ஏனென்றால்
ēṉeṉṟāl/eːnɛnrɑːl/
The English phrase 'because' is translated into Tamil as ஏனென்றால் (ēṉeṉṟāl).
ஏனென்றால் functions as a conjunction meaning 'by or for the cause that', 'on this account that' or 'for the reason that'.
Meaning: by or for the cause that, on this account that, for the reason that (conj)
Which one should you use?
ஏனென்றால் is typically used to start a new sentence to explain a reason (for example, 'I stayed home. Because it rained.'). However, it is less common than attaching a causal suffix directly to a verb to join two clauses within a single sentence.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Tamil, ஏனென்றால் is typically used as a conjunction to start a new sentence that explains the reason for the previous statement.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /eːnɛnrɑːl/. The romanization is [[ēṉeṉṟāl]].
Did you know?
- The word ஏனென்றால் is literally a conditional phrase meaning 'If (someone) says/asks ஏன் (why)'.
- In spoken Tamil, ஏனென்றால் is often shortened to ஏன்னா (ēnnā) to make the transition between ideas feel more natural and less formal.
- The component என்றால் is a conditional form, meaning the word 'because' is structurally built upon the logic of 'if'.
Examples in context
- அது நல்லாயிருக்கும், ஏனென்றால் அது அனைத்தும் புதுமாக்கப்பட்டுவிட்டது.It is good because it has been completely renovated.
- நான் வரவில்லை, ஏனென்றால் எனக்கு உடல்நிலை சரியில்லை.nāṉ varavillai, ēṉṟēṉṟāl eṉakku uṭalnilai cariyillai.I did not come, because I am not feeling well.
Example conversation
Arun and Anita are talking about a closed shop.
- அனிதா Anitaகடை மூடப்பட்டுள்ளது, ஏனென்றால் இன்று விடுமுறை.Kaṭai mūṭappaṭṭuḷḷatu, ēṉeṉṟāl iṉṟu viṭumuṟai.The shop is closed because today is a holiday.
- அருண் Arunஉண்மையா? நான் அதை மறந்துவிட்டேன்.Uṇmaiyā? Nāṉ ataI marañtuviṭṭēṉ.Really? I forgot about that.
- அனிதா Anitaஆம், அருண், நாம் நாளை வரலாம்.Ām, Arun, nām nāḷai varalām.Yes, Arun, we can come tomorrow.
- அருண் Arunசரி, அனிதா, நாளை சந்திப்போம்.Sari, Anita, nāḷai cantippōm.Okay, Anita, let's meet tomorrow.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ஏனென்றால், CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ஏனென்றால், CC BY-SA 4.0.
