Are you moving to Chennai for work or higher education? While I’m sure you will enjoy the the opportunities the city has to offer, there will also be this feeling that you cannot understand this new language being spoken all around you. From auto drivers to shopkeepers to PG landlords, everyone around you speaks Tamil, and you want to learn enough Tamil to get by.
The good news is that learning Tamil is not too difficult with the right guidance!
And that’s exactly what I’m here to do for you today. This article will give you the 30 most essential survival Tamil phrases every newcomer to Chennai must know. These phrases will make your life easier and help you navigate the city right from Day 1!
Furthermore, Chennai can be easily navigated with Tanglish,that is Tamil + English, and that’s how we’ve designed these essential Tamil phrases too - not pure textbook Tamil, but natural sentences that you can actually speak with locals.
So come, Vaanga, let’s get started!
1. Vanakkam – Hello Vanakkam is said with a hands-closed “Namaste” gesture. Simple, friendly, and safe to use anywhere.
Example: “Vanakkam uncle, Vanakkam aunty!”
2. Epdi irukeenga? – How are you? The standard respectful way to say “How are you” in Tamil. You can say ‘epdi irukeenga’ or ‘neenga epdi irukeenga’. ‘Neenga’ means ‘you’. Both sentences imply the same.
Example: “Epdi irukeenga, uncle?”
3. Nalla iruken – I am fine This is a standard reply when someone asks ‘How are you?’ You can say ‘Naan nalla iruken’ or just ‘nalla iruken’, it means the same. ‘Naan’ means ‘I’.
Example: “Naan nalla iruken, neenga epdi irukeenga?”
4. Vaanga – Please Come/Welcome Means “Please come”, but often used respectfully like “Welcome”.
Example: “Vaanga vaanga… Ukkaarunga!” (Come, come…. please sit!)
5. Nandri – Thank you This word is formal but its meaning is quite simple. It's just “Thank you”. Locals will deeply appreciate it when you use it.
Example: “Nandri anna”
6. Pannunga – Do The most powerful Tamil word for survival! Add Pannunga to any English word to turn it into Tamil politely.
Example: “Discount pannunga”, “Wait pannunga”, “Bill pannunga”, “Email pannunga”, “Call pannunga”, “Exchange pannunga”, “Repair pannunga”, “Adjust pannunga”.
7. Venum – Want Useful when talking to the waiter, or at a shop.
Example: “Extra sambar venum”
8. Vendaam – Don’t want Useful at a restaurant, or while shopping.
Example: “Coffee-la sugar vendaam.”
9. Podhum – Enough Keep this word in mind when you order that unlimited rice in South Indian meals.
Example: “Anna, rice podhum!”
10. Aama – Yes Standard way to say “Yes” in Tamil.
Example: “Aama, coffee venum” (yes, I want a coffee)
11. Illa – No Standard way to say “No” in Tamil.
Example: “Change illa, Google pay pannunga.”
12. Evlo? – How much? Perfect for shopping, autos, and buses.
Example: “Anna, Bisleri Water Bottle evlo?”
13. Edunga / Eduthukkonga – Take These words are used when you want to tell someone to take something or take a certain direction while traveling. ("Edunga" is usually "take it", while "Eduthukkonga" is emphasizing someone to take it for themselves)
Example: To an auto driver: “Left edunga, right edunga, next signal…” Or at a shop: “Aunty, 5 rupees change eduthukkonga.”
14. Kudunga – Give Very useful while shopping or at a restaurant.
Example: “oru(one) plate masala dosa kudunga”
15. Inga – Here ; Anga - There Important for directions. “Inga” and “Anga” are siblings, just like here and there.
Example: “Auto anna, inga right edunga, anga stop pannunga”
16. Niruthunga – Stop To stop an auto or bus.
Example: “Anna, left side niruthunga.”
17. Enna – What Useful for clarifications.
Example: “Enna problem sir?”
18. Enga – Where Very useful for directions.
Example: “Anna, metro station enga?”
19. Unga peru enna – What is your name ‘Unga’ means your, ‘peru’ means ‘name’, ‘enna’ means ‘what’.
Example: “Unga peru enna madam?”
20. En peru Mukesh – My name is Mukesh Replace Mukesh with your own name. ‘En’ means ‘my’.
Example: “Vanakkam! En peru Divya. Unga peru enna?”
21. Theriyaadhu – I don’t know When someone asks you directions to a place you are not familiar with, you can say “Theriyaadhu”, or you will be told “Theriyaadhu” if a person you are enquiring doesn’t know the information. Also used in the context of “Hindi theriyadhu”, “Tamil theriyadhu”, etc.
Example: “New to Chennai. Tamil theriyaadhu”
22. En ooru Delhi – My hometown is Delhi “Ooru” means hometown, just like in your hometown back home. Replace Delhi with your hometown.
Example: “En ooru Kolkata”
23. Velai – Work Useful word that means “work” as a noun.
Example: ““Naan IT velai panren” (“I do IT work”)
24. Konjam – A little You’ll hear this everywhere. Very useful Tamil word in everyday situations.
Example: “Konjam left”, “Konjam wait pannunga”, “Konjam adjust pannunga”, “Konjam Konjam Tamil theriyum” (I know a little Tamil).
25. Niraiya – More / A lot Opposite of Konjam.
Example: “Rice niraiya venum”
26. Thanni – Water It is always useful to know the word for water in Tamil. Keep handy at messes, PGs, and restaurants.
Example: “Oru(1) glass thanni”
27. Saaptingala? – Have you had food? One of the most common things you will be asked from family and friends almost as a greeting when you visit them.
Example: “Vanakkam sir! Saaptingala?”
28. Poittu varen – Bye, or I will come back “Poittu varen” means “I will go and come back” because in Tamil culture, it is considered inauspicious to just say you are going away. You always say that you will go and come back later.
Example: “sari anna, naan poittu varen!” (ok brother, I am leaving)
29. Pogalaam – Let’s go You’ll hear this often around lunch break or at the end of office hours. The entire office usually buzzes with the sound of “Pogalaam” when it’s time to leave!
Example: “Vaanga, canteen pogalaam!” (Come let’s go to the canteen)
30. Romba – Very/A lot An essential word to add emphasis, meaning “very” or “too much”. You can pair it with almost anything to express strong feelings, compliment a meal, or show deep gratitude.
Example: Romba nandri!” (Thank you very much) or “Saapaadu romba nalla irukku!” (The food is very good!)
How to Practise These 30 Survival Tamil Phrases Daily
Learning basic Tamil is all about daily micro interactions. Here’s how you can build confidence in using Tamil in your everyday life.
Use 3 sentences every day: Start with Wait pannunga, Inga niruthunga, Evlo. Use them even if you are unsure. Nobody will judge you.
Talk to your auto drivers: Autos are the best Tamil teachers. Just use all the direction words listed in the phrases above. Inga left edunga, Anga niruthunga, Evlo aachu, Change Kudunga can all be used in most interactions with them.
Listen more than you speak: Observe small conversations in your PG, food counter, office pantry, or at shops.
Learn through situations: For example, Auto words one week, Food words next week, Office phrases another week.
Mix English and Tamil freely: Chennai runs on Tanglish. You don’t need to learn pure Tamil. Tamil + English works in daily life.
Why These 30 Sentences Are Enough for Your First Month in Chennai
Most migrants think they need to learn full sentences like in a textbook. In reality, Chennai conversations are short, quick, mixed with English, and very predictable. Once you learn these 30 core sentences, you can create hundreds of combinations.
For example, from Venum, Vendaam, Podhum, Konjam, Niraiya, Paanunga, Edunga, you can form everyday mini dialogues that keep you going from morning to night.
- At a restaurant: “Idli venum, chutney vendaam, konjam sambar venum”
- In an auto: “Anna, inga straight, next signal left edunga”
- With your landlord: “Geyser repair pannunga please.”
- With your security: “Amazon parcel kudunga”
This kind of functional Tamil will help you easily integrate into the city.
Daily Life Situations You’ll Handle Easily After Learning These Tamil Sentences
Renting a house or PG: Talking to owner, broker, security, maid.
Using autos and cabs: Giving directions, asking to stop, explaining destinations.
Ordering food: Adjusting spice, asking for sambar or chutney, paying bills.
Office interactions: Lunch invites, casual greetings, small talk.
Supermarkets and roadside shops: Asking price, choosing items, requesting change.
Handling issues: Pipe leak, power cut, wifi trouble, gas refill.
With these 30 phrases, you gain independence fast.
Frequently Asked Questions New Migrants Have About Tamil
Is Tamil hard to learn?No. The spoken Tamil used in Chennai is very simple. You can manage most conversations with Tanglish.
Do I need to learn the script?Not at all. Romanized Tamil is enough for survival.
How long before I can understand people?Usually 1 to 2 months of intentional and thought out exposure, to understand the absolute basics necessary for city life. Fluency, however, is something that comes with a lot of practice over 1 to 2 years of listening and practicing, while following a guide like Bhashafy’s Bestseller Tamil Course that thousands of learners have used to learn to speak Tamil.
Will people judge me if I speak broken Tamil?Absolutely not. People appreciate effort. Even a little Tamil brings a smile to locals, and opens up your own cultural horizon.
Is Tamil different in other parts of Tamil Nadu?Yes. But Chennai Tamil is beginner friendly and widely used across cities and in pop culture like movies, TV shows and songs.
Want to Learn Tamil Properly in 30 Days?
If you want a structured step-by-step beginner course designed especially for newcomers in Chennai who are absolute beginners in Tamil, you can continue your learning with the expertly designed Bhashafy Bestseller Tamil Course.