You, you and they: three steps of politeness
Tamil has not two steps of address but three, and English keeps no slot for the third. For example: “நீங்க எப்ப வருவீங்க?” — When will you come?. A rule from the Tamil course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Tamil has not two steps of address but three, and English keeps no slot for the third.
The first: நீ (nī), the close 'you'. Children, younger people, close friends. Saying நீ to a stranger is not casual, it is rude.
The second: நீங்க (nīṅga), the polite 'you'. It works with everyone you do not know and with most people you do. When in doubt, take it.
The third step is respect for someone who is not here. You speak of such a person in the plural: அவங்க ஆசிரியர் (avaṅga āsiriyar) — 'he is a teacher', with the verb in -ஆங்க. Bare அவன் (avaṉ) and அவள் (avaḷ) sound blunt, and about an elder they are best left alone.
Table
| To whom | Pronoun | Request 'wait' |
|---|---|---|
| to a child, a friend | நீ | இரு |
| to a stranger, an elder | நீங்க | இருங்க |
| about a person, with respect | அவங்க | — |
By example
- நீங்க எப்ப வருவீங்க?nīṅga eppa varuvīṅga?When will you come?
- அவங்க ஆசிரியர்avaṅga āsiriyarHe (she) is a teacher — with respect
- கொஞ்சம் இருங்கkoñcam iruṅgaWait a little
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
Tamil respect words?
Tamil has not two steps of address but three, and English keeps no slot for the third.
Nee vs neenga in Tamil?
The first: நீ, the close 'you'. Children, younger people, close friends. Saying நீ to a stranger is not casual, it is rude.
Three steps of politeness in Tamil?
The second: நீங்க, the polite 'you'. It works with everyone you do not know and with most people you do. When in doubt, take it.
Why an elder is spoken of as avanga?
The third step is respect for someone who is not here. You speak of such a person in the plural: அவங்க ஆசிரியர் — 'he is a teacher', with the verb in -ஆங்க. Bare அவன் and அவள் sound blunt, and about an elder they are best left alone.
What does it look like in an example sentence Tamil?
“நீங்க எப்ப வருவீங்க?” (nīṅga eppa varuvīṅga?) — When will you come?. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.