போய்த்தொலை
pōyttolai
To say 'get lost' in Tamil, you use போய்த்தொலை (pōyttolai). Wiktionary also lists ஒழிந்துபோ (oḻintupō) and போ (pō).
Meaning: go away! (intj)
Ways to say it
| Tamil | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| போய்த்தொலை | pōyttolai | |
| ஒழிந்துபோ | oḻintupō | |
| போ | pō | /poː/ |
The phrase போய்த்தொலை is used as an interjection to express extreme irritation or to tell someone to leave immediately.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase போய்த்தொலை is a compound of the verb 'go' (போ) and 'be lost/perish' (தொலை), literally meaning 'go and be lost'.
Which one should you use?
While போ (pō) literally means 'go', in a sharp or angry tone, it functions as a command to 'get lost' or 'get out'. The form ஒழிந்துபோ (oḻintupō) is more aggressive than போ and carries a stronger nuance of 'get out of my sight' or 'disappear'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
pōyttolai
Did you know?
- In Tamil culture, using போ with a sharp tone to someone older or of higher status is considered a severe social transgression, even more so than in English.
- The more aggressive form ஒழிந்துபோ (oḻintupō) is built from a root that can also mean 'to be destroyed' or 'to be eliminated'.
- The word போ is a linguistic relative to the words for 'go' in Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada, as they all share a common ancestor from Proto-South Dravidian.
Examples in context
- போயிடு!Get lost!This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form போ.Tatoeba #11036747 by DriedGrapes31, translation #623565 by Dorenda
- என்னைத் தொந்தரவு செய்யாமல் போய்த்தொலை!ennait thondharavu seiyamal poytholai!Get lost without bothering me!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A heated argument between two colleagues in an office.
- திவ்யா Divyaநீ இங்கிருந்து போய்த்தொலை!nee ingirundhu poytholai!Get lost from here!
- விஜய் Vijayநான் ஏன் போக வேண்டும்?naan yen poga vendum?Why should I go?
- திவ்யா Divyaஉன் முகத்தைப் பார்க்கவே பிடிக்கவில்லை.un mugathai paarkkave pidikkavillai.I don't even want to see your face.
- விஜய் Vijayசரி, நான் போகிறேன்.seri, naan pogiren.Fine, I'm leaving.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “get lost” translations and entries போ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries போ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
