சகோதரி
cakōtari/tʃɐɡoːd̪ɐɾiː/
The English word sister is translated into Tamil as சகோதரி (cakōtari). Wiktionary also lists அக்கா (akkā) and தங்கை (taṅkai).
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Tamil | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| சகோதரி | cakōtari | /tʃɐɡoːd̪ɐɾiː/ |
| அக்கா | akkā | /ɐkːɑː/ |
| தங்கை | taṅkai | /t̪ɐŋɡɐɪ̯/ |
The term refers to a woman or girl having the same parents.
Which one should you use?
The term cakōtari is a formal, gender-neutral term for a sibling of the female sex, whereas akkā and taṅkai are used in everyday speech to denote birth order.
How do you pronounce it?
cakōtari is pronounced /tʃɐɡoːd̪ɐɾiː/.
Did you know?
- In Tamil culture, calling a woman அக்கா (akkā) is a common way to show respect to a stranger or an acquaintance who is slightly older than you, even if you are not related.
- The word சகோதரி (cakōtari) is a loanword from Sanskrit, unlike the native Dravidian terms used for everyday family members.
- In some Tamil social contexts, the relationship of 'sister' is used to establish a bond of platonic protection and respect between unrelated people.
Examples in context
- என் தங்கை இள வயதிலேய கல்யாணம் செய்து கொண்டாள்My younger sister got married in her teens.The sentence is useful for showing how to use தங்கை when talking about a younger sister's marriage.Tatoeba #4271996 by Singaravelu, translation #338272 by nanbanjin
- எனக்கு ஒரு தங்கை இல்லை, எனக்கு இரண்டு தங்கைகள் இருக்கிறார்கள்.I don't have one sister, I've got two.The sentence is useful for using தங்கை to express the number of sisters one has.Tatoeba #10722119 by DriedGrapes31, translation #2150617 by galoosh33
- காலை வணக்கம் அக்கா! நீங்க எப்படி இருக்கீங்க?Good morning sister! How are you?
- அவள் எனது சகோதரி.avaḷ enatu cakōtari.She is my sister.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Karthik is introducing his family to Anita.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஇந்த புகைப்படத்தில் இருப்பவள் என் சகோதரி.Intha pukaippaṭathil iruppavaḷ en sagōthari.The person in this photo is my sister.
- அனிதா Anitaஅவள் பெயர் என்ன?Avaḷ peyar enna?What is her name?
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஅவள் பெயர் மீரா.Avaḷ peyar Meera.Her name is Meera.
- அனிதா Anitaஅவள் பார்க்க உங்களைப் போலவே இருக்கிறாள்.Avaḷ pārkka ungaḷai pōlavē irukkirāḷ.She looks just like you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sister” translations and entries சகோதரி, அக்கா, தங்கை, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries அக்கா, சகோதரி, தங்கை, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
