எழு
eḻu/ɛɻɯ/
To stand up in Tamil is எழு (eḻu), meaning to rise from a sitting position.
Meaning: rise from a sitting position (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase எழுந்து நில் (eḻuntu nil) is a combination of the conjunctive participle எழுந்து, meaning 'having stood up' and the verb 'to stand'.
How does it change in a sentence?
எழு is the informal imperative. எழுங்கள் is the polite or formal imperative. The form எழுந்து is the conjunctive participle, which is used to mean 'having stood up' or to link the action of rising to another verb.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ɛɻɯ/ (eḻu).
Did you know?
- The letter ழ in எழு represents a rare retroflex approximant sound where the tongue curls far back, a sound characteristic of Tamil and Malayalam.
- The root word எழு is used not only to 'stand up' but also as the standard word for 'wake up' from sleep.
- In Tamil literature and spirituality, the act of 'rising' எழுதல் is often used as a metaphor for spiritual awakening or social uprising.
Examples in context
- நீ இப்போது எழு.nī ippōthu ezhū.You stand up now.
Example conversation
Vijay and Divya are sitting in a waiting room.
- விஜய் Vijayதிவ்யா, இப்போது எழு.Divyā, ippodhu ezhū.Divya, stand up now.
- திவ்யா Divyaஏன் விஜய்?Ēn Vijay?Why, Vijay?
- விஜய் Vijayநமது முறை வந்துவிட்டது.Namadhu murai vandhuvittadhu.It is our turn.
- திவ்யா Divyaசரி, நான் எழுந்துவிட்டேன்.Sari, nāṉ ezhundhuvittēṉ.Okay, I have stood up.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry எழு, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
