Tamil Gender

Welcome to the fifth Tamil lesson about gender. This time we will view a list of people, feminine and masculine, followed by grammar rules, finally a list of expressions in Tamil to help you practice your daily phrases. To hear the pronunciation, just click on the sound icon.

man ஆண் [ān]

woman பெண் [pen]

husband கணவன் [kanavan]

wife மனைவி [manaivi]

boy சிறுவன் [siruvan]

girl சிறுமி [sirumi]

father தந்தை [thandhai]

mother தாய் [thāi]

Gender Grammar Rules

In general, gender is used to distinguish between male and female, sometimes referred to as masculine and feminine. For example: my son and daughter are students the noun [son] is masculine, while [daughter] is feminine. The following examples use gender in different ways and places to demonstrate their behavior.

Grammar + Rules - Tamil + Pronunciation
my son is a student [masculine + noun] என் மகன் ஒரு மாணவன் [en makan oru mānavan]
her daughter is a student [feminine + noun] அவள் மகள் ஒரு மாணவி [aval makal oru mānavi]
he has a tall brother [adjective + masculine] அவருக்கு ஒரு உயரமான சகோதரர் உள்ளார் [avarukku oru uyaramāna sakodharar ullār]
she has a tall sister [adjective + feminine] அவளுக்கு ஒரு உயரமான சகோதரி உள்ளாள் [avalukku oru uyaramāna sakodhari ullāl]
his brothers are young [plural masculine + adjective] அவரது சகோதரர்கள் இளையவர்கள் [avaradhu sakodhararkal ilaiyavarkal]
his sisters are young [plural feminine + adjective] அவரது சகோதரிகள் இளையவர்கள் [avaradhu sakodharikal ilaiyavarkal]

The list below will probably provide more clarification. These are family members (males and females). I think it would be wise to memorize them as part of your important vocabulary list.

son மகன் [makan]

daughter மகள் [makal]

brother சகோதரன் [sakodharan]

sister சகோதரி [sakodhari]

grandfather தாத்தா [thāththā]

grandmother பாட்டி [pātti]

child குழந்தை [kuzhandhai]

children குழந்தைகள் [kuzhandhaikal]

Expressions in Tamil

Now it's time to practice expressions used in daily conversations. If you're a beginner in learning Tamil, then the phrases below are something you would want to know.

English - Tamil - Pronunciation
What do you mean? நீ என்ன சொல்கிறாய்? [nee enna solkirāi?]
I don't understand எனக்குப் புரியவில்லை [enakkup puriyavillai]
I don't know எனக்குத் தெரியவில்லை [enakkuth theriyavillai]
What is that called in Tamil? அதைத் தமிழில் எப்படிச் சொல்வது? [adhaith thamizhil eppatich cholvadhu?]
What is this? இது என்ன? [idhu enna?]
What does that word mean in English? அந்த வார்த்தைக்கு ஆங்கிலத்தில் என்ன அர்த்தம்? [andha vārththaikku āngilaththil enna arththam?]
Sorry (if you made a mistake) மன்னிக்கவும் [mannikkavum]

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