Tamil Loanwords in other languages
Tamil is one of the oldest living language. Due to its contact with the other languages from historical times, there are many loanwords from Tamil that are found in the other languages.
In English
Gregory James, a professor with the language center of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology believes that more than 100 words in the Oxford English Dictionary have Tamil origin, and there could be even more.[1] The third edition of the OED, published online since 2000, contains approximately 400,000 words.[2]
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
| English word | Tamil word | Transliteration | Meaning in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catamaran | கட்டுமரம் | kattumaram | tied wood[3] |
| Cheroot | சுருட்டு | suruṭṭu | roll[4] |
| Corundum | குருந்தம்/குருவிந்தம் | kuruntham/kuruvintham | ruby[5] |
| Mulligatawny | மிளகுத்தண்ணி | miḷaku-taṇṇīr/milaguthanni | pepper water[6] |
| Patchouli | பச்சை இலை | pachchai ilai | green leaf[7] |
| Pandal | பந்தல் | pandhal | temporary shelter[8] |
In Malay
| Malay word | Tamil word | Transliteration | Meaning in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| apam | அப்பம் | apam | kind of cake or Hoppers |
| bendi | வெண்டி | vendi | okra/lady's finger |
| harta | அர்த்தம் | arttam | asset |
| kapal | கப்பல் | kappal | boat |
| kedai | கடை | kadai | foodstall |
| kuil | கோயில் | koyil | temple/shrine |
| kolam | குளம் | kulam | Pool of water |
| kota | கோட்டை | Kottai | fort |
| mangga | மாங்காய் | mangkai | mango |
| peta | படம் | Paṭaṁ | map |
| sama | சமம் | sama/samam | same |
| singa | சிங்கம் | singam | Lion |
| wanita | பெண் | Peṇ | girl |
In Tagalog
| Tagalog | Tamil | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Anó | என்ன (Enna) | What |
| Bagay | வகை (Vakai) | Thing |
| Dito | இதோ (Itho) | Here |
| Kamáy | கை (Kai) | Hand |
| Kas | காசு (Kāsu) | Cash, Money (via English) |
| Kuta | கோட்டை (Kottai) | Fort |
| Manggá | மாங்காய் (Māngāi) | Mango |
| Malunggáy | முருங்கை (Murungai) | Moringa |
| Masayá | மகிழ்ச்சியா (Makilcciyā) | Happy |
| Pintungan | பெட்டகம் (Pettagham) | Place to store things |
| Pooja | பூஜை (Pūjai) | Pooja |
| Puto | பிட்டு (Puttu) | Rice cake |
| Sadyâ | சதி (Sathi) | Intentional |
| Tatay | தந்தை (Tantai) | Daddy |
In Thai
The Thai language has many borrowed words the Tamil language.
| Word | Romanization | English translation | From Language | Word |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| สิงโต | sĭng to | lion | Tamil | சிங்கம்/singam |
In Indonesian
Loanwords from Tamil, mainly exist in cuisine, like Chinese and unlike Sanskrit. It mainly entered the lexicon of Malay (and by extension, Indonesian) with the immigration of South Indian traders who settled around the Strait of Malacca.
| Indonesian Word | English Meaning | Original Tamil word |
|---|---|---|
| apam | kind of cake | apam |
| gulai | kind of curry | gulai |
| kapal | boat | kappal |
| kata | say | katai |
| kedai | foodstall | Kaddai |
| kuil | temple | koil |
| mangga | mango | manga |
| roti | bread | rotti |
| topi | hat | toppi |
In Sinhala
Sinhala words of Tamil origin came about as part of the more than 2,000 years of language interactions between Sinhala and Tamil in the island of Sri Lanka.
In Sinhala words
In the following list, Tamil words are romanised in accordance with Tamil spelling. This results in seeming discrepancies in voicing between Sinhala words and their Tamil counterparts. Sinhala borrowing however has taken place on the basis of the sound of the Tamil words; thus, the word ampalam, [ambalam], logically results in the Sinhala spelling ambalama, and so forth. However, the Tamil language used here for comparison is Tamil as spoken in Sri Lanka.
| Sinhala | Meaning | Tamil | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ādāyama | Income | ādāyam | Profit | Trade |
| akkā | Elder sister | akkā | Elder sister | Kinship |
| ambalama | Way-side rest | ambalam | Public place | Daily |
| ämbäṭṭayā | Barber | ampaṭṭaṉ | Barber | Trade |
| āṃgāṇiya | Stall (in a market) | aṅgāṭi | Market | Trade |
| ānā | Man | ān | Man | Daily |
| āṇḍuva | Government | āṇṭāṉ | Rich man with many slaves | Administration |
| appā | Father (regional/colloquial) | appā | Father (Originally from Syriac word Aba[9]) | Kinship |
| āppa | Hoppers | āppam | Hoppers | Food |
| araliya | Oleander | araḷi | Oleander | Botany |
| avariya | Indigo plant | avuri | Indigo plant | Botany |
| ayyā | Elder brother | aiyā (see also Ayya) | Sir, father | Kinship |
| bā | Come | vā | Come | Daily |
| caṇḍiyā | Bandit, rowdy | saṇdiyar | Bandit | Daily |
| cīttaya | Chintz | cīttai | Chintz | Trade |
| ediriya | Opposition, hostility | edhiri | Opponent, enemy | Military |
| galkaṇḍuva | Sugar-candy | kaṟkaṇdu | Sugar-candy | Food |
| iccāva | Flattery | iccakam | Flattery | Daily |
| iḍama | Site, land | idam | Place, site | Construction |
| īḷa | Asthma | īḷai | Asthma | Daily |
| ilakkaya | Target | ilakku | Target | Military |
| ilakkama | Number | ilakkam | Number | Trade |
| iḷandāriyā | Young man | iḷandāri | Young man | Daily |
| iḷavuva | Death, funeral | iḻavu | Death | Daily |
| iraṭṭa | Double, even number | iraṭṭai | Double, even number | Trade |
| īyam | Lead | īyam | Lead | Daily |
| jāḍiya | Jar | cāṭi | Jar | Daily |
| jōḍuva | Pair | jōdi/cōdi | Pair | Daily |
| hodi | Gravy | soti | Daily | |
| kaḍalē | Chickpea | kadalai (paruppu) | Chickpea | Food |
| kaḍasarakkuva | Spice, curry stuffs | kadai + sarakku | Shop + Goods | Trade |
| kaḍaya | Shop | kadai | Shop | Trade |
| kaḍinama | Haste | kathi | speed | Daily |
| kaḍiyāḷama | Bridle | kadivāḷam | Bridle | Military |
| kaṃkāṇiyā | Overseer | kaṅkāṇi | Foreman | Administration |
| kalanda | A small measure of weight | kaḻañcu | Weight of 1.77 grams | Trade |
| kalavama | Mixture, blend | kalavai | Mixture | Daily |
| kālaya | Quarter | kāl | Quarter | Trade |
| kaḷudäävā | Donkey | kaḻudai | Donkey | Daily |
| kambiya | Wire | kambi | Wire | Trade |
| kāndama | Magnet | kāandam | Magnet | Trade |
| kaṇisama | Size | kaṇisam | Size, amount | Daily |
| kaṇṇāḍiya | Mirror, spectacles | kaṇṇāadi | Mirror, spectacles | Daily |
| kappama | Tribute | kappam | Tribute | Military |
| kappara | Small ship | kappal | Ship | Trade |
| kappi | Grit, bruised grain | kappi | Coarse grits in flour | Daily |
| kappiya | Pulley | kappi | Pulley | |
| kāvala | Protection | |||
| kayippu | Catechu | |||
| kayitālama | A small type if cymbal | |||
| kāppuva | Bracelet | kāappu | Bangle | Daily |
| kärapottā | Cockroach | karappaāṉ | Cockroach (SL) | Daily |
| karavaḷa | Dried fish | karuvāadu | Dried fish | Food |
| kāsiya | Coin | kāasu | Small change, coin | Trade |
| kasippu | Illicit liquor | kacippu | Illicit liquor | Trade |
| kaṭṭumarama | Catamaran | kaṭṭumaram | Catamaran | Trade |
| kayiyeliya | Cloth with coloured border | kaili | Multicoloured cloth worn by Muslims | Daily |
| keṇḍa | Calf | keṇdai(kkāl) | Calf | Daily |
| keṇḍiya | Pitcher | keṇṭi | Pitcher | Daily |
| kiṭṭu | Close, near | kiṭṭa | Close, near | Daily |
| koḍiya | Flag | kodi | Flag | Administration |
| kollaya | Plunder, pillage | koḷḷai | Plunder | Military |
| kombuva | Name of the sign ෙ | kombu (lakaram) | Name of the sign ள | Daily |
| kōn | Part of a name | kōṉ(ar) | Name pertaining to members of the Iṭaiyar caste ("shepherd, king") | Personal name |
| kōṇama | A loin cloth for men | kōvaṇam | A loin cloth for men | Daily |
| koṇḍaya | Plait/bun of hair | koṇdai | Bun/plait of hair | Daily |
| kottamalli | Coriander | koṭhamalli | Coriander | Botany |
| koṭṭaya | Pillow | koṭṭai | Nut, round shape, pillow | Daily |
| kōvila | Hindu temple | kōyil | Temple | Daily |
| kūḍama | Shed, Resthouse | Daily | ||
| kuḍaya | Umbrella | kudai | Umbrella | Daily |
| kūḍaya | Basket | koodai | Basket | Daily |
| kūḍuva | Nest, cage | koodu | Nest, small box | Daily |
| kulala/kuḷala | Pipe | kuḻal | Tube, musical pipe | Daily |
| kulappuva | Confusion | kuḻappu- | to confuse | Military |
| kūlama | Pond | kulam- | Pond | Agricultural Term |
| kurumbā | Young coconut | kurumbai | Young coconut | Food |
| kuliya | Rent | kooli | Rent, pay | Administration |
| kuṭṭama | A Pair | Daily | ||
| machan | Term of endearment along males | Daily | ||
| Malaya | Hill country | malai | Hill | Place name |
| māmā. | Maternal uncle | māmā | Maternal uncle | Kinship |
| marakkalaya | Boat, Ethnic Moor, Sampan | marakkalam | (Sailing) Boat | Fishing |
| massinā | Brother-in-law | machiṉaṉ | Brother-in-law | Kinship |
| mayil | Fur, any hair other than on the head/face | Daily | ||
| mella | Gentle, tame, obedient | Daily | ||
| mudala | Money | mudhal | Capital | Trade |
| mudalāli | Merchant, owner of a shop | mudhalāḷi | Merchant | Trade |
| mudali | Part of a name | mudhaliyār | Name of a caste | Personal name |
| muḍukkuva | Narrow street, slum | Daily | ||
| mulu | whole, entire | Daily | ||
| muranḍu | Obstinate, wanting to fight | Daily | ||
| muruṃgā | "Drumsticks", the edible fruits of the Drumstick tree (Moringa oleifera) | muruṅgai | Horse-radish tree | Food |
| mūḍiya | lid | Daily | ||
| mūṭṭi | Earthen cooking pot | Daily | ||
| mūṭṭuva | bale/bagful | Daily | ||
| nāḍagama | Stage-play | naādagam | Drama, stage-play | Culture |
| nōṃjal, nōṃcal | feeble, unsteady | Daily | ||
| naṃgī | Younger sister | naṅgai | Young girl | Kinship |
| nōnḍi, nonḍi | lame | Daily | ||
| nūla | String/Thread | Daily | ||
| oppuva | Proof | oppu | Administration | |
| ottē | Odd number | otṟai | Odd number | Trade |
| ottuva | Espionage | otṟu | Espionage | Administration |
| padakkama | Medal | padhakkam | Medal | Administration |
| pāḍama | Lesson | pāadam | Lesson | Culture |
| paḍiya | Wage | paṭi | Extra pay | Administration |
| pālama | Bridge | pāalam | Bridge | Construction |
| paḷiya | Revenge | paḻi | Guilt, revenge | Daily |
| palliya | Church/Mosque | palli | Church/Mosque | Daily |
| pandalama | Bower, shady place | pandhal | Bower, shady place | Daily |
| pandama | Torch | pandham | Torch | Religious |
| peruṃkāyam | Asafoetida | Asafoetida | Daily | |
| parippu | Lentils | paruppu | Lentils | Food |
| piṭṭu | A rice dish | piṭṭu | A rice dish | Food |
| poḍi | Small, little | podi | Small | Daily |
| poṭṭuva | Bindi | pottu | Daily | |
| poraya | Fight | pōr | Fight | Military |
| poronduva | Agreement, promise | porundhu- | To fit, to agree | Daily |
| porottuva | Delay, waiting | poṟutthu | Having waited | Daily |
| pūccama | Boast, brag | Daily | ||
| pullē | Part of a name | Pillai | Part of a name (originally a Hindu title) | Personal name |
| pūṇa nūla | Sacred string/cord that Brahmins wear over their shoulder | poo-nool | Daily | |
| saiva, sāiva | Shivaite | Daily | ||
| salli | Money | salli | Coin | Trade |
| saṇḍuva | Fight | saṇdai | Fight | Military |
| sekkuva | Oil mill | Daily | ||
| sembuva | Small metal pot | Daily | ||
| seṃkamālaya | jaundice | Daily | ||
| sereppuva | Sandals | seruppu | Sandals | Daily |
| sotti | Crippled, deformed | sothhai | Emaciated person, defect | Daily |
| suli | whirl, vortical | Daily | ||
| suruṭṭuva | Cigar | suruṭṭu | Cigar | Daily |
| takkāli | Tomato | thakkaāḷi | Tomato | Food |
| talluva | A push | thaḷḷu- | To push | Daily |
| tambiyā | Derogatory term for a Muslim man | tambi | Younger brother | Daily |
| tani | Alone | thaṉi | Alone | Daily |
| täpäl | Postal | tabaāl | Postal, mail | Administration |
| tarama | Size, position, quantity | tharam | Quality, sort | Trade |
| taṭṭa | Bald | thaṭṭai | Baldness | Daily |
| tāliya | A necklace signifying marriage | Daily | ||
| tāttā | Father | thāathaā | Grandfather | Kinship |
| taṭṭuva | A knock | thaṭṭu- | To knock | Daily |
| tōḍuva | A hollow cylindrical earring | Daily | ||
| tunḍuva | bit/scrap | Daily | ||
| uḍäkkiya | A narrow drum | udukkai | A narrow drum | Daily |
| udavva | Help | udhavi | Help | Daily |
| ulukkuva | Sprain (of a joint) | suḷukku | Sprain | Daily |
| ūḷiyama | Tax payable by foreigners | ooḻiyam | Service | Administration |
| uraya | Covering/Case | Daily | ||
| vaṭṭiya | Type of shallow basket | Daily | ||
| veri | Drunk | veṟi | intention, madness | Daily |
In Sinhala verbs
Several verbs have been adopted into Sinhala from the Tamil language. The vast majority of these are compound verbs consisting of a Tamil origin primary verb and a Sinhala origin light verb.
| Sinhala | සිංහල | Meaning | Tamil | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iranavā | ඉරනවා | To tear | ||
| kiṭṭu venavā | කිට්ටු වෙනවා | To get close, to near | ||
| kolla karanavā | කොල්ල කරනවා | To plunder | ||
| nōnḍi venavā | නෝන්ඩි වෙනවා | To be humiliated/embarrassed | ||
| parakku venavā | පරක්කු වෙනවා | To be late/delayed | ||
| pattu karanavā | පත්තු කරනවා | To light, to set on fire | patṟu- | To catch fire |
| pēru väṭenavā | පේරු වැටෙනවා | To fall to someone by chance | pēṟu | Luck ll |
| poḍi venavā | පේරු වැටෙනවා | To be crushed/crumpled | ||
| pūṭṭu karanavā | පූට්ටු කරනවා | To splice, to fasten together | ||
| tallu karanavā | තල්ලු කරනවා | To push | thaḷḷu- | To push |
| taṭṭu karanavā | තට්ටු කරනවා | To knock | thaṭṭu- | |
| udav karanavā | To help | |||
| veḍi kanavā | වෙඩි කනවා | To have been shot | vedi | Shot, dynamite |
| veḍi tiyanavā | වෙඩි තියනවා | To shoot, to fire | vedi | Shot, dynamite |
| veri venavā | වෙරි වෙනවා | To become drunk | veri | |
See also
- List of territorial entities where Tamil is an official language
- Tamil population by cities
- Tamil population per nation
- Tamil language
- Tamil people
- Tamilisation
References
- ↑ "For this professor, tracking Tamil words in English is a passion". Times of India. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ↑ Simpson, John (2000). "Preface to the Third Edition of the OED". Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ↑ "Catamaran; Define Catamaran at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ↑ "Cheroot; Define Cheroot at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ↑ "Corundum; Define Corundum at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ↑ "mulligatawny, n.". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2003.
- ↑ "patchouli". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ↑ "Pandal; Define Pandal at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ↑ Mar Thomma Margam by Pathikulangara Varghese Kathanar
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