About This Guide
Adjectives in Tamil show one of the most interesting patterns in the language: the formal version is often barely recognisable compared to what people actually say. "Nandru" (good/well) sounds like a news broadcast — everyone says "Nalla" or just "Super." "Petty" (big) — nobody says it. "Periya" is the word.
This section covers 26 essential Tamil adjectives across qualities, sizes, temperatures, and descriptions. You'll notice that English adjectives have deeply penetrated everyday Tamil — "Smart," "Cute," "Funny," and others are used more often than their Tamil equivalents in urban settings.
We cover the formal written forms (for official documents and formal writing) and the colloquial spoken forms (for everything else).
Beautiful in Tamil
அழகு
"Azhagu"
செம்ம
"Semma / Azhagu"
Usage tip: While 'Azhagu' is spoken, slang often uses 'Semma' to mean awesome/beautiful casually.
Example Sentence
English
"You are beautiful."
Formal Tamil
நீங்கள் அழகாக இருக்கிறீர்கள் (Neengal azhagaaga irukkireergal).
Spoken Tamil ✓
நீ அழகா இருக்க (Nee azhaga irukka).
Good in Tamil
நன்று
"Nandru"
நல்லா
"Nalla / Super"
Usage tip: 'Nandru' is very formal. 'Nalla' is used for quality. 'Super' is used for approval.
Example Sentence
English
"This is good."
Formal Tamil
இது நன்றாக உள்ளது (Idhu nandraaga ulladhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
இது நல்லா இருக்கு (Idhu nalla irukku).
Bad in Tamil
மோசம்
"Mosam"
கேவலம் / மோசம்
"Kevalam / Mosam"
Usage tip: 'Mosam' is bad condition. 'Kevalam' is disgusting/terrible.
Example Sentence
English
"That is bad."
Formal Tamil
அது மோசமானது (Adhu mosamaanadhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
அது மோசம் (Adhu mosam).
Big in Tamil
பெரிய
"Periya"
பெரிய
"Periya"
Usage tip: Pronunciation is key. 'Periya' -> 'Per-ya'.
Example Sentence
English
"It is a big house."
Formal Tamil
அது ஒரு பெரிய வீடு (Adhu oru periya veedu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
அது ஒரு பெரிய வீடு (Adhu oru periya veedu).
Small in Tamil
சிறிய
"Siriya"
சின்ன
"Chinna"
Usage tip: 'Siriya' is almost never used. 'Chinna' is the word.
Example Sentence
English
"It is small."
Formal Tamil
அது சிறியது (Adhu siriyadhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
அது சின்னதா இருக்கு (Adhu chinnadha irukku).
Hot in Tamil
சுடு / வெப்பமான
"Sudu / Veppamaana"
சூடா
"Soodaa"
Usage tip: 'Soodaa' is the most common spoken form for both food and weather (implied).
Example Sentence
English
"The coffee is hot."
Formal Tamil
காபி சுடாக உள்ளது (Coffee sudaaga ulladhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
காபி சூடா இருக்கு (Coffee sooda irukku).
Cold in Tamil
குளிர் / குளிர்ச்சியான
"Kulir / Kulirchiyaana"
சில்லுனு
"Sillunu / Jilnu"
Usage tip: 'Sillunu' is used for cold objects/drinks. 'Kulir' is for weather.
Example Sentence
English
"It is cold."
Formal Tamil
குளிராக இருக்கிறது (Kuliraaga irukkiradhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
சில்லுனு இருக்கு (Sillunu irukku).
Fast in Tamil
வேகமாக
"Vegamaaga"
ஸ்பீடா
"Speed-aa / Vegama"
Usage tip: English word 'Speed' is very common as an adjective.
Example Sentence
English
"Go fast."
Formal Tamil
வேகமாக செல்லுங்கள் (Vegamaaga sellungal).
Spoken Tamil ✓
ஸ்பீடா போ (Speed-aa po).
Slow in Tamil
மெதுவாக
"Medhuvaaga"
மெதுவா
"Medhuvaa"
Usage tip: Medhuvaaga -> Medhuvaa (cutting the final 'ga').
Example Sentence
English
"Talk slowly."
Formal Tamil
மெதுவாக பேசுங்கள் (Medhuvaaga pesungal).
Spoken Tamil ✓
மெதுவா பேசு (Medhuvaa pesu).
High in Tamil
உயர்ந்த
"Uyarndha"
ஹை / உசரமா
"High / Usaramaa"
Usage tip: 'Usaram' is the colloquial word for height.
Example Sentence
English
"It is high."
Formal Tamil
அது உயர்ந்த இடத்தில் உள்ளது (Adhu uyarndha idathil ulladhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
அது ரொம்ப உசரம் (Adhu romba usaram).
Low in Tamil
தாழ்ந்த
"Thaazhndha"
லோ / கம்மியா
"Low / Kammiyaa"
Usage tip: 'Kammi' is generally used for 'less' or 'low'.
Example Sentence
English
"Low volume."
Formal Tamil
குறைந்த ஒலி (Kuraindha oli).
Spoken Tamil ✓
சத்தம் கம்மியா வை (Satham kammiyaa vai).
Hard in Tamil
கடினமான
"Kadinamaana"
கஷ்டம் / ஸ்ட்ராங்கா
"Kashtam / Strong-aa"
Usage tip: 'Kashtam' is for difficult tasks. 'Strong' or 'Getti' is for physical hardness.
Example Sentence
English
"It is hard."
Formal Tamil
இது கடினமாக உள்ளது (Idhu kadinamaaga ulladhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
இது கொஞ்சம் கஷ்டம் (Idhu konjam kashtam).
Soft in Tamil
மென்மையான
"Menmaiyaana"
சாஃப்டா
"Soft-aa"
Usage tip: English loan word is very common.
Example Sentence
English
"Soft pillow."
Formal Tamil
மென்மையான தலையணை (Menmaiyaana thalaiyanai).
Spoken Tamil ✓
சாஃப்ட் தலையணை (Soft thalaiyanai).
New in Tamil
புதிய
"Pudhiya"
புதுசு
"Pudhusu"
Usage tip: Pudhiya -> Pudhusu.
Example Sentence
English
"New shirt."
Formal Tamil
புதிய சட்டை (Pudhiya sattai).
Spoken Tamil ✓
புது சட்டை (Pudhu sattai).
Old in Tamil
பழைய
"Pazhaiya"
பழசு
"Pazhasu"
Usage tip: Used for objects. For people, see 'Aged'.
Example Sentence
English
"Old car."
Formal Tamil
பழைய மகிழுந்து (Pazhaiya magizhundhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
பழைய கார் (Pazhaiya car).
Rich in Tamil
செல்வம்
"Selvam"
பணக்கார
"Panakkaara"
Usage tip: 'Panakkaara' (Money-person) is the spoken adjective.
Example Sentence
English
"He is rich."
Formal Tamil
அவர் செல்வந்தர் (Avar selvandhar).
Spoken Tamil ✓
அவன் பெரிய பணக்காரன் (Avan periya panakkaaran).
Poor in Tamil
ஏழை
"Ezhai"
ஏழை / பாவம்
"Ezhai / Paavam"
Usage tip: 'Paavam' is often used to say 'poor soul' or 'pity'.
Example Sentence
English
"He is poor."
Formal Tamil
அவர் ஏழை (Avar ezhai).
Spoken Tamil ✓
அவன் பாவம் ஏழை (Avan paavam ezhai).
Ugly in Tamil
அசிங்கமான
"Asingamaana"
அசிங்கம்
"Asingam"
Usage tip: Also means 'embarrassment' or 'shameful' depending on context.
Example Sentence
English
"It looks ugly."
Formal Tamil
அது அசிங்கமாக உள்ளது (Adhu asingamaaga ulladhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
பாக்கவே அசிங்கமா இருக்கு (Paakkave asingama irukku).
Easy in Tamil
எளிது / சுலபம்
"Elidhu / Sulabam"
ஈசி
"Easy"
Usage tip: English word is 100% dominant.
Example Sentence
English
"It is easy."
Formal Tamil
இது மிக எளிது (Idhu miga elidhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
இது ரொம்ப ஈசி (Idhu romba easy).
Difficult in Tamil
கடினம்
"Kadinam"
கஷ்டம்
"Kashtam"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"It is difficult."
Formal Tamil
இது மிகவும் கடினம் (Idhu migavum kadinam).
Spoken Tamil ✓
இது ரொம்ப கஷ்டம் (Idhu romba kashtam).
Clean in Tamil
சுத்தம்
"Sutham"
நீட்டா / கிளீனா
"Neat-aa / Clean-aa"
Usage tip: 'Neat' and 'Clean' are very popular loan words.
Example Sentence
English
"Clean the room."
Formal Tamil
அறையை சுத்தம் செய்யுங்கள் (Araiyai sutham seiyungal).
Spoken Tamil ✓
ரூம்ம கிளீன் பண்ணு (Room-a clean pannu).
Dirty in Tamil
அழுக்கு
"Azhukku"
கடுப்பா / அழுக்கா
"Azhukkaa"
Usage tip: Standard word.
Example Sentence
English
"The shirt is dirty."
Formal Tamil
சட்டை அழுக்காக உள்ளது (Sattai azhukkaaga ulladhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
சட்டை அழுக்கா இருக்கு (Sattai azhukkaa irukku).
Full in Tamil
முழு / நிறைந்த
"Muzhu / Niraindha"
ஃபுல்லா
"Full-aa"
Usage tip: Used for both quantity and completion.
Example Sentence
English
"The cup is full."
Formal Tamil
கிண்ணம் நிறைந்துள்ளது (Kinnam niraindhulladhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
கப்பு ஃபுல்லா இருக்கு (Cup full-aa irukku).
Empty in Tamil
வெற்று / காலி
"Vetru / Kaali"
காலி
"Kaali"
Usage tip: 'Kaali' is the go-to word for empty space/containers.
Example Sentence
English
"It is empty."
Formal Tamil
அது காலியாக உள்ளது (Adhu kaaliyaaga ulladhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
அது காலியா இருக்கு (Adhu kaaliyaa irukku).
Sweet in Tamil
இனிப்பு
"Inippu"
ஸ்வீட்டா
"Sweet-aa / Inippu"
Usage tip: English word also means a 'dessert'.
Example Sentence
English
"It is sweet."
Formal Tamil
இது இனிப்பாக உள்ளது (Idhu inippaaga ulladhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
இது நல்லா ஸ்வீட்டா இருக்கு (Idhu nalla sweet-aa irukku).
Spicy in Tamil
காரசாரமான
"Kaarasaramaana"
காரம்
"Kaaram"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"It is spicy."
Formal Tamil
இது காரமாக உள்ளது (Idhu kaaramaaga ulladhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
இது ரொம்ப காரம் (Idhu romba kaaram).
Cultural Context
Tamil has a rich tradition of adjectives in classical poetry (Sangam literature), but daily speech has evolved dramatically. In Chennai Tamil, English adjectives like "Smart," "Stylish," "Cool," and "Cute" are standard. Meanwhile, Tamil exclamations like "Semma!" (awesome), "Apdiye!" (exactly like that), and "Pottu" (exactly right) serve as intensifiers with no direct English equivalent.
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Try Tamil Grammar Checker FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How do you say good in Tamil?
"Nandru" (நன்று) is the formal Tamil word for good. In spoken Tamil, "Nalla" (நல்லா) is standard for quality. "Super" and "Semma" are slang terms for approval. To say "This is good": formally "Idhu nandraaga ulladhu," spoken "Idhu nalla irukku."
How do you say beautiful in Tamil?
"Azhagu" (அழகு) is the Tamil word for beautiful. It works in both formal and spoken contexts. In slang, "Semma" is used to mean awesome/beautiful. "What a beautiful girl" would be "Semma figure" in Chennai slang — which shows how dramatically spoken Tamil can differ.
How do you say big in Tamil?
"Periya" (பெரிய) is the Tamil word for big. It is used in both formal and spoken Tamil — the pronunciation simply becomes faster in speech: "Per-ya" instead of "Per-i-ya." "Periya veedu" means a big house.
How do you say small in Tamil?
"Siriya" (சிறிய) is the formal Tamil word for small. In spoken Tamil, "Chinna" (சின்ன) is the universally used word. "Siriya" is almost never spoken — it sounds overly literary.
How do you say old in Tamil?
"Pazhaya" (பழைய) means old (for objects/things). For age (old person), "Muthal" or "Mudhaltha" is used formally, while "Paatta/Thaatha" describes grandparents. "Pazhaya" is one adjective that is used in both formal and spoken Tamil with the same form.