Electronics

1. கைபேசி

   kaipēci

   Mobile phone

   Usage

   Literally "hand phone", a Tamil coinage that is standard on signs and in official use. In speech "cellphone" is heard just as often

2. ஸ்மார்ட்போன்

   smārṭpōṉ

   Smartphone

   Usage

   For talking about models or at a repair shop. In daily talk "kaipesi" is enough

3. டேப்லெட்

   ṭēpleṭ

   Tablet

   Usage

   The word you hear at airport security when told to take it out of your bag

4. லேப்டாப்

   lēpṭāp

   Laptop

   Usage

   For asking a cafe whether you may use a socket. Tamil has a coinage, "madikkanini", but nobody says it in conversation

5. சார்ஜர்

   cārjar

   Charger

   Usage

   The classic thing to leave behind. Reception can often lend one — show the word and ask

6. சார்ஜிங் கேபிள்

   cārjiṅ kēpiḷ

   Charging cable

   Usage

   Sold at phone shops and station-front stalls. Show the connector shape to be sure of the type

7. பவர் பேங்க்

   pavar pēṅk

   Power bank

   Usage

   Worth carrying for power cuts and long bus rides. The English term is used as-is

8. அடாப்டர்

   aṭāpṭar

   Plug adapter

   Usage

   India uses round three-pin sockets at 230V / 50Hz — check that your device supports it too

9. பிளக் பாயிண்ட்

   piḷak pāyiṇṭ

   Power outlet

   Usage

   Indian English borrowed straight into Tamil. Asking where the "plug point" is works everywhere

10. பேட்டரி

    pēṭṭari

    Battery

    Usage

    Covers built-in batteries and dry cells alike

11. வைஃபை

    vaifai

    Wi-Fi

    Usage

    The first thing to check at a guesthouse or cafe. It dies with every power cut, so keep mobile data as a backup

12. வைஃபை கடவுச்சொல்

    vaifai kaṭavuccol

    Wi-Fi password

    Usage

    "Kadavuchol" is the Tamil word for a passphrase. In speech the borrowed "password" is just as widely used

13. சிம் கார்டு

    cim kārṭu

    SIM card

    Usage

    Buying one as a visitor needs your passport, a photo and your hotel address. The airport counter is the quickest route

14. மெமரி கார்டு

    memari kārṭu

    Memory card

    Usage

    For the camera shop. Write the capacity as a figure to avoid confusion

15. இயர்போன்

    iyarpōṉ

    Earphones

    Usage

    Cheap ones are sold at stations and street shops. "Headset" is understood too

16. கேமரா

    kēmarā

    Camera

    Usage

    Photography is usually banned inside temple sanctums, and some sites charge a separate camera ticket. Always ask first

17. டார்ச் லைட்

    ṭārc laiṭ

    Flashlight

    Usage

    Indian English used as-is. Needed where power cuts are frequent and in dimly lit temple corridors

18. ஏசி

    ēci

    Air conditioner

    Usage

    The abbreviation is standard in speech and on signs, and it names a class of room, train coach and bus. The Tamil "kulirsaadhanam" is written-only

19. ரிமோட்

    rimōṭ

    Remote control

    Usage

    Show it at reception when the room has no remote for the AC or the TV

20. மின்விசிறி

    miṉviciṟi

    Electric fan

    Usage

    Literally "electric fan-blade". Usually a ceiling fan, with speed set by a wall dial. The borrowed "fan" is also widely used

21. ஃபிரிட்ஜ்

    firiṭj

    Refrigerator

    Usage

    For asking whether a room has one. The Tamil "kulirsaadhana petti" is written-only and not used in conversation

22. டிவி

    ṭivi

    TV

    Usage

    For checking room facilities. The Tamil "tholaikkaatchi" belongs to the news and official contexts

23. மைக்ரோவேவ்

    maikrōvēv

    Microwave

    Usage

    Use it to ask for something to be reheated in a shared guesthouse kitchen

24. எலக்ட்ரிக் கெட்டில்

    elakṭrik keṭṭil

    Electric kettle

    Usage

    For asking whether the room can boil water — important if you want to sterilise drinking water

25. சலவை இயந்திரம்

    calavai iyantiram

    Washing machine

    Usage

    Literally "washing machine". Self-service laundries are rare — clothes usually go to a "salavaik kadai", the laundry shop

26. கீசர்

    kīcar

    Water heater

    Usage

    The tank heater on the bathroom wall. Many places need it switched on 20 minutes ahead — no hot water usually means it is simply off

27. இன்வெர்ட்டர்

    iṉverṭṭar

    Power backup inverter

    Usage

    The household battery unit that keeps lights and fans alive in a cut. Asking whether a guesthouse has one tells you how it copes

28. மின்வெட்டு

    miṉveṭṭu

    Power cut

    Usage

    Literally "electricity cut", a daily event in the districts. Show it at your guesthouse to ask when today's outage falls

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