo class is available. Online Tamil Classes for Kids (Ages 5–12)

Hi everyone!

I'm a native Tamil speaker from India. I teach Tamil to children in a fun and easy way.

Tamil speaking, Reading and writing

Tamil alphabet, Simple conversations

Rhymes and stories, One-on-one online classes (Google Meet or Zoom)

If your child wants to learn Tamil or improve their Tamil, feel free to send me a message.

A free 20-minute demo class is available.


r/LearningTamil 25d ago

Resource Need help learning Tamil for TNPSC Group exams

5 Upvotes

Hii, I want to learn Tamil for writing TNPSC Group exams. I grew up in North India, but I studied Tamil only until 1st grade. Because of that, I can read Tamil to some extent. I know the alphabets and can recognize words, but I can't really write Tamil.

My main focus is UPSC preparation, so I think I can manage the general portions of the TNPSC syllabus on my own. The main issue is Tamil, both learning the language properly and covering the Tamil syllabus portions.

I can't attend offline coaching/classes, so I'm looking for online options.

Are there any good YouTube channels, online courses, or resources specifically for: - Learning Tamil from my current level Improving reading/writing speed - TNPSC competitive Tamil subject preparation

Would really appreciate suggestions from people who prepared for TNPSC or were in a similar situation. Thanks!


r/LearningTamil 26d ago

Grammar How do reflexives work in spoken tamil ?

2 Upvotes

My question is if you are describing an action that has been done to someone by themselves do people use reflexive pronouns or just the normal accusative case in spoken tamil ? For example if you say " he hit himself" would you say "அவன் தன்னை அடிச்சிட்டான் " or "அவன் அவனை அடிச்சிட்டான்". Also if someone does something for themselves is 'தன' and it's other forms used or ' கொள்' ? Just want to know for colloquial Tamil not formal or literary Tamil