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Tamil Phrases for Beginners: 27 with Script
By Language Lab editorial team
27 Tamil phrases for beginners in Tamil script with pronunciation: greetings, polite words, introducing yourself and the numbers from zero to ten.
Start Tamil with one word: Vanakkam, written வணக்கம். It is the greeting for every situation, in person, on the telephone or online, and when you meet someone face to face you say it with your palms pressed together. Thank you is Nandhri, நன்றி. To give your name, say Enathu peyar and then the name. Goodbye is Naan poyitu vaarein, which literally means I will go and come back. Below are 27 phrases and numbers in Tamil script with pronunciation, taken from the Open University's free beginners' course: greetings, polite expressions, sentences for introducing yourself, and the numbers from zero to ten. Learn each one by ear and by eye together, because the Tamil script is the key to everything that follows.
Greetings and polite words
| Tamil | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| வணக்கம். | Vanakkam | Hello |
| நீங்கள் நலமாக இருக்கிறீர்களா | Neenkal Nalamaka Erukkirirkala | Are you well? |
| ஆம், நான் நலமாக இருக்கிறேன். | Aam, naan nalamaka erukkiren | Yes, I'm fine |
| நன்றி. | Nandhri | Thank you |
| நீங்கள் வரவேற்கப்படுகிறீர்கள். | Neenkal varavetkappadukireerkal | You are welcome |
| என்னை மன்னித்துக்கொள்ளுங்கள். | Ennai manniththukollunkal | Forgive me |
| அது ஒரு விடயம் இல்லை. | Athu oru vidayam ellai | It doesn't matter |
| நான் போயிற்று வாறேன். | Naan poyitu vaarein | Goodbye |
The course notes that Forgive me is the more common way of apologising in day-to-day communication.
One greeting for everything
Many languages have several greetings. Tamil, the Open University's course explains, has just one way of greeting others: Vanakkam. You use it in person, on the telephone and on the internet. Face to face, it is said with the palms pressed against each other, facing the other person, and the word implies respect for the person in front of you. The course compares it to Namaste, used in northern India and Nepal.
A goodbye that means you will return
When leaving, Tamils say Naan poyitu vaarein, meaning I'll go and come back. The course describes this as a sign of staying in constant connection with people.
Introducing yourself
| Tamil | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| எனது பெயர் சிவா. | Enathu peyar Siva | My name is Siva |
| நான் மில்டன் கீன்ஸ் இல் வாழ்கிறேன். | Naan Milton Keensil Vaalkiren | I live in Milton Keynes |
| நான் இலங்கையின் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் பிறந்தேன். | Naan Elankaiyin Yalpanathil piranthen | I was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
| நான் திருமணம் ஆனவர். | Naan thirumanam aanavar | I am married |
| நான் திருமணம் ஆகாதவர். | Naan thirumanam akathavar | I am single |
| எனக்கு இரண்டு குழந்தைகள், ஒரு ஆணும்,ஒரு பெண்ணும். | Enakku erandu kulanthaikal, oru aanum, oru pennnum | I have two children, a boy and a girl |
| எனது மகனின் பெயர் ... | Enathu makanin peyar ... | My son's name is ... |
| எனது மகளின் பெயர் ... | Enathu makalin peyar ... | My daughter's name is ... |
Swap in your own details. Enathu peyar opens the sentence My name is ..., and the sentences about yourself begin with Naan. In the third sentence the country comes before the city: Elankai, Sri Lanka, is said before Yalpanam, Jaffna.
Numbers from zero to ten
| Tamil | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| பூச்சியம் | Poochchiam | 0 |
| ஒன்று | Ondru | 1 |
| இரண்டு | Erandu | 2 |
| மூன்று | Moondru | 3 |
| நான்கு | Naanku | 4 |
| ஐந்து | Ainthu | 5 |
| ஆறு | Aaru | 6 |
| ஏழு | Erlu | 7 |
| எட்டு | Ettu | 8 |
| ஒன்பது | Onpathu | 9 |
| பத்து | Paththu | 10 |
A note on names and respect
Two cultural points from the same course help with first conversations. Tamils usually have only one name, and the first letter of the father's name is placed in front of it as an initial. And older people are addressed in respectful ways, with different words for different categories of relatives.
First, the script
This page shows Tamil as it is written. The current Tamil script has 12 vowels, 18 consonants and one special character. Vowels and consonants combine into 216 compound characters, which gives 247 characters in total, written from left to right. That sounds like a lot, but each compound joins one consonant with one vowel: 18 consonants times 12 vowels makes 216. Learn the 12 vowels and 18 consonants first, and use the pronunciation column as a bridge, not a replacement.
- Say each phrase aloud while looking at the Tamil script.
- Cover the pronunciation column and read the script.
- Cover the Tamil and produce it from the meaning.
- Come back after a day, a week and a month.
Language Lab's Tamil course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor, so you can hear these phrases and practise saying them.
Frequently asked
How do you say hello in Tamil?
Vanakkam, written வணக்கம். It is used in every situation, in person, on the telephone and online.
How do you say thank you in Tamil?
Nandhri, written நன்றி.
How do you say goodbye in Tamil?
Naan poyitu vaarein, written நான் போயிற்று வாறேன். It literally means I will go and come back.
How do you say my name is in Tamil?
Enathu peyar, followed by your name. My name is Siva is Enathu peyar Siva, எனது பெயர் சிவா.
What are the Tamil numbers from one to five?
Ondru, Erandu, Moondru, Naanku and Ainthu: ஒன்று, இரண்டு, மூன்று, நான்கு, ஐந்து.
How many letters does Tamil have?
The script has 12 vowels, 18 consonants and one special character, which combine into 216 compound characters, a total of 247.
Sources: The Open University, OpenLearn, Beginners' Tamil: a taster course (free course): The Tamil language, Tamil script, Tamil greetings, Tamil names and introductions, and Numbers. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, Rainer Halama / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
