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{{morefootnotes|date=August 2020}}
{{Short description|Honorifics of the Tamil language}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2020}}
In [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Honorific|honorifics]] ({{langx|ta|முறை|link=no}}, '''muṟai''') governs daily speech and register of both written and spoken communication. Traditionally, Tamil has been classified into two registers ''viz'' செந்தமிழ் (Centamiḻ) meaning 'classical' or 'pure ' Tamil and கொடுந்தமிழ் (Koṭuntamiḻ) meaning 'corrupt' Tamil. A huge feature of this difference is honorifics. Tamil honorifics usually are [[suffix]]es, although [[prefix]]es are not uncommon.


==General==

===Lexical choice===
[[Lexical choice]] plays a vital role in [[Tamil people|Tamil]] society as depending on the choice of words, the register may alter.

{| class="wikitable"
! Literal meaning !! Colloquial !! Impolite !! Standard !! Official
|-
| ''to gorge oneself'' / ''to eat'' / ''to eat'' / ''to eat''
| கொட்டிக்க (koṭṭikka) || தின்ன (tiṇṇa)|| சாப்பிட (cāppiṭa) || உண்ண (uṇṇa)
|-
| ''to sit'' / ''to sit'' / ''to sit'' / ''to get sat''
| குந்த (kunta)|| உட்கார (utkāra),
இருக்குற (irukkuṟa, SL Tamil only)
| அமர (amara) || அமைப்பெர (amaippera)
|-
| ''to put one's head'' / ''to die'' / ''to lose'' / ''to be made time''
| மண்டையப்போட (manṭaiyaip-pōṭa) || சாவ (cāva)|| இறக்க (irakka) || காலமாக (kālamāka)
|-
| - / ''to speak'' / ''to speak'' / ''to speak''
| - || பறைய (paṟaiya) (SL Tamil and Malayalam)<ref>[[:ta:பறை (சொல்விளக்கம்)]]</ref> || சொல்ல (solla) || கூற (kūra)
|-
| - / ''to talk reprovingly'' / ''to talk'', ''to chat''/ / ''to converse''
| - || பேச (pēca) (SL Tamil only), ஏச (ēca)(Some dialects) || பேச (pēca) (IN Tamil only), கதைக்க (SL Tamil only) || உரையாட (uṟaiyāṭa)
|}

Not all words in Tamil necessarily have a different colloquial, low, standard and high equivalents.

===-n, -l, -r===
Tamil nouns can end in ன் (n), ள் (ḷ) or ர் (r). ன் (n) and ள் (ḷ) are used to people of lesser social order to denote male and female respectively. ர் (r) is used as a form of respect to a person of higher social order.

Reflecting the importance of this ending, some Tamil castes have re-configured their caste names to end in /r/ rather than /n/, rendering them honorific.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DtjSpIRhNNMC&q=tamil+honorific+%2Fr%2F&pg=PA602 |title = Handbook of Research on Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship: A Co-evolutionary View on Resource Management|isbn = 9781847209962|last1 = Dana|first1 = Leo Paul|year = 2007| publisher=Edward Elgar }}</ref>

===Kār/Mār===
கார் (Kār) is a singular honorific suffix to refer to a single collective noun. காரர் (Kārar) is a higher form of கார் (Kār). For example, கடைக்கார் (kaṭaikār) means 'shop-keeper' while கடைக்காரர் (kaṭaikārar) can be translated as 'honourable shop-keeper'. It is used to show and maintain a respectful distance in a relationship, as such is used to refer to stranger(s).

மார் (Mār) is a plural honorific suffix used to refer to a collective noun. மாரர் (Mārar) is a higher form of மார் (Mār). For example, அக்காக்கள் (akkākkal) means 'elder sisters' and is a plural, அக்காமார் (Akkāmār) means 'those honourable elder sisters' and is a collective plural while அக்காமாரர் (Akkāmārar) can be translated as 'those venerable elder sisters' and is also a collective plural. It is used to show respectful closeness or appraisal in a relationship, as such is used to refer to familiar person(s).

===Ar===

னார் (Nār), ஞர் (ñar) and யார் (yār) is an [[honorific]] [[suffix]] affixed after a noun to highlight its influence or importance. Its use implies that the noun is a collective singular. The rules to conjugate them are as follows: if the noun ends with ன், its ending would be னார் (Nār); if a noun ends with ஞன் (ñan), its ending would be ஞர் (ñar); if a noun ends with ஐ (ai) or இ (i), its ending would be யார் (yār).

For example, தகப்பனார் (takappanār) is more polite than saying தகப்பன் (takappan). தகப்பன் (takappan) means 'father', so தகப்பனார் (takappanār) can be translated as 'respectable father'. Other examples include நாயனார் (nāyanār), இளைஞர் (iḷaiñar), மூப்பனார் (moopanār), etc.

===Ṭa/Ṭi===
டா (Ṭa) and டி (Ṭi) are deictic honorific suffixes used to referring male and females respectively of a lower social order. A verb usually precedes it.

==Personal pronouns==

The register of use can vary depending on the situation. For example, saying என் வீடு (En veeṭu) meaning 'my house' is considered rude even when if the house does not belong to the listener as it can suggest possessiveness.
For the purpose of this article, the order of register descends from majestic > official > standard > low.

{| class="wikitable"
! Person !! Tamil !! Meaning
|-
| 1st || அடியன் (Aṭiyan) || I (low) (obsolete) It literally means ''I, who am your footstep.'' Usually used by devotees to refer to a deity.<ref>{{cite book|last=Smith|first=David|title=The Dance of Siva: Religion, Art and Poetry in South India|year=2003|publisher=Cambridge University Press}}</ref>
|-
| 1st || நா (Nā) || I (standard)
|-
| 1st || நான்(Nān) || I (official)
|-
| 1st|| யான் (Yān) || I (official) (Old Tamil); now obsolete.<ref>{{cite book|last=Collins|first=Mark|title=Dravidic studies|year=1974|publisher=University of Madras}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=S.N. Ganesan|title=A contrastive grammar of Hindi and Tamil|publisher=University of Madras|pages=xliv}}</ref>
|-
| 1st || யாம் (Yām) || I (majestic) (exclusive)
|-
| 1st || யாங்கள் (yāngaḷ) || We (exclusive) (plural) (majestic)
|-
| 1st || நாங்கள் (Nāngaḷ) || We (exclusive)
|-
| 1st || நாம் (Nām) || We (inclusive)
|-
| 2nd|| நீ (Nī) || You (standard)
|-
| 2nd || நீர் (Nīr) || You (official)
|-
| 2nd|| தாம் (Tām) || You (majestic) It literally means 'self'; and is used so as to not address directly.
|-
| 2nd || நீங்கள் (Neengaḷ) || You (official) (plural)
|-
| 2nd || தாங்கள் (Tāngaḷ) || You (majestic) (plural)
|-
| 2nd || உன் (Un) || Your (low)
|-
| 2nd || உம் (Um) || Your (standard)
|-
| 2nd || உங்கள் (Ungaḷ) || Your (standard) (plural)
|-
| 2nd || தங்கள் (Tangaḷ) || Your (majestic) (plural)
|-
| 2nd || நின் (Nin) || Yours (official)
|-
| 2nd || தம் (Tam) || Your (majestic) (singular)
|-
| 3rd || அது (Atu) || Third person gender neutral (low)
|-
| 3rd|| அவன், அவள் (Avan, Avaḷ) || He, She (standard)
|-
| 3rd || அவர் (Avar) || Third person gender neutral (official) (respectful) (singular)
|-
| 3rd|| அவர்கள் (Avargaḷ) || Third person gender neutral (majestic) (plural) (singular)
|-
| 3rd || அது (Atu) || It/That; (standard) when referring to an object (singular)
|-
| 3rd || அவை (Avai) || Those; (standard) when referring to an object (plural)
|}<ref>{{cite web|title=உருபனியல்|url=http://www.tamilvu.org/courses/degree/a051/a0512/html/a0512663.htm|work=பெயர்ச்சொல்|publisher=Tamil Virtual University (TVU)|access-date=12 December 2011}}</ref>

===Others===
அவ்விடம் (avviṭam) which literally means 'that place' , இவ்விடம் (ivviṭam) and which literally means 'this place' உவ்விடம்(Uvviṭam) என் இடம்( En idam ) (my place)which literallybe used to politely differentiate between three parties without explicating the difference.<ref>{{cite book|last=Caldwell|first=Robert|title=A comparative grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian family of languages|year=1974|publisher=Oriental Books Reprint Corp.|pages=372}}</ref>

வொய் / வோய் (woi) can replace a [[Grammatical person|second person]] or [[proper noun]] in some southern dialects. It shows a lot of familiarity between the speakers. என்ன வொய்? (Enna voi) is a common phrase in districts like [[Madurai]] and [[Tirunelveli]], and can be roughly translated as 'Wassup?'

===Inclusives and exclusives===

Tamil differentiates between inclusive and exclusive plural pronouns. எம் (Em) is an exclusive 'our' whereas நம் (Nam) is an inclusive 'our'. It is usually more polite to use the latter.

===Demonstratives===

Tamil third person pronouns referred above also act as demonstratives as the initial prefix அ "a" refers to the person at a distance as opposed to the same pronoun used with the prefix இ "i" which refers to the person at a relative proximity:
அவன்/இவன் (Avan/Ivan); அவள்/இவள் (Avaḷ/Ivaḷ); அவர்/இவர் (Avar/Ivar); அது/இது (Atu/Itu); அவர்கள்/இவர்கள் (Avargaḷ/Ivargaḷ); அவை/இவை (Avai/Ivai).<ref>The World Atlas of Language Structures Online http://wals.info/chapter/43 1.5.Same Gender Markers</ref>

==Titular==

===Tiru===
'''Tiru''' ({{langx|ta|திரு}}),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Alphonso-Karkala |first=John B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KO5jAAAAMAAJ&q=tiru+sacred+or+holy |title=An Anthology of Indian Literature |date=1971 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-14-021248-8 |pages=291 |language=en}}</ref> also rendered '''Thiru''', is a Tamil [[honorific]] [[prefix]] used while addressing adult males and is the equivalent of the [[English language|English]] "[[Mr.|Mr]]" or the [[French language|French]] "[[Monsieur]]". The female equivalent of the term is ''tirumati''.

''Tiru'' is a word that means "sacred" or "holy".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&dq=tiru+sacred+or+holy&pg=PA415 |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |date=2010 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-341421-6 |pages=415 |language=en}}</ref> It is also a [[Tamil people|Tamil]] name for the deity [[Mahavishnu|Vishnu]], who is called [[Perumal (deity)|Tirumal]] (திருமால்), and his consort [[Lakshmi]], who is called Tirumakal (திருமகள்) in Tamil.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Carman |first1=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FrATjqi_QIUC&dq=tiru+sacred+or+holy&pg=PR17 |title=The Tamil Veda: Pillan's Interpretation of the Tiruvaymoli |last2=Narayanan |first2=Vasudha |date=1989-05-17 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-09305-5 |pages=xvii |language=en}}</ref> It also indicates "wealth", "respect", and "name" in Tamil.

The word ''tiru'' is a prefix of many city-names, such as [[Trivandrum]] or [[Thiruvananthapuram]]; [[Thiruchendur]], [[Thiruvaiyaru]], Thiruvenkadam, [[Tirumala]], [[Tirupati (city)|Tirupati]], [[Thiruchirappalli|Tiruchirappalli]], [[Tirukoilur]], Tirukumaran, and [[Tiruvannamalai]].

===Selvan/Selvi===
These are used to refer to unmarried people.
செல்வன் (Selvan): is the Tamil equivalent of [[Master (form of address)|Master]].
செல்வி (Selvi): is the Tamil equivalent of [[Miss]].

==Honorary==

===Avarkaḷ/Vāḷ===
அவர்கள் (Avarkaḷ) and வாள் (Vāḷ) are honorific suffixes that affix after a noun. They are used to show respect to people of equal or higher social order. For example, ஜோன்-அவர்கள் (Jōn-avarkaḷ), ஐயர்-வாள் (Aiyar-Vāḷ). The அவர்கள் (Avarkaḷ) honorific can only be used in third person reference.

===Kanam===
கனம் (kanam) means 'weight' in Tamil. It is used as a [[prefix]], usually to refer to a judge. It is equivalent to the English '[[The Right Worshipful]]'.

===Mānpumiku===
மாண்புமிகு (mānpumiku) is a [[prefix]] meaning 'very respectable' and is equivalent to the English '[[The Right Honourable]]', it is usually followed by a noun.

===Aiyā/Yā===
ஐயா (Aiyā) is an honorific [[suffix]] literally meaning 'Father'. It can be used to mean 'respectful' when addressing someone of equal or higher social order.

யா (yā) is a contraction of ஐயா (Aiyā), and is also an honorific [[suffix]] attached to a noun. It shows familiarity between the speakers, and can be a faux pas if not used properly. In this context, யோ (yō) can fully replace the noun.

===Ammā===
அம்மா (Ammā) can also act as an honorific [[suffix]] to show respect to an elderly or middle-aged female of higher social order. It can be equivalent to the [[English language|English]] 'Mother'.

===Amuni===
அமுனி (Amuni) or அம்முனி (Ammuni) is an [[honorific]] [[suffix]] also equivalent to the English 'Lady', but restricted to young women or girls of higher social order. Its use is usually restricted to rural dialects where social order is much more defined.

===Aṇṇācci/Aṇṇātai===
அண்ணாச்சி (aṇṇācci) strictly means 'elder brother' and is a corruption of அண்ணா (aṇṇā). More often, it is used to address a leader of a gang. அண்ணாத்தை (aṇṇātai) with the same meaning and etymology is also used in some dialects.

===Chellam===
செல்லம் (Chellam) is equivalent to the [[English language|English]] 'dear'. It can be used as a [[suffix]] to show endearment.

===Kuṭṭi===
குட்டி (kuṭṭi) literally means 'tiny'. It can be used as an endearing [[suffix]] while referring to children.

===Maccān/Maccini===
மச்சான் (machchān), or மச்சினன் (maccinan) in literary Tamil, is a title used to refer to a [[brother-in-law]]. Maccini is its female equivalent. Machchan, or its contraction Machchi can also be used colloquially between friends as an expression of familiarity or fraternity.

===Mā/Pā===
These contractions of ammā and appā can act as an endearing suffix in colloquial [[Tamil language|Tamil]] when referring to females and males, respectively, of a lower social order than self. It is usually preceded by a verb. For example, ''wā-pā'' is a more endearing and polite manner for an elderly person such as a mother to invite someone younger than themselves such as a son instead of simply ''wā''.

===Periyavar/Periyavanga===
பெரியவர் (periyavar) means 'lit. he/she who is big' is used to refer to an elderly stranger. Although, technically it is gender neutral, it usually refers to men. While பெரியவங்க (Periyavanga) literally meaning 'they who are big' is used for women instead. However, it is not a faux pas to use kinship honorifics to strangers.

===Piḷḷai===
In some dialects of Tamil, it is common for adults to call young people or children பிள்ளை (Piḷḷai) or its contraction ல (ḷa) used as a [[suffix]]. பிள்ளை (Piḷḷai) means 'child' in Tamil.

==Ecclesiastical==
These are titles used in clerical orders in Tamil. They may be religion specific or pan-religious.

===Aiyar===
ஐயர் (Aiyar) is a general title for 'priest' usually used to refer to [[Hindu]] priests. The priest in question does not have to belong to the [[Aiyar|Iyer]] community. It means 'father'.

===Āyar/Pērāyar===
ஆயர் (āyar) means 'shepherd' in [[Old Tamil]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Pillai|first=Purnalingam|title=Tamil Literature|year=1994|publisher=Asian Educational services|isbn=81-206-0955-7|pages=5}}</ref> used by the [[Catholic]] and [[Anglican]] priests. பேராயர் (pērāyar) is Tamil for [[bishop]].

===Aṭigaḷ===
அடிகள் (aṭigaḷ) is a pan-religious title used to denote priests or monks and is a Tamil alternative to the Sanskrit 'swami'. Notable examples include [[Ilango Adigal]], a Jain monk who composed the [[Silappatikaram]] and [[Maraimalai Adigal]]. It means 'footsteps'.

=== Āḻvār ===
ஆழ்வார் ([[Alvars|Alvar]]) is the title afforded to a celebrated group of twelve Vaishnavaite saint-poets. It means 'they who are deeply immersing themselves in devotion to divinity'.

===Cittar===
சித்தர் (cittar) were a group of saints that had achieved [[Ashta siddhi]] who founded the [[Siddha medicine]].

===Nāyanār===
நாயனார் ([[Nayanars|Nāyanārs]]) were a celebrated group of sixty-three Shaivaite saint-poets.

===Poocāri===
பூசாரி (poocāri) is a title used to refer to priests of rural non-Agamic deities.

===Turavi===
துறவி (turavi) is a pan-religious title used specifically for monks or nuns, or generally those who have left worldly life for spirituality.

==Kinship==

===Āyā===
ஆயா (Aaya) is a title which can mean 'grandma'. It is usually used for elderly maids, or wet nurse.

===Appan, Aiyan, Accan and Attān===
அப்பன் (Appan), ஐயன் (Aiyan), and அச்சன் (Achchan) have the semantic root meaning 'father'. However, they can be used differently depending on the context. Appan and Accan are usually used to refer to fathers. Attan can also be used to refer to a sister's husband, or simply endearingly by females. Aiyan or Aiya can be used to refer to scholars, or to show respect to a member of higher social order. They can all act as a [[suffix]].

===Ammā, Āttā, Ācci, Amman and Ammaiyar===
அம்மா (Ammā), ஆத்தா (āttā), ஆச்சி (āchchi), அம்மன் (Amman) and அம்மையார் (Ammaiyar) all have the semantic root meaning 'mother', literally means mother. However, they can be used differently depending on the context. அம்மா (Ammā) is the standard register equivalent to 'mum', ஆத்தா (ātta) is a more familiar register, usually used in rural dialects, and is equivalent to 'mummy', and அம்மையார் (Ammaiyar) is the highest register equivalent to 'mother'.

அம்மா (Ammā) can also act as an honorific [[suffix]] to show respect to an elderly or middle-aged female of higher social order. It can be equivalent to the [[English language|English]] 'Lady'.

ஆச்சி (āchchi) is an endearing and more familiar title for [[grandmother]]. [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]], a veteran [[Tamil people|Tamil]] actress is affectionately known by this name. Occasionally, அம்மாச்சி (Ammāchchi), a portmanteau of the words அம்மா (Ammā) and ஆச்சி (āchchi) is also used.

அம்மன் (Amman), on its own or as a suffix refers to a range of non-Agamic folk goddesses. See [[Village deities of Tamil Nadu]] and [[Village deities of Tamils of Sri Lanka]].

=== Tōḻan/Tōḻi ===
தோழன் (tōḻan) can be translated as 'comrade' or 'friend'. தோழி (tōḻi) is its female equivalent. A prefix மன (mana) can be affixed in front to mean best man and bridesmaid respectively. [[Cuntarar]] was known as 'Tampiran tōḻan' or '''Comrade of the Master'''. It is of high register, and as such is not used in spoken Tamil. Within the communist parties of India based in Tamil Nadu, members often refer to each other as தோழர் (tōḻar) regardless of gender.

==Occupational==

===Teacher===
வாத்தியார் (vāttiyār) and ஆசிரியர் (āciriyar) both can refer to teachers. வாத்தி (vātti) a contraction of வாத்தியார் (vāttiyār) is a more familiar address to teachers, and is usually frowned upon.

===Poet===
புலவர் (pulavar) is the Tamil [[honorific]] [[suffix]] for poets. Notable recipients include [[Tiruvalluvar]], [[Umaru Pulavar]], Mayilvagana Pulavar and [[Kumaraswamy Pulavar]].

Although, கவிஞன் (kaviñar) is also used, which is a [[prefix]]. A notable recipient is கவிஞர் கண்ணதாசன் (Kaviñar Kannadasan).

===Orator===
நாவலர் (nāvalar) is the Tamil [[honorific]] [[suffix]] for orators. A notable recipient is [[Arumuka Navalar]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
*[[Sri]]

{{Tamil language}}
{{Honorifics}}

[[Category:Titles in India]]
[[Category:Tamil language]]
[[Category:Honorifics by language]]

Tamil honorifics - Revision history

PercySpivakovsky: put up a stub first draft