குழந்தை
kuḻantai/kʊɻɐnd̪ɐɪ̯/
The English word "baby" is translated into Tamil as குழந்தை (kuḻantai). Wiktionary also lists சிசு (cicu) and பிள்ளை (piḷḷai).
Meaning: very young human being (noun)
Ways to say it
| Tamil | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| குழந்தை | kuḻantai | /kʊɻɐnd̪ɐɪ̯/ |
| சிசு | cicu | /tʃɪtʃɯ/ |
| பிள்ளை | piḷḷai | /pɪɭːɐɪ̯/ |
The term refers to a very young human being. Related to this concept is the verb கொஞ்சு, which means to coddle or pamper someone like an infant.
Which one should you use?
குழந்தை is the general word for a baby or child. In contrast, சிசு is a more clinical or formal term often used in medical contexts to refer to an infant or a fetus.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
குழந்தை is considered the formal way to say baby in Tamil. சிசு is also a formal, clinical term. பிள்ளை is another way to refer to a child or baby.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to use குழந்தை as the direct object of a verb (for example, in the sentence "I saw the baby"), you add the suffix '-ஐ' to the base word to form குழந்தையை.
How do you pronounce it?
kuḻantai (/kʊɻɐnd̪ɐɪ̯/)
Did you know?
- In Tamil culture, it is common to avoid calling a baby by its actual name in public to protect it from the 'evil eye'.
- In Tamil, the word for a baby, குழந்தை, shares a linguistic ancestor with the word for a 'sprout' or a new bud on a plant, called கொழுந்து.
- Tamil has a specific verb கொஞ்சு that describes the unique, high-pitched rhythmic speech adults use when talking to a குழந்தை.
Examples in context
- அவள் குழந்தையை முத்தமிட்டாள்.She kissed her baby.This sentence demonstrates the use of the accusative form குழந்தையை.Tatoeba #10722055 by DriedGrapes31, translation #7303598 by MessDjaaf
- குழந்தை நன்றாகத் தூங்குகிறது.kuḻantai naṉṟāk tūṅkukiṟatu.The baby is sleeping well.
- அந்தக் குழந்தை அழுகிறது.antak kuḻantai aḻukiṟatu.That baby is crying.
Example conversation
Vijay and Divya are looking at a photo of a newborn.
- விஜய் Vijayஇந்தக் குழந்தை எவ்வளவு அழகாக இருக்கிறது!Indhak kuzhandhai evvalavu azhagaaga irukkiradhu!This baby is so beautiful!
- திவ்யா Divyaஆம், குழந்தை மிகவும் மழலையாக இருக்கிறது.Aam, kuzhandhai migavum mazhalaiyaaga irukkiradhu.Yes, the baby is very cute.
- விஜய் Vijayஇது யாருடைய குழந்தை?Idhu yaarudaiya kuzhandhai?Whose baby is this?
- திவ்யா Divyaஇது என் சகோதரியின் குழந்தை.Idhu en sagodhariyin kuzhandhai.This is my sister's baby.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baby” translations and entries குழந்தை, சிசு, பிள்ளை, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries குழந்தை, சிசு, பிள்ளை, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
