Tamil A1 — A1 Beginner Tamil

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The whole Tamil A1 level as one readable page: 3 units, 9 lessons, 63 words, 289 questions with every answer shown, a worksheet and a 10-item level test. Nothing here is behind JavaScript, and nothing needs an account.

What you can do when A1 is finished

• Understand and produce level-appropriate Tamil in real contexts.
• Read target script with consistent romanisation support.
• Use respectful, age-friendly language with cultural awareness.

A1, unit by unit

Foundations and People

Greetings and Respect

Learn greetings used across Tamil-speaking communities. Tamil is read left to right. Use நீங்கள் (nīṅkaḷ) with elders and new people; spoken forms may differ from formal written forms.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Tamil practice tests. multiple choice, fill in the blank, translation, reverse translation, matching, reorder, sentence building, word selection, error correction, dialogue completion, reading comprehension, paragraph comprehension. Every exercise works on Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice.

1. multiple choicePractice 1 [multiple choice] — Greetings and Respect: Choose the contextual meaning of வணக்கம் (vaṇakkam).

   1. Hello (respectful, universal)
   2. How are you? (formal)
   3. How are you? (familiar)
   Show the answer

   Hello (respectful, universal)

2. fill the gapPractice 2 [fill in the blank] — Greetings and Respect: Type the complete Tamil script expression for “How are you? (formal)”.

   Show the answer

   நீங்கள் எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்?

3. translatePractice 3 [translation] — Greetings and Respect: Read நீ எப்படி இருக்கிறாய்? (nī eppaḍi irukkiṟāy?) and give its contextual English meaning.

   Show the answer

   How are you? (familiar)

4. translate into the languagePractice 4 [reverse translation] — Greetings and Respect: Convert “I'm fine” into Tamil script; do not answer only in romanisation.

   Show the answer

   நான் நன்றாக இருக்கிறேன்

5. matchingPractice 5 [matching] — Greetings and Respect: Match நன்றி to the meaning used in this lesson.

   1. Yes / No
   2. Thank you
   3. Please
   Show the answer

   Thank you

6. put it in orderPractice 6 [reorder] — Greetings and Respect: Rebuild the lesson model with correct Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice: I'm fine, thank you. Which town are you from?

   Show the answer

   நான் நன்றாக இருக்கிறேன், நன்றி. நீங்கள் எந்த ஊர்?

7. build the sentencePractice 7 [sentence building] — Greetings and Respect: Rebuild the lesson model with correct Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice: Hello! My name is Divya.

   Show the answer

   வணக்கம்! என் பெயர் திவ்யா.

8. choose the wordPractice 8 [word selection] — Greetings and Respect: Select the lesson form meaning “Excuse me / Sorry”.

   1. வணக்கம்
   2. நீங்கள் எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்?
   3. மன்னிக்கவும்
   Show the answer

   மன்னிக்கவும்

9. find the mistakePractice 9 [error correction] — Greetings and Respect: Replace a literal or grammatically mismatched rendering with the correct lesson model for “I'm fine, thank you. Which town are you from?”.

   Show the answer

   நான் நன்றாக இருக்கிறேன், நன்றி. நீங்கள் எந்த ஊர்?

10. finish the dialoguePractice 10 [dialogue completion] — Greetings and Respect: Complete Karthik’s turn appropriately: Hello! I'm Karthik. How are you?

    Show the answer

    வணக்கம்! நான் கார்த்திக். நீங்கள் எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்?

11. readingPractice 11 [reading comprehension] — Greetings and Respect: Read நான் நன்றாக இருக்கிறேன், நன்றி. நீங்கள் எந்த ஊர்? (Nāṉ naṉṟāka irukkiṟēṉ, naṉṟi. Nīṅkaḷ enta ūr?). What precise detail is communicated?

    Show the answer

    I'm fine, thank you. Which town are you from?

12. paragraphPractice 12 [paragraph comprehension] — Greetings and Respect: Read the four-turn dialogue. State the contribution of this turn: நான் பெங்களூர். நான் தமிழ் கற்றுக்கொண்டிருக்கிறேன்.

    Show the answer

    I'm from Bengaluru. I'm learning Tamil.

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhat does வணக்கம் (vaṇakkam) mean here?

   1. Hello (respectful, universal)
   2. How are you? (formal)
   3. How are you? (familiar)
   4. I'm fine
   Show the answer

   Hello (respectful, universal)

   வணக்கம் (vaṇakkam) means “Hello (respectful, universal).”

2. quick checkWhat does நீங்கள் எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்? (nīṅkaḷ eppaḍi irukkiṟīrkaḷ?) mean here?

   1. How are you? (formal)
   2. How are you? (familiar)
   3. I'm fine
   4. Thank you
   Show the answer

   How are you? (formal)

   நீங்கள் எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்? (nīṅkaḷ eppaḍi irukkiṟīrkaḷ?) means “How are you? (formal).”

3. quick checkWhat does நீ எப்படி இருக்கிறாய்? (nī eppaḍi irukkiṟāy?) mean here?

   1. How are you? (familiar)
   2. I'm fine
   3. Thank you
   4. Yes / No
   Show the answer

   How are you? (familiar)

   நீ எப்படி இருக்கிறாய்? (nī eppaḍi irukkiṟāy?) means “How are you? (familiar).”

4. quick checkWhat does நான் நன்றாக இருக்கிறேன் (nāṉ naṉṟāka irukkiṟēṉ) mean here?

   1. I'm fine
   2. Thank you
   3. Yes / No
   4. Please
   Show the answer

   I'm fine

   நான் நன்றாக இருக்கிறேன் (nāṉ naṉṟāka irukkiṟēṉ) means “I'm fine.”

5. quick checkWhat does நன்றி (naṉṟi) mean here?

   1. Thank you
   2. Yes / No
   3. Please
   4. Excuse me / Sorry
   Show the answer

   Thank you

   நன்றி (naṉṟi) means “Thank you.”

Worksheet: Greetings and Respect Worksheet

Review list. வணக்கம் · நீங்கள் எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்? · நீ எப்படி இருக்கிறாய்? · நான் நன்றாக இருக்கிறேன்

People and Pronouns

Identify people and choose singular, plural, and respectful pronouns. Learn complete forms with romanisation before analysing suffixes.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Tamil practice tests. main idea, detail identification, inference, listening comprehension, dictation, listen and choose, listen and reorder, listen and fill, repeat after audio, multiple choice, fill in the blank, translation. Every exercise works on Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice.

1. the main ideaPractice 2 [main idea] — People and Pronouns: State the main learning purpose of “People and Pronouns”.

   Show the answer

   Identify people and choose singular, plural, and respectful pronouns.

2. spot the detailPractice 3 [detail identification] — People and Pronouns: Read நான் நன்றாக இருக்கிறேன், நன்றி. நீங்கள் எந்த ஊர்? (Nāṉ naṉṟāka irukkiṟēṉ, naṉṟi. Nīṅkaḷ enta ūr?). What precise detail is communicated?

   Show the answer

   I'm fine, thank you. Which town are you from?

3. what is meantPractice 4 [inference] — People and Pronouns: What may a listener infer from நான்? Preserve its qualification or social force.

   Show the answer

   I

4. listeningPractice 5 [listening comprehension] — People and Pronouns: Play the labeled synthetic audio and give the exact contextual meaning.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Hello! My name is Divya.

5. dictationPractice 6 [dictation] — People and Pronouns: Play the labeled synthetic Tamil audio and type the complete line in Tamil script.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   வணக்கம்! நான் கார்த்திக். நீங்கள் எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்?

6. listen and choosePractice 7 [listen and choose] — People and Pronouns: Play the synthetic audio and choose its contextual meaning.

   1. I'm fine, thank you. Which town are you from?
   2. I'm from Bengaluru. I'm learning Tamil.
   3. it

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   I'm fine, thank you. Which town are you from?

7. listen, then orderPractice 8 [listen and reorder] — People and Pronouns: Rebuild the lesson model with correct Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice: you (intimate)

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   நீ

8. listen and fillPractice 9 [listen and fill] — People and Pronouns: Play the synthetic audio and type the full line beginning “வணக்கம்!…”.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   வணக்கம்! என் பெயர் திவ்யா.

9. repeat itPractice 10 [repeat after audio] — People and Pronouns: Repeat the complete synthetic model with its phrase grouping. Use self-check; no microphone score is claimed.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   வணக்கம்! நான் கார்த்திக். நீங்கள் எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்?

10. multiple choicePractice 11 [multiple choice] — People and Pronouns: Choose the contextual meaning of நீங்கள் (nīṅkaḷ).

    1. you (formal / plural)
    2. you (intimate)
    3. he
    Show the answer

    you (formal / plural)

11. fill the gapPractice 12 [fill in the blank] — People and Pronouns: Type the complete Tamil script expression for “you (intimate)”.

    Show the answer

    நீ

12. translatePractice 13 [translation] — People and Pronouns: Read அவன் (avaṉ) and give its contextual English meaning.

    Show the answer

    he

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhat does நான் (nāṉ) mean here?

   1. I
   2. we (excluding you)
   3. you (formal / plural)
   4. you (intimate)
   Show the answer

   I

   நான் (nāṉ) means “I.”

2. quick checkWhat does நாங்கள் (nāṅkaḷ) mean here?

   1. we (excluding you)
   2. you (formal / plural)
   3. you (intimate)
   4. he
   Show the answer

   we (excluding you)

   நாங்கள் (nāṅkaḷ) means “we (excluding you).”

3. quick checkWhat does நீங்கள் (nīṅkaḷ) mean here?

   1. you (formal / plural)
   2. you (intimate)
   3. he
   4. she
   Show the answer

   you (formal / plural)

   நீங்கள் (nīṅkaḷ) means “you (formal / plural).”

4. quick checkWhat does நீ (nī) mean here?

   1. you (intimate)
   2. he
   3. she
   4. it
   Show the answer

   you (intimate)

   நீ (nī) means “you (intimate).”

5. quick checkWhat does அவன் (avaṉ) mean here?

   1. he
   2. she
   3. it
   4. they (people)
   Show the answer

   he

   அவன் (avaṉ) means “he.”

Worksheet: People and Pronouns Worksheet

Review list. நான் · நாங்கள் · நீங்கள் · நீ

குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும்

Name the people in a family and say who someone is to you. என் introduces one person's relation; எங்கள் introduces the family as a group. In Tamil, the familiar kin term can also be a warm form of address, but this lesson keeps the respectful நீங்கள் for a new adult.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Tamil practice tests. Tamil. Every exercise works on Tamil script, agglutinative case suffixes, head-final word order, diglossia between the written and spoken registers, and the respectful நீங்கள் / familiar நீ address.

1. multiple choicePractice 1: [multiple choice] குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும் — Choose the meaning of குடும்பம் (kuṭumpam) in this lesson.

   1. family
   2. mother
   3. father
   4. elder brother
   Show the answer

   family

2. fill the gapPractice 2: [fill in the blank] குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும் — Type the Tamil expression meaning “mother”.

   Show the answer

   அம்மா

3. translatePractice 3: [translation] குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும் — Interpret the Tamil script in context: இவர் என் அம்மா. (ivar eṉ ammā.).

   Show the answer

   This is my mother.

4. translate into the languagePractice 4: [reverse translation] குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும் — Write in Tamil script: He is my elder brother..

   Show the answer

   அவர் என் அண்ணன்.

5. matchingPractice 5: [matching] குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும் — Match அப்பா to its lesson meaning.

   1. father
   2. family
   3. mother
   Show the answer

   father

6. put it in orderPractice 6: [reorder] குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும் — Reconstruct the lesson model in coherent Tamil: There are four people in our family..

   Show the answer

   எங்கள் குடும்பத்தில் நான்கு பேர் இருக்கிறார்கள்.

7. build the sentencePractice 7: [sentence building] குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும் — Build the sentence with the lesson pattern (என் + kin term · அவர் என் ... · எங்கள் குடும்பம்): This is my mother..

   Show the answer

   இவர் என் அம்மா.

8. choose the wordPractice 8: [word selection] குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும் — Select the Tamil form for “elder brother”.

   1. அண்ணன்
   2. தங்கை
   Show the answer

   அண்ணன்

9. find the mistakePractice 9: [error correction] குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும் — Correct the model the lesson warns about: என் அண்ணன் இவர்.

   Show the answer

   இவர் என் அண்ணன்.

10. finish the dialoguePractice 10: [dialogue completion] குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும் — Complete the exchange with the studied response to: Who is this?

    Show the answer

    இவர் என் அம்மா.

11. readingPractice 11: [reading comprehension] குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும் — Read “உங்கள் குடும்பத்தில் எத்தனை பேர் இருக்கிறார்கள்?” (uṅkaḷ kuṭumpattil ettaṉai pēr irukkiṟārkaḷ?). What does it mean?

    Show the answer

    How many people are there in your family?

12. paragraphPractice 12: [paragraph comprehension] குடும்பமும் உறவுகளும் — Read the lesson dialogue as a whole and give its key move: Four people: my father, mother, younger sister, and me.

    Show the answer

    நான்கு பேர். என் அப்பா, அம்மா, தங்கை, நான்.

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhich meaning best fits குடும்பம்?

   1. family
   2. mother
   3. father
   4. elder brother
   Show the answer

   family

   குடும்பம் (kuṭumpam) means family in this lesson.

2. quick checkWhich meaning best fits அம்மா?

   1. mother
   2. family
   3. father
   4. elder brother
   Show the answer

   mother

   அம்மா (ammā) means mother in this lesson.

3. quick checkWhich meaning best fits அப்பா?

   1. father
   2. family
   3. mother
   4. elder brother
   Show the answer

   father

   அப்பா (appā) means father in this lesson.

4. quick checkWhich meaning best fits அண்ணன்?

   1. elder brother
   2. family
   3. mother
   4. father
   Show the answer

   elder brother

   அண்ணன் (aṇṇaṉ) means elder brother in this lesson.

5. quick checkWhich meaning best fits தங்கை?

   1. younger sister
   2. family
   3. mother
   4. father
   Show the answer

   younger sister

   தங்கை (taṅkai) means younger sister in this lesson.

Worksheet: Family worksheet

Review list. குடும்பம் · அம்மா · அப்பா · அண்ணன்

Everyday Needs

Home, School, and Objects

Name familiar places and objects, then locate them. Tamil attaches case endings to nouns rather than placing separate prepositions before them.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Tamil practice tests. reverse translation, matching, reorder, sentence building, word selection, error correction, dialogue completion, reading comprehension, paragraph comprehension, main idea, detail identification, inference. Every exercise works on Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice.

1. translate into the languagePractice 3 [reverse translation] — Home, School, and Objects: Convert “work” into Tamil script; do not answer only in romanisation.

   Show the answer

   வேலை

2. matchingPractice 4 [matching] — Home, School, and Objects: Match பள்ளி to the meaning used in this lesson.

   1. teacher
   2. school
   3. student
   Show the answer

   school

3. put it in orderPractice 5 [reorder] — Home, School, and Objects: Rebuild the lesson model with correct Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice: give (to) me

   Show the answer

   எனக்கு கொடுங்கள்

4. build the sentencePractice 6 [sentence building] — Home, School, and Objects: Rebuild the lesson model with correct Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice: from Chennai

   Show the answer

   சென்னையிலிருந்து

5. choose the wordPractice 7 [word selection] — Home, School, and Objects: Select the lesson form meaning “car”.

   1. சாலை
   2. புத்தகம்
   3. கார்
   Show the answer

   கார்

6. find the mistakePractice 8 [error correction] — Home, School, and Objects: Replace a literal or grammatically mismatched rendering with the correct lesson model for “give (to) me”.

   Show the answer

   எனக்கு கொடுங்கள்

7. finish the dialoguePractice 9 [dialogue completion] — Home, School, and Objects: Complete அம்மா’s turn appropriately: Listen, guests are coming this evening.

   Show the answer

   கேள், இன்று மாலை விருந்தினர் வருகிறார்கள்.

8. readingPractice 10 [reading comprehension] — Home, School, and Objects: Read யார் வருகிறார்கள், அம்மா? (Yār varugiṛārgaḷ, ammā?). What precise detail is communicated?

   Show the answer

   Who is coming, mother?

9. paragraphPractice 11 [paragraph comprehension] — Home, School, and Objects: Read the four-turn dialogue. State the contribution of this turn: உன் மாமா-மாமி. அறையை ஒழுங்குபடுத்து.

   Show the answer

   Your uncle and aunt. Tidy the room.

10. the main ideaPractice 12 [main idea] — Home, School, and Objects: State the main learning purpose of “Home, School, and Objects”.

    Show the answer

    Name familiar places and objects, then locate them.

11. spot the detailPractice 13 [detail identification] — Home, School, and Objects: Read கேள், இன்று மாலை விருந்தினர் வருகிறார்கள். (Kēḷ, iṉṛu mālai virundiṉar varugiṛārgaḷ.). What precise detail is communicated?

    Show the answer

    Listen, guests are coming this evening.

12. what is meantPractice 14 [inference] — Home, School, and Objects: What may a listener infer from எனக்கு கொடுங்கள்? Preserve its qualification or social force.

    Show the answer

    give (to) me

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhat does புத்தகம் (puttakam) mean here?

   1. book
   2. house / home
   3. work
   4. school
   Show the answer

   book

   புத்தகம் (puttakam) means “book.”

2. quick checkWhat does வீடு (vīḍu) mean here?

   1. house / home
   2. work
   3. school
   4. teacher
   Show the answer

   house / home

   வீடு (vīḍu) means “house / home.”

3. quick checkWhat does வேலை (vēlai) mean here?

   1. work
   2. school
   3. teacher
   4. student
   Show the answer

   work

   வேலை (vēlai) means “work.”

4. quick checkWhat does பள்ளி (paḷḷi) mean here?

   1. school
   2. teacher
   3. student
   4. car
   Show the answer

   school

   பள்ளி (paḷḷi) means “school.”

5. quick checkWhat does ஆசிரியர் (āciriyar) mean here?

   1. teacher
   2. student
   3. car
   4. road
   Show the answer

   teacher

   ஆசிரியர் (āciriyar) means “teacher.”

Worksheet: Home, School, and Objects Worksheet

Review list. புத்தகம் · வீடு · வேலை · பள்ளி

Food and Polite Requests

Name basic foods and request an item politely. Learn spoken service phrases as wholes and notice that the verb normally comes last.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Tamil practice tests. listening comprehension, dictation, listen and choose, listen and reorder, listen and fill, repeat after audio, multiple choice, fill in the blank, translation, reverse translation, matching, reorder. Every exercise works on Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice.

1. listeningPractice 4 [listening comprehension] — Food and Polite Requests: Play the labeled synthetic audio and give the exact contextual meaning.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   Ten rupees.

2. dictationPractice 5 [dictation] — Food and Polite Requests: Play the labeled synthetic Tamil audio and type the complete line in Tamil script.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   அண்ணே, ஒரு டீ கொடுங்கள்.

3. listen and choosePractice 6 [listen and choose] — Food and Polite Requests: Play the synthetic audio and choose its contextual meaning.

   1. How much sugar?
   2. One spoon. How much?
   3. chicken

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   How much sugar?

4. listen, then orderPractice 7 [listen and reorder] — Food and Polite Requests: Rebuild the lesson model with correct Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice: I am hungry

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   எனக்கு பசிக்கிறது

5. listen and fillPractice 8 [listen and fill] — Food and Polite Requests: Play the synthetic audio and type the full line beginning “பத்து…”.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   பத்து ரூபாய்.

6. repeat itPractice 9 [repeat after audio] — Food and Polite Requests: Repeat the complete synthetic model with its phrase grouping. Use self-check; no microphone score is claimed.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   அண்ணே, ஒரு டீ கொடுங்கள்.

7. multiple choicePractice 10 [multiple choice] — Food and Polite Requests: Choose the contextual meaning of அரிசி (arici).

   1. uncooked rice
   2. lentils / dal
   3. fish
   Show the answer

   uncooked rice

8. fill the gapPractice 11 [fill in the blank] — Food and Polite Requests: Type the complete Tamil script expression for “lentils / dal”.

   Show the answer

   பருப்பு

9. translatePractice 12 [translation] — Food and Polite Requests: Read மீன் (mīṉ) and give its contextual English meaning.

   Show the answer

   fish

10. translate into the languagePractice 13 [reverse translation] — Food and Polite Requests: Convert “meat” into Tamil script; do not answer only in romanisation.

    Show the answer

    கறி

11. matchingPractice 14 [matching] — Food and Polite Requests: Match கோழி to the meaning used in this lesson.

    1. egg
    2. chicken
    3. milk
    Show the answer

    chicken

12. put it in orderPractice 15 [reorder] — Food and Polite Requests: Rebuild the lesson model with correct Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice: The food is tasty

    Show the answer

    சாப்பாடு நன்றாக இருக்கிறது

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhat does சாதம் (sātam) mean here?

   1. cooked rice
   2. uncooked rice
   3. lentils / dal
   4. fish
   Show the answer

   cooked rice

   சாதம் (sātam) means “cooked rice.”

2. quick checkWhat does அரிசி (arici) mean here?

   1. uncooked rice
   2. lentils / dal
   3. fish
   4. meat
   Show the answer

   uncooked rice

   அரிசி (arici) means “uncooked rice.”

3. quick checkWhat does பருப்பு (paruppu) mean here?

   1. lentils / dal
   2. fish
   3. meat
   4. chicken
   Show the answer

   lentils / dal

   பருப்பு (paruppu) means “lentils / dal.”

4. quick checkWhat does மீன் (mīṉ) mean here?

   1. fish
   2. meat
   3. chicken
   4. egg
   Show the answer

   fish

   மீன் (mīṉ) means “fish.”

5. quick checkWhat does கறி (kaṟi) mean here?

   1. meat
   2. chicken
   3. egg
   4. milk
   Show the answer

   meat

   கறி (kaṟi) means “meat.”

Worksheet: Food and Polite Requests Worksheet

Review list. சாதம் · அரிசி · பருப்பு · மீன்

கடையில் வாங்குதல்

Ask a shopkeeper for a quantity and the price. ஒரு கிலோ, அரை கிலோ and இரண்டு பழம் name amounts; வேண்டும் states what you need, while எவ்வளவு? asks the price. Put the item and quantity before the verb வேண்டும்.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Tamil practice tests. Tamil. Every exercise works on Tamil script, agglutinative case suffixes, head-final word order, diglossia between the written and spoken registers, and the respectful நீங்கள் / familiar நீ address.

1. multiple choicePractice 1: [multiple choice] கடையில் வாங்குதல் — Choose the meaning of கடை (kaṭai) in this lesson.

   1. shop
   2. price
   3. kilogram
   4. half
   Show the answer

   shop

2. fill the gapPractice 2: [fill in the blank] கடையில் வாங்குதல் — Type the Tamil expression meaning “price”.

   Show the answer

   விலை

3. translatePractice 3: [translation] கடையில் வாங்குதல் — Interpret the Tamil script in context: எனக்கு ஒரு கிலோ தக்காளி வேண்டும். (eṉakku oru kilō takkāḷi vēṇṭum.).

   Show the answer

   I need one kilogram of tomatoes.

4. translate into the languagePractice 4: [reverse translation] கடையில் வாங்குதல் — Write in Tamil script: How much is this fruit?.

   Show the answer

   இந்தப் பழம் எவ்வளவு?

5. matchingPractice 5: [matching] கடையில் வாங்குதல் — Match கிலோ to its lesson meaning.

   1. kilogram
   2. shop
   3. price
   Show the answer

   kilogram

6. put it in orderPractice 6: [reorder] கடையில் வாங்குதல் — Reconstruct the lesson model in coherent Tamil: Half a kilo is twenty rupees..

   Show the answer

   அரை கிலோ இருபது ரூபாய்.

7. build the sentencePractice 7: [sentence building] கடையில் வாங்குதல் — Build the sentence with the lesson pattern (item + quantity + வேண்டும் · இது எவ்வளவு?): I need one kilogram of tomatoes..

   Show the answer

   எனக்கு ஒரு கிலோ தக்காளி வேண்டும்.

8. choose the wordPractice 8: [word selection] கடையில் வாங்குதல் — Select the Tamil form for “half”.

   1. அரை
   2. தக்காளி
   Show the answer

   அரை

9. find the mistakePractice 9: [error correction] கடையில் வாங்குதல் — Correct the model the lesson warns about: தக்காளி ஒரு கிலோ வேண்டும்.

   Show the answer

   ஒரு கிலோ தக்காளி வேண்டும்.

10. finish the dialoguePractice 10: [dialogue completion] கடையில் வாங்குதல் — Complete the exchange with the studied response to: Hello. I need one kilogram of tomatoes.

    Show the answer

    சரி. இன்னும் ஏதாவது வேண்டுமா?

11. readingPractice 11: [reading comprehension] கடையில் வாங்குதல் — Read “அரை கிலோ வெங்காயமும் வேண்டும். விலை எவ்வளவு?” (arai kilō veṅkāyamum vēṇṭum. vilai evvaḷavu?). What does it mean?

    Show the answer

    I also need half a kilo of onions. What is the price?

12. paragraphPractice 12: [paragraph comprehension] கடையில் வாங்குதல் — Read the lesson dialogue as a whole and give its key move: Sixty rupees in total.

    Show the answer

    மொத்தம் அறுபது ரூபாய்.

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhich meaning best fits கடை?

   1. shop
   2. price
   3. kilogram
   4. half
   Show the answer

   shop

   கடை (kaṭai) means shop in this lesson.

2. quick checkWhich meaning best fits விலை?

   1. price
   2. shop
   3. kilogram
   4. half
   Show the answer

   price

   விலை (vilai) means price in this lesson.

3. quick checkWhich meaning best fits கிலோ?

   1. kilogram
   2. shop
   3. price
   4. half
   Show the answer

   kilogram

   கிலோ (kilō) means kilogram in this lesson.

4. quick checkWhich meaning best fits அரை?

   1. half
   2. shop
   3. price
   4. kilogram
   Show the answer

   half

   அரை (arai) means half in this lesson.

5. quick checkWhich meaning best fits தக்காளி?

   1. tomato
   2. shop
   3. price
   4. kilogram
   Show the answer

   tomato

   தக்காளி (takkāḷi) means tomato in this lesson.

Worksheet: At the shop worksheet

Review list. கடை · விலை · கிலோ · அரை

Movement and Community

Travel and Questions

Ask where a place is and identify common transport. Question words occupy the information slot, while the predicate remains near the end.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Tamil practice tests. sentence building, word selection, error correction, dialogue completion, reading comprehension, paragraph comprehension, main idea, detail identification, inference, listening comprehension, dictation, listen and choose. Every exercise works on Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice.

1. build the sentencePractice 5 [sentence building] — Travel and Questions: Rebuild the lesson model with correct Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice: How do I go to ...?

   Show the answer

   ... க்கு எப்படி போக வேண்டும்?

2. choose the wordPractice 6 [word selection] — Travel and Questions: Select the lesson form meaning “hotel”.

   1. அறை
   2. இடது
   3. ஹோட்டல்
   Show the answer

   ஹோட்டல்

3. find the mistakePractice 7 [error correction] — Travel and Questions: Replace a literal or grammatically mismatched rendering with the correct lesson model for “Where is ...?”.

   Show the answer

   ... எங்கே இருக்கிறது?

4. finish the dialoguePractice 8 [dialogue completion] — Travel and Questions: Complete உள்ளூர்வாசி’s turn appropriately: No, quite near. Five minutes.

   Show the answer

   இல்லை, அருகில்தான். ஐந்து நிமிடம்.

5. readingPractice 9 [reading comprehension] — Travel and Questions: Read மன்னிக்கவும், நிலையம் எங்கே இருக்கிறது? (Maṉṉikkavum, nilaiyam eṅkē irukkiṟatu?). What precise detail is communicated?

   Show the answer

   Excuse me, where is the station?

6. paragraphPractice 10 [paragraph comprehension] — Travel and Questions: Read the four-turn dialogue. State the contribution of this turn: நேராக போங்கள், பிறகு வலதுபுறம்.

   Show the answer

   Go straight, then right.

7. the main ideaPractice 11 [main idea] — Travel and Questions: State the main learning purpose of “Travel and Questions”.

   Show the answer

   Ask where a place is and identify common transport.

8. spot the detailPractice 12 [detail identification] — Travel and Questions: Read இல்லை, அருகில்தான். ஐந்து நிமிடம். (Illai, arukiltāṉ. Aintu nimiḍam.). What precise detail is communicated?

   Show the answer

   No, quite near. Five minutes.

9. what is meantPractice 13 [inference] — Travel and Questions: What may a listener infer from ... எங்கே இருக்கிறது?? Preserve its qualification or social force.

   Show the answer

   Where is ...?

10. listeningPractice 14 [listening comprehension] — Travel and Questions: Play the labeled synthetic audio and give the exact contextual meaning.

    audio drill — play it in the course player

    Show the answer

    Go straight, then right.

11. dictationPractice 15 [dictation] — Travel and Questions: Play the labeled synthetic Tamil audio and type the complete line in Tamil script.

    audio drill — play it in the course player

    Show the answer

    தூரமா?

12. listen and choosePractice 16 [listen and choose] — Travel and Questions: Play the synthetic audio and choose its contextual meaning.

    1. No, quite near. Five minutes.
    2. Excuse me, where is the station?
    3. left

    audio drill — play it in the course player

    Show the answer

    No, quite near. Five minutes.

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhat does நிலையம் (nilaiyam) mean here?

   1. station
   2. train
   3. bus
   4. taxi
   Show the answer

   station

   நிலையம் (nilaiyam) means “station.”

2. quick checkWhat does ரயில் (rayil) mean here?

   1. train
   2. bus
   3. taxi
   4. ticket
   Show the answer

   train

   ரயில் (rayil) means “train.”

3. quick checkWhat does பேருந்து (pēruntu) mean here?

   1. bus
   2. taxi
   3. ticket
   4. hotel
   Show the answer

   bus

   பேருந்து (pēruntu) means “bus.”

4. quick checkWhat does டாக்ஸி (ṭākci) mean here?

   1. taxi
   2. ticket
   3. hotel
   4. room
   Show the answer

   taxi

   டாக்ஸி (ṭākci) means “taxi.”

5. quick checkWhat does டிக்கெட் (ṭikkeṭ) mean here?

   1. ticket
   2. hotel
   3. room
   4. left
   Show the answer

   ticket

   டிக்கெட் (ṭikkeṭ) means “ticket.”

Worksheet: Travel and Questions Worksheet

Review list. நிலையம் · ரயில் · பேருந்து · டாக்ஸி

Daily Actions

Describe simple routines using common verbs. Tamil verbs encode tense and person; first learn high-frequency complete models for different speakers.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Tamil practice tests. listen and reorder, listen and fill, repeat after audio, multiple choice, fill in the blank, translation, reverse translation, matching, reorder, sentence building, word selection, error correction. Every exercise works on Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice.

1. listen, then orderPractice 6 [listen and reorder] — Daily Actions: Rebuild the lesson model with correct Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice: Speak slowly, please

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   மெதுவாக பேசுங்கள்

2. listen and fillPractice 7 [listen and fill] — Daily Actions: Play the synthetic audio and type the full line beginning “மெதுவாக…”.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   மெதுவாக பேசுங்கள்

3. repeat itPractice 8 [repeat after audio] — Daily Actions: Repeat the complete synthetic model with its phrase grouping. Use self-check; no microphone score is claimed.

   audio drill — play it in the course player

   Show the answer

   இதற்கு என்ன பெயர்?

4. multiple choicePractice 9 [multiple choice] — Daily Actions: Choose the contextual meaning of சாப்பிட (sāppiḍa).

   1. eat
   2. go
   3. come
   Show the answer

   eat

5. fill the gapPractice 10 [fill in the blank] — Daily Actions: Type the complete Tamil script expression for “go”.

   Show the answer

   போக

6. translatePractice 11 [translation] — Daily Actions: Read வர (vara) and give its contextual English meaning.

   Show the answer

   come

7. translate into the languagePractice 12 [reverse translation] — Daily Actions: Convert “do” into Tamil script; do not answer only in romanisation.

   Show the answer

   செய்ய

8. matchingPractice 13 [matching] — Daily Actions: Match பேச to the meaning used in this lesson.

   1. see
   2. speak
   3. give
   Show the answer

   speak

9. put it in orderPractice 14 [reorder] — Daily Actions: Rebuild the lesson model with correct Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice: I want water

   Show the answer

   எனக்கு தண்ணீர் வேண்டும்

10. build the sentencePractice 15 [sentence building] — Daily Actions: Rebuild the lesson model with correct Tamil suffix chains, case marking, agreement, and formal versus colloquial choice: Speak slowly, please

    Show the answer

    மெதுவாக பேசுங்கள்

11. choose the wordPractice 16 [word selection] — Daily Actions: Select the lesson form meaning “take”.

    1. சாப்பிட
    2. போக
    3. எடுக்க
    Show the answer

    எடுக்க

12. find the mistakePractice 17 [error correction] — Daily Actions: Replace a literal or grammatically mismatched rendering with the correct lesson model for “I want water”.

    Show the answer

    எனக்கு தண்ணீர் வேண்டும்

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhat does சாப்பிட (sāppiḍa) mean here?

   1. eat
   2. go
   3. come
   4. do
   Show the answer

   eat

   சாப்பிட (sāppiḍa) means “eat.”

2. quick checkWhat does போக (pōka) mean here?

   1. go
   2. come
   3. do
   4. speak
   Show the answer

   go

   போக (pōka) means “go.”

3. quick checkWhat does வர (vara) mean here?

   1. come
   2. do
   3. speak
   4. see
   Show the answer

   come

   வர (vara) means “come.”

4. quick checkWhat does செய்ய (seyya) mean here?

   1. do
   2. speak
   3. see
   4. give
   Show the answer

   do

   செய்ய (seyya) means “do.”

5. quick checkWhat does பேச (pēca) mean here?

   1. speak
   2. see
   3. give
   4. take
   Show the answer

   speak

   பேச (pēca) means “speak.”

Worksheet: Daily Actions Worksheet

Review list. சாப்பிட · போக · வர · செய்ய

பேருந்து நிலையத்தில்

Ask which bus goes to a place and understand a simple direction. The destination takes -க்கு; எங்கே? asks where, and நேராக / வலப்பக்கம் / இடப்பக்கம் give a short route. In a respectful request, say சொல்லுங்கள் rather than சொல்.

Dialogue. Read it aloud twice — once for each speaker.

Practice (12). Answer first, then open the answer.

What this Tamil practice tests. Tamil. Every exercise works on Tamil script, agglutinative case suffixes, head-final word order, diglossia between the written and spoken registers, and the respectful நீங்கள் / familiar நீ address.

1. multiple choicePractice 1: [multiple choice] பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் — Choose the meaning of பேருந்து (pēruntu) in this lesson.

   1. bus
   2. station
   3. on the right
   4. on the left
   Show the answer

   bus

2. fill the gapPractice 2: [fill in the blank] பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் — Type the Tamil expression meaning “station”.

   Show the answer

   நிலையம்

3. translatePractice 3: [translation] பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் — Interpret the Tamil script in context: நிலையத்திற்கு எப்படிப் போவது? (nilaiyattiṟku eppaṭip pōvatu?).

   Show the answer

   How do I get to the station?

4. translate into the languagePractice 4: [reverse translation] பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் — Write in Tamil script: Go straight and turn right..

   Show the answer

   நேராகச் சென்று வலப்பக்கம் திரும்புங்கள்.

5. matchingPractice 5: [matching] பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் — Match வலப்பக்கம் to its lesson meaning.

   1. on the right
   2. bus
   3. station
   Show the answer

   on the right

6. put it in orderPractice 6: [reorder] பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் — Reconstruct the lesson model in coherent Tamil: The bus station is quite nearby..

   Show the answer

   பேருந்து நிலையம் அருகில்தான் இருக்கிறது.

7. build the sentencePractice 7: [sentence building] பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் — Build the sentence with the lesson pattern (place + -க்கு · எப்படிப் போவது? · நேராகச் செல்லுங்கள்): How do I get to the station?.

   Show the answer

   நிலையத்திற்கு எப்படிப் போவது?

8. choose the wordPractice 8: [word selection] பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் — Select the Tamil form for “on the left”.

   1. இடப்பக்கம்
   2. நேராக
   Show the answer

   இடப்பக்கம்

9. find the mistakePractice 9: [error correction] பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் — Correct the model the lesson warns about: நான் நிலையம் போகிறேன்.

   Show the answer

   நான் நிலையத்திற்குப் போகிறேன்.

10. finish the dialoguePractice 10: [dialogue completion] பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் — Complete the exchange with the studied response to: Excuse me, where is the bus station?

    Show the answer

    நேராகச் செல்லுங்கள்; பிறகு இடப்பக்கம்.

11. readingPractice 11: [reading comprehension] பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் — Read “அங்கு எவ்வளவு தூரம்?” (aṅku evvaḷavu tūram?). What does it mean?

    Show the answer

    How far is it?

12. paragraphPractice 12: [paragraph comprehension] பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் — Read the lesson dialogue as a whole and give its key move: Five minutes. The station is at the end of the road.

    Show the answer

    ஐந்து நிமிடம். நிலையம் சாலையின் முடிவில்.

Quick check (5).

1. quick checkWhich meaning best fits பேருந்து?

   1. bus
   2. station
   3. on the right
   4. on the left
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   bus

   பேருந்து (pēruntu) means bus in this lesson.

2. quick checkWhich meaning best fits நிலையம்?

   1. station
   2. bus
   3. on the right
   4. on the left
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   station

   நிலையம் (nilaiyam) means station in this lesson.

3. quick checkWhich meaning best fits வலப்பக்கம்?

   1. on the right
   2. bus
   3. station
   4. on the left
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   on the right

   வலப்பக்கம் (valappakkam) means on the right in this lesson.

4. quick checkWhich meaning best fits இடப்பக்கம்?

   1. on the left
   2. bus
   3. station
   4. on the right
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   on the left

   இடப்பக்கம் (iṭappakkam) means on the left in this lesson.

5. quick checkWhich meaning best fits நேராக?

   1. straight ahead
   2. bus
   3. station
   4. on the right
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   straight ahead

   நேராக (nērāka) means straight ahead in this lesson.

Worksheet: Directions worksheet

Review list. பேருந்து · நிலையம் · வலப்பக்கம் · இடப்பக்கம்

Recall drills — 126 more questions from the A1 words

These 126 drills are generated from the Tamil A1 vocabulary list — the words of “Foundations and People” through “Movement and Community”, in both directions: recognition (word → meaning) and production (meaning → word). They re-ask what the course data already contains; no answer here was written by a machine, and a generated drill is practice, never a lesson.

The A1 test — 10 items

The 10-item test closes Tamil A1. Answers are shown; in the course player the same test decides whether Tamil A2 unlocks.

1. translate into the languageTranslate: வணக்கம் (vaṇakkam)

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   Hello (respectful, universal)

2. translate into the languageTranslate: நான் (nāṉ)

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   I

3. translate into the languageTranslate: புத்தகம் (puttakam)

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   book

4. translate into the languageTranslate: சாதம் (sātam)

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   cooked rice

5. translate into the languageTranslate: நிலையம் (nilaiyam)

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   station

6. translate into the languageTranslate: சாப்பிட (sāppiḍa)

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   eat

7. translate into EnglishProduce in Tamil: Hello! My name is Divya.

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   வணக்கம்! என் பெயர் திவ்யா. (Vaṇakkam! Eṉ peyar Divyā.)

8. fill the gapProduce in Tamil: you (intimate)

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   நீ (நீ)

9. put it in orderProduce in Tamil: from Chennai

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   சென்னையிலிருந்து (ceṉṉaiyiliruntu)

10. say it out loudProduce in Tamil: I am hungry

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    எனக்கு பசிக்கிறது (enakku pasikkiṟatu)

Tamil A1 beyond the drills — culture, reading, listening, idioms

These sections are written for Tamil A1 specifically. The reading text is EkGuru's own; the culture note cites where its facts come from; the idioms and the mistakes list are the ones this level actually trips over.

Culture note

Tamil is one of the longest continuously written languages in the world, and its script is an abugida: every consonant carries an inherent அ unless a vowel sign changes it, and a pulli (்) removes the vowel altogether. The script the course teaches is the written register — செந்தமிழ், 'correct Tamil' — while everyday speech shortens the same words (வருகிறேன் → வர்றேன்). Both are Tamil, and the course says which one it is teaching at every step; Thirukkural couplets and film songs are quoted from memory in the same households that speak the shortened forms.

Source (named, not linked): en.wikipedia.org, the article “Tamil language”.

Reading — read this aloud, slowly

What it says: Tamil is my mother tongue. I was born in Chennai and now work in Bengaluru. At home we speak Tamil, at the shop English. Once a week I telephone my mother. My daughter is now learning to write Tamil; first the vowels, then the consonants. Her favourite letter is ழ.

Listening — one voice, one text

Use the speaker button to hear this text with a browser voice tagged ta-IN; playback starts only after a click. If no matching voice is installed, read it aloud yourself — the rhythm is the point.

What it says: Hello, I am Ravi. Which town are you from? — I am from Madurai. I am learning Tamil. — Good, I will speak slowly.

10 idioms and fixed phrases

The 3 mistakes this level makes

• எனக்கு பெயர் ரவி. → என் பெயர் ரவி. A name takes the genitive என், not the dative எனக்கு.
• நான் போகிறேன் வீட்டிற்கு. → நான் வீட்டிற்குப் போகிறேன். Tamil is head-final: the verb comes last.
• நீங்கள் வா. → நீங்கள் வாருங்கள். The respectful நீங்கள் takes the plural imperative.

Your task

என்னை அறிமுகம் செய்யுங்கள் Write six sentences introducing yourself in Tamil: your name, your town, your work or study, one language you speak, what you do at home, and one thing you are learning. Use நான் with the -கிறேன் present, and the respectful நீங்கள் once in a question. Read it aloud twice: once slowly for the letters, once at speaking speed. Then write the same six sentences with a different subject (அவர், அவள், அவர்கள்) and check that the verb ending changes.

After A1: the A1+ checkpoint

A1+ is not a certificate — it is the half-step between Tamil A1 and the next level, and it is on this site’s ladder because language schools use it. You are at A1+ when you can ask for things, give a phone number, name the days. Get there by working the recall drills above and the review deck until nothing on this page surprises you, then open the A2 pages.

Keep going