எலி
eli/ɛliː/
The word for rat in Tamil is எலி (eli).
This noun is used to refer to a rodent.
Meaning: rodent (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /ɛliː/ (eli).
Did you know?
- In Hindu tradition, the எலி is the sacred vehicle, or 'vahana', of Lord Ganesha. This transforms the rodent from a pest into a symbol of intelligence and the ability to overcome obstacles.
- The word எலி is part of a linguistic family that stretches far beyond India. It is a cognate with the word 'al' in Brahui, a language spoken primarily in Pakistan.
- In Tamil, there is no single, distinct word that separates a 'mouse' from a 'rat' in the way English does. The word எலி covers both animals regardless of their size.
Examples in context
- அங்கே ஒரு எலி ஓடுகிறது.Angē oru eli ōṭukiṟatu.A rat is running there.
- இந்த எலி மிகவும் பெரியது.Inta eli mikavum periyatu.This rat is very big.
- எலி சாப்பாட்டைத் தின்றது.Eli cāppāṭṭait tinṟatu.The rat ate the food.
Example conversation
Karthik and Priya are in the kitchen looking at a small hole in the wall.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikபிரியா, அந்தப் பக்கம் ஒரு எலி இருக்கிறதா?Priyā, antap pakkam oru eli irukkiṟatā?Priya, is there a rat over that way?
- பிரியா Priyaஆமாம் கார்த்திக், அது ஒரு சிறிய எலி.Āmām Kārttik, atu oru ciṟiya eli.Yes Karthik, it is a small rat.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஅது எங்கே போனது?Atu eṅkē pōṉatu?Where did it go?
- பிரியா Priyaஅது அந்தப் பக்கம் ஓடிவிட்டது.Atu antap pakkam ōṭiviṭṭatu.It ran that way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rat” translations and entries எலி, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries எலி, CC BY-SA 4.0.
