Tamil phrasebook

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This is where you would put an overview of the language, giving a brief history, scope (where it's spoken, how many speakers), and any other general info on the language. It might also be useful to list some difficulties of the language for English speakers, such as, but not restricted to, polite vs. familiar forms, declension of nouns, genders, tones, etc. It's preferable not to give a full grammar of the language -- just give some tips on why it might be hard.

Contents

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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.

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Vowels

a 
like 'a' in "apple", 'a' in "cake", "a" in "amen"
e 
like 'i' 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"
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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"
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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"
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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.

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Basics

Hello. 
Vanakkam
Hello. (informal) 
Hi
How are you? 
Eppadi irukeenga?
Fine, thank you. 
Nalla Irukken.
What is your name? 
Unga Peru Enna?
My name is ______ . 
En Peru ______
Nice to meet you. 
Ungala paathathu romba santhosham
Please. 
Thayavu Seithu
Thank you. 
Nanri.
You're welcome. 
Vaanga.
Yes. 
Amam.
No. 
Illa.
Excuse me. (getting attention) 
Excuse me. (begging pardon) 
I'm sorry. 
Enna maniichudunga.
Goodbye 
Poittu Varen
Goodbye (informal) 
Varen
I can't speak name of language [well]. 
Ennala name of language pesa mudiyahtu
Do you speak English? 
English pesuveengala?
Is there someone here who speaks English? 
Inga Yaaravathu English pesuveengala
Help! 
Uthavi!
Look out! 
Pathu!
Good morning. 
Kalai Vanakkam
Good evening. 
Malai Vanakkam
Good night. 
Good night (to sleep) 
I don't understand. 
Puriyala
Where is the toilet? 
Toilet enga irukku

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

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Problems

Leave me alone. 
Enna thaniya vidu
Don't touch me! 
Enna thodathe
I'll call the police. 
Police a kupuduven
Police! 
Police!
Stop! Thief! 
pudeenga thirudan.
I need your help. 
Unga udavi venum.
It's an emergency. 
Konjam Avasaram
I'm lost. 
Naan tholainjutten
I lost my bag. 
En bag tholainju poiduthu
I lost my wallet. 
En pana pai tholainju poiduthu
I'm sick. 
Enakku udambu seri illa.
I've been injured. 
Enakku Adi pattu irukku.
I need a doctor. 
Enakku Oru doctor venum
Can I use your phone? 
Unga phone a naa upayokikalama
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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 (padimoonu)
14 
fourteen (padinaalu)
15 
fifteen (padinainthu)
16 
sixteen (padinaaru)
17 
seventeen (padinelu)
18 
eighteen (padinettu)
19 
nineteen (padonbathu)
20 
twenty (irupathu)
21 
twenty one (irupathu onnu)
22 
twenty two (irupathu rendu)
23 
twenty three (irupathu moonu)
30 
thirty (muppathu)
40 
forty (naapathu)
50 
fifty (ambathu)
60 
sixty (aruvathu)
70 
seventy (ezhuvathu)
80 
eighty (enbathu)
90 
ninety (thonooru)
100 
one hundred (nooru)
200 
two hundred (eruooru)
300 
three hundred (munooru)
1000 
one thousand (aayiram)
2000 
two thousand (rendu aayiram)
1,000,000 
one million (pathu laksham)
1,000,000,000 
one thousand million in UK, one billion in USA
1,000,000,000,000 
one billion in UK, one trillion in USA
number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 
number _____ (...)
half 
half (arai)
less 
less (kammi)
more 
more (jasthi)
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Time

now 
ippo(...)
later 
appuram(...)
before 
munnadi(...)
morning 
kalai(...)
afternoon 
mathiyam(...)
evening 
malai(...)
night 
iravu(...)
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Clock time

one o'clock AM 
kalai oru mani (...)
two o'clock AM 
kalai rendu mani (...)
noon 
mathiyam (...)
one o'clock PM 
mathiyam oru mani (...)
two o'clock PM 
mathiyam rendu mani (...)
midnight 
nalliravu(...)
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Duration

_____ minute(s) 
_____ nimidam (...)
_____ hour(s) 
_____ mani (...)
_____ day(s) 
_____ naal(...)
_____ week(s) 
_____ vaaram (...)
_____ month(s) 
_____ masam (...)
_____ year(s) 
_____ varusham (...)
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Days

today 
inru
yesterday 
netru
tomorrow 
naalai
this week 
intha vaaram
last week 
pona varam
next week 
adutha varam
Sunday 
nyayiru
Monday 
thingal
Tuesday 
sevvai
Wednesday 
puthan
Thursday 
vyazhan
Friday 
velli
Saturday 
sani
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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 (...)
February 
February (...)
March 
March (...)
April 
April (...)
May 
May (...)
June 
June (...)
July 
July (...)
August 
August (...)
September 
September (...)
October 
October (...)
November 
November (...)
December 
December (...)
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Writing time and date

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

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Colors

black 
karuppu (...)
white 
vellai (...)
gray 
gray (...)
red 
sivappu(...)
blue 
neelam (...)
yellow 
manjal (...)
green 
pachai(...)
orange 
orange (...)
purple 
purple (...)
brown 
podi(...)
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Transportation

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Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____? 
_____ ku ticket evalo? (...)
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 nikkuma? (...)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 
_____ ku train/bus eppo kelambum? (...)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 
eppo train/bus _____ vanthu serum? (...)
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Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 
_____ ku eppadi porathu? (...)
...the train station? 
...the train station? (...)
...the bus station? 
...the bus station? (...)
...the airport? 
...the airport? (...)
...downtown? 
...downtown? (...)
...the youth hostel? 
...the youth hostel? (...)
...the _____ hotel? 
...the _____ hotel? (...)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (...)
Where are there a lot of... 
enga neraya... (...)
...hotels? 
...hotels? (...)
...restaurants? 
...restaurants? (...)
...bars? 
...bars? (...)
...sites to see? 
...parkum idam? (...)
Can you show me on the map? 
Map la kaata mudiyuma? (...)
street 
theru(...)
Turn left. 
Idathu pakkam thirumbunga. (...)
Turn right. 
Valathu pakkam thirumbunga. (...)
left 
idam (...)
right 
valam (...)
straight ahead 
nera (...)
towards the _____ 
_____ pakkam(...)
past the _____ 
_____ thaandi(...)
before the _____ 
_____ munnadi(...)
Watch for the _____. 
_____ ku paarunga. (...)
intersection 
intersection (...)
north 
vadakku(...)
south 
therku(...)
east 
kizhakku(...)
west 
merku(...)
uphill 
medu(...)
downhill 
pallam(...)
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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. (...)
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Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 
Rooms irukka? (...)
How much is a room for one person/two people? 
oru aalu/rendu aalu room evalo aagum? (...)
Does the room come with... 
... roomoda varuma (...)
...bedsheets? 
...porvai? (...)
...a bathroom? 
...a bathroom? (...)
...a telephone? 
...a telephone? (...)
...a TV? 
...a TV? (...)
May I see the room first? 
muthalla rooma pakkalama? (...)
Do you have anything quieter? 
itha vida amaithiya vera irukka? (...)
...bigger? 
...perusa? (...)
...cleaner? 
...suthama? (...)
...cheaper? 
...cheapa? (...)
OK, I'll take it. 
seri, eduthukaren. (...)
I will stay for _____ night(s). 
_____ iravu thanguven. (...)
Can you suggest another hotel? 
vera hotel ethavathu sollunga? (...)
Do you have a safe? 
locker irukka? (...)
...lockers? 
...lockers? (...)
Is breakfast/supper included? 
kalai tiffin/night saapadu setha? (...)
What time is breakfast/supper? 
kalai tiffin/night saapadu ethanai manikku? (...)
Please clean my room. 
Room sutham pannunga. (...)
Can you wake me at _____? 
_____ maniku ezhuppi vidunga? (...)
I want to check out. 
Check out panren. (...)
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Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 
Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (Neenga america/austhiralia/canadia naattu dollargalai yetrukkolveergalaa?)
Do you accept British pounds? 
Do you accept British pounds? (neenga british poundsa yetrukolveergalaa?...)
Do you accept credit cards? 
Do you accept credit cards? (Neenga credit cardsa yetrukkolveergalaa?)
Can you change money for me? 
Can you change money for me? (...)
Where can I get money changed? 
Where can I get money changed? (...)
Can you change a traveler's check for me? 
Can you change a traveler's check for me? (Neengal yenakkaaga payanigal checkai matri thara mudiyyumaa?)
Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 
Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (...)
What is the exchange rate? 
What is the exchange rate? (Exchange Rate yenna?)
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (ATM yenraal yenna?)
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Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 
A table for one person/two people, please. (oru maejai oru nabarukku allathu irandu paerukku, thayavusaithu)
Can I look at the menu, please? 
Can I look at the menu, please? (naan intha menuvai parkkalama, thayavusaithu...)
Can I look in the kitchen? 
Can I look in the kitchen? (intha samayyal arayyinai naan parkkalaamaa?...)
Is there a house specialty? 
Is there a house specialty? (...)
Is there a local specialty? 
Is there a local specialty? (...)
I'm a vegetarian. 
I'm a vegetarian. (Naan oru saivam)
I don't eat pork. 
I don't eat pork. (Naan panrikari sappida maattaen.)
I don't eat beef. 
I don't eat beef. (Naan maattukkari sappida maattaen)
I only eat kosher food. 
I only eat kosher food. (...)
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 
Can you make it "lite", please? (...)
fixed-price meal 
fixed-price meal (...)
à la carte 
à la carte (...)
breakfast 
breakfast (...)
lunch 
lunch (...)
tea (meal) 
tea (...)
supper 
supper (...)
I want _____. 
I want _____. (...)
I want a dish containing _____. 
I want a dish containing _____. (...)
chicken 
chicken (...)
beef 
beef (...)
fish 
fish (...)
ham 
ham (...)
sausage 
sausage (...)
cheese 
cheese (...)
eggs 
eggs (...)
salad 
salad (...)
(fresh) vegetables 
(fresh) vegetables (...)
(fresh) fruit 
(fresh) fruit (...)
bread 
bread (...)
toast 
toast (...)
noodles 
noodles (...)
rice 
rice (...)
beans 
beans (...)
May I have a glass of _____? 
May I have a glass of _____? (...)
May I have a cup of _____? 
May I have a cup of _____? (...)
May I have a bottle of _____? 
May I have a bottle of _____? (...)
coffee 
coffee (...)
tea (drink) 
tea (...)
juice 
juice (...)
(bubbly) water 
water (...)
water 
water (...)
beer 
beer (...)
red/white wine 
red/white wine (...)
May I have some _____? 
May I have some _____? (...)
salt 
salt (...)
black pepper 
black pepper (...)
butter 
butter (...)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
Excuse me, waiter? (...)
I'm finished. 
I'm finished. (...)
It was delicious. 
It was delicious. (...)
Please clear the plates. 
Please clear the plates. (...)
The check, please. 
The check, please. (...)
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Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 
Do you serve alcohol? (...)
Is there table service? 
Is there table service? (...)
A beer/two beers, please. 
A beer/two beers, please. (...)
A glass of red/white wine, please. 
A glass of red/white wine, please. (...)
A pint, please. 
A pint, please. (...)
A bottle, please. 
A bottle, please. (...)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 
_____ and _____, please. (...)
whiskey 
whiskey (...)
vodka 
vodka (...)
rum 
rum (...)
water 
water (...)
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? (...)
One more, please. 
One more, please. (...)
Another round, please. 
Another round, please. (...)
When is closing time? 
When is closing time? (...)
[edit]

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 
Do you have this in my size? (...)
How much is this? 
How much is this? (...)
That's too expensive. 
That's too expensive. (...)
Would you take _____? 
Would you take _____? (...)
expensive 
expensive (...)
cheap 
cheap (...)
I can't afford it. 
I can't afford it. (...)
I don't want it. 
I don't want it. (...)
You're cheating me. 
You're cheating me. (...)
I'm not interested. 
I'm not interested. (..)
OK, I'll take it. 
OK, I'll take it. (...)
Can I have a bag? 
Can I have a bag? (...)
Do you ship (overseas)? 
Do you ship (overseas)? (...)
I need... 
I need... (...)
...toothpaste. 
...toothpaste. (...)
...a toothbrush. 
...a toothbrush. (...)
...tampons. 
...tampons. (...)
...soap. 
...soap. (...)
...shampoo. 
...shampoo. (...)
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 
...pain reliever. (...)
...cold medicine. 
...cold medicine. (...)
...stomach medicine. 
...stomach medicine. (...)
...a razor. 
...a razor. (...)
...an umbrella. 
...an umbrella. (...)
...sunblock lotion. 
...sunblock lotion. (...)
...a postcard. 
...a postcard. (...)
...postage stamps. 
...postage stamps. (...)
...batteries. 
...batteries. (...)
...writing paper. 
...writing paper. (...)
...a pen. 
...a pen. (...)
...English-language books. 
...English-language books. (...)
...English-language magazines. 
...English-language magazines. (...)
...an English-language newspaper. 
...an English-language newspaper. (...)
...an English-English dictionary. 
...an English-English dictionary. (...)
[edit]

Driving

I want to rent a car. 
I want to rent a car. (...)
Can I get insurance? 
Can I get insurance? (...)
stop (on a street sign) 
stop (...)
one way 
one way (...)
yield 
yield (...)
no parking 
no parking (...)
speed limit 
speed limit (...)
gas (petrol) station 
gas station (...)
petrol 
petrol (...)
diesel 
diesel (...)
[edit]

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 
I haven't done anything wrong. (...)
It was a misunderstanding. 
It was a misunderstanding. (...)
Where are you taking me? 
Where are you taking me? (...)
Am I under arrest? 
Am I under arrest? (...)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (...)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 
I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (...)
I want to talk to a lawyer. 
I want to talk to a lawyer. (...)
Can I just pay a fine now? 
Can I just pay a fine now? (...)
[edit]

Learning more


fr:Wikitravel:Données de base d'un guide linguistique

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