Plan your trip · Language
Basic Tamil for visitors to Arunachala
You do not need Tamil to visit Tiruvannamalai ~ but a handful of words works wonders. A little effort to greet people in their own language is met, almost always, with warmth and delight. Here are the useful words and phrases, simply written the way they sound.
Tamil is the mother tongue of Tiruvannamalai, and one of the oldest living languages on earth ~ the language in which the saints sang Arunachala, and which you will hear all around you. English is widely understood in the tourist and ashram areas, so you will manage perfectly well without a word of Tamil. But a few phrases, offered with a smile, open doors that English never will ~ they say I have made a little effort to meet you where you are, and that is always felt. Below, the words are written as they sound to an English ear; don’t worry about perfect pronunciation, the effort is what counts.
Greetings & courtesies
Start here. “Vanakkam” ~ the lovely all-purpose respectful greeting, said with palms together ~ and “Nandri” (thank you) will carry you a long way on their own.
| English | Tamil (spoken) |
|---|---|
| Hello / greetings (respectful) | Vanakkam |
| Yes | Aamaam |
| No | Illai |
| Thank you | Nandri |
| Please | Tayavu seydu |
| Sorry / excuse me | Mannikkavum |
| How are you? | Eppadi irukkeenga? |
| I am fine | Naan nalla irukken |
| What is your name? | Unga peru enna? |
| My name is… | En peru… |
Useful everyday phrases
For the market, the auto, the cafe ~ the practical handful.
| English | Tamil (spoken) |
|---|---|
| How much? (price) | Evvalavu? |
| Too expensive | Romba jaasti |
| Where is…? | …enge irukku? |
| I don't understand | Enakku puriyala |
| Do you speak English? | Neenga English pesuveengala? |
| Water | Thanni |
| Food | Saappaadu |
| Coffee / tea | Kaapi / Tea |
| How far? | Evvalavu thooram? |
| Stop here | Inge nirutthunga |
Words of the temple & the hill
The devotional vocabulary you’ll meet at Arunachala. (Many of these are Sanskrit-derived and understood across India; see also our glossary.)
| English | Tamil (spoken) |
|---|---|
| God / the Lord | Kadavul / Iraivan |
| Temple | Kovil |
| Blessing / sacred sight | Darshan |
| Sacred ash | Vibhuti / Thiruneeru |
| Holy / sacred | Punithamaana |
| The hill (Arunachala) | Malai / Annamalai |
| Circumambulation | Girivalam / Pradakshinam |
| Full moon | Pournami |
| Alms / offering | Dhaanam |
Numbers & money
| English | Tamil (spoken) |
|---|---|
| One | Onnu |
| Two | Rendu |
| Three | Moonu |
| Four | Naalu |
| Five | Anju |
| Ten | Pathu |
| Hundred | Nooru |
| Rupees | Roobaay |
Tamil has sounds English lacks, so your pronunciation will be approximate ~ that is completely fine; locals are delighted by any attempt and will help you. Adding “-nga” to a word (as in vaango, come; saapdungo, please eat) makes it politer and more respectful, especially to elders. And a warm smile and folded hands (the vanakkam gesture) communicate respect beyond any words. You’ll find that even a little Tamil transforms how you’re received ~ from tourist to welcome guest.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak Tamil to visit Tiruvannamalai?
No. English is widely understood in the tourist and ashram areas of Tiruvannamalai, so you will manage well without Tamil. But learning a few phrases ~ especially 'Vanakkam' (a respectful hello) and 'Nandri' (thank you) ~ is met with great warmth and transforms how you are received.
How do you say hello and thank you in Tamil?
Hello (a respectful, all-purpose greeting) is 'Vanakkam', traditionally said with palms pressed together. Thank you is 'Nandri'. These two alone, offered with a smile, will carry you a long way and are always warmly received.
What language is spoken in Tiruvannamalai?
Tamil is the mother tongue of Tiruvannamalai and Tamil Nadu ~ one of the oldest living languages in the world. English is also widely understood in the tourist and ashram areas, and Hindi less so. A few words of Tamil, offered with warmth, open doors that English alone does not.