நாள்
nāḷ/nɑːɭ/
The English word "day" is நாள் (nāḷ) in Tamil.
நாள் is a noun used to refer to a period of 24 hours. To say "one day" or "a day", you use the word ஒரு (one) before நாள்.
Meaning: period of 24 hours (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of நாள் is நாட்கள்.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /nɑːɭ/ (nāḷ).
Did you know?
- Tamil has a specific term for a 'lucky day' called சுப நாள், which is essential for planning weddings and housewarmings according to the lunar calendar.
- In traditional Tamil culture, the first நாள் of a newborn baby's life is marked by a ceremony to name the child and determine their astrological chart.
- The phonetic structure of நாள் involves a retroflex 'l' sound, which requires the tongue to curl back against the roof of the mouth, a feature not found in English.
Examples in context
- நாள் முழுதும் டோம் எங்கிருந்தான்?Where's Tom been all day?This sentence shows how to use நாள் when asking about someone's whereabouts throughout a day.Tatoeba #3425899 by tamiliam, translation #3424199 by CK
- முதல் நாள்First dayThis phrase demonstrates the use of நாள் in the context of the "first day".
- இன்று எப்படி இருக்கின்றீர்கள்?How are you today?
- இந்த நாள் மிகவும் மகிழ்ச்சியானது.indha nāḷ mikavum makiḻcciyāṉatu.This day is very happy.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kavitha and Santhosh are discussing a trip.
- கவிதா Kavithaநாங்கள் ஒரு நாள் அங்கு தங்கலாம்.Nāṅgaḷ oru nāḷ aṅgu taṅgalām.We can stay there for one day.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஒரு நாள் போதாது என்று நினைக்கிறேன்.Oru nāḷ pōdādu eṉṟu niṉaikkiṟēṉ.I think one day is not enough.
- கவிதா Kavithaஅப்படியென்றால் இரண்டு நாள் இருக்கலாம்.Appaṭiyaṉṟāl iraṇṭu nāḷ irukkalām.Then we can stay for two days.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshசரி, அது சரியாக இருக்கும்.Sari, adu sariyāga irukkum.Okay, that will be right.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “day” translations and entries நாள், CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
