சரி
cari/tʃɐɾiː/
The Tamil word for 'okay' is சரி (cari).
சரி is used to express agreement, acceptance or to signal that you have understood something.
Meaning: OK (intj)
How does it change in a sentence?
Repeating the word as சரி சரி is a common way to express quick agreement or to dismiss a point in conversation, similar to saying 'Alright, alright' in English.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is cari (/tʃɐɾiː/).
Did you know?
- Tamil speakers often accompany சரி with a slight side-to-side head tilt, which can be mistaken by English speakers for a 'no'.
- Beyond meaning 'okay', சரி also means 'correct', 'right' and 'straight'.
- While the word சரி means 'okay', its distant relative in Sanskrit, sadṛśa, means 'similar' or 'alike'.
Examples in context
- சரி சரி!Ah, okay!This example shows how repeating the word as சரி சரி can be used.Tatoeba #11036749 by DriedGrapes31, translation #623728 by BraveSentry
- சரி, நான் வருகிறேன்.sari, nāṉ varukiṟēṉ.Okay, I am coming.
- சரி, அப்படியே செய்.sari, appadiyē cey.Okay, do exactly that.
Example conversation
Karthik and Kavitha are deciding where to eat.
- கவிதா Kavithaநம்ம ஹோட்டலுக்குப் போலாமா?Namma hōṭṭalukkup pōlāmā?Shall we go to a hotel?
- கார்த்திக் Karthikசரி, போலாம்.Sari, pōlām.Okay, let's go.
- கவிதா Kavithaஉனக்கு என்ன சாப்பிட வேண்டும்?Unakku eṉṉa cāppiṭa vēṇṭum?What do you want to eat?
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஎனக்கு இட்லி போதும்.Enakku iṭṭili pōtūm.Idli is enough for me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry சரி, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries சரி, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
