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 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.[2]
In English [ ]
show English word
Tamil word
Transliteration
Meaning in English
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 [ ]
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 .
show 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 [ ]
show 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 [ ]
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.
show 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[10]
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[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
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.
show 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 [ ]