காய்
kāy/kɑːj/
The English phrase "gai" is translated into Tamil as காய் (kāy).
காய் is used to refer to an unripe vegetable or a raw fruit.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /kɑːj/ (kāy).
Did you know?
- In Tamil, the word காய் can also be a verb meaning 'to heat' or 'to warm'. This allows the same sound to describe both a cool unripe vegetable and the act of heating something.
- While காய் (kāy) describes a delicious unripe fruit in Tamil, the same sound in Telugu can refer to something much less appetizing, like a 'wart' or a 'pimple'.
- The term காய் is used in the name of the traditional game 'காய்கட்டு' (kaikattu), where the word refers to the playing pieces or 'counters'.
Examples in context
- இந்தக் காய் இன்னும் பழுக்கவில்லை.indhak kāy innum pazhukkavillai.This vegetable is not ripe yet.
Example conversation
Karthik and Divya are in the kitchen preparing a meal.
- திவ்யா Divyaகார்த்திக், இந்த காய் நன்றாக இருக்கிறதா?Kārttik, indha kāy naṉṟāga irukkiṟadhā?Karthik, is this vegetable good?
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஆம், அது மிகவும் பசுமையாக இருக்கிறது.ām, adhu migavum pasumaiyāga irukkiṟadhu.Yes, it is very fresh.
- திவ்யா Divyaசரி, இதை நறுக்கித் தா.cari, idhai naṟukki thā.Okay, please chop this and give it to me.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஇதோ, எடுத்துக்கொள்.idhō, eṭutthukkoḷ.Here, take it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry காய், CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
