Numbers

1. ஒன்று

   Oṉṟu

   One / 1

   Usage

   The number one in Tamil. Essential for shopping, ordering, and counting

   Grammar Note

   Tamil has its own numeral script (௧=1). Colloquially pronounced "onnu." Tamil numerals are placed before the noun in SOV sentences.

2. இரண்டு

   Iraṇṭu

   Two / 2

   Usage

   The number two in Tamil

   Grammar Note

   Colloquially pronounced "rendu." Tamil numerals show strong diglossia — written and spoken forms differ significantly.

3. மூன்று

   Mūṉṟu

   Three / 3

   Usage

   The number three in Tamil

   Grammar Note

   Colloquially "muunu." Tamil number words are inherited from ancient Dravidian and are unrelated to Sanskrit or English, reflecting the language's independent roots.

4. நான்கு

   Nāṉku

   Four / 4

   Usage

   The number four in Tamil

   Grammar Note

   Colloquially "naalu." Formal Tamil numerals are used in education and official documents; colloquial forms are used in everyday speech — a clear example of diglossia.

5. ஐந்து

   Aintu

   Five / 5

   Usage

   The number five in Tamil

   Grammar Note

   Colloquially "ainju." In Sangam literature, five was significant as the basis for the "tinai" (landscape/genre) classification system of five ecological zones.

6. பத்து

   Pattu

   Ten / 10

   Usage

   The number ten in Tamil. Frequently used in price negotiations and shopping

   Grammar Note

   "Pattu" (ten) is the base for compound Tamil numerals: 20 = irupatu, 30 = muppatu, 40 = naarpatu.

7. நூறு

   Nūṟu

   One hundred / 100

   Usage

   One hundred in Tamil. Commonly used when discussing prices

   Grammar Note

   "Nooru" is a native Dravidian word for 100, entirely unrelated to the Indo-European "hundred." Tamil's number system is completely independent of Sanskrit.

8. ஆயிரம்

   Āyiram

   One thousand / 1000

   Usage

   Used when discussing larger amounts like hotel rates or transport fares

   Grammar Note

   Frequently used for amounts in Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) or Indian rupees (INR). "2000 rupees" = "irandu aayiram rubaai."

9. முதல்

   Mutal

   First

   Usage

   Used to indicate sequence or to say "the first"

   Grammar Note

   "Mudal" is the Tamil ordinal "first." Used in phrases like "mudal vakuppu" (first class) and "mutalām iṭam" (first place). It is also used as a prefix meaning "original/primary."

10. இது எத்தனை?

    Itu ettaṉai?

    How many is this?

    Usage

    Basic phrase for asking about quantity

    Grammar Note

    "Ettanai" (how many) asks about countable quantity, while "evvalavu" (how much) asks about uncountable amount or price. Their usage depends on context.

11. பாதி விலையில் கொடுங்கள்

    Pāti vilaiyil koṭuṅkaḷ

    Please give it at half price

    Usage

    Bargaining for half price at a market

    Grammar Note

    "Paati" (half) is the base fraction in Tamil. Other fractions: "kaal" (quarter), "mukkaal" (three-quarters). Tamil has a rich system of classical fraction vocabulary.

12. மொத்தம் எவ்வளவு?

    Mottam evvaḷavu?

    How much is the total?

    Usage

    Checking the total amount when shopping or dining

    Grammar Note

    "Mottam" means total/altogether and functions as an adverbial noun. It is used in billing contexts: "mottam kanakku" (total bill).

13. எனக்கு வயது இருபத்தேழு

    Eṉakku vayatu irupattēḻu

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    How to answer when asked your age; the reply to "uṅkaḷukku vayatu evvaḷavu?"

    Grammar Note

    The answer simply replaces the interrogative "evvaḷavu" of the question with a numeral; no copula is used. "Irupattēḻu" is the sandhi form of "irupatu" (20) + "ēḻu" (7); the spaced "irupatti ēḻu" also occurs.

14. இந்த வருடம் எனக்கு இருபத்தெட்டு வயது ஆகும்

    Inta varuṭam eṉakku irupatteṭṭu vayatu ākum

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying what age you will reach this year

    Grammar Note

    "Ākum" is the future of "āku" (to become), used as in "evvaḷavu nēram ākum?". Both the spaced "vayatu ākum" and the joined "vayatākum" occur.

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