சொல்
col/tʃol/
To say in Tamil is சொல் (col).
The term சொல் is used to communicate verbally or in writing. Interestingly, the root சொல் can function as both the verb meaning 'to say' and the noun meaning 'word'.
Meaning: to communicate verbally or in writing (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The imperative (command) forms are சொல்லுங்கள் for polite/formal situations and சொல்லு for informal situations. In the past tense, if the person who said something is being addressed with respect, use the honorific form சொன்னார். For non-honorific contexts, use சொன்னான் if the subject is male and சொன்னாள் if the subject is female.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃol/
Did you know?
- Tamil has a specific way of using the root சொல் to create the phrase சொல்லித் தர, which means 'to explain' by literally 'giving the words'.
- The word சொல் has distant linguistic cousins in languages like Kannada and Malayalam, sharing a common ancestor from the Proto-Dravidian era.
- When someone is asked to 'say' something in a religious or ritual context, the root சொல் often shifts toward the idea of chanting or reciting sacred verses.
Examples in context
- உண்மை ஒன்றைச் சொல்.unmai ondrai sol.Say something true.
- உன் பெயர் என்னவென்று சொல்.un peyar ennavendru sol.Say what your name is.
- அவளிடம் இதைச் சொல்.avalidam idhai sol.Say this to her.
Example conversation
Arun and Anita are talking about a secret.
- அனிதா Anitaஅருண், உண்மையைச் சொல்.Arun, unmaiyai chol.Arun, say the truth.
- அருண் Arunநான் எதையும் மறைக்கவில்லை.naan edhaiyum maraikkavillai.I am not hiding anything.
- அனிதா Anitaபிறகு என்ன நடந்தது என்று சொல்.piragu enna nadandhadhu endru chol.Then say what happened.
- அருண் Arunஇப்போது சொல்கிறேன்.ippodhu solgirēn.I will say it now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry சொல், CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries சொல், CC BY-SA 4.0.
