'''Tamil''' (????? tami?) is a classical language and one of the major languages of the Dravidian language family. Spoken predominantly by Tamils in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore, it has smaller communities of speakers in many other countries. As of 1996, it was the eighteenth most spoken language, with over 74 million speakers worldwide. It is one of the official languages of India, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

Pronunciation guide

''This is where you put a full list -- if possible -- of the alphabet or symbol set of the language. For languages that use pictograms -- like Chinese or Japanese -- you can simply give a pronunciation of the most common Romanized script. It will be a good start, at least.''

''Here follows an (inexpert) guide to the English alphabet; note that it doesn't make a lot of sense, since it's describing many English letters in terms of themselves. This is just an example. Note also that it's split up into vowels, consonants, and diphthongs; these may be appropriate for most European languages, but might not work for others. Split the alphabet up in accordance with the language you're describing.''

Vowels

; a : like 'a' in "apple", 'a' in "cake", "a" in "amen" ; e : like 'e' in "magazine", 'e' in "bed" (often silent at the end of a word) ; i : like 'i' in "pine", 'i' in "fin" ; o : like 'ow' in "low", like 'o' in "top" ; u : like 'oo' in "hoop", like 'u' in "cup"

Consonants

; b : like 'b' in "bed" ; c : like 's' in "supper", 'k' in "kid" ; d : like 'd' in "dog" ; f : like 'ph' in "phone" ; g : like 'g' in "go", 'j' in "jello" ; h : like 'h' in "help" (often silent in the UK and other Commonwealth countries) ; j : like 'dg' in "edge" ; k : like 'c' in "cat" ; l : like 'l' in "love" ; m : like 'm' in "mother" ; n : like 'n' in "nice" ; p : like 'p' in "pig" ; q : like 'q' in "quest" (with "u", almost always) ; r : like 'r' in "row", like 'r' in "feather" (often silent in the UK and other Commonwealth countries at end of word) ; s : like 'ss' in "hiss", like 'z' in "haze" ; t : like 't' in "top" ; v : like 'v' in "victory" ; w : like 'w' in "weight" ; x : like 'cks' in "kicks", like 'z' in "haze" (at beginning of a word) ; y : like 'y' in "yes", like 'ie' in "pie", like 'ee' in "flee" ; z : like 'z' in "haze"

Common diphthongs

; ay : like 'ay' in "say" ; ai : like 'ay' in "say" ; au : like 'awe'

; ee : like 'ee' in "see" ; ei : like 'ay' in "say" ; ey : like 'ay' in "say", like 'ee' in "see"

; ie : like 'ee' in "see"

; oi : like 'oy' in "boy" ; oo : like 'oo' in "food", like 'oo' in "good" ; ou : like 'ow' in "cow", like 'oo' in "food", like 'o' in "cot" ; ow : like 'ow' in "cow" ; oy : like 'oy' in "boy"

; ch : like 'ch' in "touch" ; sh : like 'sh' in "sheep" ; th : like 'th' in "this", like 'th' in "those" ; gh : like 'f' in "fish" ; ph : like 'f' in "fish"

Phrase list

''An overview of phrases can go here. Note that the phrases sections listed below are in a general order of how important they are, and how a traveler would need them. Thus, transportation comes before hotels, which in turn come before restaurants. This ordering is arbitrary but may be helpful. See also Wikitravel:Phrasebook Expedition for more details on choosing different phrases.''

''The following is a phrase guide from English to English; in a real phrase guide, the second part of each entry would be in the target language, and the third part would be an English-like pronunciation suggestion.''

Basics

; Hello. : ??????? : Vanakkam ; Hello. (''informal'') : Hi ''(as used in English)'' ; How are you? : ?????? ??????????? : eppadi irukeenga? ; Fine, thank you. : ????? ????????????? : nallaa irukkEnREn. ; What is your name? : ???? ????? ???? ? : ungGa pEru enna? ; My name is ______ . : ??? ????? ______ : en pEru ______ ; Nice to meet you. : ????? ????????? ????? ???????? : ungGala paatthadhu romba santhOsham ; Please. : ???? ?????? : thayavu seithu ; Thank you. : ?????. : nandri. ; You're welcome. : ???????????? : Varaverkiren. ; Yes. : Aamam.????? ; No. : Illai. ????? ; Excuse me. (''getting attention'') : mannikkaNum ; ???????????? ; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : ; I'm sorry. : Enna maniichudunga. ????? ?????????????? ; Goodbye : pOyittu varEn ; Goodbye (''informal'') : varEn ; See you tomorrow : nandri. naalai sandhippom ; I can't speak ''name of language'' [well]. : ennaala ''name of language'' pEsa mudiyaathu / enakku ''name of language'' pEsa theriyAthu ; Do you speak English? : english pEsuveengala? ; Is there someone {here/around-here} who speaks English? : ingGa yaaravathu English pEsuveengGala/pEsuvaangGalaa? ; Help! : kaapathungo! ; Look out! : paathu! ; Good morning. : kaalai vaNakkam ; Good evening. : maalai vaNakkam ; Good night. : ; Good night (''to sleep'') : nalliravu ; Secret. : ragasiyam ; I'm looking forward to... : Naan yethirparthukitu erupen ; Have a pleasant journey. : Ungal payanam enethe amayattum. ; I don't understand. explain clearly / again : Puriyala. thelivaa / thirumbavum chollungGa ; Where is the toilet? : Toilet/Kazhivarai engGa irukku ; what to do now? : ippa enna seyaradhu

''At this point, the fake phoneticizations of English are going to stop, and be replaced by ellipses.''

Problems

; Leave me alone. : enna thaniyaa vidu ; Don't touch me! : enna thodaathE ; I'll call the Police. : Police-a kooppuduvEn ; Police! : Police! ; Stop! Thief! : pudeengGa thirudan. ; I need your help. : ungGa udhavi vEnum. ; It's an emergency. : romba avasaram / romba urgent ; I'm lost. : naan tholanJuttEn ; I don't know where I am : naan enga erukkenu theriyala ( equal to I'm lost) ; I lost my ''bag''. : en ''bag'' tholanJu pOcchu ; I lost my wallet. : en paNa pai tholanJu pOcchu ; I'm sick. : enakku odambu seri-illai. ''or'' enakku sugamillai ; I've been injured. : enakku adi pattirukku. ; I need a doctor. : enakku oru doctor vEnum ; Can I use your phone? : unga phone-a naa ubayOkikalaamaa

Numbers

; 1 : one (''onnu'') ; 2 : two (''rendu'') ; 3 : three (''moonu'') ; 4 : four (''naalu'') ; 5 : five (''anJu'') ; 6 : six (''aaru'') ; 7 : seven (''yElu'') ; 8 : eight (''yettu'') ; 9 : nine (''onbathu'') ; 10 : ten (''pathu'') ; 11 : eleven (''pathinonnu'') ; 12 : twelve (''pannirendu'') ; 13 : thirteen (''pathimoonu'') ; 14 : fourteen (''pathinaalu'') ; 15 : fifteen (''pathinanJu'') ; 16 : sixteen (''pathinaaru'') ; 17 : seventeen (''pathinElu'') ; 18 : eighteen (''pathinettu'') ; 19 : nineteen (''patthonbathu'') ; 20 : twenty (''irupathu'') ; 21 : twenty one (''irupatthu onnu'') ; 22 : twenty two (''irupatthu rendu'') ; 23 : twenty three (''irupatthu moonu'') ; 30 : thirty (''mup-ppathu'') ; 40 : forty (''naap-pathu'') ; 50 : fifty (''am-pathu'') ; 60 : sixty (''aru-pathu'') ; 70 : seventy (''elu-pathu'') ; 80 : eighty (''en-pathu'') ; 90 : ninety (''thonnooru'') ; 100 : one hundred (''nooru'') ; 200 : two hundred (''eru nooru'') ; 300 : three hundred (''mun nooru'') ; 1000 : one thousand (''aayiram'') ; 2000 : two thousand (''rendu aayiram'') ; 100,000 : hundred thousand (''oru latcham'') {Indian system} ; 1,000,000 : one million (''pathu latcham'') ; 10,000,000 : ten million (''oru kOdi'') {Indian system} ; 1,000,000,000 : one thousand million in UK, one billion in USA (''nooru kOdi'') ; 1,000,000,000,000 : one billion in UK, one trillion in USA (''latcham kOdi'') ; number _____ (''train, bus, etc.'') : number _____ (''...'') ; half : half (''arai'' / ''paathi'') ; less : less (''kammi'') ; more : more (''jaasthi'' / ''athigam'')

Time

; now : ippO(''...'') ; later : appuram(''...'') ; before : munnaadi(''...'') ; morning : kaalai(''...'') ; afternoon : mathiyam / mathiyaanam(''...'') ; evening : malai / saayingkalam(''...'') ; night : iravu / raatthiri(''...'')

Clock time

; one o'clock AM : kaalai oru mani (''...'') ; two o'clock AM : kaalai rendu mani (''...'') ; noon : mathiyam / mathiyaanam (''...'') ; one o'clock PM : mathiyam / mathiyaanam oru mani (''...'') ; two o'clock PM : mathiyam / mathiyaanam rendu mani (''...'') ; midnight : nalliravu / nadu-raatthiri (''...'')

Duration

; _____ minute(s) : _____ nimisham (''...'') ; _____ hour(s) : _____ mani (''...'') ; _____ day(s) : _____ naal(''...'') ; _____ week(s) : _____ vaaram (''...'') ; _____ month(s) : _____ maasam (''...'') ; _____ year(s) : _____ varusham (''...'')

Days

; today : inru / innaikki ; yesterday : netru / nEtthaikki ; tomorrow : naalai / naalaikki ; this week : intha vaaram ; last week : pona vaaram ; next week : adutha vaaram

; Sunday : nyaayiru ; Monday : thingGal ; Tuesday : sevvaai ; Wednesday : puthan ; Thursday : vyaalan ; Friday : velli ; Saturday : sani

Months

''If speakers of the language commonly use a calendar other than the Gregorian, explain it here and list its months. See Hebrew phrasebook for an example.''

; January : January (''Thai'') ; February : February (''Maasi'') ; March : March (''Panguni'') ; April : April (''Chiththirai'') ; May : May (''Vaikasi'') ; June : June (''Aani'') ; July : July (''Aadi'') ; August : August (''Aavani'') ; September : September (''Purattasi'') ; October : October (''Aippasi'') ; November : November (''Kaarthikai'') ; December : December (''Markali'')

Writing time and date

Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

Colors

; black : karuppu (''...'') ; white : vellai (''...'') ; gray : saambal (''...'') ; red : sivappu (''...'') ; blue : neelam (''...'') ; yellow : manJal (''...'') ; green : pachai (''...'') ; orange : orange (''...'') ; purple : kathatipu, utha (''...'') ; brown : manniram (''...'')

Transportation

Bus and train

; How much is a ticket to _____? : _____ ku ticket evlavu? (''...'') ; One ticket to _____, please. : _____ ku oru ticket kudunga, please. (''...'') ; Where does this train/bus go? : intha train/bus enga pOguthu? (''...'') ; Where is the train/bus to _____? : _____ ku train/bus enga? (''...'') ; Does this train/bus stop in _____? : intha train/bus _____ la nikkumaa? (''...'') ; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : _____ ku train/bus eppO kelambum? (''...'') ; When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : eppO train/bus _____ vanthu sErum? (''...'')

Directions

how to go there ? : anga eppadi porathu ? ; How do I get to _____ ? : _____ ku eppadi pOrathu? (''...'') ; ...the train station? : ...pugai vandi nelayam (''...'') ; ...the bus station? : ... perunthu nelayam (''...'') ; ...the airport? : ...vimaana nelayam (''...'') ; ...downtown? : ...downtown (''...'') ; ...the youth hostel? : ...illangar veduthi(''...'') ; ...the _____ hotel? : ...thangum veduthi (''...'') ; ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British thutharagam(''...'') ; Where are there a lot of... : enga neraya... (''...'') irukkum? ; ...hotels? : thangum veduthi? (''...'') ; ...restaurants? : unnavagam (''...'') ; ...bars? : mathu arunthum iddam (''...'') ; ...sites to see? : ...parkum idam? (''...'') ; Can you show me on the map? : Map la kaata mudiyumaa? (''...'') ; street : theru (''...'') ; Turn left. : idathu pakkam thirumbungGa. (''...'') ; Turn right. : valathu pakkam thirumbungGa. (''...'') ; left : idam (''...'') ; right : valam (''...'') ; straight ahead : nEraa (''...'') ; towards the _____ : _____ pakkam (''...'') ; past the _____ : _____ thaandi (''...'') ; before the _____ : _____ munnaadi (''...'') ; Watch for the _____. : _____ ku paarunga. (''...'') ; intersection : intersection (''...'') ; north : vadakku (''...'') ; south : therku (''...'') ; east : kilakku (''...'') ; west : mErku (''...'') ; uphill : mEdu (''...'') ; downhill : pallam (''...'')

Taxi

; Taxi! : Taxi! (''...'') ; Take me to _____, please. : _____ ku kooti ponga, please. (''...'') ; How much does it cost to get to _____? : _____ ku evalo aagum? (''...'') ; Take me there, please. : anga kooti ponga, please. (''...'')

Lodging

; Do you have any rooms available? : Room irukkaa? (''...'') ; How much is a room for one person/two people? : oru / rendu aalu room evlavu aagum? (''...'') ; Does the room come with... : ... roomOda varumaa? (''...'') ; ...bedsheets? : ...pOrvai (''...'') ; ...a bathroom? : ...kuliyelarai (''...'') ; ...a telephone? : ...tholaiphesi (''...'') ; ...a TV? : ...tholaikachi (''...'') ;eg: Does the room come with bedsheets? ; pOrvai roomOda varumaa? ; May I see the room first? : muthalla rooma pakkalamaa? (''...'') ; Do you have anything ....? : itha vida ..... vEra irukkaa? (''...'') ; ...quieter? : ...amaithiyaa (''...'') ; ...bigger? : ...perusaa (''...'') ; ...cleaner? : ...sutthamaa (''...'') ; ...cheaper? : ...maliva (''...'') ; OK, I'll take it. : seri, eduthukarEn. (''...'') ; I will stay for _____ night(s). : _____ iravu(kal) thangGuvEn. (''...'') ; Can you suggest another hotel? : vEra hotel Ethaavathu sollunga? (''...'') ; Do you have a safe? : locker irukkaa? (''...'') ; Is breakfast/supper included? : kalai-tiffin/night-saapadu sEtthaa? (''...'') ; What time is breakfast/supper? : kalai-tiffin/night-saapadu etthanai manikku? (''...'') ; Please clean my room. : Room suttham pannunga. (''...'') ; Can you wake me at _____? : enna _____ maniku eluppi vda mudiyumaa? (''...'') ; I want to check out. : Check out panrEn. (''...'')

Money

; Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (''neengGa america/austhiralia/canadia naattu dollar-gala yEtrukkolveergalaa?'') ; Do you accept British pounds? : Do you accept British pounds? (''neengGa british pounds-a yEtrukolveergalaa?...'') ; Do you accept credit cards? : Do you accept credit cards? (''neengGa credit card-a yEtrukkolveergalaa?'') ; Can you change money for me? : Can you change money for me? (''ennOda paNatthukku chillarai maatthi thara mudiyumaa?'') ; Where can I get money changed? : Where can I get money changed? (''engGa enakku chillarai kadaikkum?'') ; Can you change a traveler's check for me? : Can you change a traveler's check for me? (''neengGa yenakkaaga payanigal check-a maatthi thara mudiyyumaa?'') ; Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (''payanikal check-a ennala engGa maattha mudiyum'') ; What is the exchange rate? : What is the exchange rate? (''Exchange Rate yenna?'') ; Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM) (nearby)? : Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (''(pakkatthula) ATM enGa irukku?'')

Eating

; A table for one person/two people, please. : ''oru maejai oru nabarukku allathu irandu paerukku, thayavusaithu'' ; Can I look at the menu, please? : ''naan intha menuvai parkkalama, thayavusaithu...'' ; Can I look in the kitchen? : ''intha samayyal arayyinai naan parkkalaamaa?...'' ; Is there a house specialty? : ''Ethavathu speciala irruka'' ; I'm a vegetarian. : ''Naan saivam'' ; I don't eat pork. : ''Naan pork/panrikari sappida maattaen.'' ; I don't eat beef. : ''Naan beef/maattukkari sappida maattaen'' ; Can you make it "lite", please? (''less oil/butter/lard'') : ''Ennna koriva uthunga'' ; fixed-price meal : ''Allavu sapadu'' ; unlimited meal : ''Mulu sapadu'' ; a la carte : a la carte (''...'') ; breakfast : breakfast/kaaLai sapadu ; lunch : lunch (''madhiam sapadu'') ; tea (''meal'') : tea (''theayneer'') ; supper : supper (''sayangalam sapadu'') ; I want _____. : ''Ennaku _____ venum'' ; I want a dish containing _____. : I want a dish containing _____. (''...'') ; chicken : chicken (''koali'') ; beef : beef (''maatukari'') ; fish : fish (''meen'') ; ham : ham (''...'') ; sausage : sausage (''...'') ; cheese : cheese (''vennai'') ; eggs : eggs (''muttai'') ; salad : salad (''pachai kaikari'') ; (fresh) vegetables : ''pachai kaikari'' ; (fresh) fruit : ''pazham'' ; bread : bread (''bannu'') ; toast : toast (''muru murunu'') ; noodles : noodles (''...'') ; rice : ''satham'' ; beans : beans (''avarai'') ; May I have a glass of _____? : ''Ennakku oru glass ______ vennum.'' ; May I have a cup of _____? : ''Ennakku oru cup ______ vennum.'' ; May I have a bottle of _____? : ''Ennakku oru bottle ______ vennum.'' ; coffee : coffee (''...'') ; tea (''drink'') : tea (''...'') ; juice : juice (''...'') ; (bubbly) water : ''thanni'' ; water : ''thanni'' ; beer : beer (''...'') ; red/white wine : red/white wine (''...'') ; May I have some _____? : May I have some _____? (''...'') ; salt : ''uppu'' ; black pepper : ''mezhagu'' ; butter : ''vennai'' (This some times can be a insulting word.) ; Excuse me, waiter? (''getting attention of server''): Excuse me, waiter? (''...'') ; I'm finished. : I'm finished. (''naan mudithu vitean'') ; It was delicious. : ''Rusiya irunthathu'' ; Please clear the plates. : ''Plate clear panirunga'' ; The check, please. : The check, please. (''...'')

Bars

; Do you serve alcohol? : (''madhu inga kidaikkuma?'') ; Is there any table servicer? :(''YaravDhu table servicer irukaanGala?'') ; A beer/two beers, please. : (''oru beer/rendu beers, dhayavu saidhu.'') ; A glass of red/white wine, please. :(''oru glass sivappu/vellai wine, dhayavu saidhu.'') ; A pint, please. : (''oru pint, dhayavu saidhu.'') ; A bottle, please. : (''oru bottle, dhayavu saidhu. '') ; _____ (''hard liquor'') and _____ (''mixer''), please.: (''_____ matrum _____, dhayavu saidhu.'') ; whiskey : whiskey (''...'') ; rum : rum ("...") ; water : ("thanni") ; club soda : club soda (''...'') ; tonic water : tonic water (''...'') ; orange juice : orange juice (''...'') ; Coke (''soda'') : Coke (''...'') ; Do you have any bar snacks? : Do you have any bar snacks? ('inga snacks irukka thanni adikka') ; One more, please. :''innumonu , dhayavu saidhu'' ; please,one more : ''dhayavu saidhu,innumonu'' ; Another round, please. :(''innum oru round, dhayavu saidhu '') ; When is the closing time? :(''entha manikku muduvinga? (or) mudum neram enna?'')

Shopping

; Do you have this in my size? : (''Unga kitye indha madhiri en size/aalavu iruka'') ; How much is this? : (''idhu yevalavu? (or) idhu/idhan villai enna/yevalavu'') ; That's too expensive. : aadhu romba koodudhal. ; Would you take _____? : _____ nengal eduppingala? ; expensive : koodudhal ; cheap : koranjadhu ; I can't afford it. : naan kuduka mudiyadhu. ; I don't want it. : ennaku idhu vendaam. ; You're cheating me. : nee ennai yemathigithu irrukirai. ; I'm not interested. : ennaku virupam illai. ; OK, I'll take it. : sari, naan idhai eduthu kolgiren. ; Can I have a bag? : ennaku oru bag thara mudiyuma. ; Do you ship (overseas)? : neengal kadal kadanthu payanippavara. ; I need... : ennaku thyevai ; ...toothpaste. : pal paste ; ...a toothbrush. : ...a toothbrush. (''...'') ; ...tampons. : ...tampons. (''...'') ; ...soap. : ...soap. (''...'') ; ...shampoo. : ...shampoo. (''...'') ; ...pain reliever. (''e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen'') : vali nivaranam. ; ...cold medicine. : ...Jalathosha marunthu. (''...'') ; ...stomach medicine. : vayaru vali marundhu. ; ...a razor. : ...a razor. (''...'') ; ...an umbrella. : kudai. (''...'') ; ...sunblock lotion. : ...sunblock lotion. (''...'') ; ...a postcard. : ...oru Anjal Attai. (''...'') ; ...postage stamps. : ...postage Anjal Thalai. (''...'') ; ...batteries. : ...batteries. (''...'') ; ...writing paper. : Ezhuthum thaal. ; ...a pen. : Ezhuthugol. ; ...English-language books. : ...English-language putthagam. ; ...English-language magazines. : aangilam moli puthagam ; ...an English-language newspaper. : aangilam mozhi Seythithaal. ; ...an English-English dictionary. : aangila-angilam dictionary.

Driving

; I want to rent a car. : Vaadagaikku oru car venum. (''...'') ; Can I get insurance? : Enakku kaapidu kidaikumA? (''...'') ; stop (''on a street sign'') : stop / Nillu (''...'') ; one way : oru vazhi paathai (''...'') ; yield : vilaichal(''...'') ; no parking : vaaganam nirkka thadai(''...'') ; speed limit : vega thadai (''...'') ; gas (''petrol'') station : erivayu nilayam (''...'') ; petrol : petrol (''...'') ; diesel : diesel (''diesel is the name who found diesel...so it should be same in tamil too'')

Authority

; I haven't done anything wrong. : Naan oru thappum seyya villai ; It was a misunderstanding. : Neenga thappa ninachuteenga. (''...'') ; Where are you taking me? : Ennai enga kootikittu poreenga ; Am I under arrest? : Ennai kaithu seyringala' ; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : nan oru American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (''...'') ; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : nan American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate kitta pesanum. (''...'') ; I want to talk to a lawyer. : Naan oru vakeelodu pesa vendum ; Can I just pay a fine now? : Naan ippothu abaratham kattalaama?