Tamil words and Origins

Old Tamil words seen in Sanskrit

Both Tamil and Sanskrit are languages of our ancients, Often claimed to be unrelated languages , But I want to highlight some of those common words between these two languages, we can see most of the words below have their roots in Tamil and are part of Tamil people’s language and their culture. Also in some words we could find the right meaning only using Tamil. Please go through all the words listed. The list is growing, keep watching…

Chala/Chaila/Zail: Kal (mountain or stone)

The Tamil word Kal refers normally to stone, but in older times its refers to hills and mountains.

Kirita : Crown : Kotram (கொற்றம்) meaning, Winning, having all under it.

Aadhi :

Aa+Thi , In Tamil prefix “Aa” is added to denote something Hidden, Not visible, High, High in value etc. “ for example words like “Aa, Aamai, AAni, AAru, Aadu etc… and the sound “Thi” refers to “state of Time” here, Analyzing the sound “Thi” “தி” it refers to state/condition.

from this its very clear ஆதி -Aadhi is an ancient Tamil word meaning ” a time very off”.

Mahaa(large) : Miku, Maa/மா

In Tamil there is Miku(more, exceed) is there in the sense,(exceeding what it can retain/occupy).

Tamil ம்+ஆ = Maa which is (Occupy/retain + unknown) is a more generic word which is used to refer things that are wide spread(Maanilam-large land), not limited to fixed place (for ex. Maa in Tamil also refer to any animals that roams without a fixed place like Maadu, Maan or generally Maa) which corresponds to Sanskrit/Hindi Aam(more common)

Shri : Thiru/திரு : Thiru is equivalent of Shiri, In Tamil Thi+Ru = keeping with(th) + not to give(i) + Taking to inside(ru). meaning who/which is in a condition of stability often used as the word for respect and prefixed before words of Temples, Places, rivers etc… [Analysing further the Sanskrit word Rtu the sound inverse of the Tamil word Thiru]

Raksha(Serve, Protect,care) : Irakkam, Irangu (Mercy)/இரக்கம் இரங்கு ( To support one who is in need of help(irathal), Irathal is to ask for help. இர இரவு(begging)

Rishi – Seer/சீர் (In Tamil Seer simply means “to set it right”, “in good condition”, Its the root of the word Seeraham(Jeeraa).) Interestingly English also has a word “Seer” which means a Prophet or Saint like person.

Anth, ANthima : Antham, AnthiThe word Antham, Antham means End, Anthi in Tamil means the finishing state, Near to completion, The evening is called as “Anthi”. “Anthanar” refers to Those who had taken himself to the end.

Dhairya : Thiram (Capacity, Skill, Potential etc..) English word “Dare” is also related to “Thiram”

Chandra: ChenTharu(meaning Brightness Giving in Tamil) (Chandramah = Chen tharu mathi = Bright moon)

Daksina : Therkku, (South) , the word Deccan comes from this Tamil word Therkku.

Chal : Chel (To Go, To walk etc…) aChal is Chellaa.

Mani : MaNi (bead) Literally it means “That which is not stable, to stay on it (rolling, Shaking)” , Its actually Man(Land where we stay) + I (negation/not there to give)

Maanya = Maanam – (Honour)

Vithi – Vaaitha – Fate, in Tamil Vaaitha, means whatever one got.

Durant/Dura : Thura/துற (Thu=Keeping with inside+ Ra=Giving away), This is a root word in Tamil that means “to Keep off“, “To cut off“, “not accepting in“.

Dwar : Thurai/துறை (the root should be Thura/துற) in Tamil it refers to Entrance, port. The Dwarka(city)’s Tamil name should be from Thurai+akam (gated place or port city)

Dost : Dos : ThOzhan(Male Friend one who is close by), ThOli(Female friend), ThOl(shoulder), after all giving a shoulder is friendship.

DhUl – Thuhal (English Dust also is related)

Bhaaga : Paku, Pakuthi (Split)

HAsh : Ihazh/Ikal (Ridicule)

Kuntala : Koonthal (Long women hair)

Kutumba : Kudi (Family) Kudil-Hut, Kudai etc…

Mukha : Mukam

Aksa : Acchu (axis, axle) Acchaani in Tamil is axle nail.

kRte : Karuthi (for want of, on account of, willing to have)

Viradh : Thavir (Inverse of sound) (based on sound both Viradham and Thavir means the same ie. (tha (தம்மிடம்) + vi (உள்ளிருக்க வருவதை) + ra (கொண்டு செல்வது) .

Bhaava: Aavi

Lubh : Ulluvathu, Ulluthal (mindfull, desire for) these all came from the Tamil word Ullam(mind) ultimately from Ul(inside)

[Note: The English word “Love” can be traced to “Ulluvathu”]

Raann : Aran (in Sanskrit or hindi Rann means “battle”, it also refers to the king, but the actual Tamil meaning is that which safe guards and cannot be crossed easily)

Raaja : Arasan ->:means king.

The early Tamil literature like ThiruKural talks about Aran which means protection, fort.

Aran in Tamil means safeguarding or giving protection, normally the King’s place that protects its people, It includes, the fort and gives the protection to the kingdom and its people in times of war. Aran also generally means the task of protection in Tamil.

Arasu means the Goverment or kingdom. Aranmanai is palace, Arasar is king, Arasi is Queen, Ilavarasan is prince.

Vanij : Vaanika (In Tamil meaning Business)

Baya : PEi(That which is frightening, as per the sound pEi, it means – Difficult to add up with)

Dharma : Aram is another similar sounding word that means virtue/justice etc.

The word Aram is widely used in ancient Tamil literature meaning goodness.

Roopa : UruVam /உருவம்

Aham (I) : Aham(Inside, Inner things) (in Tamil it doesn’t come with the same meaning, but the mind part of human is often referred as “Aham”.

Giri : Kurinchi (The Tamil word Kurinchi refers to the land with mountains, the land where everything flows down, not retaining whatever it gains.)

DrAva– Vaartha (Free flowing/ Capacity to come/flow) (again this is just inverse of the letters) .

Mahiyu : Mahil (Tamil word “Makil” means to be Happy, English word Smile is also from this Tamil word)

Mukthika : Mutthu : Pearl (Mu+tthu literally means – Occupying a place Inside + Keeping within inside)

Manam: Mind, மனம் , ம + ன (ஒரு இடத்தில சூழ + நாம் வைத்திருப்பது)- Its common in most Indian languages. “Man” in Tamil literally means that which “Occupying a place + We have”

Mantra : Manthiram, root word is Manam(mind)

Abhitas: Patriya/பற்றிய (about), Patru(to be close with, in proximity), English word Ambi- comes with this, (About)

Aayur: Aayul : Age : Aayul means lifetime.

Aank : Kaan/Kan (Eyes) (Ka= Gain, N=Receives)

Priya : Piriyaa (Inseparable)

Kavi : Kalvi (With Knowledge, With Wisdom), (Ka= Gain + from a place + comes from within)

Pitaar: (Parents) : Petravar பெற்றவர் (meaning parents), again this is from Tamil, and in Hindi they use Pithaa.

In Tamil, Peru means “To bring in” and “PetrOr” means “Those who brought us in”.

Saya/SayaGkaala: Evening Time, “SaayanKaalam” or Saayum Kaalam meaning the Hiding Time.

Saayum means to Hide away, “Saavu” means to die, Saai means to “Totally join into”/Leaning onto.

Loka : Ulakam (World) : (in Tamil Ul+akam literally means “Inside place, the place here)

Vaira : Veru (English:Wrath), Veruthal in Tamil means to be hateful, hostile etc..

Rakta :Blood : Kuruthi. In sanskrit there is another word Hridhya the heart.

Kuruthi the blood in Tamil could refer to the softness/freshness/raw state.

Brahmin: Paarpan : Paar(l) refers to uniqueness, not mingled with, and represents purity.

Brahmma: “Brh” means to grow swell enlarge etc, which in Tamil will be “peru” பெரு It could be from this word “Perumaan” “பெரும” “The highest”. or this is the equivalent of that word.

Maatra : Maathirai: Maa in Tamil means “in a Place hidden/unknown” “MaaThirai” is “Some unknown content hidden inside its place”.

Thirai means “that which acts itself as a stop”

Kadu/Kadi+->kashtam-> Difficulty

Kuru/குட்டை->Kushtam-> Short

Thamarai : Thamara” the word for lotus plant.

Rasa : Saaru(சாறு) is the Tamil word for Juice. Rasa is just a little mixing up of sounds in “saaru” to make it little more soft. 🙂

Sutra: ChoorThiram:சூர்த்திறம்: Choor+Thiram= “Chool” in Tamil means to Surround, “Thira” means open, So Sootras are mantras or actions to escape out of difficulties.

Suddha : This is again has a pure Tamil root “Sudhai (சுதை) “, Meaning “To clean” For purity Tamil word is “Thooimai”.

Astra : Sudar (சுடர்) meaning Shine/Glitter in Tamil. Sangam poems use sudar(சுடர்) to refer the planetary bodies, This also could be the origin of English word “Star”.

USta : Sudu(heating, cooking, burning) (inverse in sound, may be the source of the above word Sudar(star)) The Sudu literally should refer to the action of making heat using friction. (join inside + action in)

Ratha: ThEr (Inverse of the sound) (In Tamil “ThEr” means Chariot) Analysing the sound “ThEr” is literally means “having with + inaccessible/distant + taking to”.

Dhiyam : Commonly used in the Vedas related to intelligence, in Tamil it should be “Mathi” மதி also meaning intelligence. ம+தி = Occupying a place + Condition. In Hindi, there is a word “Dhimak” an exact inverse of the word “Mathi”.

Ṛtaasya : Uriya/Uritha (Rightfull)

Surya/Aruna: Sun in Tamil it is Gnyaayiru In Sanskrit There is “Agni” or “Angiraah” Agni which is fire, but Angiraah refer to the fire God Gnyaayiru Sun in Tamil, AAngiraah/Aruna could be some mixup of the sound “Gnaayiru”.

Sthala/tala : Thaal(bottom/floor, Foot part of leg). Thaalvu etc…

Jyothi: Kozhunthu, may not be similar sounding, but have some doubts these could be related. kolunthu comes with meanings like golden, shining, flame in Tamil.

Sthan : Thaangu(bear, withstand) Similar to place names that uses Sthaan as prefix.. in Tamil too this word Thaangal is used for many place names. Urdu Istan also needs to mention which means place. In Tamil we have thangu(stay, and related words like Sit, Seat etc…).

Thava: In Tamil we have Thavam meaning medidate or wait. The word for frog in Tamil is Thavalai is related.. Thava meaning the posture to keep larger things low, the posture of frog sitting. tha = Keeping with Va=growth/visibility.

Dhobi/ Dhavaka : Thuvai (To wash, The washing action, To beat hard, To make soft)

Svaada : Suvai(Taste)

Dhand : Thandu (Staff/Stick) is a common word in Tamil, even English words like Stand can be traced to this. There is also Thuduppu(oars)

Thandangeerai, Thandam, Thandanai(beat with the Staff) etc.. are other related words in Tamil.

Kaaya : Yaakkai (body)

Ardha : Arai(half)( The Tamil word comes from the root, Aru, Ari meaning to cut)

Rashi : Saar, (Inverse sound, Saar in Tamil means to rely upon, (Oru Saaraar, means one group)

Vaastu/Vaasi : Vaal, Vaalkai (life)

Aarthi : Aara+Thee , Aara in Tamil means.. goes around, curving/circling action as in aaram(the garland) and Thee means fire.

BalavAn : Vallavan/ Vall /Vallamai (Strong)

We can see how common are these words between Sanskrit and Tamil, with slight inverse of sounds.

[Please check the home page to get the meaning of individual meaning of sounds in Tamil]

75 responses to “Old Tamil words seen in Sanskrit”

Saravanan

April 19, 2011

very nice explanation. please keep it up

Reply
painful heart

August 5, 2011

Internet is being used these days to establish facts hidden. hihihihi. after a long time of suffering we are emerging. 🙂

Reply
Sanskritroots

June 4, 2013

Dear Admin,

We have created a list of 700 sanskrit words which are used on a regular basis in day-to-day Tamil language in both spoken and written forms. We are in the process of updating this list.

The file is available under the heading ‘Sanskrit Words in Tamil’ at the following address

Sanskrit and Tamil

The list contains the equivalent of such words in Hindi and share similar phonetics. We are in the process of updating the corresponding words in Bengali, Gujarati, Marati etc.,

The objective behind the above effort is to enable Tamil students to understand, how they are already familiar with words which are used in other languages ,as well. With a bit of extra effort, they can clearly master many other Indian languages. This would make them multi-lingual, which is a major draw back for anybody trying to pursue a career opportunity outside of Tamilnadu.

Also the site http://www.sanskritroots.com contains opinions on Sanskrit by learned scholars like Dr. Abdulkalam, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi and others.

Since your site is focussed on Sanskrit , we thought a review of the above effort by yourselves would enable reaching out to a larger audience.

Thanks and Regards

Sanskrit Roots.

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  June 4, 2013
  
  Your efforts are welcome, Yes modern day Tamils need multilingual capacity, Sanskrit or its closer modern day variants like Hindi needs to be learned to better understand their own older Tamil, which they are preserving since ages.
  
  Reply
2. Choyan
  
  October 19, 2013
  
  Dear Sanskritroots,
  
  Tamil Thoulcopiyam is scientifically older than Sanskrit related evidence. Please give your comments
  
  Reply
  1. Tamil Indian
    
    January 19, 2018
    
    No, Tholkapiyam is the oldest tamil literature work but it actually written to protect tamil from northern languages(may be sanskrit or prakrit) means then there is a language exist along with tamil. Rig vedha is the oldest sanskrit literature work but it has dozens of tamil (Dravidian) words means there is a language exists along with sanskrit.Its hard to conclude which is older that another.
pangl kaprala

September 2, 2013

Hello Tamil lovers, do think about some idea given under how to get tamil to sanskrit or vice versa.
It is a phonetic theory of First Tamil grammarian, that for/in Tamil always a vovwel precedes a consonant. So to change eitherway remove or add the preceding vowel. For example, Raja in Sanskirt, look at R as aR , which makes aRaja…but j being close dipthong, it can become ta, ja, or sa. Forward move is easier for flow, so ja becomes sa making the word as arasa or arasu etc.
Perhaps this may or may not be true in case of all words, but I take risk to guess it is applicable for all Tmil vs Sanskrit words. Sometimes..the preceding vowel in Tamil becomes silent or lost, and some times clearly pronounced. So have it as you like…and see if it works well.

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  September 3, 2013
  
  Its not vowel preceding consonant, its inversion of the sounds, for example the word Maa(maango) is Aam and Kan(eye) is Ank etc.. in many cases.
  for me Tamil looks neatly preserved.
  About the word arasu or Raaja, should have come from the words with the root meaning of “not to go near, not joining with easily, not easy to see“
  
  Reply
2. Bhupathy
  
  November 30, 2015
  
  Sanskrit used tamil word SA as JA .sanskrit is a language developed from tamil
  
  Reply
nathan

October 11, 2013

So interesting everybody gave good commends. but scientific research says Tamil language related evidence older than Sanskrit. and before Sanskrit in india lots of language spoke by the people
people are saying Sanskrit is the only language in this world. Sanskrit borrowed Thousands of word from other language. that language Palli Parkrit Tamil. tamil may borrowed from this(Palli, parkrit) language. Sanskrit also same word borrowed from this language.

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  October 12, 2013
  
  Yes, To me Tamil looks so pure and original compared to Sanskrit that looks mixed.
  thanks for your comments.
  
  Reply
2. Matheesha
  
  January 15, 2024
  
  you are correct to point!!!
  
  Reply
kishore cmg

March 29, 2014

சமற்கிருதத்தில் இவ்வளவு தமிழ் இருக்கிறதா! சிலர் கூறுவர், ” சமற்கிருதம் கலப்படமற்ற மொழி ” என்று. ஆனால் அக்கருத்து இப்போது பொய்யாகி விட்டது !

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  April 5, 2014
  
  எந்த மொழியும் கலப்படமற்றதாக கருத முடியாது. இப்பொழுது நாம் பேசும் தமிழ் உட்பட.மொழி வளர்ச்சியின் வேரை கண்டுபிடிப்பது மிகவும் எளிதான ஒன்று, உண்மை சிலநேரங்களில் தேவை இல்லாதது ஆகி மறைந்தும் விடுகின்றது, ஆனால் அது விதை போல் மீண்டும் உயிர் பெற்று வளர்ந்து ஓங்கி வளரும் காலமும் வரும்.
  
  Reply
2. jeyasselan
  
  February 23, 2015
  
  ” தமிழ் மொழி தனித்துவம் மிக்கது ” ..
  
  வேற்று மொழியை தாங்கி இருக்கும் இந்தோ-ஆரியன் மொழியான சமஸ்கிருதத்தில் உள்ள ‘ ஸ்,ஷ், ஜ், ஹ், ஹ ‘ ஆகிய எழுத்துக்கள் பண்டைய தமிழ் மொழியில் காண இயலாது . அது போல் ‘ ழ்,ள் ‘ ஆகிய ‘ லகர ழகர ‘ உச்சரிப்பு நம் மொழிக்குரிய சிறப்பு எழுத்துக்கள் அவை சமஸ்கிருதத்தில் இல்லை.
  
  சமஸ்கிருதம் – கைபர் , போலன் கணவாய் வழி இந்தியா வந்த ஆரியர்களின் வேத காலத்து மொழி.
  
  தமிழ் – இந்தியாவின் பூர்விக திராவிட குடிகளால் ,சிறப்பான இலக்கண முறை கொண்டு எழுதப்பட்டும் பேசப்பட்டும் வந்த திராவிட மொழி.
  
  Reply
  1. aruniyan
    
    February 24, 2015
    
    நன்றி அன்பரே,
    
    எல்லா மொழிக்கும் தனித்துவம் உண்டு, ஆனால் கடன் பெற்ற சொற்கள் என்பது எல்லா மொழிகளுக்கும் பொதுவான ஒரு இயல்பு.
  2. N Ramamurthy
    
    October 13, 2016
    
    The very word Dravida is a Sanskrit word meaning land surrounded by sea on three sides.
    Without Sanskrit, Tamil cannot develop beyond certain areas or periods. Ja sha sa ha is very much used in all the languages other than Tamil being the primitive language. Hence for developing any language it is necessary to use the syllables like ja sha sa ha. Any language is to be seen only as a medium and the same should be developed. That is how Tamil was developed to include the Sanskrit words.
  3. aruniyan
    
    October 14, 2016
    
    Tamil is ancient but not primitive.
    All languages has loan words, Even Sanskrit got a lot of words from Tamil as I see Tamil usage was prevalent long before Sanskrit.
    Thanks for your comment.
3. MUTHURAMAN
  
  February 22, 2018
  
  Sanskrit modified language of tamil.. like our school, college students kana bhasha, da bhasha.. Ancient munivargal made it for their use secretly from uncivilized people. it has hidden . that’s why vetham also called marai in tamil.. ve means hidden … like veli(hide) , vetti(hide by cloth), vel(maraithu vaithu or bring out from hidden, vekam(ulle maraithiruntha speed. samaskrutham means san+iru+thuvam= samamana karuthai ulle kondullathu.. watch vimal’s mannar vakaiyara. In that film parthiban comedy he speak reveral really that sound like new language.. the same happened here. some words reversal and some words dealigned letters some words also dealigned like nakku, mookku. in hindi which are just vice versa mook , naak… all are tamil only.
  
  Reply
vasco

June 6, 2014

This is what is called Tamil terr–ism. Tamils are ahead in rewriting history that carries Falsehood.
Tamil Terr–ism is more dangerous than Islamic Terr–ism and this page /site revleaste truth

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  June 6, 2014
  
  Better to read well and comment something related to this post and not something unrelated.
  
  Reply
Suresh Dhanasekar

July 8, 2014

nice really you have done good work even i have thought to do this kind activities so once nice work and you can still refer devaneya pavanar books,,,,,,,

Reply
Yuktesh

October 13, 2014

Hi,

Nice work I stumbled upon during google search to know Tamil language history (my mother tongue). I wonder whether this post is still monitored. The reason for my writing is to clarify a doubt on the word ‘Meen’ which in Tamil means Fish. I think the related word in Sanskrit is ‘Meenam’. I came across an English book written by a Tamil author. The story is based in Bengal and in one place the word ‘meen’ is used to refer fish. I encountered the author with a question why word ‘meen’ is used as the word is a Tamil word but the story is based in Bengal. The author replied that ‘meen’ is not a Tamil word. Since then I have tried to find the root of word ‘meen’ (to refer ‘fish’) but could not come up with satisfying result. In Hindi we have ‘Machchli’, in Bengali we have ‘Maach’. In Sanskrit we have ‘Meenam’. I have a strong feeling that the word is originally Tamil and might have become ‘meenam’ in Sanskrit.

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  October 13, 2014
  
  Dear Yuktesh,
  
  Meen is an old Tamil word, and I do not find related words in other languages, as per my analysis, the word means, something that’s infinite. m+ee=to retain + give away. “Above of what we can retain(m/ம்)”.
  
  Meel/Meendu = Escape
  Meen = Fish/Stars = Inner meaning of something that’s not countable.
  
  I will give more information later getting from other sources and what they say about “meen”
  
  Thanks for your comment.
  
  Reply
  1. Su
    
    November 19, 2015
    
    Or the meaning could be something that is sparking / to spark: meenal , meenuku , meesai
2. Rahul Kumar
  
  January 16, 2015
  
  I also believe meen is coming from Tamil to Sanskrit and pure word for fish in sanskrit is matsyam, which tamil pronounce as matcham.
  About this post: some of its claim seems to be false, eg maha, rishi, mukha etc. My perception is most tamil words ending in im are coming from sanskrit, if not all. Examples could be matsyam, gruham, kalyanam, megham, twaritam etc. One tamil friend pointed out exceptions being marram, aram etc. Maram is not tamil word. Aram seems to be dharam in bad shape, as the way tamil pronounce or drop certain sounds makes it difficult to understand the original word ending in im, if it comes from sankrit.
  
  Reply
  1. aruniyan
    
    January 16, 2015
    
    Thanks for your comments,
    There are many words that are in Tamil comes from Sanskrit. But We cannot say that just by seeing the ending or starting sounds.
    
    There are many am ending words in Tamil.
    Its not Maha(sans) becomes Maa(tam) or Dharm(sans) becomes Aram(tam) or viceversa, the difference is the two evolved simultaneously using the same building blocks that means the same.
    
    Just like two products that does the same manufactured by two different companies using the same principles and technologies existing.
    Here one might or might not have influenced the other, because the need for the word might have arisen independently, but the source available is the same.
  2. hari
    
    June 1, 2016
    
    Maram is tamil word. U can refer thirukural. “Vatral maram thalirthatru”
    .
shri

November 27, 2014

I think before writing about Tamil words in Sanskrit, one should know which is a Sanskrit word itself.
E.g.’dost’ is a Persian/Farsi word.

I am satisfied with only Aadhi. Because not many ‘derived’ words are there in Sanskrit fron these roots, except aadyam from aadi, means ‘first’. And there is ‘Pratham’ in Sanskrit for ‘first’, so the former can be a Tamil root.

Manas is root Sanskrit and Mana: is first case singular. Manam cannot be Sanskrit because -am suffix is not used for that word.

Stha- is Sanskrit because stha-sthaan-sthaanik-sthir-sthairya-sthita means place-local-stable-stability-located respectively.
Similarly manas-maanasik-maanya-maanyataa-amanya is root-mental-agreed-allowed-disproved.

Bhaag-vibhaag-sahabhaag-
Lok-loukik-aloukik root-world-worldy-unmatched(out of the world)

Do such derivatives exist in Tamil?
Probably not.
Because they are Tamil root words.
I am sure there will some others.
Find them.

Reply
1. shri
  
  November 27, 2014
  
  I meant ‘They are NOT Tamil root words.’ Most root words fiven here, except few are Sanskrit.
  
  I request here to post roots-derivation in Tamil- meaning. So we all can understand.
  
  Reply
2. aruniyan
  
  November 28, 2014
  
  Shri,
  
  Sanskrit belongs to Indo Aryan and Indo Iranian Sub language family, I am just interested in highlighting how words from distant languages are related, We cannot be sure which is the origin, in some languages the word may be origin, but could have deformed due to common usage etc.
  
  Yes the word Dost is from Hindi and from Persian. In Persian/Urdi there is also a word dosh meaning shoulder also in Tamil ThOl/தோள்.
  Th+O = Keeping with separated.
  
  ulakam is common word in Tamil. I can explain only with their sound meanings and u la ku= inside + surface/land + gain inside.
  
  I am listing the word similarities which may be due to various reasons. I will post my reply in detail later.
  
  Thanks for posting your comments.
  
  Reply
3. Yuktesh
  
  November 22, 2016
  
  Talking about ‘Aadhi’, in Thirukural there is couplet which says ‘Aadhi Bhagavan’. Is Bhagavan a sanskrit word ?
  
  Reply
  1. Yuktesh
    
    November 22, 2016
    
    Adding to the above, if ‘Bhagavan’ is a Sanskrit word then has Thiruvalluvar used Sanskrit words in Thirukkural?
  2. Jethro Joshua
    
    March 23, 2017
    
    Bagavan root : baga (sanskrit) = Lord. But in Tamil, it refers further–> Bagavan = bagyavan so baga and bagya (the meaning of both words)= prosperous or fortunate.
    
    Baga+avan = fortunate man (avan = man aval= female)
  3. Narayanan
    
    March 29, 2017
    
    Bhagavaan is a Sanskrit word. Thiruvalluvar used this word as bhagavan.
  4. MUTHURAMAN
    
    February 22, 2018
    
    Bhagavaan .. he mentioned about sun.. bhagal aan or bhagalavan may be referred.
    sun is the energy source of entire world..
sp

March 13, 2015

Mantram-manthiram, Mukha : Mukam and many more.

mantram is an original sanskrit word and you claim it to be the other way round. mantiram is a ‘tadbhava’ of mantram.

you are just attributing words to tamil without research. this is best left to linguists.

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  March 14, 2015
  
  Pure Sanskrit word’s root can also exist in Tamil as both have some common base roots and Thats my point.
  
  Mantram is Sanskrit, But Manam is Tamil.
  
  Kural:
  Manathukkan maasilan aathal, anaitthu aran aakula neera pira.
  
  The sound
  Ma=retain
  Manam=mind
  
  from which the word Manthiram(Sanskrit) meaning “words/sounds thats kept in memory”.
  
  Thankyou for your comments.
  
  Reply
Aby

April 27, 2015

May be when the Aryans came they learnt a lot from the Tamilians. I hope they weren’t aware of agriculture, if they had then why the hell they migrated to Kumari continent. Where ever the white people went they killed the natives, its a well known fact. Only a marginal amount of so called Indians have a fairer complexion. Majority of Indians have a darker complexion. South Indian population is only about 25 Crore. Whereas the stretch from Punjab to West Bengal is a whopping 60 Crore+. It clearly states that there should be a migration.

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Suresh

November 30, 2015

Appreciate the analysis ,nice to read, the commonality is undeniable , however the biases that contemporary generation has towards divisive Tamil vs Sanskrit was not seen in the ancient literary scholars. The root cause is the divisive Aryan vs Dravidian theory invented by british and christian missonaries to divide us. Even though that theory is debunked as baseless conclusively, sad to see that it has rooted in the discourses.

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Saana

December 16, 2015

Arumai nanbare, Ungalai pondru palar indha velaiyay seyya thodangi ullanar. thamilai patriya thedal theeviramadainthirupadhai unara mudiginradhu…Ungaladhu Chindhanaiyum adhanudan serndhu thamilum valara iyarkaiyay vendugiren…

Reply
C.M.SUNDARRAJ

December 28, 2015

Neer ( as you find “rail neer” found on the packaged water bottle sold in the indian railway stations) is also from Tamil.
c.m.sundarraj

Reply
1. Yuktesh
  
  November 23, 2016
  
  I ‘think’ in Marathi also ‘Neer’ refers to water.
  
  Reply
Ram

March 28, 2016

Convert the English script into Tamil also

Reply
Ram

March 28, 2016

For all I just give a information
In Tamil Sanskrit is referred as “”ezhutha kelavi “” that means they don’t have their own script …..the Sanskrit script is entirely borrowed from Tamil in 6 th century BC “” proof is even in wikepedia”” this logically arise a thought that Tamil was highly evolved when Sanskrit strats its development

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Satya

April 18, 2016

All those who gave 700 odd Tamil words and claim it to be sankrit first understand one thing ,in linguistics and language research ter s something called etymology of words.which means every word when split to pieces must have a meaning and collective split meaning must have a word sense too relating to the main word. In that case if u split all Sanskrit words it doesn’t have split meanings at all, rather all split meaning will relate to Tamil.

Eg:very first word in Sanskrit is namaskaram(welcome,hello) : etymology namam +s+karam. namam in Tamil means beginning,title etc and karam means hands .together meaning: “beginning with hands “but Sanskrit doesnt give this split meaning. This says these words are derived from Tamil. “S” is just a conjuct phrase use to joing or make words appear differently. In english tey used S in front of many words and made a new word Eg.s + panchu(cotton in Tamil) is sponge,s + peachu(speaking in Tamil) is speech s + pinnu(weave in Tamil) is spin

Sanskrit word anekantavada . etymology in tamil anai+ kanda+vadam means elephant + seen +concept or idea means concept driven from aseevagam( elephant symbol of aseevagam) the old religion of Tamil but in sankrit etymology it doesn’t have a split meaning at all.

Like wise split all 700 words and try to find etymology in sankrit u won’t find split meanings for most in sankrit but all sankrit words when split to pieces will relate to tamil.

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Shyam

May 22, 2016

I just read of a VHP man who claims the word Indistry in English originates from ‘Índus’ . Apparently when the British came to India they found India so industrailised they formed that word .

Hope this pop science he and you are resorting to in self aggrandisement (aggrandising your ethnic past) just makes you look more foolish .

Lets stick to science – be proud of your ancestors but let them rest in peace knowing their future generations are forward looking.

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  May 22, 2016
  
  If you are referring to my post, then try to refute with your logic, else just ignore and move on.
  I am not here to make any language low or high. We need not take everything we read in our text books as it is and 100% true. Thanks for your comment.
  
  Reply
  1. Yuktesh
    
    May 31, 2016
    
    An interesting observation from tamiltribune.com:
    
    +++
    
    Hindi word for farmer is “kisaan”. Many people believe that its root is in Sanskrit. Is the Tamil word “kizaan” (கிழான்) at the root of this Hindi word? (Could have reached Hindi via Sanskrit.)
    
    In Tamil “kizaan” (கிழான்) means owner. For example, “nila kizaan” (நிலக் கிழான்) means land owner (“nilam” means land). “kaathal kiLaththi” (காதல் கிளத்தி) means lover (the lady who owns one’s love) (“kaathal” means love). The Tamil word “kizavan” (கிழவன்) means old man, and “kizavi” (கிழவி) means old woman. Older men and women owned the property (land, house) in olden days; when they die the property was passed on to the children.
    
    As noted above, “nila kizaan” (நிலக் கிழான்) means land owner in Tamil. It could have passed on to Hindi, via Sanskrit, and became the Hindi word “kisaan”, meaning farmer.
    
    +++
    
    Long time ago I also came across some reference to Rice having derived from ‘Arisi’ in Tamil. How about ‘Mango’ from ‘Mankai’
Yuktesh

November 23, 2016

Another interesting word. ‘Poo’ in Tamil means ‘Flower’. ‘Poosai’ is woship / devotion. In Hindi / Sanskrit and other languages they use ‘Pooja’ for worship / devotion. It looks like Tamil word ‘poosai’ has derived from ‘poo’ in Tamil. When it is used in other languages ‘s’ became ‘j’ as in ‘Pooja’. In north Indian languages ‘phool’ denotes flower. But it does not look like the word ‘pooja’ has derived from ‘phool’.

Reply
Krithika sivaswamy

December 29, 2016

The biggest joke is to say the word aadhi is taken from Tamil to Sanskrit. It’s the other way round. Please know what you write before you landup writing blogs

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  December 30, 2016
  
  Thanks for your comments, read well before giving your comments, I didnt say Sanskrit took it from Tamil or from Sanskrit to Tamil. Ive just given a collection of words that are well available in both languages.
  You are now saying Tamil took it from Sanskrit, so you have to give your proof?
  
  Theres a lot to write about this language origin.
  
  Reply
Mariappan Eddiah (theostein)

February 23, 2017

Please include Sanskrit words found in the Tamil Bible.

Reply
1. Yuktesh
  
  December 11, 2017
  
  Jabam, Kriba (as pronounced in Tamil) or Japam, Kripa
  
  Reply
Thamizhan

March 17, 2017

The mentioned words DO NOT belong to tamil…While talking/writing tamil, these sanskrit words are inserted with some changes in them..thats the point..Tamil has NOT BORROWED any word from Sanskrit.

Just an example here, we say “Naalaikku school leave”…Actually we must say “Nalaikku palli vidumurai”…Its OUR FAULT in mixing up other language words in tamil..Since school and leave are english words,we cant say that tamil has originated from english.

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  March 18, 2017
  
  Thanks for your comment, but you are wrong and assuming things, most Tamils know which are Tamil words and which not. I have given words which are used in old Tamil works. Tell me if you have problems with specific words given above. Do read my other post about how close Tamil and European languages are. My Point is about the close similarity.
  
  Maa(Tamil) and Aam(Hindi) for Maango (English for Maangai- Mango unripen).. now tell me which should be the origin?.
  
  Reply
Yuktesh

March 19, 2017

If ‘kAi’ can be taken as a Tamil word, mAnkAi for unripe mango and mAmbazham for ripe mango. In English there mango refers to both ripe and unripe. Even in Hindi it is simply ‘Aam’. But Tamil has two different references.

One more word I would like to explore is ‘sAdam’ (cooked rice).

Reply
Ajay Joshi

December 2, 2017

Interesting compilation.I have a question. You have collected words which sound similar in Sanskrit and Tamil and used that argument to say that that these are tamil words borrowed into Sanskrit. But can it not be the other way around ? That the similarity might be because the word is borrowed from Sanskrit into Tamil.? What is the basis of your Tamil to Sanskrit statement.?

I am not questioning your intentions, just wanting to get a deeper insight into your post. In fact the one word which made me think was < Pitha is derived from Sanskrit Pitr and many old and modern European languages also have this root. (Pater in Latin, Paternal in English for instance.) So it looks like at least this word is not from Tamil

As an aside, I read somewhere that the distinction between Avestan and Vedic Sanskrit is Tamil loan words.

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  December 3, 2017
  
  Iam clear with the title and post, just bringing in the similarities. These can be false friends, cognates or loan words. Also I accept I have little idea about Sanskrit.
  
  Reply
2. Yuktesh
  
  December 11, 2017
  
  Another example: brethren in English and ‘bratha’ in Sanskrit
  
  Reply
Michael Samy S U

January 30, 2018

If something is written in a language, the reader should understand the exact meaning which the writer intends to inform. The purpose of a language is to communicate what is there in one’s thought. If there is no globalization(movement of people from one area to another), no language will contain ‘loan words’.

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Arse

June 20, 2018

True, I am native to kerala and speaks Malayalam. Most of the older Tamil words and words mentioned here are common words in pure Malayalam. Pure Malayalam is not used anymore. Once it was used by peasants and others in low caste(I hate caste). Malayalam was actually their language. Like kayam is used common in kerala, “kayam ketti kidakunnu” , shallow water body. And many words like Vaarnnu/chornnu(potential to flow), chaaru(juice), chuttuka(circle around), Thora(port)(used by finishing community even before Sankritisation of Malayalam.). Pei( frightening, or Evil spirits/dravidian folk religion gods) is a common word that is not sankrit. Thurathu( keep off). These are pure Proto-Tamil-malayalam words.

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அ.சங்கரபாண்டியன்

August 31, 2018

You are great appreciated for your work.

Reply
Donic

July 5, 2019

I am undergoing a research on tamil root words and during my search i came across this blog. Could you please share with me some source books where i can have a detailed study of what you have done. Kind Request please..

Reply
Matheesha

August 20, 2022

Your answer is totally wrong. This article is completely fictitious. These all words are pure Sanskrit etymological words. I see you want to destroy the Sanskrit language. Your etymological meanings are actually your fictitious meanings. Don’t give wrong answers. Above words are derived from vedic language and prakrit languages. Tamil is borrowed from Sanskrit and prakrit languages. None of these words are Tamil words. Above words have pure Sanskrit etymological meanings and origin. Don’t give wrong information. Avoid posting on the wrong information. Don’t damage the Sanskrit language. We completely reject and discard your wrong answer. Stupid.

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  August 20, 2022
  
  Matheesa, read well what i had written and decide, If you know Tamil, this will be more interesting, I gain nothing to prove one language is older than the other. You may be right some of the words given might be from the Sanskrit or Indo Aryan base, but my point is there are very similar words also there in Tamil. Some of these could be cognates too or loaned from Tamil, or mostly these developed simultaneously from the common proto language source. See my other post on similar words between Tamil and English or Latin and the main page post on primitive Tamil sounds and its meanings. The Tamil words given mostly are not lone words, these have multiple similar sounding related words. Come with a few words that you think is 100% loaned from sanskrit, i can give my views on those.
  
  Reply
  1. Kaushika
    
    September 14, 2022
    
    His explanation is correct. You are definitely wrong.
2. Nathan
  
  September 18, 2022
  
  How you say it is false ?
  
  Reply
3. Ruddra
  
  January 23, 2023
  
  All has the right to posit; emote; opine; summise, elucidate and reiterate, so dude dont get offfended which someone down south is more intelligent than you coz it is a seamless world and knowledge is ubiquitiuos and availiable in the cyber world.
  
  Reply
Kaushika

September 12, 2022

Your answer is definitely wrong. It’s seems your foolishness and stupidity. Your answer is totally fictitious and misconception. None of the above words have Tamil or Dravidian etymology. Among above words, some words borrowed from Sanskrit into Tamil and other Dravidian languages. Avoid posting the wrong information. I see you are great Tamil purifier and Illusionist not a linguist and also Tamil extremist. Don’t give wrong information and opinions. First of all you need to learn about Sanskrit and other languages and also etymology. First and learn and then post everything. This article is definitely useless and meaningless. First of all you meet a psychiatrist. Stupid person, don’t give wrong information again.

Reply
1. aruniyan
  
  September 14, 2022
  
  thank you for your good comments, appreciated.
  
  Reply
  1. Kaushika
    
    September 14, 2022
    
    Did you say thank you to me sarcastically?
  2. Ruddra
    
    January 23, 2023
    
    The author’s response is propogating the supremacy and divinity of Tamil culture and mannerism of not responding to hatred, illiteracy, ranting and flim flam from the unlearned. I like his style; a typical ahimsa rejoinder to you unkind diatribe.
2. Nathan
  
  September 18, 2022
  
  Are you linguists?
  
  Reply
3. Ruddra
  
  January 23, 2023
  
  Kindly take your medication, then sing, dance and rejoy dude. You dig dude and must thank Modi bro in acknowledging the superiority of the Tamil Language!–Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he regrets not being able to learn the world’s oldest language Tamil during his long political innings as a chief minister and prime minister. He stated this during his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address.
  
  Reply