நான் உன்னைக் காதலிக்கிறேன்
nāṉ uṉṉaik kātalikkiṟēṉ
The English phrase "I love you" is expressed in Tamil as நான் உன்னைக் காதலிக்கிறேன் (nāṉ uṉṉaik kātalikkiṟēṉ). Wiktionary also lists நான் உன்னைக் காதலிக்கின்றேன் (nāṉ uṉṉaik kātalikkiṉṟēṉ).
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Tamil | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| நான் உன்னைக் காதலிக்கிறேன் | nāṉ uṉṉaik kātalikkiṟēṉ |
| நான் உன்னைக் காதலிக்கின்றேன் | nāṉ uṉṉaik kātalikkiṉṟēṉ |
This phrase is used to affirm romantic feelings. The verb used specifically denotes romantic love, making it different from terms used to express general affection for friends or family members.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of nāṉ (I), uṉṉaik (you, as an object) and kātalikkiṟēṉ (love).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word for 'you' (uṉṉai) takes the accusative case marker -k to become உன்னைக் because it serves as the direct object of the verb.
How do you pronounce it?
nāṉ uṉṉaik kātalikkiṟēṉ
Did you know?
- The concept of காதல் (kātal) is deeply tied to the 'Sangam' literature of ancient Tamil Nadu, which categorized love based on the landscape, such as mountains or seashores.
- In Tamil cinema and literature, the phrase நான் உன்னைக் காதலிக்கிறேன் is far more common than in real-life conversations. It is often used as a dramatic climax in a movie scene.
- The pronoun நான் (nāṉ) is an example of suppletion, where the oblique forms are derived from a completely different original root, யான் (yāṉ). This creates a grammatical split within a single word's various forms.
Examples in context
- உண்மையிலேயே நான் உன்னைக் காதலிக்கிறேன்.uṇmaiyilirēyē nāṉ uṇṇaik kātalikkirēṉ.I really love you.
Example conversation
Arun expresses his true feelings to Anita at a park.
- அருண் Arunஅனிதா, நான் உன்னைக் காதலிக்கிறேன்.anitā, nāṉ uṇṇaik kātalikkirēṉ.Anita, I love you.
- அனிதா Anitaநிஜமாகவா, அருண்?nijamākavā, aruṇ?Are you serious, Arun?
- அருண் Arunஆம், நான் உன்னைக் காதலிக்கிறேன்.ām, nāṉ uṇṇaik kātalikkirēṉ.Yes, I love you.
- அனிதா Anitaநானும் உன்னைக் காதலிக்கிறேன்.nāṉum uṇṇaik kātalikkirēṉ.I love you too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries நான், CC BY-SA 4.0.
