Common Tamil Greetings and Everyday Phrases for Beginners

The fastest way to feel like you're actually learning Tamil is to pick up phrases you can use right away. Below are common Tamil greetings and everyday phrases, written in romanized form (so you can say them immediately) alongside the Tamil script. Where the everyday spoken form differs from the formal textbook version, we've given you the one people actually use.

A quick note on pronunciation: the zh in Thamizh (Tamil) is a soft retroflex sound with no English equivalent, and doubled consonants are held slightly longer. Listening and repeating out loud beats reading every time.

Greetings

• Vanakkam (வணக்கம்) — Hello / greetings. A respectful all-purpose greeting for any time of day.
• Eppadi irukkeenga? (எப்படி இருக்கீங்க?) — How are you? (polite/plural)
• Nalla irukken (நல்லா இருக்கேன்) — I'm fine / I'm good.
• Saaptiya? (சாப்ட்டியா?) — "Have you eaten?" Often used as a warm, casual greeting, not a literal question.

Being polite

• Nandri (நன்றி) — Thank you.
• Paravaayilla (பரவாயில்லை) — It's okay / no problem / you're welcome.
• Seri (சரி) — Okay / alright.
• Mannichurunga (மன்னிச்சுருங்க) — Sorry / excuse me (polite). In everyday speech, though, people often just use the English "sorry".

Introducing yourself

• Unga peru enna? (உங்க பேரு என்ன?) — What's your name? (polite)
• En peru ___ (என் பேரு ___) — My name is ___.
• Enna panra? (என்ன பண்ற?) — What are you doing? This is the everyday spoken form. The formal Nee enna seigiraai? is grammatically "correct" but sounds unnatural in casual conversation.

Getting by day to day

• Evlo? (எவ்ளோ?) — How much? (great for shopping and autos)
• Enga? (எங்க?) — Where?
• Venum (வேணும்) — I want / I need.
• Vendaam (வேண்டாம்) — I don't want / no thanks.
• Pothum (போதும்) — Enough.
• Konjam (கொஞ்சம்) — A little.
• Romba nandri (ரொம்ப நன்றி) — Thank you very much.

When you don't understand

You'll need these constantly as a beginner, so learn them early:

• Puriyala (புரியல) — I don't understand.
• Konjam medhuva sollunga (கொஞ்சம் மெதுவா சொல்லுங்க) — Please say it a little slowly.
• Ungalukku English theriyuma? (உங்களுக்கு English தெரியுமா?) — Do you know English?

Saying goodbye

• Poitu varen (போயிட்டு வரேன்) — Goodbye. Literally "I'll go and come" — the standard, warm way to take leave in Tamil.

How to actually remember these

Reading a phrase list once won't make it stick. To move these into memory: say each phrase out loud several times, use them in a real sentence the same day, and review them over the following days with spaced repetition. Getting feedback on your pronunciation early also prevents small mistakes from becoming habits.

If you want structured practice with audio and pronunciation feedback for phrases exactly like these, that's what the Learn Tamil AI app is built for. And if you're just getting started, our beginner's guide to learning Tamil lays out the full roadmap.