கவனமாக இருங்கள்
kavanamaaga irungal
In Tamil, the phrase for "take care" is கவனமாக இருங்கள் (kavanamaaga irungal).
The phrase கவனமாக இருங்கள் is used as a way to say good-bye. Other ways to express similar well-wishes include ஆரோக்கியமா இரு to mean "be healthy" or "stay healthy", and நலமாக இருக்க to mean "be well" or "stay well".
Meaning: good-bye (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase கவனமாக இருங்கள் is literally composed of கவனமாக, meaning "carefully" and இருங்கள், meaning "be" or "stay".
Which one should you use?
While கவனமாக இருங்கள் literally means "be careful", it is used in the context of a parting wish like "take care".
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite form இருங்கள் changes to the informal இரு when speaking to friends or younger people, resulting in கவனமாக இரு.
How do you pronounce it?
kavanamaaga irungal
Did you know?
- In some regions, a parting wish for well-being is paired with the phrase போயிட்டு வாங்க, which literally means 'go and come back', suggesting that a goodbye is only temporary.
- While கவனமாக இருங்கள் functions as a parting wish, its literal meaning 'be careful' can sound like a warning if said with a stern tone. In certain contexts, it might imply that the person is in immediate physical danger rather than just a polite farewell.
- The word கவனமாக (kavanamaaga) is derived from the noun கவனம் (kavanam), which can also mean 'attention' or 'focus' in a classroom or professional setting. This means you are essentially asking someone to 'stay in a state of attention'.
Examples in context
- போய் வருகிறேன், கவனமாக இருங்கள்.pōy varukiṟēṉ, kavaṉamāka iruṅkaḷ.I'm leaving now, take care.
- வீட்டிற்கு செல்லும்போது கவனமாக இருங்கள்.vīṭṭiṟku cellumpōtu kavaṉamāka iruṅkaḷ.Take care when going home.
Example conversation
Kavitha and Arun are saying goodbye after a meeting.
- கவிதா Kavithaஅருண், இன்று சந்தித்ததில் மகிழ்ச்சி.Aruṇ, iṉṟu santittatil makiḻcci.Arun, it was nice meeting you today.
- அருண் Arunஎனக்கும் தான், கவிதா.Eṉakkum tāṉ, Kavitā.Me too, Kavitha.
- கவிதா Kavithaசரி, கவனமாக இருங்கள்.Cari, kavaṉamāka iruṅkaḷ.Okay, take care.
- அருண் Arunநன்றி, நீங்களும் கவனமாக இருங்கள்.Naṉṟi, nīṅkaḷum kavaṉamāka iruṅkaḷ.Thank you, you take care too.
