Learning pronouns in Tamil, a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in Sri Lanka, is essential for mastering both spoken and written communication. Tamil pronouns are characterized by their forms according to person, number, gender (in third person), and case. This guide covers personal, possessive, demonstrative, reflexive, and interrogative pronouns, providing detailed explanations and examples for each, including transliterations for pronunciation help.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns in Tamil replace nouns referring to people or things and are used based on the person being referred to.

Subject Pronouns:

• நான் (Nāṉ) – I: “நான் செல்கிறேன்.” (Nāṉ selkiṟēn) – I am going.
• நீ (Nī) – You (singular): “நீ வருகிறாய்.” (Nī varukiṟāy) – You are coming.
• அவன் / அவள் / அது (Avaṉ / Avaḷ / Athu) – He/She/It: “அவன் படிக்கிறான்.” / “அவள் பாடுகிறாள்.” / “அது இருக்கிறது.” (Avaṉ paṭikkiṟāṉ / Avaḷ pāṭukiṟāḷ / Athu irukkiṟathu) – He is studying. / She is singing. / It is there.
• நாங்கள் (Nāṅkaḷ) – We: “நாங்கள் சமைக்கிறோம்.” (Nāṅkaḷ samaikkiṟōm) – We are cooking.
• நீங்கள் (Nīṅkaḷ) – You (plural): “நீங்கள் சிரிக்கிறீர்கள்.” (Nīṅkaḷ sirikkiṟīrkaḷ) – You are laughing.
• அவர்கள் (Avarṅkaḷ) – They: “அவர்கள் விளையாடுகிறார்கள்.” (Avarṅkaḷ viḷaiyāṭukiṟārkaḷ) – They are playing.

Object Pronouns:

Object pronouns in Tamil often follow the verb and indicate the receiver of the action. They usually mirror the subject pronouns but are used in the accusative case context.

• என்னை (Eṉṉai) – Me: “அவன் என்னை பார்க்கிறான்.” (Avaṉ eṉṉai pārkiṟāṉ) – He sees me.
• உன்னை (Uṉṉai) – You: “நான் உன்னை நேசிக்கிறேன்.” (Nāṉ uṉṉai nēsikkiṟēn) – I love you.
• அவனை / அவளை / அதை (Avaṉai / Avaḷai / Athai) – Him/Her/It: “நான் அவளை அழைக்கிறேன்.” (Nāṉ avaḷai aḻaikkiṟēn) – I am calling her.
• எங்களை (Eṅkaḷai) – Us: “அவர்கள் எங்களை கண்டுகொள்கிறார்கள்.” (Avarṅkaḷ eṅkaḷai kaṇṭukoḷkiṟārkaḷ) – They find us.
• உங்களை (Uṅkaḷai) – You (plural): “நான் உங்களை நம்புகிறேன்.” (Nāṉ uṅkaḷai nampukiṟēn) – I trust you.
• அவர்களை (Avarṅkaḷai) – Them: “நான் அவர்களை மதிக்கிறேன்.” (Nāṉ avarṅkaḷai mathikkiṟēn) – I respect them.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns in Tamil indicate ownership and usually follow the noun they modify.

• எனது (Enathu) – My: “எனது புத்தகம்.” (Enathu putthakam) – My book.
• உனது (Unathu) – Your: “உனது கார்.” (Unathu kār) – Your car.
• அவனுடைய / அவளுடைய / அதனுடைய (Avaṉuṭaiya / Avaḷuṭaiya / Athaṉuṭaiya) – His/Her/Its: “அவனுடைய வீடு.” (Avaṉuṭaiya vīṭu) – His house.
• எங்களுடைய (Eṅkaḷuṭaiya) – Our: “எங்களுடைய நாடு.” (Eṅkaḷuṭaiya nāṭu) – Our country.
• உங்களுடைய (Uṅkaḷuṭaiya) – Your (plural): “உங்களுடைய பெறுமதி.” (Uṅkaḷuṭaiya peṟumathi) – Your value.
• அவர்களுடைய (Avarṅkaḷuṭaiya) – Their: “அவர்களுடைய சொத்து.” (Avarṅkaḷuṭaiya soththu) – Their property.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns in Tamil point to specific nouns and vary based on proximity.

• இது (Idhu) – This: “இது என்ன?” (Idhu enna?) – What is this?
• அது (Adhu) – That: “அது எங்கே?” (Adhu engē?) – Where is that?

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns in Tamil are used when the subject performs an action upon itself.

• தான் (Tāṉ) – Oneself: “அவன் தானே வந்தான்.” (Avaṉ tāṉē vandhāṉ) – He came by himself.

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions about people, places, or things.

• யார் (Yār) – Who: “யார் இது?” (Yār idhu?) – Who is this?
• என்ன (Enna) – What: “என்ன வேண்டும்?” (Enna vēṇḍum?) – What do you want?
• எங்கே (Engē) – Where: “நீ எங்கே போகிறாய்?” (Nī engē pōkiṟāy?) – Where are you going?

Understanding and correctly using Tamil pronouns is vital for navigating both simple and complex conversations. Practice forming sentences with each type of pronoun, and try to engage in conversations or writing exercises to apply these concepts actively. Remember, context and the nuances of Tamil culture and language play a significant role in choosing the correct pronoun form.