# Tamil

/ˈtæmɪɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tamil
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the language

noun · CEFR B2

a classical language spoken mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.

For teachers: a Dravidian language with a long literary history, spoken primarily in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia.

- She grew up speaking Tamil at home with her parents.
- Tamil is one of the longest-surviving classical languages in the world, with a rich tradition of poetry dating back over two thousand years.

### 2. the people

noun · CEFR B2

a person who belongs to the Tamil ethnic group.

For teachers: a member of the Tamil ethnic group, originating from South Asia.

- Many Tamils living abroad maintain strong ties to their cultural roots.
- The local community centre provides resources for Tamils who have recently immigrated to the city.

### 3. related to the culture

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to the Tamil people, their language, or their traditions.

For teachers: pertaining to the Tamil people, their culture, script, or language.

- We went to a restaurant that serves traditional Tamil food.
- The festival showcased various aspects of Tamil culture, including classical dance and traditional music performances.

## Examples

- She is learning to speak Tamil to talk with her grandmother.
- The university offers a comprehensive course in Tamil literature, covering both ancient poetry and modern prose.
- Scholars often highlight Tamil as one of the few languages that possesses a continuous classical tradition while remaining a vibrant, living tongue spoken by over seventy million people globally.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.