Home and things in Tamil

205 words in Tamil on the topic “home and things”: வீடு (vīḍu) — home, கூடை (kūḍai) — basket, பை — bag, குடியிருப்பு (kuḍiyiruppu) — dwelling. 205 words can be played from recordings.

Updated September 1, 2026 · Lingofly

205 words on the topic

வீடு
vīḍu
home
Home as your own dwelling, not as a building. Before an ending the consonant doubles: vīṭṭukku, 'to the house'; vīṭṭil, 'at home'
கூடை
kūḍai
basket
ku-day; ṭ between vowels sounds like d, but like t at the start of a word
பை
pai
bag
Any sack and any bag. The polythene one is 'plastic bag'
குடியிருப்பு
kuḍiyiruppu
dwelling
'To live' plus 'abiding'. The name for a flat and for a residential house alike
அறை
aṟai
room
a-ray with a rolled r; 'half', arai, sounds softer
சமையலறை
samaiyalaṟai
kitchen
'Cooking' plus 'room'
குளியலறை
kuḷiyalaṟai
bathroom
'Bathing' plus 'room'. The toilet is a separate room and a separate word
பால்கனி
bālkaṉi
balcony
The English balcony: in borrowings b at the start of a word is read as b
மாடி
māḍi
floor (storey)
Also 'the top of a house': a house of two māḍi is a two-storey house
லிப்ட்
lifṭ
lift
The English lift. The bookish word for it is never met in speech
படிக்கட்டு
paḍikkaṭṭu
staircase
pa-di-kat-tu; a single ṭ between vowels sounds like d, the doubled ṭṭ is voiceless and long
மேசை
mēsai
table
Portuguese mesa — a trace the Portuguese left on the island, like the almirah
நாற்காலி
nāṟkāli
chair
naat-kaa-li; the cluster ṟk sounds as 'tk', not 'rk'
கட்டில்
kaṭṭil
bed
kat-til; the doubled tt is held longer than a single one
அலமாரி
alamāri
cupboard
Portuguese armário. A bookshelf is called the same
ஜன்னல்
jaṉṉal
window
The letter j is grantha: with it one writes sounds Tamil has no signs of its own for
கதவு
kadavu
door
ka-da-vu; t between vowels sounds like d, at the start of a word like t
சாவி
sāvi
key
Both the door key and a winding key. The lock is 'pūṭṭu', and 'it is locked' is its participle
விளக்கு
viḷakku
lamp
Both the electric lamp and the oil light by the household shrine
சூடான தண்ணி
sūḍāṉa taṇṇi
hot water
'Heat' gives the participle 'heated'. Cold water is its opposite
மின்சாரம்
miṉsāram
electricity
'Lightning' plus 'stream'. In daily life people say the English 'current'
குப்பை
kuppai
garbage
The garbage bin is 'garbage pot', and 'to take out the garbage' is 'to pour garbage'. Works figuratively too — 'rubbish, nonsense'
சுத்தம் செய்யிறது
suttam seyyiṟadu
cleaning
'Cleanliness' plus 'to do'. The ending turns the verb into a noun: 'the doing of cleanliness'
சலவை
salavai
laundry
The laundry shop keeps this word; the action of washing is another verb
பாத்திரம்
pāttiram
dishes
One vessel and all the dishes at once. 'To wash the dishes' is 'to scrub the vessels'
துவாய்
tuvāy
towel
An island word, from Portuguese. In Tamil Nadu they say 'cloth' instead
சோப்பு
sōppu
soap
The English soap. The elder Tamil word is remembered by the old folks still
பக்கத்து வீட்டுக்காரர்
pakkattu vīṭṭukkārar
neighbour
Literally 'the person of the neighbouring house': 'side' plus 'house' plus the trade suffix
வீட்டு உரிமையாளர்
vīṭṭu urimaiyāḷar
landlord
'Right' plus 'holder'. In speech it shortens to 'the house person' — but that same word means 'husband', hence the muddles
வாடகை
vāḍagai
rent
Both the payment for housing and the renting itself. To rent is to 'take' a house for rent, to let is to 'give' it: the difference is one verb
ஒப்பந்தம்
oppandam
contract
From 'agreement'. A rental contract is 'rent + agreement'
முற்பணம்
muṟpaṇam
deposit
'Before' plus 'money' — money paid ahead. Notices also write the English 'deposit'
மின்சாரக் கட்டணம்
miṉsārak kaṭṭaṇam
utility bill
Literally 'the payment for electricity'. There is no single utility bill on the island: light and water are paid separately, and in speech people say 'current bill'
ரிப்பேர்
rippēr
repairs
The English repair — about machines and about houses alike. The bookish word is 'mending what went bad'
சத்தமா
sattamā
noisy
'Noise' plus the adverb tail -ā. The same way made 'slowly' and 'tastily'
வேலை செய்யேல்லை
vēlai seyyēllai
it doesn't work
Literally 'it does not do work' — about a device, a tap, a lock
கெட்டுப் போச்சுது
keṭṭup pōccudu
it broke down
Literally 'having gone bad, it went' — about machines and about food alike. About something smashed one says 'it shattered'
ஒழுகுது
oḻugudu
it leaks
o-lu-gu-du; in the middle hides that same curled zh
ஒரு ஆளை அனுப்புங்கோ
oru āḷai aṉuppuṅgō
send someone over
Literally 'send a person'. There is no general word for 'workman' — one calls by the trade: plumber, electrician
எப்ப வருவியள்?
eppa varuviyaḷ?
when will you come?
'When' plus the polite 'you' in the future tense
என்னால திறக்க முடியேல்லை
eṉṉāla tiṟakka muḍiyēllai
I cannot open it
The Tamil 'I can't' goes through 'by me': 'by me' plus the infinitive plus 'not comes out'
வெளிச்சம்
veḷiccam
light
Light as illumination. The lamp is a different word, and electricity on the bill is another
சூடாக்குறன்
sūḍākkuṟaṉ
to heat
From 'heat': the insert makes an action out of a property — 'I make it hot'. To reheat food keeps the same verb; what heats by itself takes the plain form
பெட்டி
peṭṭi
suitcase
pet-ti; the tt is a long tt with the tongue curled back
அறைச் சாவி
aṟaic sāvi
room key
Between the words an extra c grows — Tamil stitches the pair into one notion
தோட்டம்
tōṭṭam
garden
A garden, a vegetable plot and a plantation: the island's tea estates are 'tea gardens'
தண்ணி ஊத்துறன்
taṇṇi ūttuṟaṉ
to water
Literally 'I pour water'. There is no separate verb for watering
கழுவுறன்
kaḻuvuṟaṉ
to wash
ka-lu-vu-ran; the l is the curled-back sound, the r is rolled
கத்தி
katti
knife
In the island kitchen people more often cut not with a knife on a board but with a sickle on a standing block
அடுப்பு
aḍuppu
stove
Both the gas stove and the wood-fired hearth: one word for all the ages
குளிர்சாதனப் பெட்டி
kuḷirsādaṉap peṭṭi
fridge
Literally 'the cooling box'. In speech everyone says the English 'fridge'
கெட்டில்
keṭṭil
kettle
A borrowing. On the island tea is brewed in a pot, so the word is needed more by a visitor
கூரை
kūrai
roof
A palm-thatch roof is koorai too. Roof tiles are oadu
சுவர்
suvar
wall
A wall of the house. A fence around the yard is veli or mathil
படுக்கை அறை
paḍukkai aṟai
bedroom
pa-dukkai a-rai; the r is rolled
முற்றம்
muṟṟam
courtyard
mut-ram; the ṟṟ is 'tr' in the literary norm and 'tt' in colloquial speech
சீலிங்
sīliṅ
ceiling
The English 'ceiling', and that is what people say
கேட்
kēṭ
gate
The English 'gate': the doors at the entrance to the yard. The native vaayil is the same word as in erum vaayil, 'the boarding gate'
வேலி
vēli
fence
A wattle fence or a hedge. A stone wall around a plot is mathil
கராஜ்
karāj
garage
The English 'garage'. A car-repair shop is called the same
தபால் பெட்டி
tabāl peṭṭi
mailbox
tha-baal pet-ti; the p between vowels sounds like b
நிலவறை
nilavaṟai
basement
ni-la-va-rai; the r is rolled
பாத்திரம் கழுவுறன்
pāttiram kaḻuvuṟaṉ
to wash the dishes
paat-ti-ram ka-zhu-vu-ran; the zh is the tongue-curled-back sound
பெருக்குறன்
perukkuṟaṉ
to sweep
Sweeping is done with a palm-twig broom, one of which stands in every yard
துவைக்கிறன்
tuvaikkiṟaṉ
to do the laundry
Only about clothes. Dishes and hands are 'rinsed' with another verb
இஸ்திரி செய்யிறன்
istiri seyyiṟaṉ
to do the ironing
istiri came from Portuguese. The man who irons by the road is the istiri-kaarar
இரவுச் சாப்பாடு சமைக்கிறன்
iravuc sāppāḍu samaikkiṟaṉ
to cook dinner
iravu 'night' + the food word: dinner here is 'night food', not 'evening food'
குப்பை கொட்டுறன்
kuppai koṭṭuṟaṉ
to take out the trash
kuppai kottu-ran; the tt is a long retroflex tt
வெக்யூம் கிளீனர்
vekyūm kiḷīṉar
vacuum cleaner
The English 'vacuum cleaner': no native word, and the machine itself is a rarity in homes
பிரஷ்
piraṣ
brush
The English 'brush' — for teeth and shoes alike. The palm-twig broom has its own name
வாளி
vāḷi
bucket
vaa-li; the l is retroflex, tongue curled back
இஸ்திரிப் பெட்டி
istirip peṭṭi
clothes iron
Literally 'the ironing box' — old irons were filled with coals
உதவி செய்யிறன்
udavi seyyiṟaṉ
to help
Udavi is 'help'. The one helped stands in the 'to whom' form
கதவை மூடுங்கோ
kadavai mūḍuṅgō
close the door
The door word takes the object ending and becomes kadhavai. Moodiyirukku, 'it is closed', is from the same verb
ஜன்னலைத் திறங்கோ
jaṉṉalait tiṟaṅgō
open the window
jan-nalait ti-ran-goo; the r is rolled
அதை எடுத்துக் குடுங்கோ
adai eḍuttuk kuḍuṅgō
pass it to me
Literally 'having taken, give': Tamil strings the participle onto the verb instead of one word for 'hand'
கொஞ்சம் மெதுவா பேசுங்கோ
koñcam meduvā pēsuṅgō
quieter, please
Literally 'speak more slowly'. Meduvaa means both 'slowly' and 'quietly'
வாடகைக்கு வீடு எடுக்கிறன்
vāḍagaikku vīḍu eḍukkiṟaṉ
to rent a house
Literally 'I take a house for rent'. Separate flats are rare on the island, and veedu covers house and flat alike
வாடகைக்கு வீடு குடுக்கிறன்
vāḍagaikku vīḍu kuḍukkiṟaṉ
to rent out a house
The pair of vaadagaikku veedu edukkiran, 'to rent a house': the tenant 'takes' and the owner 'gives'. Nothing else changes
வாடகை ஒப்பந்தம்
vāḍagai oppandam
rental agreement
The words for 'rent' and 'contract' exist separately; together they name the ordinary paper
மாத வாடகை
māda vāḍagai
monthly rent
Literally 'month's rent'. If the sum is clear from the talk, people just say the rent word
வாடகைக் காலம்
vāḍagaik kālam
lease term
kaalam, 'a term, a season' — the same word as in the probation period phrase
வீட்டு தரகர்
vīṭṭu taragar
real estate agent
tharagar is 'a middleman, a broker' in any trade, from land to weddings. He takes a cut, and the cut has its own name
வீடு பாக்கப் போறது
vīḍu pākkap pōṟadu
house viewing
Literally 'going to look at the house': Tamil describes the action instead of giving it a name of its own
தளபாடங்களுடன் கூடிய வீடு
taḷapāḍaṅgaḷuḍaṉ kūḍiya vīḍu
furnished house
The same 'together with' pattern as in the paid leave phrase: 'accompanied by something'
குடியேறுறன்
kuḍiyēṟuṟaṉ
to move in
kudi 'a household, dwelling' + eeru 'to climb, to mount'. The same word names emigrating to another country
வீட்டை காலி செய்யிறன்
vīṭṭai kāli seyyiṟaṉ
to move out
kaali 'empty' — the same word as in the vacant room phrase. Literally 'I make the house empty'
குடி மாற்றம்
kuḍi māṟṟam
moving house
ku-di maat-ram; the ṟṟ is 'tr' in the literary norm and 'tt' in colloquial speech
வீடு மாறுறன்
vīḍu māṟuṟaṉ
to move house
Literally 'I change the house'. The same verb as in 'I change to another bus'
சுமை தூக்குறவர்
sumai tūkkuṟavar
mover
sumai 'a load' + the verb for lifting, as used in sport. The ending turns the verb into 'the one who does it'
பொதி கட்டுறன்
podi kaṭṭuṟaṉ
to pack up
podi 'a bundle' + kattu 'to tie'. Packing a suitcase for a trip is said with another turn
பொதியை அவிழ்க்கிறன்
podiyai aviḻkkiṟaṉ
to unpack
po-di-yai a-vil-kki-ran; the zh is curled back and before k sounds almost like l
புது முகவரி
pudu mugavari
new address
The ordinary word for 'address'; pudhu 'new' goes in front, as any attribute does
சாமான் கொண்டு போறது
sāmāṉ koṇḍu pōṟadu
moving the belongings
kondu po, 'carrying, going', is the usual Tamil knot of two verbs instead of one word for 'to transport'
ஒழுங்கு செய்துகொள்ளுறன்
oḻuṅgu seytugoḷḷuṟaṉ
to settle in
ozhungu means 'order'. The inserted -kk- means 'for oneself': I put things in order for myself, not for another
புது இடத்துக்கு பழகிடுறன்
pudu iḍattukku paḻagiḍuṟaṉ
to get used to the new place
pazhagu, 'to get used to', the same root as in pazhaiya, 'old', and pazhakkamaanavar, 'an acquaintance'
தளபாடம்
taḷapāḍam
furniture
ta-la-paa-dam; the l is retroflex
சோபா
sōpā
sofa
The English 'sofa'. A long backless bench has its own name
சாய்வு நாற்காலி
sāyvu nāṟkāli
armchair
saay 'to recline' + the ordinary word for a chair. Literally 'a chair one reclines in'
அடுக்கு
aḍukku
shelf
Generally 'a tier, a row' — from 'to stack'. A free-standing bookcase takes another word
கம்பளம்
kambaḷam
carpet
kam-ba-lam; the l is retroflex
கண்ணாடி
kaṇṇāḍi
mirror
kan-naa-di; the nn is a long retroflex n
திரைச்சீலை
tiraiccīlai
window curtain
Tirai means 'a screen'; originally it is 'a curtain', and seelai is 'a length of cloth'
தலையணை
talaiyaṇai
pillow
thalai 'head' + anai 'a prop'. A sofa cushion is called differently — the English 'cushion'
போர்வை
pōrvai
coverlet
From 'to cover oneself'. On the hot island it is more often a thin bedcover than a winter quilt
தொங்கு விளக்கு
toṅgu viḷakku
chandelier
thongu 'to hang' + the lamp word: 'a hanging lamp'. No separate word for a chandelier exists
பெயின்ட்
peyiṉṭ
paint
The English 'paint' — that is what they ask at the shop. The bookish words lean to dye for cloth and colour for the face
சுவரை பெயின்ட் அடிக்கிறன்
suvarai peyiṉṭ aḍikkiṟaṉ
to paint the wall
adi, 'to hit', again serves as the action verb, as in the cheating phrase. Literally 'I hit the wall with paint'
சுவர்த் தாள்
suvart tāḷ
wallpaper
The wall word + 'a sheet of paper': a straight copy of the English 'wallpaper'. On the island wallpaper is a rarity — walls are painted
டைல்ஸ்
ḍails
tiles
The English 'tiles', always in the plural. The bookish word is the same as the roof tiles
திருப்புளி
tiruppuḷi
screwdriver
ti-rup-pu-li; the pp is long, the l is retroflex
டிரில்
ḍiril
drill
The English 'drill'. The bookish 'boring tool' stands in instruction manuals alone
குழாய்
kuḻāy
pipe
ku-zhaay; the zh is curled back, the aa is long
பல்பு அடிச்சுப் போச்சுது
balbu aḍiccup pōccudu
the light bulb has burned out
The same turn as in 'it has broken for good': the final po 'gone' means 'it went and stayed so'
வெப்பமூட்டல்
veppamūṭṭal
heating
Island houses have no heating, and the word is bookish: it serves talk about cold countries. A heater is a related word
வீட்டை புதுப்பிக்கிறன்
vīṭṭai puduppikkiṟaṉ
to renovate the house
From pudhu, 'new': literally 'I make the house new'. Fixing one broken thing is still the 'make right' verb
மீட்டர்
mīṭṭar
utility meter
The English 'meter' — the water meter and the taxi meter alike. The metre of length is written the same
மீட்டர் அளவு
mīṭṭar aḷavu
meter reading
Alavu means 'a size'; here it is 'a magnitude, a reading'. The inspector comes to write it down
தண்ணி பில்
taṇṇi bil
water bill
The same pattern as the phone bill: first what for, then the English 'bill'
மின்சாரப் பில்
miṉsārap bil
electricity bill
The everyday name of what the receipt calls the electricity charge
தண்ணி நிப்பாட்டிட்டினம்
taṇṇi nippāṭṭiṭṭiṉam
the water has been cut off
than-ni nip-paat-tit-ti-nam; three long consonants in a row here
குப்பைத் தொட்டி
kuppait toṭṭi
garbage bin
The ordinary word for garbage; thotti is 'a vat, a tub', the same word as about a water tank
நுழைவாயில்
nuḻaivāyil
building entrance
nu-lai-vaa-yil; the zh is curled back
இன்டர்காம்
iṉṭarkām
intercom
The English 'intercom'. On the gate of a private house there is more often just a doorbell
பக்கத்து வீட்டு சத்தம்
pakkattu vīṭṭu sattam
noise from the neighbours
pakkathu veetu is 'the neighbouring house' — hence the word for 'neighbour' too, plus the ordinary word for loudness
வீட்டு விதிகள்
vīṭṭu vidigaḷ
house rules
vithi, 'a rule, a law' — the same word as about traffic rules. The -kal ending makes the plural
ஓவன்
ōvaṉ
oven
The English 'oven'. Mind the first letter: a long o, not a short a — with the short one it is the word for 'he'
மைக்ரோவேவ்
maikrōvēv
microwave
The bookish 'micro-wave stove' is written on the box, but people say the English 'microwave'
துருவி
turuvi
grater
From thuruvu, 'to grate'. The coconut grater is a separate object in every Jaffna home
அகப்பை
agappai
ladle
The big serving spoon. The ordinary spoon is another word, and in the kitchen the two should not be confused
மூடி
mūḍi
lid
From moodu, 'to close', the same verb as in 'the shop stays closed'
வெட்டும் பலகை
veṭṭum palagai
chopping board
Literally 'the board that cuts': the -um participle stands before the noun, as an attribute should
ஏப்ரன்
ēpraṉ
apron
The English 'apron'. At home people more often make do with a towel tucked into the waist
மேசை விரிப்பு
mēsai virippu
tablecloth
The table word + virippu, 'what is spread out'. The same word names a mat spread on the floor
பிளெண்டர்
piḷeṇḍar
blender
Beside it in a Jaffna home stands the grinder for dosa batter — a different machine altogether
சாப்பாட்டுப் பெட்டி
sāppāṭṭup peṭṭi
lunch box
Literally 'a box for food'. At work and at school it is simply called the English 'lunch box'
சீப்பு
sīppu
comb
Both the comb and the crest. The verb is of the same root: 'I comb the hair'
சவரக் கத்தி
savarak katti
razor
savaram 'shaving' + kathi 'a knife'. The electric one is simply called the English 'shaver'
ஷாம்பு
ṣāmbu
shampoo
The English 'shampoo', which itself came from Hindi. On the island the shop sells it in little single-dose sachets
கத்தரிக்கோல்
kattarikkōl
scissors
One pair is 'a scissors': Tamil does not demand the plural here, unlike English
தையல் ஊசி
taiyal ūsi
needle
oosi on its own also means the doctor's injection; the sewing word pins down the sense
நூல்
nūl
thread
A thread, a yarn and — in the bookish language — 'a tome': the textbook word comes from this same nool
தூக்கி எறியிறன்
tūkki eṟiyiṟaṉ
to throw away
Literally 'having lifted, I hurl'. Built on the ordinary word for a garbage bin
பத்திரமா வைக்கிறன்
pattiramā vaikkiṟaṉ
to keep safe
pathiram means 'safekeeping'. As a farewell, 'keep safe!' means 'take care of yourself'
சலவை இயந்திரம்
salavai iyandiram
washing machine
salavai 'the washing' + iyandiram 'a machine'. At home people more often call it by the English name
பாத்திரம் கழுவும் இயந்திரம்
pāttiram kaḻuvum iyandiram
dishwasher
Literally 'the machine that washes the dishes': the -um participle stands as the attribute. A rare thing in a Jaffna home
ஃபிரீசர்
firīsar
freezer compartment
fii-sar; the f is pronounced as an English f, not a p
மின்விசிறி
miṉvisiṟi
electric fan
min-vi-si-ri; the last r is rolled, while the ch sounds as 's'
வெப்பமூட்டி
veppamūṭṭi
heater
A rarity in the tropics: in the house you will far more often meet the water heater. Heating as a system is a related bookish word
தலைமுடி உலர்த்தி
talaimuḍi ulartti
hair dryer
ularththu, 'to dry', + the head-hair word. At the shop they ask for the English 'hair dryer'
நீட்டிப்புக் கம்பி
nīṭṭippuk kambi
extension cord
neettippu 'an extension' + kambi, 'a wire'. At the shop it is simpler to say the English 'extension'
சுவிட்ச்
suviṭc
light switch
su-vich; the tch is a cluster that in live speech sounds simply as 'ch'
திருகாணி
tirugāṇi
wood screw
ti-ru-gaa-ni; the n is retroflex; the nail word is heard separately inside
ஸ்பானர்
spāṉar
spanner
The English 'spanner': that is what every workshop on the island calls it. Nobody says the bookish word
இடுக்கி
iḍukki
pliers
i-duk-ki; both t letters are retroflex, tongue curled back
மின்காப்பு நாடா
miṉkāppu nāḍā
insulating tape
min 'electric' + kaappu 'protection' + naadaa 'a tape'. At the shop they ask for the English 'insulation tape'
பசை
pasai
glue
The same root as in the toothpaste word: anything sticky and viscous
ஒட்டும் நாடா
oṭṭum nāḍā
sticky tape
Literally 'the tape that sticks'. At the shop they say the English 'cello tape'
கயிறு
kayiṟu
rope
ka-yi-ru; the final r is a short rolled r
ஒட்டுறன்
oṭṭuṟaṉ
to stick on
It stuck by itself — one form; 'I stick it' — another. A stamp on an envelope is 'stuck on' the same way
திருகுறன்
tiruguṟaṉ
to screw in
The same root as the wood screw word. To unscrew is 'I twist it out'
அளக்கிறன்
aḷakkiṟaṉ
to measure
a-lak-ki-ran; the l is retroflex, tongue curled to the palate
நானே திருத்துறன்
nāṉē tiruttuṟaṉ
to fix it myself
The particle -e on 'I' is exactly 'myself, with my own hands': 'I and no one else'
ஷவர்
ṣavar
shower
The English shower. Washing from a bucket is the other verb — and on the island people bathe that way more often
அலாரம் கடிகாரம்
alāram kaḍigāram
alarm clock
Kadigaaram is 'clock'. For the alarm on a phone people simply say 'I set the alaaram'
தெர்மோமீற்றர்
termōmīṟṟar
medical thermometer
At home and at the pharmacy people say it like this. The bookish coinage turns up in the physics textbook
டோஸ்டர்
ḍōsṭar
toaster
An appliance English by name and by origin: the Tamil breakfast does without it
தையல் இயந்திரம்
taiyal iyandiram
sewing machine
Thaiyal, 'sewing', plus iyandiram, 'machine'. The tailor shares the root
அத்திவாரம்
attivāram
foundation
The basis of an argument is adippadai; the foundation of a house is this one. Tamil keeps the two apart
பூச்சு வேலை
pūccu vēlai
plastering
Literally 'coating work': poochchu is the coating. On the island 'finishing' means plastering and painting first of all
கீழ இறக்குறன்
kīḻa iṟakkuṟaṉ
to lower
'Down' plus the make-it-happen twin of 'to go down'
நகர்த்துறன்
nagarttuṟaṉ
to shift
From 'to move by itself'. The tail makes the action transitive
தவற விடுறன்
tavaṟa viḍuṟaṉ
to drop
Literally 'to let it miss'. The same phrase means 'to miss a chance'
தரையில இருந்து எடுக்கிறன்
taraiyila irundu eḍukkiṟaṉ
to pick up off the floor
'Floor' — the same word as 'ground'; 'starting from' marks the starting point
தொங்க விடுறன்
toṅga viḍuṟaṉ
to hang up
Literally 'to let it hang'
அலமாரியில இருந்து எடுக்கிறன்
alamāriyila irundu eḍukkiṟaṉ
to take down (from a shelf)
The almirah is both shelf and cupboard. In speech a Tamil will just say 'take it'
மடிக்கிறன்
maḍikkiṟaṉ
to fold
To fold in two, to bend. The root is 'knees', the bend of the body
விரிக்கிறன்
virikkiṟaṉ
to spread out
To spread over a surface. With the same verb one lays out a mat
சுத்துறன்
suttuṟaṉ
to wrap
The same 'around' as in 'to go around': to wind around in a circle
பார்சல் அவிழ்க்கிறன்
pārsal aviḻkkiṟaṉ
to unwrap
The root means 'to unpick, to untie': a parcel is exactly unpicked
திறக்கிறன்
tiṟakkiṟaṉ
to open (something)
With the same verb one opens a shop in the morning and an account at the bank
மூடுறன்
mūḍuṟaṉ
to close
With the same verb one shuts eyes and puts on lids
பூட்டுறன்
pūṭṭuṟaṉ
to lock
The noun 'lock' and the verb 'to lock' are written the same. Closing and locking are kept apart
பூட்டு திறக்கிறன்
pūṭṭu tiṟakkiṟaṉ
to unlock
No separate verb: the lock is simply 'opened'
லைட் போடுறன்
laiṭ pōḍuṟaṉ
to switch on the light
The English light with the all-purpose 'to put'. The literary 'lamp' is for writing
லைட் அணைக்கிறன்
laiṭ aṇaikkiṟaṉ
to switch off the light
The verb means 'to extinguish': a lamp or a fire alike
அமுக்குறன்
amukkuṟaṉ
to press
To press a button, a key, to press down from above
கைப்பிடிய திருப்புறன்
kaippiḍiya tiruppuṟaṉ
to turn the handle
'Hand' plus 'grip': a handle is 'the thing one takes by hand'
கதவ தட்டுறன்
kadava taṭṭuṟaṉ
to knock
The verb means 'to knock, to clap'. It also means 'plate'
பெல் அடிக்கிறன்
bel aḍikkiṟaṉ
to ring the bell
The verb is 'to hit'. With it one also strikes a bell and a drum
வாசற்படி
vāsaṟpaḍi
doorstep
'Entrance' plus 'step'. Every morning a flour pattern is drawn in front of it
கதவுக் கைப்பிடி
kadavuk kaippiḍi
door handle
'The thing taken by hand': both a door handle and a stair rail
கதவுப் பூட்டு
kadavup pūṭṭu
door lock
The noun 'lock' and the verb 'to lock' are written identically
கதவு மணி
kadavu maṇi
doorbell
Maṇi is bell, ring and hour at once. In town people say 'calling bell'
ஜன்னல் பலகை
jaṉṉal palagai
windowsill
'Window' is Portuguese in origin; the native word stayed in books
ஜன்னல் திரை
jaṉṉal tirai
curtain
The root means both a curtain and a cinema screen. A thick drape gets a longer word
இரவு விளக்கு
iravu viḷakku
night light
'Night' plus 'lamp' — the same root as the verb 'to explain, to make clear'
வாஷ்பேசின்
vāṣpēsiṉ
washbasin
The English wash basin — at home and in a plumber's notice alike. The bookish word is not in use
குளியல் தொட்டி
kuḷiyal toṭṭi
bathtub
'Pot' names any vessel: a bathtub, a garbage bin, a tub for flowers
கமோட்
kamōḍ
toilet (bowl)
The English commode — said in the shop and at home. The room itself has another name
ஹோஸ் குழாய்
hōs kuḻāy
hose
The English hose plus the native 'pipe': half the household machinery in Tamil is assembled so
திறந்த
tiṟanda
open
From 'to open'. A past participle in -ta is the sign itself: opened — therefore open. About a shop doing business one says it with a verb
மூடின
mūḍiṉa
closed
The partner of 'open', from 'to close'. The tail -iṉa is the Jaffna way of making an adjective out of the past. A door locked with a key gets yet another form
பக்கத்து
pakkattu
neighbouring
Built from the neighbour and 'near'. Pakkam is 'side'; in the form pakkattu the word stands right before a noun and never on its own
வீட்டுக்கு
vīṭṭukku
homeward
There is no separate word for 'home': the direction is given by the 'to whom' form, as in 'upstairs'. 'To the house' and 'homeward' are one word in Tamil

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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.

What is worth knowing about these words

வீடு (vīḍu) — home. Home as your own dwelling, not as a building. Before an ending the consonant doubles: vīṭṭukku, 'to the house'; vīṭṭil, 'at home'.

கூடை (kūḍai) — basket. A woven basket of palm leaf. The plastic bag from the shop is simply 'bag'.

பை (pai) — bag. Any sack and any bag. The polythene one is 'plastic bag'.

குடியிருப்பு (kuḍiyiruppu) — dwelling. 'To live' plus 'abiding'. The name for a flat and for a residential house alike.

Test yourself

First by ear — the way you will meet the word in conversation. Click the speaker and pick the translation.

Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.

How do you say “home” in Tamil?
Home as your own dwelling, not as a building. Before an ending the consonant doubles: vīṭṭukku, 'to the house'; vīṭṭil, 'at home'
How do you say “balcony” in Tamil?
The English balcony: in borrowings b at the start of a word is read as b
How do you say “cupboard” in Tamil?
Portuguese armário. A bookshelf is called the same
How do you say “garbage” in Tamil?
The garbage bin is 'garbage pot', and 'to take out the garbage' is 'to pour garbage'. Works figuratively too — 'rubbish, nonsense'
How do you say “landlord” in Tamil?
'Right' plus 'holder'. In speech it shortens to 'the house person' — but that same word means 'husband', hence the muddles

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

Room, key, water, electricity. You will need them on your first day in a rented flat.

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 times
Adesope, 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.
Study spread over days wins not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many times
Mawson & 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 “home” in Tamil?

«வீடு» (vīḍu), read “vīḍu”. Home as your own dwelling, not as a building. Before an ending the consonant doubles: vīṭṭukku, 'to the house'; vīṭṭil, 'at home'. It is one of 205 words in the set “home and things” — the rest are in the table above.

How many household words do you need to start?

The whole set on this page is 205 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.

Is there audio?

Yes, 205 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.

Home and things in Tamil

205 words on the topic

How it sounds in a sentence

What is worth knowing about these words

Test yourself

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

Frequently asked

How do you say “home” in Tamil?

How many household words do you need to start?

Is there audio?

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