Tamil

/θəˈmɪɹ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: Tamils

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Of or pertaining to the Tamil people, culture, or language.

Adjective

Examples

When I returned to the movie Ghilli, a Kollywood classic (Kollywood being the informal name for Tamil cinema) that I loved as a kid, I couldn’t help but question why the story continues romantically, without question, after the heroine is slapped by the supposed love of her life.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Of the Tamil script.

Adjective

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

A person who originates from Tamil Nadu, India or Sri Lanka or has Tamil origins.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “Tamil” mean?

Of or pertaining to the Tamil people, culture, or language.

Is “Tamil” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.