List of English Words Having a Tamil Origin

English Words Borrowed from Tamil

The words listed below have been borrowed directly from Tamil, an ancient classical language spoken by Tamils in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius South Africa and other places. The language is spoken by 77 million people all over the world. Tamil is the official language in the Government of Tamil Nadu (An Indian State). I have consulted important online dictionaries. Oxford English Dictionary, Merriam Webster Dictionary and American Heritage dictionary and found that most of entries are intact.

1) Appam = Rice cake

2) Cash = Paper money or money in general. (L) Also refers various coins used in South India and China. (In Tamil = kasu means coin)

3) Catamaran = a yacht or other boat with twin hulls in parallel. ORIGIN Tamil, 'tied wood'.

4) Cheroot = a cigar with both ends open ORIGIN French cheroute, from a Tamil word meaning 'roll of tobacco'.

5) Corundum = from a Tamil word for 'ruby', kuruntam or kuruvintam

6) Coir = fibre from the outer husk of the coconut, used in potting compost and for making ropes. In Tamil/ Malayalam word kayaru means rope or thread or to be twisted.

7) Curry = a dish of meat, vegetables, etc., cooked in an Indian-style sauce of strong spices. In Tamil Kari, sauce ORIGIN Tamil.

8) Godown = a warehouse In Tamil kidangu / kodangu a Tamil word for store room ORIGIN Portuguese gudão, from Tamil

9) Idli = Soft, white, puffy rice cake made from steam by Tamils

10) Kabadi / kabaddi = A game played by Tamils. Now it has its own place in many national and international sports events. The word kabadi will be repeated to hold the breathe.

11) Moringa = murungai , a Tamil word meaning the vegetable drumstick

12) Mulligatawny = Black pepper water. In Tamil milaku means black pepper. In Tamil 'tanni' means water

13) Nadaswaram / Nagaswaram = A musical instrument played by putting wind. In Tamil Nadha means music swaram means seven swaras

14) Palay = from Tamil palai

15) Palus = Pit In Tamil pallam means small pit

16) Pariah = Name of an outcaste in Tamil. In Tamil parayan

17) Pandal = In Tamil pandal means a temporary shed made out of coconut leaves