People and family in Tamil
143 words Tamil words on the topic “people and family”: நண்பன் — friend, குடும்பம் — family, அம்மா — mom, அப்பா — dad. 143 words can be played from recordings.
143 words on the topic
- நண்பன்naṇbaṉfriendA male friend; a female one is thoḻi or naṇbi. About an older friend one says the respectful form with -r
- குடும்பம்kuḍumbamfamilyFamily in the wide sense — with grandparents, aunts and cousins. From it also 'family man'
- அம்மாammāmomThe way to address any woman older than yourself — a shopkeeper, an official too. It is polite address, not baby talk
- அப்பாappādadThe partner of 'mom', with the same rule for addressing elders. Also a cry of surprise: 'appa!'
- குழந்தைkuḻandaichildA small child, before school age. Son and daughter as kin are separate words; a boy and a girl a bit older get two more
- கடைக்காரர்kaḍaikkārarvendorThe suffix means 'the one at the trade': shop gives shopkeeper. The form with -r is already polite
- வாங்குறவர்vāṅguṟavarbuyerLiterally 'the buying one': the ending turns a verb into a person. 'To buy' becomes 'the buying one'
- பக்கத்து வீட்டுக்காரர்pakkattu vīṭṭukkārarneighbourLiterally 'the person of the neighbouring house': 'side' plus 'house' plus the trade suffix
- வீட்டு உரிமையாளர்vīṭṭu urimaiyāḷarlandlord'Right' plus 'holder'. In speech it shortens to 'the house person' — but that same word means 'husband', hence the muddles
- ஓய்வு பெற்றவர்ōyvu peṟṟavarretireeLiterally 'the one who has received rest': 'rest, repose' is the first word
- முதலாளிmudalāḷibossmu-da-laa-li; the l is retroflex, the tongue curled back
- சக ஊழியர்saga ūḻiyarcolleaguesa-ga u-li-yar; the curled-back zh again in the second word
- ஆள்āḷpersonThe spoken word for any human — 'someone, a certain one'. The bookish 'human being' lives in the paper; in the plural one says 'folk'
- ஆம்பிளைāmbiḷaiman'Male' and 'child' fused together. On forms and toilet doors stands the short form
- பொம்பிளைpombiḷaiwomanThe partner of 'man', assembled the same way: 'female' plus 'child'. The bookish and form-filling word is the short 'female'
- பொடியன்poḍiyaṉyoung manAn island word: in Sri Lanka a fellow is poḍiyaṉ, in Tamil Nadu paiyaṉ. The bookish 'youth' stays in the paper
- பொடிச்சிpoḍicciyoung womanThe partner of 'young man', island-born too. A little girl is 'girlie'; the bookish 'maiden' is 'young female'
- கிழவர்kiḻavarold manki-la-var; the la carries the curled-back zh of Tamil
- தெரியாத ஆள்teriyāda āḷstrangerLiterally 'an unknown person': there is no separate word, the negation is assembled by the ending -āda. The bookish 'alien' is not heard in speech
- கூட்டம்kūṭṭamcrowdThe very word that meant 'a gathering': one word for the people in a hall and the people on a square. The place tells them apart, not the form
- வெளிநாட்டவர்veḷināṭṭavarforeigner'Outer' plus 'country' plus 'person'. The person form is already respectful
- வரவேற்பாளர்varavēṟpāḷarreceptionistLiterally 'the greeter': the suffix turns the deed into the person
- மீனவர்mīṉavarfisherman'Fish' plus the person tail. On the northern coast this is one of the main trades
- முடிmuḍihairThe hair of the head. Spelled like the verb 'to be able, to end', but they are different words
- உயரம்uyaramtallAlso 'height, stature': 'he is tall' is said through the noun
- குள்ளம்kuḷḷamlowkul-lam; the ll is a long retroflex l
- இளம்iḷamyoungStands before the word: 'a young fellow'. An elderly person is 'aged'
- தாடிtāḍibeardtaa-di; the t between vowels sounds like d
- மீசைmīsaimoustacheOne word for the pair of them: no 'moustache — a single one' pair here
- ஒல்லிolliskinnyAbout a person. About a thin thing one says the other word
- குண்டுkuṇḍuplumpkun-du; the nd sounds as 'nd' with the tongue at the palate
- அழகானaḻagāṉagood-lookinga-la-ga-na; the l is the curled-back sound, the g between vowels sounds like g
- தோற்றம்tōṟṟamappearancetor-ram; the trr is a long rolled r
- அன்பானaṉbāṉakindThe root is 'love, affection'. The -āṉa form stands before the noun
- ஜாலியாjāliyācheerfulFrom the English jolly, but living as a word of its own. The bookish word sounds festive in speech
- புத்திசாலிputtisāliclever'Mind' plus the suffix 'endowed with'. The word serves equally as praise and as a label
- கெட்டkeṭṭawickedBad, poor, wicked — about a person and about a deed alike
- அமைதியாamaidiyācalmAbout a person and about a place alike: 'a calm little town'
- மரியாதையாmariyādaiyāpoliteThe root is 'respect' — the very thing for which an elder is spoken of with the plural you
- சோம்பேறிsōmbēṟilazysom-bay-ri; the p after m sounds like b, the r is rolled
- துணிச்சலாtuṇiccalāboldThe root is 'daring'. A relative of it means both 'cloth' and 'to dare'
- நேர்மையாnērmaiyāhonestFrom 'straight': honesty in Tamil is about straightness too
- குணம்kuṇamcharacterku-nam; the n is retroflex
- பரிமாறுபவர்parimāṟubavarwaiterpa-ri-maa-ru-ba-var; the r is rolled, the p between vowels sounds like b
- சுருட்டைsuruṭṭaicurlyAlmost always with the hair word: 'curly hair'. Straight hair is 'straight hair'
- வழுக்கைத் தலைvaḻukkait talaibaldva-lukkai ta-lai; the zh is that same tongue-curled-back sound of the word Tamil
- நரைச்சnaraiccagrey-hairedFrom narai, 'grey hair': 'grey-haired hair'. The bookish form is a participle
- உடல் உயரம்uḍal uyarama person's heightuyaram on its own means 'height' and 'high' — of a house, of a tree. About a person the body word is added
- ஒடிசலானoḍisalāṉaslimA compliment: slender and well-made. The 'thin' word is simply about little weight and sounds more like a reproach
- நடுத்தர உயரம்naḍuttara uyaramof medium heightnaduththara, 'middle', you will also meet in the middle class phrase
- தாராளமானtārāḷamāṉagenerousFrom thaaraalam, 'generosity, abundance'. As an adverb: 'he gives generously'
- பொறுமையானpoṟumaiyāṉapatientFrom porumai, 'patience'. 'Wait a little' is said with the same stem
- உழைப்பாளிuḻaippāḷihard-workingu-laip-paa-li; first zh, then l — two different 'l' sounds in one word
- நம்பகமானnambagamāṉareliableFrom 'to believe': one you can lean on. About a person, a machine and a piece of news alike
- அடக்கமானaḍakkamāṉamodestFrom adakkam, 'restraint'. On the island it is a noticeable compliment, especially about the young
- கலந்து பழகுறkalandu paḻaguṟasociableTamil does not say it in one word: 'mixing and socialising'. The -ra form is that very participle instead of 'who'
- அக்கறையானakkaṟaiyāṉacaringFrom akkarai, 'care, concern'. 'He takes care of me' is said with this word
- தீவிரமானtīviramāṉaseriousAbout a person — 'serious, not frivolous'; about an illness and a matter — 'grave'. In live speech the borrowed English word is heard too
- பண்பானpaṇbāṉawell-manneredFrom panbu, 'character, culture'. A compliment to one who knows how to carry himself; about a child they say 'good upbringing'
- நகைச்சுவை உணர்வுnagaiccuvai uṇarvusense of humournagaiccuvai, 'humour', is literally 'the taste of laughter', unarvu 'a feeling'. In speech people more often say 'he cracks jokes'
- கஞ்சன்kañcaṉstingyIn Tamil this is a noun for a person — 'a miser'. The trait on its own takes another word
- பிடிவாதமானpiḍivādamāṉastubbornpidi, 'to hold', plus vaadam, 'an argument': he holds on to his own. 'He clings to his stubbornness' is how they put it
- முரட்டுத்தனமானmuraṭṭuttaṉamāṉarudeAbout a person and about speech. The boor himself has his own noun; about rough cloth they say it differently
- திமிர் பிடிச்சtimir piḍiccabrazenthimir, 'arrogance', plus 'caught by it'. A strong word: to the face it is said only in a quarrel
- தந்திரமானtandiramāṉacunningFrom thandhiram, 'cunning, a trick'. Not always a reproach: a fox and a good move in a game are called so too
- வாயாடிvāyāḍichattyvaa-yaa-di; the d is retroflex, tip of the tongue at the palate
- கவனம் இல்லாதkavaṉam illādaabsent-mindedYou know the attention word; illaadha means 'which is not'. Half of the Tamil 'un-' attributes are built exactly so
- முன்கோபக்காரன்muṉgōbakkāraṉhot-temperedmun 'ahead' + the anger word: the anger arrives before the thought. About a woman there is a feminine form
- அக்கறை இல்லாதakkaṟai illādaindifferentExactly the opposite of the caring word: the care is not there. The pair is memorised together
- பழக்கம்paḻakkamhabitBoth a habit and an acquaintance: 'I have a pazhakkam with him' means 'I know him'. A bad habit takes the 'bad' word
- தோழிtōḻifemale friendtho-li; the zh is the curled-back sound, the tongue does not touch the palate
- பழக்கமானவர்paḻakkamāṉavaracquaintanceFrom the pazhakkam word, which here means 'acquaintance', not 'habit'. Literally — 'the one with whom there is acquaintance'
- திறமைtiṟamaitalentTalent, ability and capacity at once — Tamil does not split them. An inborn gift is underlined by the 'bestowal' word
- பிறந்தேன்piṟandēṉto be bornGiven in the past form 'I was born': this verb has no present about oneself. A birthday is 'the day one was born'
- சின்ன வயசுsiṉṉa vayasuchildhoodLiterally 'small age'. The bookish 'the age of childhood' is written but never said
- இளமைiḷamaiyouthFrom ilam, 'young'. The word means both youth as a time and youthfulness as a quality: 'he is young in spirit'
- வயது வந்த வாழ்க்கைvayadu vanda vāḻkkaigrown-up life'The life of one who has come of age': Tamil keeps no separate word for 'an adult'
- தலைமுறைtalaimuṟaigenerationthalai 'a head' + murai 'a turn': the succession of heads in a line. 'The new generation' is said with the new word
- சொந்த ஊர்sonda ūrhome townoor is a city, a village and 'the place I am from' at once; size does not occupy Tamil. Hence the question 'which is your oor?'
- அஞ்சு வருஷம் இந்த நாட்டில இருக்கிறேன்añcu varuṣam inda nāṭṭila irukkiṟēṉto have lived in the country for five yearsTamil puts the present here, not the past: 'I have been in the country five years' — for here I still am
- நினைவுniṉaivumemoryFrom ninai, 'to think'. The same word means 'memory' and 'consciousness': 'the memory has come back' means 'I came round'
- பழைய படம்paḻaiya paḍaman old photographThe picture word means a photograph, a drawing and a film: 'I am going to see the picture' means 'to the cinema'
- விதிvidifateThe same word means 'a rule': 'the house rules'. Fate for Tamil is simply a rule someone has laid down
- புது வாழ்க்கையை ஆரம்பிக்கிறேன்pudu vāḻkkaiyai ārambikkiṟēṉto start a new lifeaarambikkiren, 'I begin', is a Sanskrit word but a native of everyday speech. The pure Tamil verb is a shade more bookish
- குடும்பம் நடத்துறேன்kuḍumbam naḍattuṟēṉto start a familyTamil does not 'start' a family but 'conducts' it: nadaththuren, 'I lead, I maintain'. About the decision itself they say 'I tie the wedding'
- பணக்காரpaṇakkārawealthyPanam, 'money', plus the -kaara ending. About a person people say panakkaarar — the form with the final r is commoner
- ஏழைēḻaipoore-zhai; the zh is that very curled sound of the word Tamil itself
- அறை நண்பர்aṟai naṇbarroommateArai, 'room', plus nanbar, 'friend'. Young people just say the English 'roommate'
- சின்ன வயசு நண்பர்siṉṉa vayasu naṇbarchildhood friendLiterally 'a friend of small age'. Vayasu is the spoken form of the bookish 'age'
- பேர் போனpēr pōṉarenownedLiterally 'whose name has spread'. The familiar 'popular' word is about fashion and the present day; this one is about fame
- பலமானbalamāṉapowerfulBalam, 'strength', plus -aana. A strong wind and strong tea are said differently — with kadum
- விவேகமானvivēgamāṉasensibleAbout a person and a decision. Clever as quick-witted is another word; vivegam is level-headedness
- நல்ல மனசுnalla maṉasukindnessLiterally 'a good heart'. The bookish spelling is written, but aloud people say 'the mind'
- சகிப்புத்தன்மைsagipputtaṉmaifortitude'Tolerating' plus the quality ending. Patience of waiting is in this lesson; fortitude is the art of enduring
- பொறுமைpoṟumaipatiencepo-ru-mai; the r is the rolled kind, and the word is one syllable away from 'envy'
- சுயநலம்suyanalamself-interest'One's own' plus 'welfare': 'care for one's own'. A harsh word, rarely said to the face
- சோம்பேறித்தனம்sōmbēṟittaṉamlaziness'A lazybones' plus the ending that turns a person into a trait. Built the same way as 'stupidity' and 'stubbornness'
- பிடிவாதம்piḍivādamstubbornness'Grip' plus 'dispute', the one learned as 'argument'. The adverb 'doggedly' from unit 53 is its kind twin
- ஆர்வம்ārvamcuriosityIt means 'interest' and 'curiosity' in one: Tamil does not split them. The blaming shade is added with the 'empty' word: 'idle curiosity'
- நேர்மைnērmaiintegrityFrom ner, 'straight'. The adjective 'honest' already stands in the course — this is its noun
- சாதுரியம்sāduriyamresourcefulnessThe skill of getting out by word and by deed. The sly 'trick' from unit 54 is its dark side
- அசட்டைasaṭṭaicarelessnessLiterally 'not giving it importance'. About work the same word means 'negligence', and that is already a reproach
- துணிச்சலானtuṇiccalāṉaresoluteFrom 'boldness': one who resolves. The adjective 'firm' already stands in the course — about a person it means 'steadfast', not this
- வெட்கப்படுறveṭkappaḍuṟashyA participle of 'to feel bashful'. There is no adjective: Tamil describes through the verb
- சட்டெண்டு மனசு நோகிறsaṭṭeṇḍu maṉasu nōgiṟaquick to take offenseLiterally 'whose heart aches in a flash'. There is no word of its own; the offense itself already stands in the course separately
- இணங்கிப் போறiṇaṅgip pōṟaeasygoingLiterally 'going toward agreement'. Near to 'to adapt' from unit 55, but that one is about circumstances, this one about people
- நுணுக்கமா பாக்கிறnuṇukkamā pākkiṟameticulousLiterally 'looking into the small things'. The adverb 'thoroughly' from unit 54 is its base
- தன்முனைப்பானtaṉmuṉaippāṉavain'One's own' plus 'thrusting forward'. Self-interest is about gain; this is about self-regard
- உதவுற மனசுள்ளudavuṟa maṉasuḷḷahelpfulLiterally 'with a mind that helps'. Kindness is assembled from the same word for the heart
- தனிமையா இருக்கிறtaṉimaiyā irukkiṟawithdrawnLiterally 'keeping to loneliness'. The noun 'loneliness' already stands in the course
- நேரா கதைக்கிறnērā kadaikkiṟabluntLiterally 'speaking straight'. Whether it is praise or blame, the intonation decides
- யூகிக்க ஏலாதyūgikka ēlādaunpredictableLiterally 'which cannot be guessed'. Elaadu is the island negative participle — the same one as in 'irreversible changes'
- சொல் கேக்கிறேன்sol kēkkiṟēṉobeyLiterally 'I hear the word'. Plain 'I hear' already stands in the course; obedience is built with 'word'
- பெருமை பேசுறேன்perumai pēsuṟēṉbragLiterally 'I speak greatness'. To be proud in the good sense is the other verb — only the helper word differs
- புறணி பேசுறேன்puṟaṇi pēsuṟēṉspread gossipPurani is 'talk behind the back'. A word with blame: one cannot say it about oneself
- நடிக்கிறேன்naḍikkiṟēṉpretendLiterally 'I play a role': the actor's verb. The ready 'to put on an act' already stands in the course, nearer to showing off
- அடக்கிக் கொள்ளுறேன்aḍakkik koḷḷuṟēṉhold back'To suppress' plus 'for oneself'. The helper returns the action to the doer, as in 'to get ahead'
- கிண்டல் பண்ணுறேன்kiṇḍal paṇṇuṟēṉteaseKindal is a good-natured jab. A mean mockery is the other word, and the difference is heard at once
- பொய் சொல்லுறேன்poy solluṟēṉtell a lieLiterally 'I say a lie'. The noun from unit 54; there is no single verb 'to lie'
- ஒட்டுக் கேக்கிறேன்oṭṭuk kēkkiṟēṉeavesdropLiterally 'I listen stuck on': the 'stick' verb from unit 50. To peek is built on the same model
- வலிய வந்து ஒட்டுறேன்valiya vandu oṭṭuṟēṉimpose oneselfLiterally 'I come by force and stick on'. Valiya is 'beyond one's strength', and in this phrase it is the key
- சொன்ன சொல்லைக் காப்பாத்துறேன்soṉṉa sollaik kāppāttuṟēṉkeep one's wordLiterally 'I guard the word I said'. The guarding verb already stands in the course — here it means 'not let it perish'
- தகுதியா பெறுறேன்tagudiyā peṟuṟēṉdeserveLiterally 'I receive by worth'. To earn money is the already-learned verb, and it does not fit here
- குத்திக் காட்டுறேன்kuttik kāṭṭuṟēṉreproachLiterally 'I stab and show'. To accuse outright is the other phrase; a reproach is finer and hurts more
- புகழுறேன்pugaḻuṟēṉpraiseThe praising verb already in the course is about merit; this one is admiration aloud
- குற்றம் சொல்லுறேன்kuṟṟam solluṟēṉdenounceLiterally 'I call it a fault'. The condemn verb already stands in the course, and the court has its own phrase
- நம்பிக்கையைக் கெடுக்கிறேன்nambikkaiyaik keḍukkiṟēṉlet downLiterally 'I spoil the trust'. To deceive is one verb; to let down is not to live up to hope, and it is milder
- தெரிஞ்சேteriñcēon purposeLiterally 'knowing': the participle of 'to know' with the booster -e. The neighbor 'specially' already stands in the course
- முட்டாள்தனமாmuṭṭāḷtaṉamāout of foolishness'A fool' plus the quality ending plus the adverb tail. Assembled the same way as 'laziness'
- நல்ல எண்ணத்தோடnalla eṇṇattōḍawith the best of intentionsThe sociative -oda with 'intention', already learned. Literally 'with a good intention'
- அது நல்லா இல்லைadu nallā illaithat is not niceLiterally 'that is not good'. About an act Tamil says 'not good', not 'not pretty': beauty has nothing to do with it
- அவர் வேணும் எண்டு செய்யேல்லைavar vēṇum eṇḍu seyyēllaihe meant no harmLiterally 'he did not do it on purpose'. Tamil lets no word for 'evil' in here — it speaks of intent
- நம்பிக்கைnambikkaitrustThe same word as 'faith' from wave 3 and as inside 'to trust': Tamil has no second word, and only the object splits them — faith in god, trust in a person
- பொறாமைpoṟāmaienvypo-raa-mai; next to it stands 'patience' — the same consonants, different vowels
- பரிதாபம்paridābampityThe nearest word means both 'sin' and 'poor thing'; this one is exactly the feeling of pity
- செல்வாக்குselvākkuinfluenceInfluence among people. An impact on nature is the unit-56 word — different things
- மதிப்புmadippuauthorityLiterally 'worth': in a person it is the respect of those around. The judgment word from unit 54 shares the root
- பரஸ்பரமாparasparamāmutualA Sanskrit word; in speech you hear it shorter: 'from both sides'
- சம நிலையிலsama nilaiyilaas equalsLiterally 'on an equal level'. The 'evenly matched' adverb from unit 52 is about strength; this is about relations
- ஒத்துப் போறேன்ottup pōṟēṉget alongThe same phrase as 'conform' in unit 57: there a thing fits a norm, here a person fits a person
- ஒதுங்கி இருக்கிறேன்oduṅgi irukkiṟēṉkeep out of itThe 'scoot over' verb from unit 51: there about room on a bench, here about one's place among people
- மக்கள்makkaḷpeopleThe plural of magan, 'son'. Also 'the folk, the nation' — it shows up in party names
- ரெண்டு பேராreṇḍu pērāthe two of usYou know 'together' and 'alone'. 'Person' is the counting word for people, and 'by two people' means 'the two of us'; three of a kind follows the same pattern
How it sounds in a sentence
A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.
- என்ர நண்பன் கொழும்பில இருக்கிறான்eṉra naṇbaṉ koḻumbila irukkiṟāṉMy friend lives in Colombo
- என்ர குடும்பம் பெரிசுeṉra kuḍumbam perisuI have a big family
- அம்மா சமைக்கிறாammā samaikkiṟāMom is cooking
- அப்பா வேலைக்கு போனார்appā vēlaikku pōṉārDad has gone to work
- குழந்தை தூங்குதுkuḻandai tūṅguduThe child is sleeping
- கடைக்காரர் எங்கே?kaḍaikkārar eṅgē?Where is the vendor?
What is worth knowing about these words
நண்பன் (naṇbaṉ) — friend. A male friend; a female one is thoḻi or naṇbi. About an older friend one says the respectful form with -r
குடும்பம் (kuḍumbam) — family. Family in the wide sense — with grandparents, aunts and cousins. From it also 'family man'
அம்மா (ammā) — mom. The way to address any woman older than yourself — a shopkeeper, an official too. It is polite address, not baby talk
அப்பா (appā) — dad. The partner of 'mom', with the same rule for addressing elders. Also a cry of surprise: 'appa!'
Test yourself
First by ear — the way you will meet the word in conversation. Click the speaker and pick the translation.
- What is this word?
It is நண்பன் (naṇbaṉ) — friend.
- What is this word?
It is பக்கத்து வீட்டுக்காரர் (pakkattu vīṭṭukkārar) — neighbour.
- What is this word?
It is பொம்பிளை (pombiḷai) — woman.
- What is this word?
It is வரவேற்பாளர் (varavēṟpāḷar) — receptionist.
- What is this word?
It is மீசை (mīsai) — moustache.
Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “friend” in Tamil?
A male friend; a female one is thoḻi or naṇbi. About an older friend one says the respectful form with -r
- How do you say “neighbour” in Tamil?
Literally 'the person of the neighbouring house': 'side' plus 'house' plus the trade suffix
- How do you say “woman” in Tamil?
The partner of 'man', assembled the same way: 'female' plus 'child'. The bookish and form-filling word is the short 'female'
- How do you say “receptionist” in Tamil?
Literally 'the greeter': the suffix turns the deed into the person
- How do you say “moustache” in Tamil?
One word for the pair of them: no 'moustache — a single one' pair here
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Mum, friend, child, neighbour. The first thing people ask you about, and the first thing you tell about yourself.
A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.
- Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many timesAdesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
- This holds not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many timesMawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.
Frequently asked
How do you say “friend” in Tamil?
«நண்பன்», read “naṇbaṉ”. A male friend; a female one is thoḻi or naṇbi. About an older friend one says the respectful form with -r. It is one of 143 words in the set “people and family” — the rest are in the table above.
How many family words do you need to start?
A dozen is enough. The set of 143 words on this page covers nearly every everyday case on the topic — but it is best taken a few at a time, not all at once.
Is there audio?
Yes, 143 words on this page can be played — click the speaker next to the word. The sound works on any phone, and nothing needs to be installed.