Tamil loanwords in other languages

List of loanwords

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There are many Tamil loanwords in other languages. The Tamil language, primarily spoken in southern India and Sri Lanka, has produced loanwords in many different languages, including Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, English, Malay, native languages of Indonesia, Mauritian Creole, Tagalog, Russian, and Sinhala and Dhivehi.

## In Ancient Greek

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Main article: Tamil loanwords in Ancient Greek

Tamil loanwords in Ancient Greek came about due to the interactions of Mediterranean and South Indian merchants. Tamil loanwords entered the Greek language throughout different periods in history. Most words had to do with items of trade that were unique to South India. Although there is general consensus that there are Tamil loanwords in Ancient Greek, few of the words have competing etymologies as well.[1]

## In Hebrew

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Main article: Tamil loanwords in Hebrew

Tamil loanwords in Biblical Hebrew are of particular importance in that they are the earliest attestation of the Tamil language. These words were incorporated into the writing of the Hebrew Bible starting before 500 BCE. Although a number of authors have identified many Biblical and post-Biblical words of Tamil, Old Tamil, or Dravidian origin, a number of them have competing etymologies and some Tamil derivations are considered controversial.[2]

## In English

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See also: List of English words of Dravidian origin

English word | Tamil word | Transliteration | Meaning in English

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Aiyo! | ஐயோ | Aiyyo! | Oh no! / Oh dear![3]
Anicut | அணைக்கட்டு | Anaikattu | Anicut/Dam
Curry | கறி | kaṟi | relish for rice
Catamaran | கட்டுமரம் | kattumaram | a type of boat[4]
Cheroot | சுருட்டு | suruṭṭu | roll[5]
Corundum | குருந்தம்/குருவிந்தம் | kuruntham/kuruvintham | ruby[6]
Mango | மாங்காய் | Maangaai | Mango
Moringa | முருங்கை | Murungai | Murungagaai
Mulligatawny | மிளகுத்தண்ணி | miḷaku-taṇṇīr/milaguthanni | pepper water[7]
Patchouli | பச்சை இலை | pachchai ilai | green leaf[8]
Pandal | பந்தல் | pandhal | temporary shelter[9]
Pariah | பறையர் | Paraiyar | Outcast
Ginger | இஞ்சி வேர்  | Inji ver  | Ginger Root

## In Malay (including Malaysian and Indonesian)

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Interaction between Tamil speakers and Malay speakers has been established from ancient time. Tamil influence has been around such as Palava usage as ancient script in Indonesia (Palava dynasty was existed on 275 CE–897 CE) and Chola invasion of Srivijaya in 1025.

Tamil mainly entered the lexicon of Classical Malay (and by extension, its modern Malaysian and Indonesian standard variants) with the immigration of South Indian traders and labourers who settled around the Strait of Malacca. Henceforth, loanwords from Tamil, while also an Indian language (though not Indo-European like Sanskrit), mainly exist in the fields of commerce and cuisine, the latter like Chinese and unlike Sanskrit. See also Wiktionary:Appendix:Malay words of Tamil origin.

Malay word  | Malay meaning  | Tamil Word  | Tamil Transliteration  | Tamil Meaning  | Note

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acaram | 1\. ring,
2\. earnest money | அச்சகாரம் | accāram | earnest money |
acu | mould, model | அச்சு | accu | mould |
andai | if, suppose | அண்டை | aṇṭai | near, support |
apam | kind of cake, hoppers | அப்பம் | appam | appam, rice cake, bread pastry |
badai | storm | வாடை | vāṭai | wind, north wind |
bagai | sort of | வகை | vakai | kind, sort |
baji | wedge | வசி | vaci | cleft, point, edge |
basi | 1\. commission, fee
2\. overtime or extra pay
3\. reduction (in price), discount | வாசி | vāci | 1\. difference
2\. rate, as of interest; portion
3\. discount, in changing money |
batil | copper bowl, plate, tray | வட்டில் | vaṭṭil | a brass tray, a platter; basket |
bedil | gun, rifle | வெடி | veṭi | explosion, as of gun | via Javanese bedhil
bendi | okra/lady's finger | வெண்டி | vendi | okra |
bicu | lever | வீச்சு | vīccu | blow, stroke |
biram | 1\. elephant,
2\. double-headed snake,
3\. red | வேழம் | vēḻam | elephant |
canai | grindstone | சாணை | cāṇai-k-kal | grindstone |
cemeti | whip | சம்மட்டி | cammaṭṭi | 1\. (horse-)whip,
2\. large hammer |
cerpelai | mongoose (Herpestes sp.) | கீரிப்பிள்ளை | kīri-p-piḷḷai | common Indian mungoose, Indian ichneumon, Herpestes mungo |
cerpu | leather sandals (terompah-like) | செருப்பு | ceruppu | leather sandals, slippers, shoes |
cerutu, cerut, serutu | cigar | சுருட்டு | curuṭṭu | 1\. curling, coiling;
2\. cigar |
ceti | money lender | செட்டி | ceṭṭi | mercantile caste, traders | from Prakrit sēṭṭišrēṣṭhin
cukai | excise tax, custom | சுங்கம் | cuṅkam | duty on goods, customs, tolls | from Prakrit šuṅkašulka
cuku | dried gambier roots | சுக்கு | cukku | dried ginger |
cuma | only, no others | சும்மா | cummā | leisurely, without any occupation or work | ?
gula | sugar | குளம் | kuḷam | sugar | *?
gulai | kind of curry | குலை | gulai |  | *?
gundu | marbles | குண்டு | kuṇṭu | ball; anything globular and heavy |
gurindam | two lines rhyme | கிரந்தம் | kirantam | 1\. book, treatise
2\. A verse or prose containing 32 syllables, šlōka | from grantha.
helai | sheet | இலை | ilai | leaf, petal |
jodoh, joli | mate, partner | சோடி | cōṭi | couple, pair | loanword from Hind. jōḍi.
joli | royal sedan | டோலி | ṭōli | a kind of sedan | loanword from Hind. ḍōlā.
kambi | wooden frames to strengthen the edges of doors | கம்பி | kampi | wall plate |
kapal | boat | கப்பல் | kappal | ship, sailing vessel |
kari, kare | curry | கறி | kaṟi | curry | Latter is Indonesian spelling
katai, katik | small, short | கடை | kaṭṭai | short, low, dwarfish
defect, deficiency |
katelum | bastion | கொத்தளம் | kottalam | part of a rampart, bastion, defensive erection on the top of a rampart | from Pāli koṭṭhaka
kati | a measure of weight = 6¼ ons | கட்டி | kaṭṭi | a measure of weight = 25 palams |
katik | 1\. Paspalum scrobiculatum,
2\. Treron curvirostra,
3\. area measurement (of land or field) | கட்டை | kaṭṭai | mile |
katil | bed | கட்டில் | kaṭṭil | 1\. cot, bedstead, couch, sofa,
2\. Throne |
kawal | guard, escourt | காவல் | kāval | defence, protection, watchman, guard |
kedai | shop, foodstall | கடை | kaṭai | bazaar, shop, market |
kedelai | Glycine max | கடலை | kaṭalai | Cicer arietinum, Melastoma malabaricum | Kanarese, Travancore usage kaḍale, Malayalam kaḍala
Malaysian and Singaporean Malay tends to use the Dutch loan soya instead.
keledai | Equus asinus | கழுதை | kaḻutai | Equus asinus |
ketumbar | Coriandrum sativum | கொத்தமல்லி | kottamalli | Coriandrum sativum | from Sanskrit कुस्तुम्बुरु (kustumburu)
kodi | twenty units | கோடி | kōṭi | 1\. Crore, ten millions,
2\. large number |
kolam | pool, pond, basin, tank | குளம் | kuḷam | tank, pond, reservoir, lake |
konde, kundai | dressing of hair in large coil on the head | கொண்டை | koṇṭai | tuft, dressing of hair in large coil on the head | related to Telugu koṇḍe, Kanarese Travancore goṇḍe, Malayalam koṇṭa
korundum | natural Aluminum oxide | குருந்தம் | kuruntam | corundum, emery |
kudai | basket made of rattan | கூடை | kūṭai | basket made of rattan, ola or bamboo |
kuil | temple (esp. Hindu ones) | கோயில் | kōyil | 1\. palace,
2\. temple, sanctuary |
kulai | limp | குலை | kulai | to untie, loosen, dishevel |
kuli | physical worker | கூலி | kūli | 1\. wages, pay;
2\. fare, hire, freight |
kundi | clay craftsman |  | kuṉṟi |  | ?
ladam | horseshoe | லாடம் | lāṭam | horseshoe |
lebai | mosque employees | லப்பை | lappai | Tamil-speaking Muhammadans |
logam | metal | உலோகம் | ulōkam | metal | from lōha metal
madali | a musical instrument | மத்தளம் | mattaḷam | a kind of drum |
malai | strands, garland | மாலை | mālai | anything strung together |
mahligai, maligai | royal chamber in palace | மாளிகை | māḷikai | top floor of a storied building | ?
mangga | mango | மாங்காய் | māṅkāy | mango |
manik | beads |  | maṇi |  |
manikam | diamond | மாணிக்கம் | māṇikkam | gem, precious stone |
mendikai, tembikai | watermelon | கொம்மட்டிக்காய் | kommaṭṭikkāy | watermelon, cucumber | latter is metathesis of former
merikan, marikan | clothes from America | மரிக்கன் | marikkaṉ | from America |
maru | disturbing ghost | மாற்று | māṟṟu | to change, alter
to conceal, hide
to shift; to transfer, as from a place |
matu | grade of gold | மாற்று | māṟṟu | degree of fineness of gold or silver |
mempelam | mango | மாம்பழம் | mā-m-paḻam | mango fruit |
merunggai, remunggai | Moringa oleifera | முருங்கை | muruṅkai | Moringa pterygosperma | latter is metathesis of former
metai | bed | மெத்தை | mettai | bed, cushion |
meterai | seal, stamp | முத்திரை | muttirai | 1\. impress, mark
2\. seal, signet
3\. stamp, as for postage, for court fees |
misai | mustache | மீசை | mīcai | 1\. upper part,
2\. cf. šmašru. moustache |
modal | capital, stock | முதல் | mutal | 1\. beginning
2\. principal, fund, capital, money yielding interest
3\. stock, store |
mundam | large tub for royal bathing | முந்தை | muntai | small vessel |
mutu | 1\. quality, purity of gold
2\. sad
3\. In pinch (chess) | முட்டு | muttu | difficulty, as in passing,
hindrance, obstacle, impediment |
nali | volume unit =16 gantang =1/50 koyan | நாழி | nāḻi | tubularity; tube,
a measure of capacity, =8 ollocks | related to nāḍi
nelayan | fisherman | நுளையன், கரையான், வலையன், வலைஞன் | nuḷaiyaṉ, karaiyāṉ, valaiyaṉ, valaiñaṉ, | fisher(man) |
nila | indigo | நீல | nila | blue, black, common indigo, blue nelumbo |
nilai | value | நிலை | nilai | standing
character, quality, temper, nature |
nilakandi | indigo (color, stone): blue vitriol | நீலகண்டன் | nīla-kaṇṭaṉ | blue vitriol |
nilam | Pycnonotus aurigaster,
Pogostemon cablin | நீலம் | nīlam | blue, azure or purple colour |
ondé-ondé | 1\. jian dui (Java)
2\. klepon (Sumatra and Malay Peninsula) | உண்டை | uṇṭai | ball, globe, sphere; anything round or globular |
panai | wooden tray | பானை | pāṉai | 1\. large earthen pot or vessel
2\. measure of capacity
3\. oil measure = 4 cempu |
pancalogam | alloy | பஞ்சலோகம் | pañcalōkam | 1\. The five kinds of metal, poṉ, irumpu, cempu, īyam, veḷḷi;
2\. Amalgam of the five metals |
pandam | resin (in the grip of keris) | பண்டம் | pantam | 1\. substance, material, utensils.
2\. belly, body | from bhāṇḍa
pandu | 1\. guide
2\. to drive | பந்து | pantu | relation, kinsman | from bandhu.
patam, petam | ornament, jewelry | பட்டம் | paṭṭam | plate of gold worn on the forehead, as an ornament or badge of distinction |
pawai | 1\. parade, procession
2\. royal equipments | பவனி | pavaṉi | parade |
pelbagai | various | 1\. பல
2\. வகை | 1\. pala
2\. vakai | 1\. many
2\. division, class, manner, way, nature, goods, places, detail |
perisai | shield | பரிசை | paricai | 1\. shield, buckler (come from phara)
2\. large umbrella, as a badge of honour |
perli | satire, mockery | புரளி | puraḷi | 1\. lying, falsehood;
2\. mischief, waggishness;
3\. quarrel, wrangle, broil; |
peta | map | படம் | paṭaṁ | map
peti | chest, box | பெட்டி | peṭṭi | chest, trunk, coffer, box |
pitam | headache, dizziness | பித்தம்
பித்தம் | pittam
pitta | lunacy, madness
dizziness |
puadai | red carpet | பாவாடை | pāvāṭai | red carpet |
pualam | marble | பவளம் | pavaḷam | red coral |
pudi | small diamond | பொடி | poṭi | small gem |
putu | kue putu | புட்டு | puṭṭu | puttu |
ragam | variety, trait, character | ராகம் | (i)rākam | desire, color, redness, music |
roti | bread | ரொட்டி | roṭṭi | bread, wheaten cake |
sambal | sambal | சம்பாரம் | campāram | spicy condiments, curry stuff | 1\. from Sanskrit सम्बार (sambāra) 'spices'.
2\. related to sambar (சாம்பார் cāmpār)
satai, saté | satay | சதை | catai | flesh |
sedelinggam | red paint material | சாதிலிங்கம் | cātiliṅkam | cermilion, red sulphurate of mercury |
senam | calisthenics | சானம்
சனம்
| cāṇam
caṉam | meditation (dhyāna)
people, crowd, herd |
sengketa | to dispute, to antagonize | ஸங்கடம் | saṅkaṭam | trouble |
talam | tray without feet | தாலம் | tālam | 1\. eating- plate, porringer, usually of metal.
2\. Salver |
tampah | tray | தம்பா | tampā | tray | see tatak
tambi | 1\. younger brother (Indian)
2\. helper | தம்பி | tampi | younger brother (Indian) |
tandil | overseer | தண்டல் | taṇṭal | tax-collector |
tandu | palanquin | தண்டு | taṇṭu | pole of a palanquin or other vehicle |
tembaga | copper | செம்பு | cempu | copper, gold, metal vessel |
teman | friend | தமன் | tamaṉ | friend (male) |
terusi, tursi | blue vitriol | துருசு | turucu | blue vitriol |
tirai | curtain | திரை | tirai | curtain |
tolan, taulan | friend | தோழன் | tōlan | friend (male) |
topi | hat | தொப்பி | toppi | cap |
tunai | cash | துணை | tuṇai | measure, extent, degree, quantity, number | ?
undi | vote, lots | உண்டை | uṇṭai | ball, globe, sphere; anything round or globular |
Wéda | Vēdas | வேதம் | vētam | Vēdas |

## In Mauritian Creole

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Creole  | Tamil  | Meaning

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Kali | Kalli | Name of a plant
Notchi | Notchi | Name of a plant
Mourouk (Muruku) | Murungai | Name of a tree
Vetivert | Vettiver | Name of a plant
Att | Atta | Name of a fruit
Goyave | Koyyu | Name of a fruit
Pipangaye | Peerkanggaye | Name of a vegetable
Mourroung | Murungai (முருங்கை) | Moringa
Patol | Pudol | Name of a vegetable
Avrayka | Avaraykaye | Name of a vegetable
Kotaranga | Kottuvarangaye | Name of a vegetable
Kotomili | Kottumalli | Name of a vegetable
Karoupillay | Karuvepilay | Name of a vegetable
Betel | Vettrilaye | Name of a vegetable
Pak | Paku | Name of a vegetable
Putu | Pittu | Name of a cake
Ounday | Ourounday | Name of a cake
Mourkou | Mouroukkou | Name of a snacks
Ayo! | Ayyo! | Exclamation

## In Tagalog

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Close contact through commercial networks between India and Maritime Southeast Asia for more than two millennia, bolstered by the establishment of Tamil as a literary language in India starting from the 9th century, allowed the spread of Dravidian loanwords in several local languages of Southeast Asia, including Old Malay and Tagalog. A list of Tagalog words with Tamil origins are shown below.[10]

Tagalog  | Tamil  | Meaning in Tamil  | Meaning in Tagalog

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Bagay [10] | வகை (Vagai) | Kind, class, sort; goods; property; means of livelihood | Thing; object; article
Baril [10] | வெடில் (Veḍil) | Explosion | Gun; to shoot (with a gun)
Bilanggo [10] | விலங்கு (Vilaṅgu) | Fetters; shackles; manacles | Captive; prisoner
Gulay [10] | குழை (Kulai) | To become soft, pulpy, as well-cooked | Vegetable
Kalikam [10] | காரிக்கம் (kārikkam) | Unbleached plain cotton cloth | Embroidered breeches from Brunei
Kawal [10] | காவல் (Kāval) | Watchman; guard | Soldier; warrior
Kawali [10] | குவளை (Kuvaḷai) | Wide-mouthed vessel; cup | Frying pan, skillet
Kiyapo [10] | கயப்பு (Kayappū) | Aquatic flower | Pistia stratiotes
Mangga [10] | மாங்காய் (Māngāi) | Unripe mango fruit | Mango (in general)
Malunggay [10] | முருங்கை (Murungai) | Moringa oleifera | Moringa oleifera
Misay [10] | மீசை (Mīcai) | Moustache | Moustache
Palisay [10] | பரிசை (Paricai) | Shield; buckler | Shield used in warrior dances
Puto [10] | புட்டு (Puttu) | A kind of confectionery | Rice cake

## In Réunion Creole

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Creole  | Tamil  | Meaning  | English word

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rougail | ஊறுகாய் | Pickled fruits | Pickles

## In Russian

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Russian  | Tamil  | Meaning  | English word

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катамаран | கட்டு மரம் | tied logs | Catamaran

## In Sinhala

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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, as well as through Dravidian substratum effect on the Sinhala Language.

### In Sinhala words

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Main article: List of Sinhala words of Tamil origin

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 transliteration | Meaning | Tamil transliteration | Meaning | Type

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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 servants | Administration
appā | Father (regional/colloquial) | appā | Father[11] | 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
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[citation needed]. | 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
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
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
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
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
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 | urai | cover | Daily
urumaya | Rights/heritage | urimai | Rights/heritage | Administration
vaṭṭiya | Type of shallow basket |  |  | Daily
veri | Drunk | veṟi | intention, madness | Daily

### In Sinhala verbs

[edit]

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  | Sinhala transliteration | Meaning | Tamil transliteration | Meaning

|
|
|
|

ඉරනවා  | iranavā | To tear |  |
කිට්ටු වෙනවා  | kiṭṭu venavā | To get close, to near | kitta varai |
කොල්ල කරනවා  | kolla karanavā | To plunder |  |
නෝන්ඩි වෙනවා  | nōnḍi venavā | To be humiliated/embarrassed |  |
පරක්කු වෙනවා  | parakku venavā | To be late/delayed |  |
පත්තු කරනවා  | pattu karanavā | To light, to set on fire | patṟu- | To catch fire
පේරු වැටෙනවා  | pēru väṭenavā | To fall to someone by chance | pēṟu | Luck ll
පේරු වැටෙනවා  | poḍi venavā | To be crushed/crumpled |  |
පූට්ටු කරනවා  | pūṭṭu karanavā | To splice, to fasten together |  |
තල්ලු කරනවා  | tallu karanavā | To push | thaḷḷu- | To push
තට්ටු කරනවා  | taṭṭu karanavā | To knock | thaṭṭu- |
| udav karanavā | To help |  |
වෙඩි කනවා  | veḍi kanavā | To have been shot | vedi | Shot, dynamite
වෙඩි තියනවා  | veḍi tiyanavā | To shoot, to fire | vedi | Shot, dynamite
වෙරි වෙනවා  | veri venavā | To become drunk | veri |

## See also

[edit]

* Wiktionary:Appendix:Malay words of Tamil origin
* List of countries and territories where Tamil is an official language
* Tamil population by cities
* Tamil population per nation
* Tamil language
* Tamil people
* Tamilisation

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Zvelebil, Kamil. "Dravidian languages". Retrieved 5 January 2021.
2. ^ Wald, Shalom; Kandel, Arielle. "India, Israel and the Jewish people". Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
3. ^ "Aiyo! The English language just usurped my all-purpose south Indian word and sucked the life out of it". Quartz (publication). 10 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
4. ^ "Catamaran; Define Catamaran at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
5. ^ "Cheroot; Define Cheroot at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
6. ^ "Corundum; Define Corundum at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
7. ^ "mulligatawny, n.". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2003.
8. ^ "patchouli". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
9. ^ "Pandal; Define Pandal at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Hoogervorst, Tom (15 April 2015). "Detecting pre-modern lexical influence from South India in Maritime Southeast Asia". Archipel. Études interdisciplinaires sur le monde insulindien (89): 63–93\. doi:10.4000/archipel.490. ISSN 0044-8613.
11. ^ "Dravidian Etymological Dictionary; Find definition of Appa in Dravidian Etymological Dictionary". dsal.uchicago.edu. 1984.