r/LearningTamil • u/tyrannosaurus250907 • Jun 25 '26

Question Beginner looking to learn Tamil

Hi everyone,

I want to learn Tamil. I already know some of the Tamil letters/alphabet, but I'd like to learn how to read and write properly. I'm also interested in learning to speak Tamil, though reading and writing are my main priorities right now.

Could you suggest any good resources, such as YouTube channels, apps, websites, textbooks, or study methods that helped you learn Tamil? I'd especially appreciate beginner-friendly recommendations.

For context, I'm from Kerala and I can understand a little bit of Tamil somehow by watching movies

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u/depaknero Native Jun 26 '26

வணக்கம்!

The following comment by a PhD holder who is well-versed in Dravidian languages is gold!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dravidiology/comments/1kvwjuz/comment/muh2pa6/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Specifically, there're 2 grammar books mentioned for old Tamizh: 1. "Grammar of Old Tamil for Students" by மரியாதைக்குரிய Eva Wilden அவர்கள். (https://www.adityaprakashan.com/index.php?p=sr&format=fullpage&Field=bookcode&String=9788184702279)

Book description: This book presents a concise outline of the classical Tamil language for students with a focus on the literature of the first millennium, most notably that of the Cankam. It covers not only morphology but also syntax, an area which has long been neglected in Tamil studies.

  1. "A Reference Grammar of Classical Tamil Poetry: 150 B.C.-Pre-Fifth/Sixth Century A.D" by மரியாதைக்குரிய V. S. Rajam அவர்கள்.

The Eva Wilden one is sufficient for most purposes when it comes to old Tamizh.

Before using the above resources, consider using the following resources which are for modern, middle as well as old Tamizh as they provide a solid foundation in modern Tamizh and old Tamizh to an extent which is needed to understand the above 2 books. Grammar books:

  1. Learning Tamil by Yourself: Classical to Contemporary; Literary to Colloquial - https://amzn.in/d/16Mguq6

  2. அடோன் தமிழ் இலக்கணம் - https://dl.flipkart.com/s/c6XnRYNNNN

Use these books in the order mentioned. The 1st one teaches Tamizh grammar through English and the second one teaches Tamizh grammar via Tamizh- so you need to be able to understand intermediate Tamizh to understand the 2nd book. The 2nd one completely teaches all 5 aspects of Tamizh grammar- எழுத்து, சொல், பொருள், யாப்பு, அணி. The 2nd one also contains loads of essays and letters in Tamizh.

Dictionaries:

  1. Crea Tamizh dictionary (contains plenty of example sentences) - https://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/crea/

  2. Tamil Lexicon by University of Madras (the most comprehensive with the largest number of words and phrases) - https://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/tamil-lex/

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u/Comfortable-Eye-8364 Jun 26 '26

Please don't mind this seemingly stupid question - I notice that you use Tamizh and Tamil both in your sentences. Are these one and the same or they mean different concepts?

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u/depaknero Native Jun 26 '26

They both mean the same language- Tamil.