Signs

1. நுழைவு

   nuḻaivu

   Entrance

   Usage

   Displayed at entrances of stations, government buildings, and temples, usually alongside English "ENTRY" or "ENTRANCE"

2. வெளியேறும் வழி

   veḷiyēṟum vaḻi

   Exit

   Usage

   Displayed at exits of stations, airports, and facilities, usually alongside English "EXIT" or "WAY OUT"

3. அவசரகால வெளியேறும் வழி

   avacarakāla veḷiyēṟum vaḻi

   Emergency Exit

   Usage

   Emergency exit sign, usually green and paired with a pictogram and the English "EMERGENCY EXIT"

4. OPEN

   Open

   Open (door sign)

   Usage

   Shop-door flip signs are almost always in English; the Tamil equivalent is திறந்திருக்கிறது (thirandhirukkirathu)

5. CLOSED

   Closed

   Closed (door sign)

   Usage

   Shop-door flip signs are almost always in English; the Tamil equivalent is மூடப்பட்டுள்ளது (moodappattullathu)

6. திறந்திருக்கிறது

   tiṟantirukkiṟatu

   Open for business

   Usage

   Written on shop boards or notices to state the place is currently open — more explanatory than the English "OPEN" flip sign

7. தற்காலிகமாக மூடப்பட்டுள்ளது

   taṟkālikamāka mūṭappaṭṭuḷḷatu

   Temporarily closed

   Usage

   Tamil Nadu has no fixed equivalent of Japanese "junbichuu"; this is the wording used on notices taped to a shutter or door for a temporary closure

8. ஆண்கள்

   āṇkaḷ

   Men

   Usage

   Marks the men's public toilet; the English half of the sign usually reads "GENTS" or "MEN"

9. பெண்கள்

   peṇkaḷ

   Women

   Usage

   Marks the women's public toilet; the English half of the sign usually reads "LADIES" or "WOMEN"

10. உள்ளே நுழைய தடை

    uḷḷē nuḻaiya taṭai

    No Entry

    Usage

    Posted on doors and areas restricted to authorized people, usually with English "NO ENTRY"

11. புகைபிடித்தல் தடை

    pukaipiṭittal taṭai

    No Smoking

    Usage

    Posted at stations, government buildings, and restaurants; smoking is banned in enclosed public places across India, so this sign is everywhere

12. SMOKING ZONE

    Smoking Zone

    Smoking Area

    Usage

    Marks a designated smoking area at airports and hotels; this sign is written in English only (Tamil would be புகைபிடிக்கும் இடம்)

13. படிக்கட்டு

    paṭikkaṭṭu

    Stairs

    Usage

    Directional sign pointing to stairs in stations and buildings, usually with English "STAIRS"

14. PUSH

    Push

    Push

    Usage

    Door push/pull stickers are almost always English only; the Tamil would be தள்ளவும் (thallavum), which is rarely seen

15. PULL

    Pull

    Pull

    Usage

    Door push/pull stickers are almost always English only; the Tamil would be இழுக்கவும் (izhukkavum), which is rarely seen

16. பணி நடைபெறுகிறது

    paṇi naṭaipeṟukiṟatu

    Work in progress

    Usage

    Posted at construction sites and blocked passages, often alongside English "WORK IN PROGRESS" or "MEN AT WORK"

17. OUT OF ORDER

    Out of Order

    Out of Order

    Usage

    Posted on lifts, ATMs, and toilet stalls; the English wording is standard, sometimes with a hand-written பழுது (pazhuthu)

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