Greetings and politeness in Tamil
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Tamil words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Tamil phrases in this lesson
- வணக்கம்va-NAK-kam
- Hello
- காலை வணக்கம்KAA-lai va-NAK-kam
- Good morning
- மாலை வணக்கம்MAA-lai va-NAK-kam
- Good evening
- போய் வருகிறேன்poi va-ru-gi-REN
- Goodbye
- அப்புறம் பார்க்கலாம்ap-pu-ram PAAR-ka-laam
- See you
- தயவுசெய்துta-YA-vu-sei-tu
- Please
- நன்றிNAN-dri
- Thank you
- பரவாயில்லைpa-ra-VAA-yil-lai
- You're welcome
- மன்னிக்கவும்man-NIK-ka-vum
- Sorry
- கொஞ்சம் வழி விடுங்கKON-jam VA-zhi vi-DUNG-ga
- Excuse me
- உங்களைச் சந்தித்ததில் மகிழ்ச்சிung-ga-LAI-ch san-DHIT-ta-dhil ma-GIZH-chi
- Nice to meet you
The standard respectful greeting in Tamil. Used at any time of day and also as a farewell. It carries a sense of reverence and is appropriate in all contexts.
Literally "morning greetings." Used until around noon. Tamil has time-specific greetings that add warmth to daily interactions.
Literally "evening greetings". Plain வணக்கம் (va-NAK-kam) works at any hour.
Literally "I'll go and come back", the everyday goodbye; Tamils avoid a final farewell.
Literally "let's see later", the friendly goodbye.
Literally "please do a kindness." Placed before a request to soften it. Tamils often skip it in casual speech but appreciate it from visitors.
The everyday thank you. Simple and universally understood. Saying நன்றி sincerely goes a long way, as Tamils appreciate genuine politeness.
Literally "it doesn't matter", the reply to thanks and to apologies.
Literally "please forgive", the real apology.
Literally "give way a little", for squeezing past. To call a waiter, people say அண்ணா (AN-naa), older brother.
Literally "joy in meeting you".