LingoflyDouble, a third, even: how Tamil counts fractions and multiples
Tamil keeps no separate word for 'a third'. A fraction is said as 'out of how many, how many'. மூண்டில ஒரு பங்கு (mūṇḍila oru paṅgu) is 'one part out of three', that is a third. In the same way நாலில ஒரு (oru) பங்கு (paṅgu) is a quarter, though a quarter also has its own word, கால் (kāl). For example: “சம்பளத்தில மூண்டில ஒரு பங்கு வாடகைக்கு போகுது” (sambaḷattila mūṇḍila oru paṅgu vāḍagaikku pōgudu) — A third of the salary goes to rent.
How it works
Tamil keeps no separate word for 'a third'. A fraction is said as 'out of how many, how many'. மூண்டில ஒரு பங்கு (mūṇḍila oru paṅgu) is 'one part out of three', that is a third. In the same way நாலில ஒரு (oru) பங்கு (paṅgu) (nālila oru paṅgu) is a quarter, though a quarter also has its own word, கால் (kāl).
The first number takes the ending -இல, the second simply stands in front of பங்கு (paṅgu). Percentages go their own way: நூத்துக்கு இருபது (irubadu) — 'twenty to a hundred'.
'Times over' is மடங்கு (maḍaṅgu): ரெண்டு மடங்கு (reṇḍu maḍaṅgu) 'double', பத்து மடங்கு (pattu maḍaṅgu) 'tenfold'. It works downwards as well: பல மடங்கு குறைவு (pala maḍaṅgu kuṟaivu) — 'many times less'.
And two words that get mixed up. சமமா (samamā) is 'in equal shares', about dividing: சமமா (samamā) பிரிச்சுக் (piriccuk) குடுங்கோ (kuḍuṅgō) (samamā piriccuk kuḍuṅgō). சரிசமமா (sarisamamā) is 'on equal terms', about strength: ரெண்டு (reṇḍu) பேரும் (pērum) சரிசமமா (sarisamamā) ஓடிச்சினம் (reṇḍu pērum sarisamamā ōḍicciṉam).
Table
| What we count | How it is built | Example | In English |
|---|---|---|---|
| a fraction | number + -இல + number + பங்கு (paṅgu) | மூண்டில ஒரு பங்கு (mūṇḍila oru paṅgu) | a third |
| percentages | நூத்துக்கு + number | நூத்துக்கு இருபது (irubadu) | twenty percent |
| multiple up | number + மடங்கு (maḍaṅgu) | மூண்டு (mūṇḍu) மடங்கு (maḍaṅgu) | threefold |
| multiple down | number + மடங்கு (maḍaṅgu) + குறைவு (kuṟaivu) | பல மடங்கு குறைவு (pala maḍaṅgu kuṟaivu) | many times less |
| comparison | object + விட (viḍa) | இதை (idai) விட (viḍa) கூட (kūḍa) | more than this |
| dividing | சமமா (samamā) | சமமா (samamā) பிரி | divide equally |
| strength | சரிசமமா (sarisamamā) | சரிசமமா (sarisamamā) நிக்கினம் (nikkiṉam) | they stand even |
By example
- சம்பளத்தில மூண்டில ஒரு பங்கு வாடகைக்கு போகுதுsambaḷattila mūṇḍila oru paṅgu vāḍagaikku pōguduA third of the salary goes to rent
- inda varuṣa maḻai pōṉa varuṣattai viḍa reṇḍu maḍaṅgu kuṟaivuThis year the rains are half as many as last year
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
Double, a third, even: how does it work in Tamil?
Tamil keeps no separate word for 'a third'. A fraction is said as 'out of how many, how many'. மூண்டில ஒரு பங்கு (mūṇḍila oru paṅgu) is 'one part out of three', that is a third. In the same way நாலில ஒரு (oru) பங்கு (paṅgu) is a quarter, though a quarter also has its own word, கால் (kāl).
What does it look like in a Tamil example sentence?
“சம்பளத்தில மூண்டில ஒரு பங்கு வாடகைக்கு போகுது” (sambaḷattila mūṇḍila oru paṅgu vāḍagaikku pōgudu) — A third of the salary goes to rent. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.