Common Tamil Phrases for Kids
Whole sentences rather than single words: greeting someone, answering when asked how you are, and saying thank you. Every phrase is in the polite form, which is the one a child needs when speaking to a grown-up.
- Level
- Beginner
- Phrases
- 10
- Ages
- 4 and up, with a grown-up nearby
- Instructions in
- English
Everyday Phrases in Tamil
Each row shows the English phrase, the Tamil spelling, how to say it in English letters, and a button to hear it.
Hello
வணக்கம்
(Vanakkam)How are you?
எப்படி இருக்கீங்க?
(Eppadi irukkeenga?)I am fine
நான் நல்லா இருக்கேன்
(Naan nallaa irukken)Did you eat?
சாப்பிட்டீங்களா?
(Saappitteengalaa?)What is your name?
உங்க பேரு என்ன?
(Unga peru enna?)Thank you
நன்றி
(Nandri)Yes
ஆமாம்
(Aamaam)No
இல்லை
(Illai)I do not know
எனக்குத் தெரியாது
(Enakkuth theriyaadhu)See you again
மறுபடியும் பார்க்கலாம்
(Marupadiyum paarkkalaam)
A tip for grown-ups
சாப்பிட்டீங்களா — “Did you eat?” — is worth pointing out. In Tamil it works as an ordinary greeting rather than a question about food, and a child who expects a literal answer will be thrown by it the first time.