Basic Nouns

1. தண்ணீர்

   taṇṇīr

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water, understood in any eatery or shop

2. உணவு

   uṇavu

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food — a way into asking where you can eat

3. பணம்

   paṇam

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for anything about paying or changing currency

4. கழிப்பறை

   kaḻippaṟai

   Toilet

   Usage

   Essential when asking directions. The word alone usually does the job

5. டிஷ்யூ

   ṭiṣyū

   Tissue

   Usage

   Needed at toilets and street stalls that provide no paper

6. மருந்து

   maruntu

   Medicine

   Usage

   Use it at a pharmacy while miming your symptom

7. சாமான்

   cāmāṉ

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking, carrying or collecting bags — common at airports and hotels

8. சாவி

   cāvi

   Key

   Usage

   For room keys and locker keys

9. டிக்கெட்

   ṭikkeṭ

   Ticket

   Usage

   Transport or entry tickets. Combine it with a number at the counter

10. கடவுச்சீட்டு

    kaṭavuccīṭṭu

    Passport

    Usage

    Requested at check-in and currency exchange, and the word you need if it goes missing

11. தொலைபேசி

    tolaipēci

    Phone

    Usage

    Usually covers both the device and the act of calling

12. சார்ஜர்

    cārjar

    Charger

    Usage

    For borrowing or buying one — often needed at a hotel front desk

13. நிலையம்

    nilaiyam

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions

14. மருத்துவமனை

    maruttuvamaṉai

    Hospital

    Usage

    For when you fall ill — works as a destination in a taxi

15. காவல்துறை

    kāvaltuṟai

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents. Even the bare word conveys urgency

16. கடை

    kaṭai

    Shop

    Usage

    The base word when asking where to buy something

17. அறை

    aṟai

    Room

    Usage

    For accommodation — checking vacancies or explaining a room number

18. சாலை

    cālai

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, ideally while pointing at a map

19. குடும்பம்

    kuṭumpam

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic. Add a number and the conversation keeps going

20. பெயர்

    peyar

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. தலை

    talai

    Head

    Usage

    Body-part card; point at your own head to say where it hurts

22. கண்

    kaṇ

    Eye

    Usage

    Body-part card for eye trouble; also used at an optician or pharmacy

23. பல்

    pal

    Tooth

    Usage

    Body-part card for toothache; also used when looking for a dentist

24. தொண்டை

    toṇṭai

    Throat

    Usage

    The throat inside; the outside of the neck is a different word (kazhuthu)

25. வயிறு

    vayiṟu

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    Body-part card for stomach ache or food poisoning

26. முதுகு

    mutuku

    Back

    Usage

    Body-part card for back pain; also useful at a massage shop

27. இடுப்பு

    iṭuppu

    Lower back / waist

    Usage

    Lower back pain; the same word means the waist of a garment, so point at your body

28. கால்

    kāl

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Covers both leg and foot; in number contexts the same word means "a quarter", so always point at your own leg

29. கை

    kai

    Hand / arm

    Usage

    Tamil uses one word for hand and arm; point at your own body to show which you mean

30. மார்பு

    mārpu

    Chest

    Usage

    The ribcage area; the breast is a different word (maarbagam), so the two are not confused

31. தங்கும் விடுதி

    taṅkum viṭuti

    Hotel (lodging)

    Usage

    In Tamil Nadu "hotel" normally means an eatery; for a place to sleep use this word or the English "LODGE" on signboards

32. விமான நிலையம்

    vimāṉa nilaiyam

    Airport

    Usage

    Show to a taxi or auto driver as your destination

33. பேருந்து நிறுத்தம்

    pēruntu niṟuttam

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Ask where a bus stop is; a long-distance bus terminal is perundhu nilaiyam

34. மெட்ரோ ரயில்

    meṭrō rayil

    Metro (subway)

    Usage

    Chennai is the only city in Tamil Nadu with a metro; elsewhere the word is understood but there is no system

35. தூதரகம்

    tūtarakam

    Embassy

    Usage

    Show as a destination if you lose your passport; embassies are in Delhi, while Chennai has consulates (thunaith thoodharagam)

36. ஏடிஎம்

    Ēṭiem

    ATM

    Usage

    Ask where an ATM is; street signage almost always uses the English letters "ATM"

37. பணம் மாற்றும் மையம்

    paṇam māṟṟum maiyam

    Money exchange

    Usage

    For finding a currency exchange; shop boards usually read "FOREX" or "MONEY EXCHANGE" in English

38. சலவைக் கடை

    calavaik kaṭai

    Laundry shop

    Usage

    Coin laundromats barely exist in Tamil Nadu; you drop clothes off at a laundry shop, and this is that shop

39. தீயணைப்பு வாகனம்

    tīyaṇaippu vākaṉam

    Fire engine

    Usage

    The vehicle built for putting out fires; the fire service number in India is 101

40. துணைத் தூதரகம்

    tuṇait tūtarakam

    Consulate

    Usage

    Show it as a destination. The embassy in the capital is tūtarakam; a consulate in another city takes the prefix tuṇai (sub-)

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