Lingoflyஎப்படி இருக்க? and எப்படி இருக்கிறியள்?: plain and polite
There are two ways to ask how somebody is, and one tail tells them apart. எப்படி இருக்கிறியள்? (eppaḍi irukkiṟiyaḷ) is for a stranger, an elder, anyone you are not close to. எப்படி இருக்க? (eppaḍi irukka) is for someone your own age, a younger person, a close friend. For example: “எப்படி இருக்கிறியள்?” (eppaḍi irukkiṟiyaḷ) — How are you? (to a stranger or an elder). A rule from the Tamil course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
There are two ways to ask how somebody is, and one tail tells them apart. எப்படி இருக்கிறியள் (eppaḍi irukkiṟiyaḷ)? is for a stranger, an elder, anyone you are not close to. எப்படி இருக்க (eppaḍi irukka)? is for someone your own age, a younger person, a close friend.
The slip costs more than it looks, because politeness rests on the ending and not on the words. Saying எப்படி இருக்க? (eppaḍi irukka) and நீ (nī) to a stranger is not plain speaking, it is rude. Until a person is yours, take the full form with -ங்க.
The answer is the same to both questions — நல்லா இருக்கிறன் (nallā irukkiṟaṉ), word for word 'I am well'.
Table
| to whom | the question | how it reads | the pronoun |
|---|---|---|---|
| a stranger, an elder | எப்படி இருக்கிறியள்? (eppaḍi irukkiṟiyaḷ) | eppaḍi irukkiṟiyaḷ? | நீங்கள் (nīṅgaḷ) |
| a peer, someone younger, a friend | எப்படி இருக்க? (eppaḍi irukka) | eppaḍi irukka? | நீ |
| the answer — to anyone | நல்லா இருக்கிறன் (nallā irukkiṟaṉ) | nallā irukkiṟaṉ | நான் (nāṉ) can be dropped |
By example
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
How to ask how are you in Tamil?
There are two ways to ask how somebody is, and one tail tells them apart. எப்படி இருக்கிறியள்? (eppaḍi irukkiṟiyaḷ) is for a stranger, an elder, anyone you are not close to. எப்படி இருக்க? (eppaḍi irukka) is for someone your own age, a younger person, a close friend.
Eppadi irukka vs eppadi irukkinga?
There are two ways to ask how somebody is, and one tail tells them apart. எப்படி இருக்கிறியள்? (eppaḍi irukkiṟiyaḷ) is for a stranger, an elder, anyone you are not close to. எப்படி இருக்க? (eppaḍi irukka) is for someone your own age, a younger person, a close friend.
How to ask how are you politely in Tamil?
There are two ways to ask how somebody is, and one tail tells them apart. எப்படி இருக்கிறியள்? (eppaḍi irukkiṟiyaḷ) is for a stranger, an elder, anyone you are not close to. எப்படி இருக்க? (eppaḍi irukka) is for someone your own age, a younger person, a close friend.
What does it look like in a Tamil example sentence?
“எப்படி இருக்கிறியள்?” (eppaḍi irukkiṟiyaḷ?) — How are you? (to a stranger or an elder). A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.