Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The base form பேசு is informal and casual, used when speaking to friends, children or people of lower social status. For a polite or respectful command or request, you should add the suffix -ங்கள் to form பேசுங்கள்.
How does it change in a sentence?
The root of the verb is பேசு. To express the infinitive 'to speak' (for example, in 'I want to speak'), use the form பேச (pēca). In the first-person singular present tense, the verb takes the suffix -கிறேன் (-kirēṉ) to become பேசுகிறேன், meaning 'I speak' or 'I am speaking'. For the third-person singular past tense, the form is பேசினார் (pēcīṉar), meaning 'he/she spoke'. You can also say Naan pesuven to mean 'I speak'.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is pēcu and the IPA is /peːtʃɯ/.
When do people say it?
In Tamil, when addressing someone formally, you can use the honorific Thiru to mean 'Mr.'
Did you know?
- Using the informal பேசு with a teacher or stranger can be interpreted as a deliberate social insult.
- Tamil uses entirely different verbs for 'talking' versus 'reading aloud' or 'singing'.
- In Tamil, there is a linguistic phenomenon called 'diglossia' where the spoken version of பேசு is fundamentally different from the version used in books and news.
Examples in context
- பேசு!Speak!This is useful for a direct command to speak.Tatoeba #11036715 by DriedGrapes31, translation #1802121 by pne
- மெதுவாகவும் தெளிவாகவும் பேசுங்கள்Speak slowly and clearly.This shows how to request someone to speak slowly and clearly.Tatoeba #4240360 by Singaravelu, translation #30129 by CK
- நீ ஆங்கிலம் பேசும்போது தவறு செய்ய அஞ்சாதே.Don't be afraid to make mistakes when you speak English.This encourages someone not to fear making mistakes when speaking English.Tatoeba #3425724 by tamiliam, translation #3425650 by ijikure
Example conversation
Anita asks Karthik if he knows a specific language.
- அனிதா Anitaஉனக்கு தமிழ் பேசத் தெரியுமா?Unakku Tamizh pesa theriyuma?Do you know how to speak Tamil?
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஆமாம், என்னால் கொஞ்சம் பேச முடியும்.Aamaam, ennaal konjam pesa mudiyum.Yes, I can speak a little.
- அனிதா Anitaஅப்படியானால், என்னுடன் பேசு.Appadiyaanaal, ennudan pesu.In that case, speak with me.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikசரி, நாம் இப்போது பேசலாம்.Sari, naam ippodhu pesalaam.Okay, let's speak now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry பேசு, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
