About This Guide
Talking about time in Tamil reveals another layer of the formal vs spoken divide. The news anchor says "Indru" (today); your friend says "Innaikku." Neither is wrong — they're just registers for different contexts.
A key pattern: formal Tamil time words often end in a short syllable, while spoken Tamil adds "-ku" to indicate direction/destination in time. "Naalai" (tomorrow) → "Naalaikku." This pattern helps you predict spoken forms once you know the formal ones.
This section covers 15 essential time words — days, parts of the day, relative time references (before, after, now) — in both forms.
Today in Tamil
இன்று
"Indru"
இன்னைக்கு
"Innaikku"
Usage tip: 'Indru' is news anchor Tamil. 'Innaikku' is what everyone says.
Example Sentence
English
"Today is a holiday."
Formal Tamil
இன்று விடுமுறை (Indru vidumurai).
Spoken Tamil ✓
இன்னைக்கு லீவ் (Innaikku leave).
Tomorrow in Tamil
நாளை
"Naalai"
நாளைக்கு
"Naalaikku"
Usage tip: Similar to Today - 'Naalai' vs 'Naalaikku'.
Example Sentence
English
"Come tomorrow."
Formal Tamil
நாளை வாருங்கள் (Naalai vaarungal).
Spoken Tamil ✓
நாளைக்கு வாங்க (Naalaikku vaanga).
Yesterday in Tamil
நேற்று
"Netru"
நேத்து
"Nethu"
Usage tip: The hard 'tru' softens to 'thu'. Netru -> Nethu.
Example Sentence
English
"I came yesterday."
Formal Tamil
நான் நேற்று வந்தேன் (Naan netru vandhen).
Spoken Tamil ✓
நான் நேத்து வந்தேன் (Naan nethu vandhen).
Sunday in Tamil
ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை
"Gnayitru-kizhamai"
ஞாயித்துக்கிழமை
"Gnayithu-kizhamai"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"Sunday is a holiday."
Formal Tamil
ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை விடுமுறை (Gnayitru-kizhamai vidumurai).
Spoken Tamil ✓
ஞாயித்துக்கிழமை லீவ் (Gnayithu-kizhamai leave).
Monday in Tamil
திங்கட்கிழமை
"Thingat-kizhamai"
திங்கட்கிழமை
"Thingat-kizhamai"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"Monday work."
Formal Tamil
திங்கட்கிழமை வேலை (Thingat-kizhamai velai).
Spoken Tamil ✓
மண்டே ஒரு வேல இருக்கு (Monday oru vela irukku).
Saturday in Tamil
சனிக்கிழமை
"Sani-kizhamai"
சனிக்கிழமை
"Sani-kizhamai"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"Saturday night."
Formal Tamil
சனிக்கிழமை இரவு (Sani-kizhamai iravu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
சனிக்கிழமை நைட்டு (Sani-kizhamai night-u).
Week in Tamil
வாரம்
"Vaaram"
வாரம்
"Vaaram"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"Next week."
Formal Tamil
அடுத்த வாரம் (Adutha vaaram).
Spoken Tamil ✓
அடுத்த வாரம் (Adutha vaaram).
Month in Tamil
மாதம்
"Maadham"
மாசம்
"Maasam"
Usage tip: Maadham -> Maasam (softening 'dha' to 'sa').
Example Sentence
English
"This month."
Formal Tamil
இந்த மாதம் (Indha maadham).
Spoken Tamil ✓
இந்த மாசம் (Indha maasam).
Year in Tamil
ஆண்டு / வருடம்
"Aandu / Varudam"
வருஷம்
"Varusham"
Usage tip: Varudam -> Varusham.
Example Sentence
English
"New Year."
Formal Tamil
புத்தாண்டு (Puthaandu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
புது வருஷம் (Pudhu varusham).
Hour in Tamil
மணிநேரம்
"Mani-neram"
மணி / நேர
"Mani / Neram"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"One hour."
Formal Tamil
ஒரு மணிநேரம் (Oru mani-neram).
Spoken Tamil ✓
ஒரு மணி நேரம் (Oru mani neram).
Minute in Tamil
நிமிடம்
"Nimidam"
நிமிஷம்
"Nimisham"
Usage tip: Nimidam -> Nimisham.
Example Sentence
English
"Two minutes."
Formal Tamil
இரண்டு நிமிடங்கள் (Irandu nimidangal).
Spoken Tamil ✓
ரெண்டு நிமிஷம் (Rendu nimisham).
Second in Tamil
வினாடி / வினா
"Vinaadi / Vinaa"
செகண்ட்
"Second"
Usage tip: English word is universal for time units smaller than a minute.
Example Sentence
English
"One second."
Formal Tamil
ஒரு வினாடி (Oru vinaadi).
Spoken Tamil ✓
ஒரு செகண்ட் (Oru second).
Afternoon in Tamil
மதியம் / பிற்பகல்
"Madhiyam / Pirpakal"
மத்தியானம்
"Madhiyaanam"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"Good afternoon."
Formal Tamil
மதிய வணக்கம் (Madhiya vanakkam).
Spoken Tamil ✓
மத்தியானம் வாங்க (Madhiyaanam vaanga - Come in the afternoon).
Evening in Tamil
மாலை
"Maalai"
சாயங்காலம்
"Saayangaalam"
Usage tip: -
Example Sentence
English
"Evening walk."
Formal Tamil
மாலை நடை (Maalai nadai).
Spoken Tamil ✓
சாயங்காலம் போலாம் (Saayangaalam polaam - Let's go in the evening).
Night in Tamil
இரவு
"Iravu"
நைட்டு / ராத்திரி
"Night-u / Raathiri"
Usage tip: 'Raathiri' is common colloquial. 'Night-u' is very common.
Example Sentence
English
"Late night."
Formal Tamil
நள்ளிரவு (Nalliravu).
Spoken Tamil ✓
ரொம்ப லேட் நைட்டு (Romba late night-u).
Cultural Context
Time concepts in Tamil are deeply embedded in cultural practice. The Tamil calendar (Panchangam) is still widely used for auspicious dates, festivals, and naming ceremonies. Time words connect to this calendar — "Naatkal" (days) and the Tamil months (Chithirai, Vaikasi, etc.) are still used in temple announcements and family ceremonies even by people who primarily speak colloquial Tamil.
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Try Tamil Grammar Checker FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How do you say today in Tamil?
"Indru" (இன்று) is the formal Tamil word for today — used in news broadcasts and formal writing. In spoken Tamil, everyone says "Innaikku" (இன்னைக்கு). "Today there is a holiday" becomes "Innaikku leave" in spoken Chennai Tamil.
How do you say tomorrow in Tamil?
"Naalai" (நாளை) is the formal word for tomorrow. Spoken form: "Naalaikku" (நாளைக்கு). "Come tomorrow" formally: "Naalai vaarungal." Spoken: "Naalaikku vaanga."
How do you say yesterday in Tamil?
"Netru" (நேற்று) is the formal word for yesterday. In spoken Tamil, the hard "tru" softens to "thu": "Nethu" (நேத்து). "I came yesterday" formally: "Naan netru vandhen." Spoken: "Naan nethu vandhen."
How do you say now in Tamil?
"Ippozhudhu" (இப்பொழுது) is the formal Tamil word for now — very rarely spoken. In everyday Tamil, people say "Ippa" (இப்ப) or "Ippo" which are contracted forms. "Come now" becomes "Ippa vaa."
How do you say morning in Tamil?
"Kaalai" (காலை) is the Tamil word for morning, used in both formal and spoken contexts. "Good morning" (Kaalai vanakkam) uses the formal greeting form. In spoken Tamil, "morning" in English is just as common for casual contexts.