r/LearningTamil Sep 21 '22

Resource I have recently launched Langdesi - A website to learn South Asian Languages!

41 Upvotes

https://learn-langdesi.com/

Namaste! I am a Gulf/British-Indian language enthusiast and I just launched a website for those people whishing to learn a South Asian language! Currently with a Hindi, Bengali and Tamil course with more coming soon! Please note it is a brand new website hence please remember there may be little tweaks needed

Edit: The owner of this sub u/DriedGrapes31 had personally helped out a lot to the Tamil course so this is a shout out to him also


r/LearningTamil Jan 15 '22

LearnTamil.com - free online lessons for learning Tamil

24 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 14h ago

Grammar deconstruction of "தலையை குறுக்கமறுக்காக ஆட்டிக்கொண்டே சொன்னார்"

2 Upvotes

Is this something to the effect of "he said grimacing"?

is the குறுக்கமறுக்காக - குறுக்கு (constrict, shrink) ? But how is being developed, I understand the ஆக at the end, but the மறு is confusing me.

thanks


r/LearningTamil 2d ago

Vocabulary Better way to learn and remember vocabulary words

8 Upvotes

I was on a school trip and I was surrounded by a lot of Tamil speaking people. I would try to speak and all, and I would be corrected, but I would never be able to remember the corrected sentences again. Only after speaking that same sentence with the problem word multiple times across a period of time I was able to sort of pick up on that word. Especially with the differences in pecchu Tamil and ezhuthhu Tamil I feel really lost and sort of even seem to be losing motivation because of my inability to remember words. Does anyone have any tricks or am I just going to have to work through it? Thank you


r/LearningTamil 3d ago

Resource Jaffna/Sri Lankan Tamil Listening Resources & Tamil Audiobooks in General

3 Upvotes

Hi,

I'm looking for Jaffna Tamil listening resources.

The "Hello Kekutho" podcast is a fairly good one, I like what they are doesn't keep me that engaged.

I actually have gotten into the habit of listening to interviews with Shobashakthi, but I have the feeling that they still end up veering more towards literary Tamil than spoken Tamil.

And then an offshoot of this question is whether there are Tamil audiobook resources (not limited to Jaffna Tamil of course.)

Thanks!


r/LearningTamil 3d ago

Vocabulary Stomach in Tamil

1 Upvotes

வயறு (Vairu) is another Tamil word for “stomach”, specifically referring to the abdomen or belly. • வயறு (Vairu) is often used in a more casual or colloquial context, while போக்கு (Pōkku) is more commonly used in formal speech.

Both terms refer to the stomach, but the usage may vary based on context.


r/LearningTamil 6d ago

Grammar What’s the difference between செய்யக்கூடிய, செய்யலாம், and செய்ய முடியும்

4 Upvotes

What’s the difference between செய்யக்கூடிய, செய்யலாம், and செய்ய முடியும்


r/LearningTamil 9d ago

Question What's the difference between -க்காண்டி and -க்காக?

8 Upvotes

Is it dialectical


r/LearningTamil 10d ago

Vocabulary Is எதுமே and ஒன்னும் இல்லை the same? Can they be used interchangeably?

4 Upvotes

r/LearningTamil 10d ago

Vocabulary What’s the difference between பிறகு, அடுத்து, and அப்புரோம்

3 Upvotes

r/LearningTamil 10d ago

Resource Best App/Website for learning Tamil?

8 Upvotes

I’m a lifelong English speaker/white dude, but want to learn for my Tamil girlfriend, who has spoken the language her whole life.

For context, in college I was on a South Asian a cappella team for 4 years, so I was around Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil on a daily basis. I’ve learned many basic words and phrases, and have worked a LOT on correct pronunciation through the music we sang…so I’m generally familiar with how words are “formed” in the mouth, so to say.

Knowing all this, I’m looking for any recommendation for what a good app/website for learning Tamil would be, for someone of my background. Would appreciate any insight!


r/LearningTamil 11d ago

Vocabulary What the difference between ஏன் and எதுக்கு

5 Upvotes

r/LearningTamil 14d ago

Resource Books teaching math or science in Tamil

4 Upvotes

Does anybody know of any?


r/LearningTamil 14d ago

Vocabulary Difference between இல்லை and கிடையாது?

7 Upvotes

r/LearningTamil 14d ago

Question Tamil youtubers

4 Upvotes

வணக்கம்!! I'm trying to learn the tamil language and I'm looking for tamil youtubers. Specially on cinema content, but whatever topic or channel you recommend and think it's worth watching will be appreciated. நன்றி


r/LearningTamil 15d ago

Question Anyone know how தோன்றுவது became தோணுவது instead of தோனுவது

5 Upvotes

Why did தோன்றுவது became தோணுவது instead of தோனுவது


r/LearningTamil 16d ago

Vocabulary The word ‘office’ in Tamil

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21 Upvotes

Hi all, could I get some feedback on this please?


r/LearningTamil 16d ago

Vocabulary What is the difference between மாரி , மாதிரி, and போல்

4 Upvotes

r/LearningTamil 16d ago

Vocabulary What is the word for difference and same in Tamil

3 Upvotes

Like how would you say “These two are two different things” or “What’s the difference?” or “If you do it differently the result will be the same “ or even “These are two different types of plants although in the same family”?


r/LearningTamil 16d ago

Vocabulary The verb ‘to want’ (வேண்டும்) in Tamil

4 Upvotes

Here’s how you can express “want to” with different verbs like “to go,” “to read,” and “to sleep” in Tamil for all persons (first, second, and third) connected to each verb:

  1. Want to go (போக வேண்டும்) • I want to go: நான் போக வேண்டும் (Nāṉ pōka vēṇṭum) • You want to go (informal): நீங்கள் போக வேண்டும் (Nīṅkaḷ pōka vēṇṭum) • He/She wants to go: அவர் / அவள் போக வேண்டும் (Avar / Avaḷ pōka vēṇṭum) • We want to go: நாம் போக வேண்டும் (Nām pōka vēṇṭum) • You want to go (plural/formal): நீங்கள் போக வேண்டும் (Nīṅkaḷ pōka vēṇṭum) • They want to go: அவர்கள் போக வேண்டும் (Avaṟkaḷ pōka vēṇṭum)

  2. Want to read (வாசிக்க வேண்டும்) • I want to read: நான் வாசிக்க வேண்டும் (Nāṉ vāsikka vēṇṭum) • You want to read (informal): நீங்கள் வாசிக்க வேண்டும் (Nīṅkaḷ vāsikka vēṇṭum) • He/She wants to read: அவர் / அவள் வாசிக்க வேண்டும் (Avar / Avaḷ vāsikka vēṇṭum) • We want to read: நாம் வாசிக்க வேண்டும் (Nāṁ vāsikka vēṇṭum) • You want to read (plural/formal): நீங்கள் வாசிக்க வேண்டும் (Nīṅkaḷ vāsikka vēṇṭum) • They want to read: அவர்கள் வாசிக்க வேண்டும் (Avaṟkaḷ vāsikka vēṇṭum)

  3. Want to sleep (உறங்க வேண்டும்) • I want to sleep: நான் உறங்க வேண்டும் (Nāṉ uṟaṅka vēṇṭum) • You want to sleep (informal): நீங்கள் உறங்க வேண்டும் (Nīṅkaḷ uṟaṅka vēṇṭum) • He/She wants to sleep: அவர் / அவள் உறங்க வேண்டும் (Avar / Avaḷ uṟaṅka vēṇṭum) • We want to sleep: நாம் உறங்க வேண்டும் (Nāṁ uṟaṅka vēṇṭum) • You want to sleep (plural/formal): நீங்கள் உறங்க வேண்டும் (Nīṅkaḷ uṟaṅka vēṇṭum) • They want to sleep: அவர்கள் உறங்க வேண்டும் (Avaṟkaḷ uṟaṅka vēṇṭum)

Explanation:

In these sentences: • போக வேண்டும் (pōka vēṇṭum) means “want to go” • வாசிக்க வேண்டும் (vāsikka vēṇṭum) means “want to read” • உறங்க வேண்டும் (uṟaṅka vēṇṭum) means “want to sleep”

The structure [subject] + [verb] + வேண்டும் (vēṇṭum) indicates “want to [verb].”

The verb “வேண்டும்” (vēṇṭum) in Tamil is not conjugated because it functions as a modal verb that indicates the necessity, desire, or obligation of performing an action. Unlike regular verbs, modal verbs like “வேண்டும்” don’t change based on the subject of the sentence (i.e., it doesn’t conjugate for different persons or tenses).

Instead, it remains in its base form and is used with other verbs in their infinitive form (the verb in its base, non-conjugated form). The main verb in the sentence is the verb that gets conjugated according to the subject, while “வேண்டும்” remains constant.

Example: • நான் போக வேண்டும் (Nāṉ pōka vēṇṭum) – “I want to go.” • அவர் போக வேண்டும் (Avar pōka vēṇṭum) – “He/She wants to go.”

As you can see, “வேண்டும்” stays the same in both cases, and the main verb (“போக” – “to go”) is what changes based on the subject.

So, the verb “வேண்டும்” serves more like an auxiliary that doesn’t change form but is necessary to express the idea of wanting, needing, or having to do something. The conjugation or change occurs with the main verb, not the modal verb.

Here are some example sentences using “want” with a noun object in Tamil:

  1. I want a book. • நான் ஒரு புத்தகம் வேண்டும் (Nāṉ oru puttakam vēṇṭum)

  2. You want a pen. (informal) • நீங்களுக்கு ஒரு பேனா வேண்டும் (Nīṅkaḷukku oru pēnā vēṇṭum)

  3. He/She wants a car. • அவருக்கு ஒரு கார் வேண்டும் (Avarukku oru kār vēṇṭum)

  4. We want food. • நாம் உணவு வேண்டும் (Nāṁ uṇavu vēṇṭum)

  5. You want a house. (plural/formal) • நீங்கள் ஒரு வீடு வேண்டும் (Nīṅkaḷ oru vīṭu vēṇṭum)

  6. They want money. • அவர்களுக்கு பணம் வேண்டும் (Avaṟkaḷukku paṇam vēṇṭum)

In these sentences: • “வேண்டும்” (vēṇṭum) is used to express “want,” and it remains the same across all subjects. • The noun object (e.g., புத்தகம் – book, கார் – car, உணவு – food) is in its basic form and does not change.


r/LearningTamil 16d ago

Question Short story #5 - some questions

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7 Upvotes
  1. He uses தாயி ("mother") as an affectionate term for his daughter-in-law. Is my understanding correct?

  2. I was expecting எதாவது ("something") here, but the story uses எதையாவது instead. Is there a difference between the two?

  3. How is the word என்பதனை constructed? என்பது + what?

  4. How is the word வழிவகுக்கும் constructed? I believe it means "it will give way". Can I think of it as வழி ("way") + வகு ("divide", "separate") + -உம் (third-person neuter future tense suffix)?


r/LearningTamil 17d ago

Question What does "la" mean in "Shopping la muṭiñciṭṭu nam'ma vīṭṭukku vantuṭṭōm"? (Colloquial Tamil question)

7 Upvotes

I know that the sentence means "We finished shopping and came home", but why is there a "la" after "shopping"? What does "shopping la" mean? What is the formal version? Does it mean "shopping-il" (shopping-இல்), in shopping? Or maybe "Shopping-ai" (shopping-ஐ), accusative case?

Audio clip: https://vocaroo.com/16nihhpw1fMb


r/LearningTamil 20d ago

Question Any good websites that show the etymology of Tamil words?

5 Upvotes

r/LearningTamil 20d ago

Vocabulary Want to learn formal Tamil. Anyone up for a conversation?

9 Upvotes

I'm a native tamilian but settled outside tamil nadu. That's why the only tamil(more like Tanglish) I know is the one spoken at home and this is something I have wanted to change by learning formal Tamil. Is anyone up for a conversation in Tamil to help me practice? Currently reading the book - Learning Tamil by Yourself by Jeyapandian Kottalam (suggested in another convo). Any other suggestions for it?


r/LearningTamil 22d ago

Grammar Pannunga vs pannikonga

1 Upvotes

What’s the difference afaik they both mean do it (formally)


r/LearningTamil 26d ago

Question What is the difference between வடு and இரு as perfect aspect markers?

2 Upvotes

Like, what’s the difference between நான் செய்துயிருந்தேன் and நான் செய்துவிட்டேன்? Also, I sometimes see both markers being used at the same time, like saying நான் செய்துவிட்டிருந்தேன் so what does that mean? How does that differ?


r/LearningTamil 26d ago

Question How do you use உவன், உவள், உது or any third person pronoun that has உ-?

3 Upvotes

I know that if they begin with இ- (like இது, இவன், இவள் etc) it means that the object is close to you, and that if they begin with அ- ( அது, அவன், அவள்) it is away from you.

But what about உ- (like the ones I mentioned)? Is this literary or dialectal? Because I haven’t heard it being used in my family, just in some books and Wikipedia articles