Tamil Words for Family Members
The words a child needs most on a phone call home. Tamil is more precise than English here: it uses separate words for an elder and a younger brother or sister, so this set teaches four sibling words rather than two.
- Level
- Beginner
- Words
- 10
- Ages
- 4 and up, with a grown-up nearby
- Instructions in
- English
Family words in Tamil
Each row shows the English word, the Tamil spelling, how to say it in English letters, and a button to hear it.
Mother
அம்மா
(Ammaa)
Father
அப்பா
(Appaa)
Grandmother
பாட்டி
(Paatti)
Grandfather
தாத்தா
(Thaaththaa)
Elder brother
அண்ணா
(Annaa)
Elder sister
அக்கா
(Akkaa)
Younger brother
தம்பி
(Thambi)
Younger sister
தங்கை
(Thangai)
Baby
குழந்தை
(Kuzhanthai)
Family
குடும்பம்
(Kudumbam)
A tip for grown-ups
Try these before the next call to a grandparent. Being greeted by name in Tamil tends to be the moment a child decides this is worth learning.