காதலன்
kātalaṉ/kɑːd̪ɐlɐn/
The Tamil word for lover is காதலன் (kātalaṉ).
The term is used to refer to a sexual partner.
Meaning: sexual partner (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word காதலன் is derived from kaadhal, meaning love and the masculine suffix -an.
Which one should you use?
While காதலன் refers specifically to a male lover, the feminine form is காதலி.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of the word is காதலி (kātali).
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is [kātalaṉ] and the IPA is /kɑːd̪ɐlɐn/.
Did you know?
- The concept of காதல் is often linked to the landscape of the 'thinai' system, where a lover's emotions were tied to specific geographical regions like mountains or shores.
- In some traditional contexts, a woman might refer to her lover as கண்ணன், using the name of the god Krishna as a metaphor for the ideal beloved.
- While காதலன் is used for a lover, the root word காதல் is also the name of a specific genre of ancient Sangam poetry that focuses entirely on human emotions and romantic landscapes.
Examples in context
- அவன் என் காதலன்.avan en kaadhalan.He is my lover.
- எனது காதலன் இப்போது வீட்டில் இல்லை.enadhu kaadhalan ippodhu veettil illai.My lover is not at home now.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new relationship.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshகவிதா, உனக்கு காதலன் இருக்கிறாரா?Kavitā, unakku kātalan irukkirārā?Kavitha, do you have a lover?
- கவிதா Kavithaஆம், சந்தோஷ் எனக்குப் பிடிக்கும்.ām, Santōṣ upakku piṭikkum.Yes, I like Santhosh.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஅவன் உனது காதலனா?avan unatu kātalanā?Is he your lover?
- கவிதா Kavithaஆம், அவன் தான் என் காதலன்.ām, avan tān en kātalan.Yes, he is my lover.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry காதலன், CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
