Tamil vs. English — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 6, 2023
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken in South Asia; English is a Germanic language global lingua franca. Both are mediums of communication with distinct origins and linguistic structures.
Difference Between Tamil and English
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Tamil is an ancient language with a rich literary tradition, primarily spoken in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and by the Tamil diaspora worldwide. English, on the other hand, originated in England and has evolved to become the predominant language of international communication.
The Tamil language has a non-Latin script, comprising 12 vowels, 18 consonants, and one special character, the āytam. English uses the Latin alphabet, which consists of 26 letters, with no special characters inherently dedicated to the language.
Grammar in Tamil is agglutinative, meaning words are formed by joining morphemes together. English grammar is analytic, relying on word order and auxiliary verbs for tense, aspect, and mood, rather than morphological changes to words.
Vocabulary in Tamil is heavily influenced by Sanskrit, though efforts have been made to purify it by coining new words based on Tamil roots. The vocabulary of English is vast and eclectic, with many words borrowed from Latin, French, German, and other languages.
While Tamil uses subject-object-verb (SOV) word order, English typically follows a subject-verb-object (SVO) pattern. This fundamental structural difference shapes the way thoughts and sentences are constructed in each language.
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Comparison Chart
Script
Uses Tamil script, which is syllabic and non-Latin.
Uses the Latin script, an alphabetic system.
Phonology
Has retroflex sounds not present in English.
Lacks the retroflex sounds found in Tamil.
Syntax
Predominantly SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) order.
Predominantly SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) order.
Morphology
Agglutinative, with extensive use of suffixes.
Analytic, with limited inflection and use of helping verbs.
Tense System
Uses tense markers attached to verbs.
Uses auxiliary verbs to express tense.
Articles
Does not have articles (a, an, the).
Has definite (the) and indefinite (a, an) articles.
Compare with Definitions
Tamil
A Dravidian language spoken predominantly in South India and Sri Lanka.
Tamil literature dates back over two millennia.
English
Literature written in the English language, including works of worldwide authors.
English literature classes often cover Shakespeare's plays.
Tamil
Pertaining to the people originating from Tamil Nadu or of Tamil descent.
The Tamil community celebrated Pongal with traditional fervor.
English
The role of English as a global bridge language.
English serves as a lingua franca in many international conferences.
Tamil
The writing system used for the Tamil language, with distinct syllabic characters.
Tamil script is taught from a young age in Tamil Nadu schools.
English
Relating to the people or the culture of England.
Traditional English breakfast includes eggs, bacon, and toast.
Tamil
The rich and diverse cultural traditions of the Tamil-speaking population.
Tamil culture is renowned for its classical dance form, Bharatanatyam.
English
The teaching and study of the English language and its literature.
English education is compulsory in many countries around the world.
Tamil
Refers to the film industry based in Chennai, producing Tamil-language films.
Tamil cinema is known for its unique storytelling and music.
English
Relating to England or its people or language.
Tamil
A member of a Dravidian people of southern India and northern Sri Lanka.
English
The language of England, widely used in many varieties throughout the world.
Tamil
The Dravidian language of the Tamil.
English
The people of England.
Tamil
Of or relating to the Tamil or their language or culture.
English
Spin or side given to a ball, especially in pool or billiards
Put more English on the ball
Tamil
Of or pertaining to the Tamils, or to their language.
English
Of, relating to, or characteristic of England or its people or culture.
Tamil
One of a Dravidian race of men native of Northern Ceylon and Southern India.
English
Of or relating to the English language.
Tamil
A member of the mixed Dravidian and Caucasoid people of southern India and Sri Lanka
English
(used with a pl. verb) The people of England.
Tamil
The Dravidian language spoken since prehistoric times by the Tamil people in southern India and Sri Lanka
English
The West Germanic language of England, the United States, and other countries that are or have been under English influence or control.
Tamil
Of or relating to a speaker of the Tamil language or the language itself;
The Tamil Tigers are fighting the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka
Tamil agglutinative phrases
English
The English language of a particular time, region, person, or group of persons
American English.
English
A translation into or an equivalent in the English language.
English
A course or individual class in the study of English language, literature, or composition.
English
The spin given to a propelled ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist.
English
Bodily movement in an effort to influence the movement of a propelled object; body English.
English
To translate into English.
English
To adapt into English; Anglicize.
English
Spinning or rotary motion given to a ball around the vertical axis, as in billiards or bowling.
You can't hit it directly, but maybe if you give it some english.
English
An unusual or unexpected interpretation of a text or idea, a spin, a nuance.
English
Of or pertaining to England, or to its inhabitants, or to the present so-called Anglo-Saxon race.
English
Collectively, the people of England; English people or persons.
English
The language of England or of the English nation, and of their descendants in America, India, and other countries.
English
A kind of printing type, in size between Pica and Great Primer. See Type.
English
A twist or spinning motion given to a ball in striking it that influences the direction it will take after touching a cushion or another ball.
English
To translate into the English language; to Anglicize; hence, to interpret; to explain.
Those gracious acts . . . may be Englished more properly, acts of fear and dissimulation.
Caxton does not care to alter the French forms and words in the book which he was Englishing.
English
To strike (the cue ball) in such a manner as to give it in addition to its forward motion a spinning motion, that influences its direction after impact on another ball or the cushion.
English
An Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the Commonwealth countries
English
The people of England
English
The discipline that studies the English language and literature
English
(sports) the spin given to a ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist
English
Of or relating to or characteristic of England or its culture;
English history
The English landed aristocracy
English literature
English
A West Germanic language originating in England and spoken worldwide.
English is the primary language of international business.
Common Curiosities
Is Tamil older than English?
Yes, Tamil has a history stretching back over 2,000 years, making it older than English.
How many people speak Tamil?
There are about 75 million native Tamil speakers worldwide.
Can Tamil speakers easily learn English?
Learning English can be challenging for Tamil speakers due to structural differences but is facilitated by educational systems in place.
How many countries use English as an official language?
English is an official language in 67 countries.
Is Tamil written left to right like English?
Yes, Tamil is written horizontally from left to right, similar to English.
Has English influenced Tamil literature?
English has influenced contemporary Tamil literature, especially in terms of themes and styles.
Is English considered harder to learn than Tamil?
Difficulty is subjective; English has a simpler script but complex pronunciation and idiomatic usage compared to Tamil.
Are there English words in the Tamil vocabulary?
Yes, modern Tamil has incorporated English words, especially in technology and modern culture.
Are Tamil and English related linguistically?
No, Tamil is a Dravidian language, while English is a Germanic language; they are from different language families.
Does Tamil have more consonants than English?
Tamil has fewer individual consonants but uses combinations that effectively increase its range.
Do both Tamil and English use the Roman alphabet?
No, English uses the Roman alphabet, while Tamil has its own script.
Are both Tamil and English taught in schools in India?
Yes, both languages are taught in many schools across India.
Does English have gender-specific nouns like Tamil?
English nouns are not gender-specific, unlike Tamil which has genders for nouns.
Can Tamil speakers understand spoken English easily?
Proficiency varies; Tamil speakers with education in English can understand it, but there may be difficulty due to pronunciation differences.
What is the main difference in sentence structure between Tamil and English?
The main difference is that Tamil typically uses an SOV order, while English uses SVO.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
