ஞாயிறு
ñāyiṟu/ɲɑːjɪrɯ/
In Tamil, Sunday is expressed as ஞாயிறு (ñāyiṟu) or ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை.
Meaning: day of the week (noun)
Ways to say it
| Tamil | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ஞாயிறு | ñāyiṟu | /ɲɑːjɪrɯ/ |
| ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை | ñāyiṟṟukkiḻamai | /ɲɑːjɪrːʊkːɪɻɐmɐɪ̯/ |
The word ஞாயிறு refers to both the sun and the day of the week, Sunday. Its meaning is usually clear from the context of the sentence.
What does it mean word for word?
The form ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை is a combination of the word for sun and the suffix கிழமை, which means day of the week.
Which one should you use?
While ஞாயிறு can mean both 'sun' and 'Sunday', the form ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை is used specifically to denote Sunday as a day of the week.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை is constructed by adding the suffix கிழமை (denoting a day of the week) to the base word.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ñāyiṟu.
Did you know?
- The letter ஞ at the start of ஞாயிறு represents a unique sound in Tamil that is often difficult for English speakers to pronounce, as it is a palatal nasal.
- The term ஞாயிறு is related to the Prakrit word ṇesara, suggesting an ancient interaction between Dravidian and Indo-Aryan language families.
- In Tamil culture, the naming of the days of the week follows a planetary system where each day is governed by a celestial body, making ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை literally the 'Sun's day'.
Examples in context
- இந்த ஞாயிறு விடுமுறை.intā ñāyiru viṭumurai.This Sunday is a holiday.
- ஞாயிறு ஒரு புனித நாள்.ñāyiru oru punita nāḷ.Sunday is a holy day.
Example conversation
Vijay and Anita are planning a meeting.
- அனிதா Anitaவிஜய், நாம் எப்போது சந்திப்போம்?vijay, nām eppōdu sandippōm?Vijay, when shall we meet?
- விஜய் Vijayஞாயிறு உங்களுக்கு வசதியாக இருக்குமா?ñāyiru uṅgaḷukku vasatiyāga irukkumā?Would Sunday be convenient for you?
- அனிதா Anitaஆம், ஞாயிறு சரி.ām, ñāyiru sari.Yes, Sunday is fine.
- விஜய் Vijayசரி, அப்போது பார்க்கலாம்.sari, appōdu pārkkaḷām.Okay, see you then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “Sunday” translations and entries ஞாயிறு, ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ஞாயிறு, ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை, CC BY-SA 4.0.
