எடு
eṭu/ɛɖɯ/
The Tamil word for 'take' is எடு (eṭu).
The verb எடு is used to describe the action of reaching out and grasping something in order to move it from one place to another.
Which one should you use?
While எடு is the standard form, the compound form எடுத்துகொள் is specifically used to express the sense of 'to take' in the context of accepting or receiving something.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes depending on the tense and person. To express the past tense 'I took', use எடுத்தேன். For the future tense 'I will take', use எடுப்பேன். When referring to a third-person context in a polite or formal manner, the verb changes to எடுப்பார்.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ɛɖɯ/ (eṭu).
Did you know?
- The word எடு is cognate with the Malayalam word എടുക്കുക (eṭukkuka), demonstrating the close linguistic relationship between these two Dravidian languages.
- Tamil verbs like எடு follow a complex system of 'diglossia', where the written form used in literature is often significantly different from the spoken form used in daily life.
- The word எடு is used in various Tamil idioms to mean 'to start' or 'to begin' a task, moving far beyond its literal meaning of grasping an object.
Examples in context
- எடு.Take.This example shows how to use the command form எடு.Tatoeba #13909777 by kaalzuhair, translation #13510583 by jan_Lupelo
- அந்தப் புத்தகத்தை எடு.anta pút-thuk-thai edu.Take that book.
- தயவுசெய்து அந்தப் பையை எடு.thayavu-sey-thu anta pai-yai edu.Please take that bag.
Example conversation
Kavitha is asking Santhosh to help her with a bag.
- கவிதா Kavithaசந்தோஷ், அந்தப் பையை எடு.Santhosh, antap paiyai edu.Santhosh, take that bag.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshசரி, இதோ எடுத்துவிட்டேன்.Sari, ithō eduttuvittén.Okay, I have taken it.
- கவிதா Kavithaஇப்போது அதை இங்கே எடு.Ippōhu athai ingé edu.Now take it over here.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshநிச்சயமாக, கவிதா.Nichayamāga, Kavitha.Sure, Kavitha.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry எடு, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries எடு, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
