படி
paṭi/pɐɖiː/
The English word study translates to the Tamil verb படி (paṭi).
The verb படி is used to mean both to read and to study/learn. The most common translation for the English word "study" is the form படிக்க.
Meaning: to acquire knowledge (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The base form படி functions as an informal imperative command, such as "Study!" To express obligation, you can follow the infinitive form படிக்க with வேண்டும் to say "must study" or "have to study". The verb also changes based on tense and person: படிக்கிறேன் is the first-person singular present tense "I study" or "I am studying", while படித்தான் is the third-person masculine singular past tense "He studied". For a formal first-person singular future statement, use படிப்பேன் to mean "I will study".
How do you pronounce it?
The word is romanized as [paṭi] and pronounced /pɐɖiː/.
Did you know?
- While படி means 'study', it is also a homonym for a word meaning 'step' or 'stair', and can refer to the threshold of a house.
- In Tamil culture, the act of starting to 'study' or learn a craft was traditionally marked by a ceremony called vidyārambham, where a child writes their first letters in sand or rice.
- The word படி is a linguistic cousin to the Sanskrit root paṭh, meaning 'to recite' or 'to read aloud'.
Examples in context
- படி!Study!This example shows the use of the imperative form படி.Tatoeba #11036622 by DriedGrapes31, translation #320395 by shekitten
- நான் படிக்க வேண்டுமா?Do I have to study?This example uses the form படி to ask a question about necessity.Tatoeba #4157510 by Singaravelu, translation #261646 by CK
- நாளை முதல் நன்றாகப் படி.Nālai mudhal nanṟāgap padi.Study well from tomorrow.
Example conversation
Divya and Vijay are talking about their school work.
- திவ்யா Divyaவிஜய், நீ இன்னும் படிக்கவில்லையா?Vijay, nī innum paṭikkavillaiyā?Vijay, haven't you studied yet?
- விஜய் Vijayஇல்லை, நான் இப்பதான் படி.Illai, nāṉ ippatāṉ paṭi.No, I will study just now.
- திவ்யா Divyaசீக்கிரம் படி, தேர்வு நெருங்கிவிட்டது.Cīkkiram paṭi, tērvu neruṅkiviṭṭatu.Study quickly, the exam is near.
- விஜய் Vijayசரி திவ்யா, நான் படிக்கிறேன்.Sari Divyā, nāṉ paṭikkiṟēṉ.Okay Divya, I am studying.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry படி, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries படி, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
