About This Guide
Numbers in Tamil have a fascinating dual nature. The formal Tamil number words — Onru, Irandu, Moondru — appear in official contexts, news broadcasts, and classical literature. In spoken Tamil, especially in cities, these compress and change: "Onru" becomes "Onnu," "Irandu" becomes "Randu," "Aayiram" (1000) becomes "Aayiram" but pronounced much faster.
There's another layer: in modern urban Tamil conversations, English numbers are perfectly acceptable and often preferred ("One, two, three..."). For phone numbers, prices, and quick counting, English numerals are standard. Tamil script numbers (க, ஒ, etc.) appear in traditional contexts.
This guide covers 1 to 20 in Tamil — the foundation you need to master larger numbers, tell time, and handle everyday counting situations.
One in Tamil
ஒன்று
"Ondru"
ஒண்ணு
"Onnu"
Usage tip: 'Ondru' becomes 'Onnu'.
Example Sentence
English
"Give me one."
Formal Tamil
எனக்கு ஒன்று கொடுங்கள் (Enakku ondru kodungal).
Spoken Tamil ✓
எனக்கு ஒண்ணு குடு (Enakku onnu kudu).
Two in Tamil
இரண்டு
"Irandu"
ரெண்டு
"Rendu"
Usage tip: 'Irandu' -> 'Rendu'. The 'I' is dropped.
Example Sentence
English
"I have two."
Formal Tamil
என்னிடம் இரண்டு உள்ளது (Ennidam irandu ulladhu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
என்கிட்ட ரெண்டு இருக்கு (Enkitta rendu irukku).
Three in Tamil
மூன்று
"Moondru"
மூணு
"Moonu"
Usage tip: 'Moondru' -> 'Moonu'.
Example Sentence
English
"Three people."
Formal Tamil
மூன்று நபர்கள் (Moondru nabargal).
Spoken Tamil ✓
மூணு பேரு (Moonu peru).
Zero / None in Tamil
பூஜ்ஜியம்
"Poojjiyam"
சைபர் / ஒன்னும் இல்ல
"Saibar / Onnum illa"
Usage tip: 'Saibar' is a very common Tamil-ised version of 'Cipher'.
Example Sentence
English
"I have nothing."
Formal Tamil
என்னிடம் எதுவும் இல்லை (Ennidam edhuvum illai).
Spoken Tamil ✓
கிட்ட ஒன்னும் இல்ல (Kitta onnum illa).
Hundred in Tamil
நூறு
"Nooru"
நூறு
"Nooru"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"One hundred rupees."
Formal Tamil
நூறு ரூபாய் (Nooru roobai).
Spoken Tamil ✓
நூறு ரூபா (Nooru rooba).
Thousand in Tamil
ஆயிரம்
"Aayiram"
ஆயிரம்
"Aayiram"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"Five thousand."
Formal Tamil
ஐந்தாயிரம் (Aindhaayiram).
Spoken Tamil ✓
அஞ்சாயிரம் (Anjaayiram).
Lakh (100,000) in Tamil
லட்சம்
"Latcham"
லட்சம் / லட்சம்
"Latcham"
Usage tip: A standard unit in India.
Example Sentence
English
"One lakh."
Formal Tamil
ஒரு லட்சம் (Oru latcham).
Spoken Tamil ✓
ஒரு லட்சம் (Oru latcham).
Crore (10,000,000) in Tamil
கோடி
"Kodi"
கோடி
"Kodi"
Usage tip: A standard unit in India for high values.
Example Sentence
English
"One crore."
Formal Tamil
ஒரு கோடி (Oru kodi).
Spoken Tamil ✓
ஒரு கோடி (Oru kodi).
Million in Tamil
பத்து லட்சம்
"Pathu latcham"
மில்லியன்
"Million"
Usage tip: Formal Tamil uses 'Ten Lakhs'. English word is popular in media.
Example Sentence
English
"One million."
Formal Tamil
பத்து லட்சம் (Pathu latcham).
Spoken Tamil ✓
ஒரு மில்லியன் (Oru million).
Many / A lot in Tamil
பல / நிறைய
"Pala / Niraiya"
நிறைய / ரொம்ப
"Niraiya / Romba"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"There are many people."
Formal Tamil
நிறைய மக்கள் உள்ளனர் (Niraiya makkal ullaar).
Spoken Tamil ✓
நிறைய பேர் இருக்காங்க (Niraiya per irukkaanga).
Few in Tamil
சில
"Sila"
கொஞ்சம்
"Konjam"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"Wait for a few minutes."
Formal Tamil
சில நிமிடங்கள் காத்திருக்கவும் (Sila nimidangal kaathirukkavum).
Spoken Tamil ✓
கொஞ்ச நேரம் வெயிட் பண்ணு (Konja neram wait pannu).
All in Tamil
அனைத்தும் / எல்லாம்
"Anaithum / Ellam"
எல்லாரும் / எல்லாம்
"Ellarum (people) / Ellam (things)"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"Everyone came."
Formal Tamil
அனைவரும் வந்தனர் (Anaivarum vandhanar).
Spoken Tamil ✓
எல்லாரும் வந்துட்டாங்க (Ellarum vandhuttaanga).
None in Tamil
யாரும் இல்லை / எதுவும் இல்லை
"Yaarum illai / Edhuvum illai"
யாரும் இல்ல
"Yaarum illa"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"No one is there."
Formal Tamil
யாரும் அங்கில்லை (Yaarum angillai).
Spoken Tamil ✓
அங்க யாரும் இல்ல (Anga yaarum illa).
Some in Tamil
சில / கொஞ்சம்
"Sila / Konjam"
கொஞ்சம்
"Konjam"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"Give me some."
Formal Tamil
எனக்கு கொஞ்சம் கொடுங்கள் (Enakku konjam kodungal).
Spoken Tamil ✓
கொஞ்சம் குடு (Konjam kudu).
Half in Tamil
பாதி / அரை
"Paadhi / Ara"
பாதி
"Paadhi"
Usage tip: 'Ara' is used specifically for units (e.g., Half a kilo).
Example Sentence
English
"Give me half."
Formal Tamil
எனக்கு பாதி கொடுங்கள் (Enakku paadhi kodungal).
Spoken Tamil ✓
பாதி குடு (Paadhi kudu).
Quarter in Tamil
கால்
"Kaal"
கால்
"Kaal"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"Quarter hour."
Formal Tamil
கால் மணிநேரம் (Kaal mani-neram).
Spoken Tamil ✓
கால் மணி நேரம் (Kaal mani neram).
More in Tamil
மேலும் / அதிகம்
"Melum / Adhigam"
இன்னும் / ஜாஸ்தி
"Innum / Jaasthi"
Usage tip: 'Innum' is 'Still more'. 'Jaasthi' is 'Excessive'.
Example Sentence
English
"I want more."
Formal Tamil
எனக்கு இன்னும் வேண்டும் (Enakku innum vendum).
Spoken Tamil ✓
இன்னும் குடுங்க (Innum kudunga).
Less in Tamil
குறைவாக
"Kuraivaaga"
கம்மியா
"Kammiyaa"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"Keep it less."
Formal Tamil
குறைவாக வைக்கவும் (Kuraivaaga vaikkavum).
Spoken Tamil ✓
கம்மியா வை (Kammiyaa vai).
Enough in Tamil
போதும்
"Podhum"
போதும்
"Podhum"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"That is enough."
Formal Tamil
அது போதும் (Adhu podhum).
Spoken Tamil ✓
போதும் (Podhum).
Cultural Context
Tamil has its own numeral system in script, but in practice, Indian (Arabic/Hindu) numerals (1, 2, 3...) are used for all practical purposes. Tamil number words are still used in important cultural contexts — temple announcements, traditional marriage functions, and literary/poetic contexts where the beauty of Tamil numbers is appreciated. "Pathinaaru" (16) sounds musical in a way that "sixteen" does not.
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Try Tamil Grammar Checker FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How do you count from 1 to 10 in Tamil?
One to ten in Tamil: Onnu (1), Randu (2), Moonu (3), Naalu (4), Aanju (5), Aaru (6), Ezhu (7), Ettu (8), Ombadhu (9), Pathu (10). These are the spoken forms. Formal forms: Onru, Irandu, Moondru, Naangu, Ainthu, Aaru, Ezhu, Ettu, Onpadu, Pathu.
How do you say 100 in Tamil?
"Nooru" (நூறு) is the Tamil word for 100. It's used the same way in both formal and spoken Tamil. "Two hundred" is "Irandu nooru" and "500" is "Ainthu nooru."
How do you say 1000 in Tamil?
"Aayiram" (ஆயிரம்) is the Tamil word for 1,000. "10,000" is "Patthayiram." In everyday transactions, English numbers are often used: "Five thousand rupees" becomes "Ainthu thousand" in spoken Tamil.
What is the difference between spoken and formal Tamil numbers?
Formal Tamil numbers (Onru, Irandu, Moondru) are used in official contexts and literature. Spoken Tamil contracts these: Onru → Onnu, Irandu → Randu, Moondru → Moonu. The pattern is: formal Tamil preserves final consonants that spoken Tamil drops or modifies.
Are Tamil script numerals still used?
Tamil script has its own traditional numerals, but in practice, standard Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3...) are used universally in modern Tamil writing. Tamil script numerals appear occasionally in traditional contexts, religious texts, and heritage documents.