Tamil loanwords in other languages
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.
In Biblical Hebrew
The importance of Tamil loanwords in Biblical Hebrew is that linguistically these words 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.
In English
English word | Tamil word | Transliteration | Meaning in English |
---|---|---|---|
Aiyo! | ஐயோ | Aiyyo! | Oh no! / Oh dear![1] |
Anicut | அணைக்கட்டு | Anaikattu | Anicut/Dam |
Curry | கறி | kaṟi | relish for rice |
Catamaran | கட்டுமரம் | kattumaram | a type of boat[2] |
Cheroot | சுருட்டு | suruṭṭu | roll[3] |
Corundum | குருந்தம்/குருவிந்தம் | kuruntham/kuruvintham | ruby[4] |
Mango | மாங்காய் | Maangaai | Mango |
Moringa | முருங்கை | Murungai | Murungagaai |
Mulligatawny | மிளகுத்தண்ணி | miḷaku-taṇṇīr/milaguthanni | pepper water[5] |
Patchouli | பச்சை இலை | pachchai ilai | green leaf[6] |
Pandal | பந்தல் | pandhal | temporary shelter[7] |
Pariah | பறையர் | Paraiyar | Outcast |
Ginger | இஞ்சி வேர் | Inji ver | Ginger Root |
In Malay
Loanwords from Tamil, mainly exist in cuisine, like Chinese and unlike Sanskrit. It mainly entered the lexicon of Classical Malay (and by extension, its Modern and Indonesian variants) with the immigration of South Indian traders who settled around the Strait of Malacca. See also Wiktionary:Appendix:Malay words of Tamil origin.
Malay word | Tamil word | Transliteration | Original Sanskrit word | Meaning in English |
---|---|---|---|---|
apam | அப்பம் | apam | kind of cake or Hoppers | |
bendi | வெண்டி | vendi | okra/lady's finger | |
entar | īntara | next time | ||
kapal | கப்பல் | kappal | boat | |
kedai | கடை | kadai | foodstall | |
kuil | கோயில் | koyil | temple/shrine | |
kolam | குளம் | kulam | Pool of water | |
mangga | மாங்காய் | mangkai | mango | |
pelan | pāḷam | slow | ||
peta | படம் | Paṭaṁ | pata (पट) | map |
topi | தொப்பி | toppi | hat | |
In Mauritian Creole
Creole | Tamil | Meaning |
---|---|---|
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 Russian
Russian | Tamil | Meaning | English word |
---|---|---|---|
катамаран | கட்டு மரம் | tied logs | Catamaran |
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, as well as through Dravidian substratum effect on the Sinhala Language.
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 transliteration | Meaning | Tamil transliteration | 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 servants | Administration |
appā | Father (regional/colloquial) | appā | Father (Originally from Syriac word Aba[8]) | 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 | ||
urumaya | Rights/heritage | urimai | Rights/heritage | Administration |
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 | 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
References
- "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.
- "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