Texts in Tamil
Short texts in Tamil with a translation alongside and comprehension questions, levels A1–B1. The first ones need two or three hundred everyday words; the B1 texts need about three thousand. The translation stands next to it whole, not word by word: stopping at every other word tears the sentence apart.
All texts
- காலை (kālai)📖காலை (kālai)A1 · Hello. My name is Kumar. I live in Jaffna. In the morning I drink tea and eat a…
- 📖சந்தையில (sandaiyila)A2 · Tomorrow we are going to the market. The market is close to the house. The fish there is…
- 📖மளிகைக் (maḷigaik) கடையில (kaḍaiyila)A2 · Today I went to the grocery store. I took a basket and bought vegetables and milk. The…
- எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) குடியிருப்பு (kuḍiyiruppu)📖எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) குடியிருப்பு (kuḍiyiruppu)A2 · Our dwelling is on the third floor. There is no lift, only stairs. There are two rooms, a…
- 📖ஆஸ்பத்திரியில (āspattiriyila)A2 · Yesterday I felt unwell. There was a fever and my throat hurt. I went to the hospital and…
- மழைக்காலம் (maḻaikkālam)📖மழைக்காலம் (maḻaikkālam)A2 · In Jaffna this month is the rainy season. In the morning there is sun, in the evening…
- என் (eṉ) வேலை (vēlai)📖என் (eṉ) வேலை (vēlai)A2 · My name is Rani. I am a teacher. From Monday to Friday I work at school. My friend is an…
- காணாமல் (kāṇāmal) போன (pōṉa) பெட்டி (peṭṭi)📖காணாமல் (kāṇāmal) போன (pōṉa) பெட்டி (peṭṭi)A2 · Yesterday I went to the airport. I took one suitcase and a backpack with me. At check-in…
- எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) தோட்டம் (tōṭṭam)📖எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) தோட்டம் (tōṭṭam)A2 · In our garden grows one palmyra and two banana trees. In the mornings I water it. There…
- எனக்கு (eṉakku) பிடிச்ச (piḍicca) நிறம் (niṟam)📖எனக்கு (eṉakku) பிடிச்ச (piḍicca) நிறம் (niṟam)A2 · I like the color red very much. My shirt is red, my trousers black. My friend likes…
- என் (eṉ) நண்பன் (naṇbaṉ)📖என் (eṉ) நண்பன் (naṇbaṉ)A2 · My friend is called Raja. He is a very kind person, always cheerful. But a little lazy…
- எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) சமையலறை (samaiyalaṟai)📖எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) சமையலறை (samaiyalaṟai)A2 · In our kitchen stands a big refrigerator. On the table there are plates, glasses and…
- ஒரு (oru) நாள் (nāḷ) மெசேஜ் (mesēj)📖ஒரு (oru) நாள் (nāḷ) மெசேஜ் (mesēj)A2 · In the morning a voice message from mother came to me. She sent two photographs — one of…
- திரை (tirai) உடைஞ்சு போச்சுது (uḍaiñcu pōccudu)📖திரை (tirai) உடைஞ்சு போச்சுது (uḍaiñcu pōccudu)A2 · Yesterday my phone fell, and the screen shattered. I went to the workshop. There I was…
- சனிக்கிழமை (saṉikkiḻamai) படம் (paḍam)📖சனிக்கிழமை (saṉikkiḻamai) படம் (paḍam)A2 · Last Saturday we went to the cinema. The film began at seven. We were a little late…
- கோயில் (kōyil) திருவிழா (tiruviḻā)📖கோயில் (kōyil) திருவிழா (tiruviḻā)A2 · Every year a big temple festival takes place in our town. It happens in August. In the…
- எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) வீடும் முற்றமும்📖எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) வீடும் முற்றமும்A2 · Our house is small, but the yard is wide. Outside there is a fence and a gate. Next to…
- பரீட்சைக்கு (parīṭcaikku) முந்தின (mundiṉa) வாரம் (vāram)📖பரீட்சைக்கு (parīṭcaikku) முந்தின (mundiṉa) வாரம் (vāram)A2 · My younger sister is in her final school year this year. Next week she has a test.…
- மாசக் கணக்கு (kaṇakku)📖மாசக் கணக்கு (kaṇakku)B1 · Every month I write the budget into a notebook. Income on top, expenses below. Rent, the…
- வைத்தியசாலையில ஒரு (oru) நாள் (nāḷ)📖வைத்தியசாலையில ஒரு (oru) நாள் (nāḷ)B1 · On Monday morning my uncle had a bad stomachache. We called an ambulance at once. At the…
- புது (pudu) வேலையின் முதல் நாள் (mudal nāḷ)📖புது (pudu) வேலையின் முதல் நாள் (mudal nāḷ)B1 · Last month a firm took me on. On the first day in the morning I signed the employment…
- புது (pudu) வீட்டுக்கு (vīṭṭukku)📖புது (pudu) வீட்டுக்கு (vīṭṭukku)A2 · Last month we moved. In the old house the rent was high, and there was much noise from…
- 📖வீதி (vīdi) விதிகள் (vidigaḷ)A2 · We rented a car in Jaffna. The office said that insurance was included in the price, but…
- 📖ஒரு (oru) பதிவும் ஒரு (oru) வதந்தியும்B1 · Yesterday a post spread through a social network. It said that the school in our town…
- பொலிஸ் (polis) நிலையத்தில (nilaiyattila)📖பொலிஸ் (polis) நிலையத்தில (nilaiyattila)B1 · An incident happened at a shop. One man took the money and ran away. The shopkeeper at…
- எனக்கு (eṉakku) ஒரு (oru) சந்தேகம் (sandēgam)📖எனக்கு (eṉakku) ஒரு (oru) சந்தேகம் (sandēgam)B1 · A job opportunity came my way. The salary is good, but the city is far. On one hand, this…
- ஒரு (oru) நாள் (nāḷ) வரிசையா (varisaiyā)📖ஒரு (oru) நாள் (nāḷ) வரிசையா (varisaiyā)B1 · Yesterday morning I first went to the government office. Since the reception hours begin…
- என்ர (eṉra) மாமா (māmā)📖என்ர (eṉra) மாமா (māmā)A2 · My uncle is a man of medium height. He is bald, and the remaining hair has gone gray. His…
- 📖ஒரு (oru) பிணக்கும் ஒரு (oru) சமாதானமும்B1 · Last week we quarreled with an old friend. Over a trifle: I lent her a book, and she did…
- ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை (ñāyiṟṟukkiḻamai) சமையல் (samaiyal)📖ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை (ñāyiṟṟukkiḻamai) சமையல் (samaiyal)A2 · On Sunday morning we all gathered in the kitchen. Mother took out an old recipe — it came…
- வணிக (vaṇiga) வளாகத்தில ஒரு (oru) நாள் (nāḷ)📖வணிக (vaṇiga) வளாகத்தில ஒரு (oru) நாள் (nāḷ)B1 · On Saturday I went to the shopping center. I took a trolley and went up to the top floor.…
- பழுதுபார்க்க கொண்டு (koṇḍu) போனன் (pōṉaṉ)📖பழுதுபார்க்க கொண்டு (koṇḍu) போனன் (pōṉaṉ)B1 · My phone had been working badly for a week. First it often froze, then it began to get…
- வெள்ளம் (veḷḷam) வந்த (vanda) நாள் (nāḷ)📖வெள்ளம் (veḷḷam) வந்த (vanda) நாள் (nāḷ)A2 · Last year there was a big flood in our town. For three days without a break poured a…
- எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) ஊர் (ūr) வீதிகள்📖எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) ஊர் (ūr) வீதிகள்A2 · Our house is in a small lane. When the lane ends, an avenue begins. On that street there…
- நான் (nāṉ) தமிழ் (tamiḻ) படிக்கிறன் (paḍikkiṟaṉ)📖நான் (nāṉ) தமிழ் (tamiḻ) படிக்கிறன் (paḍikkiṟaṉ)B1 · I have been learning Tamil for two years. At first I began on my own, with a dictionary.…
- என்ர (eṉra) வாழ்க்கை (vāḻkkai)📖என்ர (eṉra) வாழ்க்கை (vāḻkkai)B1 · I was born in a small village. My native town stands by the sea. In childhood I bathed in…
- கதைக்கிறதும் ஒரு (oru) கலை (kalai)📖கதைக்கிறதும் ஒரு (oru) கலை (kalai)B1 · People think that talking is simple, but it is an art. The first rule — do not interrupt.…
- என்ர (eṉra) வேலை நாள் (vēlai nāḷ)📖என்ர (eṉra) வேலை நாள் (vēlai nāḷ)A2 · My name is Kumar. I work as a mechanic at a factory. In the morning I come by seven; at…
- எழுத்தில (eḻuttila) இல்லாத (illāda) ஒப்பந்தம் (oppandam)📖எழுத்தில (eḻuttila) இல்லாத (illāda) ஒப்பந்தம் (oppandam)B1 · Last year a man came to my neighbor and said: I will sell your land at a good price. The…
- எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) பகுதியும் எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) சங்கமும்📖எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) பகுதியும் எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) சங்கமும்B1 · About a thousand people live in our district. The majority are Tamil-speaking families…
- சிவகாமியின்ர முதல் (mudal) கண்காட்சி (kaṇkāṭci)📖சிவகாமியின்ர முதல் (mudal) கண்காட்சி (kaṇkāṭci)B1 · Sivagami is an artist. She was born in Jaffna and has drawn since childhood. Earlier she…
- 📖ராஜன்ர மராதன்A2 · My younger brother Rajan loves running very much. Three years ago he began going to the…
- கரண்ட் (karaṇṭ) போன (pōṉa) இரவு (iravu)📖கரண்ட் (karaṇṭ) போன (pōṉa) இரவு (iravu)A2 · Yesterday at eight in the evening the light was cut off. The whole town in darkness; not…
- ஐம்பது (aimbadu) வயசில (vayasila) ஒரு (oru) முடிவு (muḍivu)📖ஐம்பது (aimbadu) வயசில (vayasila) ஒரு (oru) முடிவு (muḍivu)B1 · My uncle smoked a pack a day for thirty years. He himself knew it was a harmful habit…
- எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) அறுவடைத் திருநாள் (aṟuvaḍait tirunāḷ)📖எங்கட (eṅgaḍa) அறுவடைத் திருநாள் (aṟuvaḍait tirunāḷ)B1 · In the month of Thai the harvest festival comes to our town. It is also a state holiday…
- 📖ஒரு (oru) கூட்டமும் ஒரு (oru) தீர்மானமும்B1 · In our quarter there is an old fountain. To repair it or to tear it down and make a…
- 📖ஒரு (oru) ஊகமும் ஒரு (oru) கடிதமும்B1 · For two weeks the door at the neighbor's was locked. Not a single lamp burned, the…
- மச்சில கிடந்த பெட்டி (peṭṭi)📖மச்சில கிடந்த பெட்டி (peṭṭi)B1 · In the attic of our house lay an old box. On top a dusty wrapper, beneath it a wooden…
- குறுக்கு (kuṟukku) வழி (vaḻi)📖குறுக்கு (kuṟukku) வழி (vaḻi)B1 · The three of us set out on foot in the morning. We decided to go not by the usual street…
- ஒரு (oru) வருஷக் கணக்கு (kaṇakku)📖ஒரு (oru) வருஷக் கணக்கு (kaṇakku)B1 · The annual report of our village shop father writes every year. This year the growth of…
- கைவிடாத திட்டம் (tiṭṭam)📖கைவிடாத திட்டம் (tiṭṭam)B1 · In our school there was a design to build a library. It had to be done from scratch — no…
- 📖கேள்விப்பட்ட (kēḷvippaṭṭa) கதையும் உண்மையும்B1 · Talk went through the village: the water in the well has spoiled. At first everyone…
- ஊரின்ர (ūriṉra) பழைய (paḻaiya) கிணறு (kiṇaṟu)📖ஊரின்ர (ūriṉra) பழைய (paḻaiya) கிணறு (kiṇaṟu)B1 · In the middle of our village stands an ancient well. Of which century it is, no one knows…
- 📖கடற்கரையில (kaḍaṟkaraiyila) ஒரு (oru) காலைப்பொழுதுB1 · On Saturday morning we went to the seashore. On the shore lay much waste — plastic bags…
- ஒரு (oru) வீடு (vīḍu) எப்பிடி (eppiḍi) எழும்புது📖ஒரு (oru) வீடு (vīḍu) எப்பிடி (eppiḍi) எழும்புதுB1 · On our plot we began to build a house. First we cleared the building site and tore down…
- ஒரு தரம் (oru taram) நடந்த கதை (kadai)📖ஒரு தரம் (oru taram) நடந்த கதை (kadai)B1 · Once I was returning home from work. At that moment rain suddenly began. Just then not a…
- என்ர (eṉra) சின்ன வயசு (siṉṉa vayasu) நண்பன் (naṇbaṉ)📖என்ர (eṉra) சின்ன வயசு (siṉṉa vayasu) நண்பன் (naṇbaṉ)B1 · My childhood friend is called Selvan. He was a shy boy. In class it was frightening for…
How to read a text in a language you barely know
First pass — all the way through, without peeking at the translation. The goal is not to understand but to catch familiar words: there will be more of them than you expect, and that feeling matters more than any rule.
Second pass — with the translation beside you. Now it becomes clear what exactly was in the way: an unknown word, a construction you did not get, or just reading speed.
Third pass — all the way through again. The second pass brings noticeably more, and this step is what makes reading useful: it turns analysis into recognition.
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read texts in Tamil?
A1–B1. For the first texts the letters and two or three hundred everyday words are enough; the B1 texts need about three thousand. The translation sits next to it, so an unknown word does not stop the reading.
How many times should you reread the text?
Three times: without the translation, with it, and without it again. The third pass is what all of this is for — the second time you recognize noticeably more.