LingoflyYou, 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: “நீங்கள் (nīṅgaḷ) எப்ப வருவியள்?” (eppa varuviyaḷ) — 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: நீங்கள் (nīṅgaḷ), 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 with அவர் (avar): அவர் ஆசிரியர் (avar āsiriyar) (avar āsiriyar) — 'he is a teacher' or 'she is a teacher', with the verb in -ஆர். Bare அவன் (avaṉ) and அவள் (avaḷ) sound blunt, and about an elder they are best left alone. அவை (avai) is only 'they', about several people. In Tamil Nadu one elder is spoken of in the plural: அவங்க.
Table
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
Tamil respect words?
The third step is respect for someone who is not here. You speak of such a person with அவர் (avar): அவர் ஆசிரியர் (avar āsiriyar) — 'he is a teacher' or 'she is a teacher', with the verb in -ஆர். Bare அவன் (avaṉ) and அவள் (avaḷ) sound blunt, and about an elder they are best left alone. அவை (avai) is only 'they', about several people. In…
Nee vs neenga in Tamil?
The third step is respect for someone who is not here. You speak of such a person with அவர் (avar): அவர் ஆசிரியர் (avar āsiriyar) — 'he is a teacher' or 'she is a teacher', with the verb in -ஆர். Bare அவன் (avaṉ) and அவள் (avaḷ) sound blunt, and about an elder they are best left alone. அவை (avai) is only 'they', about several people. In…
Three steps of politeness in Tamil?
Tamil has not two steps of address but three, and English keeps no slot for the third.
How an elder is spoken of in Jaffna and in Tamil Nadu?
The third step is respect for someone who is not here. You speak of such a person with அவர் (avar): அவர் ஆசிரியர் (avar āsiriyar) — 'he is a teacher' or 'she is a teacher', with the verb in -ஆர். Bare அவன் (avaṉ) and அவள் (avaḷ) sound blunt, and about an elder they are best left alone. அவை (avai) is only 'they', about several people. In…
What does it look like in a Tamil example sentence?
“நீங்கள் (nīṅgaḷ) எப்ப வருவியள்?” (eppa varuviyaḷ) (nīṅgaḷ eppa varuviyaḷ?) — 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.