Today's Tamil word – 15th July 2020 – வடிவம்

Form/Shape - ரூபம் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word(s) - வடிவம்/உருவம்

Roop is the Hindi word for Shape. ரூபம் is the Tamilised version of that Sanskrit word.

The Tamil word வடிவு means shape and the word உரு means form or appearance. From these two door words come the Tamil words வடிவம், உருவம்.

Tamil God Murugan is given a name வடிவேலன், known for his beautiful appearance.

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Today's Tamil word – 14th July 2020 – சுத்திகரிப்பான்

Sanitiser - கிருமிநாசினி
Germ/Virus - கிருமி

Original Tamil words:
Sanitiser - சுத்திகரிப்பான்
Germ/Virus - நோய் நுண்மம்

The words ‘கிருமி’ and ‘நாசினி’ are both Sanskrit words which mean ‘germ’ and ‘that which destroys’, respectively. (நாசினி comes from the Sanskrit word நாசம்)

Since both these words are common in Tamil, the Tamil academicians and administration have used these words to give a Tamil name for Sanitiser.

But, originally Tamil had a word for this; in Tamil, cleansing/to clean is given by the word  சுத்திகரிப்பு (from the root word சுத்தம்). Using that word, a sanitiser can be given the Tamil word சுத்திகரிப்பான்.

Before the word கிருமி took over as the Tamil word for germ/virus, we used a word call நுண்மம் (that which is microscopic). So, Virus/Germs, in Tamil was called நோய் நுண்மம். The root word நுண் means tiny/minute/very small.

Unless our Tamil Nadu govt administration translates such new words using original Tamil words rather than by using commonly used Sanskriti words, there can’t be much hope for a revival in the purity of the Tamil language.

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Today's Tamil word – 13th July 2020 – துணிவு

Brave - தைரியம் (Dhairiyam from Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - துணிவு

How often we say Dhairyam when we want to refer to someone’s bravery in Tamil. We don’t we use the original, simple and easy Tamil word ‘துணிவு’ hereafter?

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Today's Tamil word – 12th July 2020 – இயல்

Chapter - அதிகாரம் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil words -
நூல்கூறுபாடு, இயல், பகுதி

We say Thirukkural has 133 அதிகாரம். Yet, the words அதிகாரம், காண்டம் are derived from Sanskrit.

By the time of Thirukkural itself, there had been quite a number of Sanskrit words that had come into the Tamil language. ஆதி, பகவன், குணம், தானம், தவம், தெய்வம், தேவர், மங்கலம், காலம், கருமம், ஆசை, காமம், நாமம், மந்திரி, குலம், குடும்பம் are some of the words which have been used in the Thirukkural which are not of Tamil origin.

There is also an argument that some parts of the Thirukkural we know of today, were not part of the original written by Valluvar. However, we don’t know how valid this argument is. Yet one thing is certain, the influence of Sanskrit over Tamil and the converse (albeit to a lesser extent) has been happening for over 2000 years.

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Today's Tamil word – 11th July 2020 – வாணிகம்

Business - வியாபாரம் (from Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - வணிகம்/வாணிகம்

The common word for business used today வியாபாரம் comes from the Sanskrit/Hindi word Vyapar. The word for a businessman/businesswomen is from this word : Vyapari (வியாபாரி).

However, the bonafide Tamil word for business is வணிகம் and the people who do business are called வணிகர் (வணிகன் for male; வணிகையர் for female)

I am sharing a blog that talks about the history of Tamil வாணியர்; it tells us the various business folk present in the Tamil community during the ancient Sangam time.

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Today's Tamil word – 10th July 2020 – அறிஞர்

Scholar - பண்டிதர் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - புலவர்/அறிஞர்

We often refer to a scholar as பண்டிதன் in Tamil, but the word is a Tamil version of the Sanskrit word Pandit.

Tamil has words like புலவர்/அறிஞர் to refer to a scholar. Over time, புலவர் has come to only mean scholarly practice in the field of literature/poetry.

The word அறிஞர், ofcourse, comes from the base word - அறிவு, which is knowledge. Tamil Nadu’s Former CM Annadurai, was popularly revered as அறிஞர் Anna, which I believe is one main reason why this word is still among the masses.

So, words which are out of practice can be put back into common use by popular/repeated usage over time. The word அறிஞர் is one prime example for that.

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Today's Tamil word – 9th July 2020 –ஈகை

Donate - தானம் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - ஈகை, கொடை

In Avvaiyar’s Aathichudi, where she gives one-liner life lessons for each Tamil alphabet ஈ is given by “ஈவது விலக்கேல்”, which means ‘Do not stop or avoid charitable deeds’

The stand-alone Tamil letter ஈ by itself, means to donate. கொடை is also a word for being charitable; it comes from the word கொடு which is the verb for -to give. Its usage is famous in the great Tamil leader Paari being known as கொடை வள்ளல் (one of the seven great philanthropists of Tamilagam - கடை ஏழு வள்ளல்கள்)

Ofcourse, the words தானம், தர்மம் have come from the religious influences into Tamil. They have almost replaced the native Tamil words like ஈகை and கொடை now.

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Today's Tamil word – 8th July 2020 – ஊர்தி

Vehicle - வாகனம் (from Sanskrit)
(Vaahan in Hindi)

Original Tamil word - ஊர்தி, வண்டி

The word ஊர்தி has become limited in its usage to only அமரர் ஊர்தி these days. Unsurprisingly it shows the place of Tamil today through that usage; It is the real Tamil word for vehicle.

The word comes from the verb - ஊர்ந்து which means to crawl (to move by crawling). Thus, the vehicle which moves by crawling was given the name ஊர்தி.

Prior to motorised vehicles, the word for animal based carts were called வண்டி; this word has now been used in Tamilised name given for a train (தொடர்வண்டி)

உந்து - is a Tamil word that means to propel (also means motivate/urge). This word became the word that gave Tamil words like பேருந்து (bus), சரக்குந்து (lorry) and மகிழுந்து (car) in due course of time as these inventions were made.

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Today's Tamil word – 7th July 2020 – ஓசை

Noise/Sound - சத்தம் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - ஓசை/ஒலி

The Tamil word ஒலி means sound (It is appropriate to mention here that ஒளி means light and ஒழி means to destroy).

The word கூச்சல் is the word to denote noise from talking (argument). It comes from the word கூவு which means to call out/say loudly.

சத்தம் is clearly the widely used word today for this context by Tamil speakers. How nice it would be to hear us say, கூச்சல் போடாதே, instead of saying சத்தம் போடாதே!

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Today's Tamil word – 6th July 2020 – ஆசான்

Teacher - Guru/குரு (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - ஆசான்/ஆசிரியர்

The word ‘Guru’ has become known across the world now. I have seen it being used in the US movies and shows too. It has travelled with Indian expatriates across to all corners of the globe.

We have been told the popular Indian saying, ‘Matha, pitha, guru, deivam’, all these four are Sanskrit words; matha and pitha couldn’t infiltrate into Tamil but the words Guru and Deivam have become widely accepted words in Tamil.

The original Tamil word for teacher is ஆசான். Its reference can be found in the third chapter of Tamil epic Silapathikaram, titled “அரங்கேற்று காதை” (story of the debut on-stage performance). It is about the first dance performance of Madhavi in Poompuhar (the Cholan Capital) before the court of the Chola king Karikalan. Here, Ilango Adigal uses the word ஆடல் ஆசான் to refer to Madhavi’s dance teacher.

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Today's Tamil word – 5th July 2020 – கேடு

Danger - அபாயம்/அபாயகரம்
(வடமொழி/Sanskrit)

Original Tamil words -
அழிவு, கேடு, இடுக்கண், துன்பம், பேரிடர்

We have seen அபாயம் written in cautionary signs/symbols to refer to danger, even by the government of Tamil Nadu. But it isn’t even a Tamil word;

Tamil has many words to convey the meaning of danger/hazard; depending on the context the right word should be used.

அழிவு - ruin/destruction (நாசம் is Sanskrit too)
கேடு - detriment/disaster/evil
இடுக்கண்/துன்பம் - misery/distress
இடர்/பேரிடர் - danger/trouble

When will we Tamils ever realise what is Tamil and what is not?

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Today's Tamil word – 4th July 2020 - தமையன்/தமக்கை

Brother/Sister - சகோதரன்/சகோதரி (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil words -
தமையன்/தமக்கை/தம்பி/தங்கை

Sahodar is the Sanskrit word for sibling; this has become a part of the common Tamil vocabulary as சகோதரன்/சகோதரி, along the way.

But, உடன்பிறப்பு (உடன்பிறந்தான்/உடன்பிறந்தாள்) is the generic original Tamil word for sibling.

Tamil has individual words for elder and younger siblings - தம்பி, தங்கை, தமையன் (அண்ணன்), தமக்கை (அக்காள்).

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Today's Tamil word – 3rd July 2020 – இயல்பு

Character/Nature - குணம் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word(s) - இயல்பு, தன்மை

The word இயல்பு is from the noun இயல் which has a wide array of meanings as explained by its root words:

உய் – to live, make, prepare, engage, lead, direct, guide, enjoy, experience, send, dispatch, tell, reveal

இய்/இய –move, live, light, splendour, custom, manner, trait, great

So, the meaning of இயல் is contextually taken from the many meanings mentioned here.

When used alone இயல் means literature (one part of the basic three categories of the Tamil language - இயல், இசை, நாடகம்)

Given this, the study of anything is referred to as a இயல் - அறிவியல், வாழ்வியல், உளவியல் etc..which essentially means the literary study of that field.

So, let us all say நல்லியல்பு or நற்தன்மை instead of நற்குணம் when someone shows good character from now on..

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Today's Tamil word – 2nd July 2020 – விருப்பம்

Desire - ஆசை (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil words:

அவா, விருப்பம், பற்று, வேட்கை, விழைவு

Words like ஆசை, பயம், காமம், பாசம் are all misinterpreted to be Tamil words..but actually these are all Sanskrit words which have come into the common usage of Tamil, having been widely used words in the religious preachings of the Vedas.

Tamil lost many of its nuanced words for such meanings after the Bhakti movement. In this example, Tamil had(has) different words for the different forms of desires (ஆசை), as explained below:

அவா - wish
விருப்பம், விழைவு - desire
பற்று - attachment/affection
வேட்கை - want

I’m sure, we know all these words too; it’s time we start using them again consciously over the word ஆசை in an attempt to revive the greatness of Tamil.

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Today's Tamil word – 1st July 2020 – மிகுதி

Excess - ஜாஸ்தி (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word(s) - மிகுதி/மிச்சம்/மீதம்

Related words :
Abundant - பெரும் வளம்
Plenty - ஏராளம்

The word மிகுதி/மிகுந்து/மீதம் means excess or much. There is a nuanced difference between the meanings of மிச்சம் and மீதம் . While மீதம் refers to the useful excess, மிச்சம் refers to the excess in vain.

அதிகம் is not an original Tamil word, as we can’t explain its root in Tamil. The words அதிகம், அதிகாரம், அதிகாரி, அதிசயம் etc have a Sanskrit connotation to them.

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Today's Tamil word - 29th May 2020 - அறம்

Morality (Dharma) - தர்மம் (from Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - அறம்

The word Dharma is used to convey various meanings like righteousness, ethics, virtue and morality depending on its context of usage. தர்மம் comes from the Vedic culture and is a word that is used extensively in epics like Mahabharata/The Gita to impress upon what is right and what is wrong.

Tamil, however, has different words for each of these meanings: ethics (நெறி), virtue (நல்லொழுக்கம்); அறம் is closely related to morality, and அறநெறி (அறம் + நெறி - a combination of ethics and morality) is the word for righteousness.

Yet, அறம் is much more meaningful than just morality. It means a way of life. Thirukkural preaches on what is அறம் quite elaborately. Valluvar defines அறம் as:

"அழுக்காறு அவாவெகுளி இன்னாச்சொல்  நான்கும்
இழுக்கா இயன்றது அறம்" - (குறள் 35)

Jealousy, Desire, Anger and Bitter speech, without these four comes what is called அறம்.

So essentially அறம் is the Tamil world for a disciplined, simplistic way of life without bitterness.

It is clear, அறம் and தர்மம் have different definitions going by the texts that prescribes them. Essentially these are cultural words, and hence they have deeply ingrained asymmetrical meanings. So, we cannot use them interchangeably. This reiterates the need to use the word அறம் and more importantly follow its values, in the right sense as it was meant to be.

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Today's Tamil word - 28th May 2020 - உதிரம்

Blood - இரத்தம் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil words - குருதி, உதிரம்

இரத்தம் comes from the Sanskrit root word for blood - Rakta. The words for blood in many languages now, like Hindi (Rakt), Malayalam (Raktam), Telugu and Kannada (Rakta) are also from this Sanskrit word.

Original Tamil word உதிரம் can be explained as below:

Ul (உள்) + Thiravam (திரவம்) → Ulthiravam (உள்திரவம்) → Uthiram(உதிரம்)

திரவம் is the Tamil word for 'FLUID'; so since blood is the inner fluid, it is called உதிரம் in Tamil.

The word குருதி has been used a lot in ancient Tamil literature to refer to blood. But I haven't been able to correctly decipher the root of this word.

In தொல்காப்பியம் (the oldest known Tamil literature), which documents the grammar of Tamil, Tholkaapiyar says, 'உருவும் கெழுவும் நிறனாகுமே', thereby meaning that the word உரு refers to a colour (by some references, the Red Colour). So, this uru (red) could have become kuru and given the word குருதி.

The common meaning of உரு today is shape (உருவம்); the usage of the word உரு as red colour should have gone out of practice very early.

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Today's Tamil word - 27th May 2020 - தீவினை

Sin - பாவம் (from Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word- தீவினை

The words பாவம் and புண்ணியம் come from Sanskrit's Vedic religious beliefs. It is the doctrine of Karma. Nevertheless, it is a belief that is part of the Tamil society, even before the influence of Sanskrit, albeit without the religious angle.

The famous Purananooru poem (number 192) of the great Kanian Poongundran says, "தீதும் நன்றும் பிறர்தர வாரா" (This is the very next line of "யாதும் ஊரே யாவரும் கேளிர்")

The above line, written about two millennia back, is still self-explanatory even today - 'the good and the bad, unless given won't be gotten'.

So, the original Tamil word for புண்ணியம் is நல்வினை and பாவம் is தீவினை (வினை is the Tamil word for deed).

Now though, பாவம் and புண்ணியம் are only prevalent as the words for good and bad deeds, completely driving out the original Tamil words நல்வினை and தீவினை due to their repeated religious usage.

பாவம் also takes the meaning of 'pity', sometimes in today's context; the right Tamil word for pity, however, is தயவு.

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Today's Tamil word - 26th May 2020 - சிக்கல்

Problem - பிரச்சனை (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - சிக்கல்

The word பிரச்சனை comes from the Sanskrit word 'prasna' which means question or problem in Sanskrit.

Prasna took different forms in Malayalam (Prasnam-problem), Telugu (Prasna-question), Kannada (Prasne-question) and Tamil (பிரச்சனை) to replace the original word for question/problem in those languages.

சிக்கல், the original Tamil word, comes from the word சிக்கு which means tangled (e.g. அவன் குழியில் விழுந்து சிக்கி கொண்டான்) . So, சிக்கல் means to get caught in a tricky/difficult situation. Today, while people still use சிக்கல் for problem in Tamil, the majority have shifted to using பிரச்சனை.

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Today's Tamil word - 25th May 2020 - சார்பாளர்

Representative - பிரதிநிதி (Sanskrit/Hindi)

Original Tamil word - சார்பாளர்

The word commonly used now for representative - பிரதிநிதி comes from the Sanskrit word பிரஜை (citizen). Everywhere in the news, we listen to the word பிரதிநிதி being used during election results, assembly/parliamentary sessions etc.

The original Tamil word, however, is சார்பாளர். It comes from the word சார்பு which means stand-by/represent (on-behalf of). In another context, it also means dependent on (e.g. நான், என் தந்தையைச் சார்ந்து இருக்கிறேன்).

First and foremost, the official communication has to change to சார்பாளர் instead of பிரதிநிதி, to bring about a change in the common usage. Will the government administration or political parties, who all swear about fighting for Tamil, bring about such changes that would go a long way in actually reviving Tamil?

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