Tamil honorifics
In Tamil, honorifics governs daily speech and register of both written and spoken communication. Traditionally, Tamil has been classified into two registers viz செந்தமிழ் meaning 'classical' or 'pure ' Tamil and கொடுந்தமிழ் meaning 'corrupt' Tamil. A huge feature of this difference is honorifics. Tamil honorifics usually are suffixes, although prefixes are not uncommon.
General
Lexical choice
plays a vital role in Tamil society as depending on the choice of words, the register may alter.Not all words in Tamil necessarily have a different colloquial, low, standard and high equivalents.
-n, -l, -r
Tamil nouns can end in ன், ள் or ர். ன் and ள் are used to people of lesser social order to denote male and female respectively. ர் 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.
Kār/Mār
கார் is a singular honorific suffix to refer to a single collective noun. காரர் is a higher form of கார். For example, கடைக்கார் means 'shop-keeper' while கடைக்காரர் 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.மார் is a plural honorific suffix used to refer to a collective noun. மாரர் is a higher form of மார். For example, அக்காக்கள் means 'elder sisters' and is a plural, அக்காமார் means 'those honourable elder sisters' and is a collective plural while அக்காமாரர் 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.
Ar
னார், ஞர் and யார் 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 ; if a noun ends with ஞன், its ending would be ஞர் ; if a noun ends with ஐ or இ, its ending would be யார்.For example, தகப்பனார் is more polite than saying தகப்பன். தகப்பன் means 'father', so தகப்பனார் can be translated as 'respectable father'. Other examples include நாயனார், இளைஞர், மூப்பனார், etc.
Ṭa/Ṭi
டா and டி 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 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.
| Person | Tamil | Meaning |
| 1st | அடியன் | I It literally means I, who am your footstep. Usually used by devotees to refer to a deity. |
| 1st | நா | I |
| 1st | நான் | I |
| 1st | யான் | I ; now obsolete. |
| 1st | யாம் | I |
| 1st | யாங்கள் | We |
| 1st | நாங்கள் | We |
| 1st | நாம் | We |
| 2nd | நீ | You |
| 2nd | நீர் | You |
| 2nd | தாம் | You It literally means 'self'; and is used so as to not address directly. |
| 2nd | நீங்கள் | You |
| 2nd | தாங்கள் | You |
| 2nd | உன் | Your |
| 2nd | உம் | Your |
| 2nd | உங்கள் | Your |
| 2nd | தங்கள் | Your |
| 2nd | நின் | Yours |
| 2nd | தம் | Your |
| 3rd | அது | Third person gender neutral |
| 3rd | அவன், அவள் | He, She |
| 3rd | அவர் | Third person gender neutral |
| 3rd | அவர்கள் | Third person gender neutral |
| 3rd | அது | It/That; when referring to an object |
| 3rd | அவை | Those; when referring to an object |
Others
அவ்விடம் which literally means 'that place' and இவ்விடம் which literally means 'this place' can be used to politely differentiate between two parties without explicating the difference.வொய் / வோய் can replace a second person or proper noun in some southern dialects. It shows a lot of familiarity between the speakers. என்ன வொய்? 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 is an exclusive 'our' whereas நம் 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 ; அவள்/இவள் ; அவர்/இவர் ; அது/இது ; அவர்கள்/இவர்கள் ; அவை/இவை.
Titular
Tiru/Tirumati
Tiru, is a Tamil honorific prefix used while addressing adult males in Tamil, being the equivalent of the English "Mr" or the French "Monsieur".Thiru is a word that also means "sacred" or "holy". It is also a Tamil name for the God Mahavishnu, who is called "Thirumaal", and Goddess Lakshmi, who is called "Thirumagal" in Tamil. It is also meant for "wealth", "respect", and "name" in Tamil language.
The word "Thiru" is part of many city-names, such as Trivandrum or Thiruvananthapuram; Thiruchendur, Thiruvaiyaru, Thiruvenkadam, Thirumalai, Thirupathi, Thiruchirappalli, Thirukoilur, Thirukumaran, Thiruvannamalai etc. This list is endless; the word Thiru forms part of the name of many other cities and towns in South India.
Selvan/Selvi
These are used to refer to unmarried people.செல்வன் : is the Tamil equivalent of Master.
செல்வி : is the Tamil equivalent of Miss.
Honorary
Avarkaḷ/Vāḷ
அவர்கள் and வாள் 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, ஐயர்-வாள். The அவர்கள் honorific can only used in third person reference.Kanam
கனம் 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 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 is an honorific suffix literally meaning 'Father'. It can be used to mean 'respectful' when addressing someone of equal or higher social order.யா is a contraction of ஐயா, 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 can fully replace the noun.
Ammā
அம்மா 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 'Mother'.Amuni
அமுனி or அம்முனி 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 strictly means 'elder brother' and is a corruption of அண்ணா. More often, it is used to address a leader of a gang. அண்ணாத்தை with the same meaning and etymology is also used in some dialects.Cellam
செல்லம் is equivalent to the English 'dear'. It can be used as a suffix to show endearment.Kuṭṭi
குட்டி literally means 'tiny'. It can be used as an endearing suffix while referring to children.Maccān/Maccini
மச்சான், or மச்சினன் 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 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 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 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 or its contraction ல used as a suffix. பிள்ளை means 'child' in Tamil.Ecclesiastical
These are titles used in clerical orders in Tamil. They may be religion specific or pan-religious.Aiyar
ஐயர் 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 caste. It means 'father'.Āyar/Pērāyar
ஆயர் means 'shepherd' in Old Tamil, used by the Catholic and Anglican priests. பேராயிர் is Tamil for bishop.Aṭigaḷ
அடிகள் 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, a Saivite leader of the Pure Tamil movement and the Non-Brahministic movement. It means 'footsteps'.Avaiyar
ஆழ்வார் were a celebrated group of twelve Vaishnavaite saint-poets. It means 'they who are deeply immersing themselves in devotion to divinity'.Cittar
சித்தர் were a group of physicians who founded the Siddha medicine.Nāyanār
நாயனார் were a celebrated group of sixty-three Shaivaite saint-poets.Tiruṭtantai
திருத்தந்தை is a title specific to the Pope, the head of the Catholic faith, meaning 'Holy Father'.Pātariyār
பாதரியர் is the Tamil equivalent of pastor, especially to the ordained of the Baptist faith. It means 'they who know the way'.Poocāri
பூசாரி is a title used to refer to priestesses of rural non-Agamic deities.Turavi
துறவி is a pan-religious title used specifically for monks or nuns, or generally those who have left worldly life for spirituality.Kinship
Āyā
ஆயா is a title which can mean 'grandma'. It is usually used for elderly maids, or wet nurse.Appan, Aiyan, Accan and Attān
அப்பன், ஐயன், and அச்சன் 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, ஆத்தா, ஆச்சி, அம்மன் and அம்மையார் all have the semantic root meaning 'mother', literally means mother. However, they can be used differently depending on the context. அம்மா is the standard register equivalent to 'mum', ஆத்தா is a more familiar register, usually used in rural dialects, and is equivalent to 'mummy', and அம்மையார் is the highest register equivalent to 'mother'.அம்மா 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 'Lady'.
ஆச்சி is an endearing and more familiar title for grandmother. Manorama, a veteran Tamil actress is affectionately known by this name. Occasionally, அம்மாச்சி, a portmanteau of the words அம்மா and ஆச்சி is also used.
அம்மன், 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.
Tōzhan/Tōzhi
தோழன் can be translated as 'comrade' or 'soul mate'. தோழி is its female equivalent. A prefix மன can be affixed in front to mean best man and bridesmaid respectively. Cuntarar was known as 'Tampiran tōzhan' or Comrade of the Master. It is of high register, and as such is not used in spoken Tamil.Occupational
Teacher
வாத்தியார் and ஆசிரியர் both can refer to teachers. வாத்தி a contraction of வாத்தியார் is a more familiar address to teachers, and is usually frowned upon.Poet
புலவர் is the Tamil honorific suffix for poets. Notable recipients include Tiruvalluvar, Umaru Pulavar, Mayilvagana Pulavar and Kumaraswamy Pulavar.Although, the Sanskrit கவிஞன் is also used, which is a prefix. A notable recipient is கவிஞர் வைரமுத்து.