கடற்கரை
kaṭaṟkarai/kɐɖɐrkɐɾɐɪ̯/
The English word "beach" is translated into Tamil as கடற்கரை (kaṭaṟkarai).
கடற்கரை is used to refer to a sandy shore.
Meaning: sandy shore (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of கடல் (kaṭal), meaning "sea" and கரை (karai), meaning "shore" or "bank".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Chennai, கடற்கரை is a common term used to refer to the beach.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /kɐɖɐrkɐɾɐɪ̯/. The romanization is kaṭaṟkarai.
Did you know?
- In classical Sangam literature, the landscape associated with the sea and shore is called நெய்தல் ('neydhal'), which carries emotional connotations of longing and waiting.
- In Tamil, the word கரை (karai) can also be used as a verb meaning 'to erase' or 'to wipe away', such as wiping away a tear.
- In the coastal city of Chennai, the phrase கடற்கரை போகலாம் ('let us go to the beach') often implies a social outing for street food and walking rather than just swimming.
Examples in context
- கடற்கரை மிகவும் அழகாக இருக்கிறது.kaṭarkaṟai mikavum aḻakāka irukkiṟatu.The beach is very beautiful.
- குழந்தைகள் கடற்கரையில் விளையாடுகிறார்கள்.kuḻantaikaḷ kaṭarkaṟaiyil viḷaiyāṭukiṟārkaḷ.Children are playing on the beach.
- நாளை கடற்கரைக்குச் செல்வோமா?nāḷai kaṭarkaṟaikkucc celvōmā?Shall we go to the beach tomorrow?
Example conversation
Two friends are planning a weekend trip.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஅனிதா, நாளைக்கு கடற்கரைக்கு போகலாமா?Anitā, nāḷaikku kaṭkaṭaraikku pōkalāmā?Anita, shall we go to the beach tomorrow?
- அனிதா Anitaஆம் சந்தோஷ், அது நல்ல யோசனை.Ām Santōṣ, atu nalla yōcaṉai.Yes Santhosh, that is a good idea.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshநாம் எந்த கடற்கரைக்கு செல்லலாம்?Nām enta kaṭkaṭaraikku cellalām?Which beach shall we go to?
- அனிதா Anitaமரியோனா கடற்கரைக்கு போகலாம்.Mariyōṉā kaṭkaṭaraikku pōkalām.Let's go to Marina beach.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beach” translations and entries கடற்கரை, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
