மாலை வணக்கம்
maalai vanakkam/mɑːlɐɪ̯ ʋɐɳɐkːɐm/word by word
The English phrase "good evening" is translated into Tamil as மாலை வணக்கம் (maalai vanakkam).
மாலை வணக்கம் is used as a formal or polite greeting during the evening hours.
Meaning: greeting said in the evening (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 'maalai' meaning 'evening' and 'vanakkam' meaning 'greeting' or 'salutation'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is a standard noun phrase used as a greeting and does not change based on the gender or number of the person being addressed.
How do you pronounce it?
maalai vanakkam (/mɑːlɐɪ̯ ʋɐɳɐkːɐm/)
What mistakes should you avoid?
Instead, use காலை வணக்கம் for "good morning".
Did you know?
- The word மாலை is believed to have been borrowed into Sanskrit as mālā, showing the influence of Dravidian languages on ancient Sanskrit.
- While 'good evening' is a common greeting in English, saying மாலை வணக்கம் in a casual setting might feel overly formal or even ceremonial.
- While மாலை வணக்கம் is formal, many Tamil speakers simply use வணக்கம் for any time of day, making it a universal greeting similar to 'namaste'.
Examples in context
- மாலை வணக்கம், நண்பா.mālai vaṇakkam, naṇbā.Good evening, friend.
- அனைவருக்கும் மாலை வணக்கம்.anaivarukkum mālai vaṇakkam.Good evening to everyone.
- மாலை வணக்கம், எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்?mālai vaṇakkam, eppaṭi irukkirīrkaḷ?Good evening, how are you?
Example conversation
Arun and Divya meet at a park in the evening.
- திவ்யா Divyaமாலை வணக்கம், அருண்!Mālai vaṇakkam, Arun!Good evening, Arun!
- அருண் Arunமாலை வணக்கம், திவ்யா.Mālai vaṇakkam, Divya.Good evening, Divya.
- திவ்யா Divyaநீங்கள் எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்?Nīṅgaḷ eppaṭi irukkiṟīrgaḷ?How are you?
- அருண் Arunநான் நலமாக இருக்கிறேன்.Nān nalamāga irukkiṟēṉ.I am doing well.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (மாலை, வணக்கம்) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries மாலை, வணக்கம், CC BY-SA 4.0.
