Spoken and Literary Tamil: Two Registers, One Language

Tamil has a well-known diglossia: the formal, written language and the everyday spoken language differ noticeably.

Two varieties

• Literary Tamil is used in writing, formal speeches, news bulletins and textbooks.
• Spoken Tamil, or colloquial Tamil, is used in daily conversation and in most films.

Some differences

Meaning	Literary	Spoken
I am going	நான் செல்கிறேன்	நான் போறேன்
What is your name?	உங்கள் பெயர் என்ன?	உங்க பேரு என்ன?
Come here	இங்கே வாருங்கள்	இங்க வாங்க

Spoken forms often shorten words and endings.

Regional variation

Spoken Tamil also varies across Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere. Chennai, Madurai, Jaffna and Kuala Lumpur each have their own flavour.

What this means for learners

• Learn spoken Tamil if you want to chat with people.
• Learn literary Tamil if you want to read newspapers, books and formal text.
• Expect to switch between the two.

Which to start with

Many learners begin with spoken Tamil for conversation, then add the written form. Others learn the writing first and speech later. There is no wrong order.

Media

• Films and television use mostly spoken Tamil.
• News bulletins use a more formal register.
• Books and newspapers use mostly written Tamil.

A dictionary helps

A dictionary generally gives words in their standard written form. Learners can then compare it with the spoken form they hear.

Tips

1. Decide your goal.
2. Listen to both registers.
3. Use the dictionary to check standard forms.

Look up any Tamil word with English Tamil Dictionary →