Days of the Week in Tamil (and How to Tell the Time)

The days of the week in Tamil are named after the sun, the moon and the five classical planets, and in everyday speech each name is usually followed by the word kizhamai (கிழமை, "day"). Below are all seven days with romanization and Tamil script, the words for today, tomorrow and yesterday, and the simple spoken phrases you need to talk about when something happens.

The seven days of the week in Tamil

Each day has a short name and a full form with -kizhamai added. In conversation people often use the full form, and you'll also hear the short form on its own, especially for Friday (Velli) and Saturday (Sani).

• Sunday — Gnaayitru-kizhamai (ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை), short: Gnaayiru (ஞாயிறு)
• Monday — Thingat-kizhamai (திங்கட்கிழமை), short: Thingal (திங்கள்)
• Tuesday — Sevvaai-kizhamai (செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை), short: Sevvaai (செவ்வாய்)
• Wednesday — Budhan-kizhamai (புதன்கிழமை), short: Budhan (புதன்)
• Thursday — Viyaazhak-kizhamai (வியாழக்கிழமை), short: Viyaazhan (வியாழன்)
• Friday — Velli-kizhamai (வெள்ளிக்கிழமை), short: Velli (வெள்ளி)
• Saturday — Sani-kizhamai (சனிக்கிழமை), short: Sani (சனி)

A handy memory hook: Gnaayiru is the sun, Thingal is the moon, and the rest are planet names. The zh in Viyaazhan (ழ) is the famous Tamil sound that sits between an "r" and an "l" — see our guide to the Tamil alphabet for how to say it.

Today, tomorrow and yesterday in Tamil

These time words are among the most useful in daily conversation, and the spoken forms are short:

• Today — Inniki (இன்னிக்கு), formal: Indru (இன்று)
• Tomorrow — Naalaikku (நாளைக்கு), formal: Naalai (நாளை)
• Yesterday — Nethu (நேத்து), formal: Naettru (நேற்று)

Other building blocks: vaaram (வாரம்) is "week", maadham (மாதம்) is "month" and varusham (வருஷம்) is "year". Add indha (இந்த, "this") or adutha (அடுத்த, "next") in front: indha vaaram means "this week" and adutha vaaram means "next week".

Parts of the day

• Morning — Kaalai (காலை)
• Afternoon — Madhiyaanam (மத்தியானம்)
• Evening — Saayangaalam (சாயங்காலம்)
• Night — Raathiri (ராத்திரி)

How to tell the time in Tamil

The word for both "hour" and "o'clock" is mani (மணி). To ask the time, use this:

The answer is just a number plus mani:

• Moonu mani (மூணு மணி) — 3 o'clock
• Aaru mani (ஆறு மணி) — 6 o'clock
• Moonu-arai (மூணரை) — half past three
• Moone-kaal (மூணே கால்) — a quarter past three
• Moone-mukkaal (மூணே முக்கால்) — quarter to four (three and three-quarters)

If your numbers are shaky, our guide to Tamil numbers 1 to 100 covers everything you need here — you'll mostly use 1 to 12.

Putting it together: useful sentences

A few more you can use right away:

• Naalaikku vareengala? (நாளைக்கு வரீங்களா?) — Are you coming tomorrow? (polite)
• Naan sani-kizhamai varuven. (நான் சனிக்கிழமை வருவேன்.) — I'll come on Saturday.
• Nethu saayangaalam paarthen. (நேத்து சாயங்காலம் பார்த்தேன்.) — I saw it yesterday evening.
• Adutha vaaram freeya? (அடுத்த வாரம் ஃப்ரீயா?) — Are you free next week? (English "free" is common in everyday speech.)

Notice that Tamil puts the time first and the verb last, just as the grammar in our basic Tamil grammar guide describes. For more everyday phrases, see common Tamil greetings and phrases, or browse the Tamil learning FAQ.

Common mix-ups to avoid

• Kizhamai means "day", not "week". For "week" use vaaram. Thingat-kizhamai is "Monday", while indha vaaram is "this week".
• Nethu and naalaikku can both be a little confusing. Nethu is past (yesterday) and naalaikku is future (tomorrow).
• The same word can mean different things. Mani (மணி) means "hour" or "o'clock", and the same word is also a common name and the word for a bell, so context decides.
• Formal forms belong in writing. Indru, naalai, naettru appear in print, signs and news. In conversation, stick with inniki, naalaikku, nethu.

How to make them stick

Start with just three words — inniki, naalaikku and nethu — and use them to describe your own day out loud. Add the weekday names one or two at a time, tied to something real (for example, the day you shop or study). Hearing the words in a natural voice and getting feedback on your pronunciation is where the Learn Tamil AI app helps most.