Wondering about Tamil pronouns? Tamil, a Dravidian language spoken by millions across the globe, has a complex grammar system that includes intriguing plural forms. Plurals or பன்மை Panmai play a crucial role in language as they allow us to indicate multiple instances of a noun, enriching our communication and providing a deeper understanding of our surroundings. In Tamil, plural words hold immense power in conveying the strength of many.
The structure of Tamil nouns and sentences would be a good article to review at this point to fully grasp plural nouns and plurality in the Tamil language. Essentially, the plural noun occurs as a result of a suffix attached to the stem word. But first, let’s talk about why we need plural words in the first place!
Importance Of Plurals
Plural words play a vital role in language for several compelling reasons. They serve as linguistic tools that allow us to express the presence of multiple instances of something. By using plural words, we can communicate the precise quantity or number, ensuring clarity and avoiding confusion in our speech or writing.
The ability to differentiate between singular and plural forms enables us to convey our thoughts and ideas accurately. It provides a means of specifying whether we are referring to a single entity or multiple entities. This distinction holds great significance in various contexts, such as distinguishing between “a book” and “books” or “a person” and “people.”
While it may not always be apparent, plural words empower us to describe and acknowledge the diversity and multiplicity of things in the world. They allow us to recognize and account for the various types, variations, or instances of a particular concept. In this way, plural forms assist us in reflecting the richness and complexity of our surroundings.
Beyond their functional role, plural words also carry social and cultural significance. They reflect how languages and societies perceive and categorize the world around them. Plural forms often embody cultural nuances, indicating societal norms, beliefs, and values related to groupings, collective identities, and shared experiences.
In summary, plural words are of paramount importance in language as they enable us to express quantity, maintain clarity and precision, describe diversity, ensure grammatical agreement, and reflect social and cultural aspects of communication. They are an indispensable part of language, facilitating effective and nuanced expression in various contexts.
Grammatical Rules For Tamil Plural Words

In Tamil, plurals can be formed in different ways depending on the context and the type of noun. Some special rules and common ways of indicating plurals in Tamil include:
- Adding the suffix “-கள்” (“-kal”) to the singular noun: This is the most common way of forming plurals in Tamil. For example:
English | Tamil Plural Words | Pronunciation |
Picture | படம் | Paṭam |
Pictures | படங்கள் | Paṭaṅkaḷ |
Tree | மரம் | Maram |
Trees | மரங்கள் | Maraṅkaḷ |
- Reduplication: In certain cases, the entire noun is repeated to indicate plurality. For example:
English | Tamil Plural Words | Pronunciation |
Small child | சின்ன குழந்தை | Ciṉṉa kuḻantai |
Small children | சின்ன குழந்தைக்குக்கள் | Ciṉṉa kuḻantaikkal |
- Contextual changes: In some cases, the noun itself undergoes changes to indicate plurality. For example:
English | Tamil Plural Words | Pronunciation |
Elephant | அணி | Aṇi |
Elephants | அணிகள் | Aṇikaḷ |
Woman | பெண் | Peṇ |
Women | பெண்கள் | Peṇkaḷ |
Let’s not forget that the formation of plurals in Tamil, along with many other languages, can vary based on factors such as noun class, gender, and regional dialects. Some nouns have irregular plural forms that do not follow a specific pattern. For those, practice and memorization help.
Singular Plural Nouns In Tamil

Here are singular plural words that are often used in Tamil sentences, along with their English meanings. Notice what changes from the singular form to the plural form. The word ends differently, letters change, and adding suffixes apply in making Tamil plural words.
English | Tamil | Pronunciation |
Book | புத்தகம் | Puththakam |
Books | புத்தகங்கள் | Puththakangaḷ |
Pen | பேன் | Pēn |
Pens | பேன்கள் | Pēṅkaḷ |
Chair | மேடை | Mēṭai |
Chairs | மேடைகள் | Mēṭaikaḷ |
Table | மேசை | Mekai |
Tables | மேடுகள் | Mēṭukaḷ |
Tree | மரம் | Maram |
Trees | மரங்கள் | Maraṅkaḷ |
Flower | மலர் | Malar |
Flowers | மலர்கள் | Malarkaḷ |
Cat | பூனை | Pūṉai |
Cats | பூனைகள் | Pūṉaikaḷ |
Dog | நாய் | Nāy |
Dogs | நாய்கள் | Nāykaḷ |
Child | குழந்தை | Kuḻantai |
Children | குழந்தைகள் | Kuḻantaikaḷ |
Student | மாணவன் | Māṇavaṉ |
Students | மாணவர்கள் | Māṇavarkaḷ |
House | வீடு | Vīṭu |
Houses | வீடுகள் | Vīṭukaḷ |
Car | கார் | Kār |
Cars | கார்கள் | Kārkaḷ |
Bird | பறவை | Paṟavai |
Birds | பறவைகள் | Paṟavaikaḷ |
Fish | மீன் | Mīṉ |
Fish | மீன்கள் | Mīṉkaḷ |
Hand | கை | Kai |
Hands | கைகள் | Kaikaḷ |
Eye | கண் | Kaṇ |
Eyes | கண்கள் | Kaṇkaḷ |
Foot | கால் | Kāl |
Feet | கால்கள் | Kālkaḷ |
Friend | நண்பன் | Naṇpaṉ |
Friends | நண்பர்கள் | Naṇparkaḷ |
Country | நாடு | Nāṭu |
Countries | நாடுகள் | Nāṭukaḷ |
Language | மொழி | Moḻi |
Languages | மொழிகள் | Moḻikaḷ |

Tamil With The Ling App
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Remember, consistency and regular practice are key to mastering singulars and plurals in any language. Use the Ling app as a tool to supplement your learning by downloading the app today from the App Store or Play Store now! Enjoy your language-learning journey!