தூங்கு
tūṅku/t̪uːŋɡɯ/
The English phrase 'go to sleep' is translated into Tamil as தூங்கு (tūṅku).
What does it mean word for word?
The common phrase போய் தூங்கு literally means 'go and sleep'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb தூங்கு can be made into a polite or formal imperative by adding the suffix -ங்கள் to the end, resulting in தூங்குங்கள். The base form தூங்கு is used as an informal imperative when speaking to children or close friends.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is romanized as [tūṅku].
Did you know?
- The verb தூங்கு shares a common root with the Kannada word ತೂಗು and the Malayalam word തൂങ്ങുക, which relate to the act of hanging.
- In Tamil culture, it is common to tell a child to தூங்கு while gently patting their back or forehead in a rhythmic motion to induce sleep.
- In many Tamil households, instead of saying போய் தூங்கு to a child, parents might use the term உறங்கு (uṟaṅku) to sound more gentle or poetic.
Examples in context
- போய் தூங்குGo to sleep.Tatoeba #4157452 by Singaravelu, translation #453530 by saasmath
- இப்போ போய் தூங்கு.ippō pōy tūṅku.Go to sleep now.
- குழந்தை சீக்கிரம் தூங்கு.kuḻandai sīkkiram tūṅku.Baby, go to sleep soon.
Example conversation
A brother telling his little sister to sleep so she can wake up early.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஅனிதா, சீக்கிரம் போய் தூங்கு.anitā, sīkkiram pōy tūṅku.Anita, go to sleep soon.
- அனிதா Anitaஇன்னும் கொஞ்சம் விளையாட வேண்டும்.innum konjam vilaiyāṭa vēṇṭum.I want to play a little more.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshவேண்டாம், போய் தூங்கு.vēṇṭām, pōy tūṅku.No, go to sleep.
- அனிதா Anitaசரி, நான் தூங்குகிறேன்.sari, nāṉ tūṅkugiṟēṉ.Okay, I am going to sleep.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry தூங்கு, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries தூங்கு, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
