How Well Do You Know Tamil Vocabulary?

Why take our Tamil Vocabulary Quiz?

Tamil is one of the 26 Dravidian languages spoken on the Indian subcontinent and is one of the oldest languages not to have been heavily influenced by Sanskrit. Due to this, Tamil is today the closest language to that old Dravidian language that existed thousands of years ago. Learn Tamil Online and communicate with native speakers around the world.

Tamil, a Dravidian language with a history spanning over two millennia, is one of the world’s oldest and richest classical languages. Spoken predominantly in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the northeastern region of Sri Lanka, Tamil boasts over 70 million speakers worldwide. Its prominence as an ancient literary language, a vibrant contemporary tongue, and a significant cultural force has earned it the status of an official language in both India and Sri Lanka.

The roots of the Tamil language can be traced back to the early Sangam period, approximately 300 BCE to 300 CE, during which a vast collection of classical Tamil literature known as Sangam literature was produced. This corpus includes remarkable poetic works, literary anthologies, and treatises on grammar, music, and other disciplines. The Tamil language’s contributions to literature, the arts, and the sciences have played a pivotal role in shaping the cultural landscape of South India and beyond.

Tamil is renowned for its unique and intricate writing system, which is among the oldest continuously used scripts in the world. The Tamil script consists of consonants, vowels, and a distinctive set of diacritic marks that modify the pronunciation of consonants. Its script’s distinctiveness and antiquity have contributed to the preservation of Tamil’s literary heritage and the continuity of its cultural identity.

The Tamil language holds great importance in religious and spiritual traditions, particularly within Hinduism. Many sacred texts, devotional hymns, and religious teachings are written in Tamil, making it a crucial language for millions of Hindus worldwide. Moreover, Tamil has been the medium for expressing philosophical ideas, moral values, and artistic expressions in various art forms, including dance, music, and drama.

Tamil cinema, popularly known as “Kollywood,” has garnered international recognition and a dedicated global fan base. The Tamil film industry produces a vast number of movies annually, many of which are acclaimed for their storytelling, cinematography, and music. Kollywood’s influence on Indian cinema and the entertainment industry at large is a testament to the cultural impact of Tamil language and creativity.

In contemporary times, Tamil is a vibrant and evolving language that continues to adapt to modern needs. The Tamil diaspora around the world, especially in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom, has contributed to the language’s global presence and enriched its lexicon with borrowings from various languages and cultures.

Below are a few languages that are related to Tamil in that they also belong to the Dravidian language family:

In fact, the earliest evidence of Tamil dates back over 2000 years! A fun fact is that the script is so curly because this prevented tears in the palm leaves that were used for paper back in the day. In India, it is spoken predominantly in the state of Tamil Nadu, where it has official status. It is also recognized as an official language in Sri Lanka and Singapore and is a language of education in Malaysia.