Tamil questions use enna what, yaar who, eppadi how, enga where, edhu which, yeppo when, yen why, evvalavu how much. Plus question particle -aa at end: varuviya will you come? Learn.
Wh- Words – Enna Yaar Enga
Wh-words: enna what, yaar who, enga where, eppadi how, yen why, eppo when, evvalavu how much, edhu which.
Yes-No with -aa Particle
Yes-no with -aa suffix added to verb: varingala? Will you come? Saapteengala? Did you eat? Puriyudha? Understanding? Adding -a makes question.
Question Sentences
Question sentences:
- Idhu enna? What is this? Idhu yaar veedu? Whose house is this?
- Neenga enga irukeenga? Where are you?
- Eppadi pora? How going?
- Yen varala? Why didn’t come?
- Eppo varuva? When will come?
- Varuviya? Will you come? Neenga varuveengala? Respectful?
Pronunciation Tips
Pronunciation Tips:
- Enna – en-na what double n.
- Yaar – yaar long aa who.
- Enga – en-ga where.
- Varinagala – va-reeng-ga-laa? Long?
- Puriyudha – pu-ri-yu-dha does it understand?
Common Mistakes
Common Mistakes:
- Saying enna where? No enna what, enga where mixing – common beginners confund HUGE? Enna vs enga difference n vs ng.
- Forgetting -aa rising intonation needed: Neenga varringa statement you come, neenga varringala? question will you come? Only -aa makes question.
- Using double wh + -aa: Enna varuviya? Enna redundant if already wh.
- Word order keep wh same place not front like English? In Tamil wh can stay where answer expects? Eg Nee enna saapta? You what ate? enna stays middle.
Cultural Note & Practice
Cultural Note: Tamil questions often softened with konjam: Konjam solla mudiyuma? Can tell little? Saapteengala Did you eat? is greeting not literal food question? Actually greeting like how are you. Yaar? Who? Asked indirectly about caste? Avoid direct jaathi? Not polite to ask directly. Instead oor enna?
Practice:
- What: Idhu enna?
- Where: Bus stand enga?
- How: Eppadi irukeenga?
- When: Eppo varuva?
- Yes-no: Coffee kudika varingala? Will come drink coffee?