போதும்
pōtum/poːd̪ʊm/
The English phrase 'enough' is expressed in Tamil through the forms போதும் (pōtum) and போதுமான.
Meaning: sufficient (det)
Ways to say it
| Tamil | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| போதும் | pōtum | /poːd̪ʊm/ |
| போதுமான | pōtumāṉa |
The word போதும் can function as a verb meaning 'is enough' or 'is sufficient', or as an interjection to tell someone to stop an action or to express that a quantity is sufficient. It often appears at the end of a clause.
Which one should you use?
Use the form போதுமான (pōtumāṉa) as an adjective to modify a noun, such as 'sufficient food'. In contrast, போதும் (pōtum) is used as a standalone verb or interjection meaning 'it is enough'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a verb, போதும் functions to mean 'is enough' or 'is sufficient' within a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of போதும் is /poːd̪ʊm/.
Did you know?
- In a spiritual or philosophical context, the concept of 'enough' in Tamil is often linked to contentment, where having 'enough' is seen as the ultimate form of wealth.
- The word போதும் is derived from a root meaning 'to be' or 'to exist', reflecting an ancient linguistic view that sufficiency is a state of being.
- In many South Indian contexts, saying போதும் while eating is not just a statement of quantity, but a polite way to signal to the host that you cannot accept even a single extra grain of rice.
Examples in context
- போதும்!Enough!This example is useful for expressing the interjection 'Enough!' using போதும்.Tatoeba #11036640 by DriedGrapes31, translation #434680 by lukaszpp
- போதும் நிறுத்து.That's enough, stop.This example shows how to use போதும் to say 'That's enough, stop.'.
- இந்த அளவு எனக்கு போதும்.indha alavu enakku pōdhum.This amount is enough for me.
Example conversation
Divya is pouring water for Santhosh.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshதண்ணீர் போதும், திவ்யா.Thanneer podhum, Divya.The water is enough, Divya.
- திவ்யா Divyaஇன்னும் கொஞ்சம் வேண்டுமா?Innum konjam venduma?Do you want a little more?
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஇல்லை, எனக்குப் போதும்.Illai, enakku podhum.No, it is enough for me.
- திவ்யா Divyaசரி, சந்தோஷ்.Sari, Santhosh.Okay, Santhosh.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “enough” translations and entries போதும், CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries போதும், CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
