English→Sri Lankan Tamil

Translate English to Sri Lankan Tamil like a local.

Sri Lankan Tamil sounds like itself in Jaffna vocabulary such as இஞ்சை and தேத்தண்ணி, together with respectful endings like -ங்கோ and -யளா.

474 local dialects

What locals actually say

Please sit here.

இஞ்சை இருங்கோ.

இஞ்சை is the Jaffna form for “here”, while the polite imperative ending -ங்கோ is common in Sri Lankan Tamil.

Have you had your tea?

தேத்தண்ணி குடிச்சியளா?

தேத்தண்ணி is the Sri Lankan Tamil everyday word for tea, and -யளா marks the respectful plural question used in Jaffna speech.

Wait, I’m coming now.

பொறுங்கோ, இப்ப வாறன்.

வாறன் is the local spoken form of “I’m coming”, and பொறுங்கோ uses the characteristic Sri Lankan polite ending -ங்கோ.

I only have five hundred rupees.

என்னிட்ட ஐந்நூறு ரூபாதான் இருக்கு.

என்னிட்ட is the Sri Lankan Tamil possession construction meaning “with me,” signalling a colloquial Jaffna-style way to say what someone has.

Is the post office far from here?

தபால் கந்தோர் இங்கால இருந்து தூரமா?

இங்கால means “from here” in Sri Lankan Tamil, while கந்தோர் is the local loanword for “office,” signalling Sri Lankan usage.

Would you like some string hoppers?

இடியப்பம் கொஞ்சம் சாப்பிடுவீங்களா?

இடியப்பம் is the everyday Sri Lankan Tamil word for string hoppers, a strongly local food reference.

Is Grandma coming today?

ஆச்சி இண்டைக்கு வருவா?

இண்டைக்கு means “today” in Sri Lankan Tamil and is a recognisably local Jaffna form.

I have to go to work now.

நான் இப்ப வேலைக்குப் போகோணும்.

போகோணும் is a spoken Sri Lankan Tamil obligation construction meaning “have to go,” signalling informal Jaffna speech.

Notes like these come with every AIRTranslate translation, so you learn why locals phrase it that way as you go.

Sri Lankan Tamil (Jaffna conventions); more conservative vocabulary than Indian Tamil.

Every one of 474 dialects, with voice, camera, a keyboard for any app, and offline packs.