காலை
kālai/kɑːlɐɪ̯/
The English phrase "morning" is translated into Tamil as காலை (kālai).
காலை is a noun used to refer to the part of the day between dawn and midday.
Meaning: part of the day between dawn and midday (noun)
Which one should you use?
The form காலைப்பொழுது can be used to specifically refer to the period of morning time.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is kālai. The IPA is /kɑːlɐɪ̯/.
Did you know?
- The word காலை is a homonym in Tamil that can also mean 'leg' or 'foot' depending on the context.
- Greeting someone in the morning in Tamil is often done using காலை வணக்கம், where வணக்கம் is a versatile term for respect and greeting rather than a literal 'good' like in 'good morning'.
- In traditional Tamil culture, the 'morning' is often divided into specific periods, such as பிரம்ம முகூரம், which refers to the auspicious time just before sunrise.
Examples in context
- இன்று காலை மழை பெய்தது.inṟu kālai maḻai peythathu.It rained this morning.
- நான் காலையில் சீக்கிரம் எழுந்துவிடுவேன்.nāṉ kālaiyil sīkkiram eḻunthuviṭuvēṉ.I will wake up early in the morning.
- நாளை காலை சந்திப்போம்.nāḷai kālai santhippōm.Let's meet tomorrow morning.
Example conversation
Two friends are greeting each other at a bus stop.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஇனிய காலை வணக்கம், திவ்யா!Iṉiya kālai vaṇakkam, Divyā!Good morning, Divya!
- திவ்யா Divyaவணக்கம் சந்தோஷ், எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்?Vaṇakkam Santōṣ, eppaṭi irukkiriṟīrgaḷ?Hello Santhosh, how are you?
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshநான் நன்றாக இருக்கிறேன்.Nāṉ naṉṟāga irukkirēṉ.I am doing well.
- திவ்யா Divyaமிக்க மகிழ்ச்சி.Mikka makiḻcci.I am very glad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “morning” translations and entries காலை, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
