Which one should you use?
While சொல் is the base form, other variations are used depending on the grammatical context and the person being addressed. For example, சொல்லு is used as an informal command, whereas சொல்லுங்கள் serves as a polite imperative. The form சொன்னேன் specifically indicates the first-person past tense 'I told', and சொல்லி is a participle used to mean 'having told' or 'after telling' to connect a sequence of actions.
How does it change in a sentence?
Tamil uses different forms to indicate tense and mood. சொன்னேன் is used to say 'I told' in the first-person past tense. For actions in sequence, the participle சொல்லி is used to mean 'having told'. For commands, use the imperative forms like சொல்லு or சொல்லுங்கள்.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /tʃol/ (col).
Did you know?
- When a Tamil speaker says சொல்லு, it can function as a greeting similar to 'What is it?' or 'Tell me' when answering a phone call or a knock at the door.
- The Tamil word சொல் functions as both a verb meaning 'to tell' and a noun meaning 'word'. This makes it a linguistic mirror to the English 'word', as in 'I give you my word'.
- In many Tamil households, the phrase சொல்லு is used as a conversational filler similar to 'yes?' or 'go on' to encourage the speaker to keep talking.
Examples in context
- நான் அவளிடம் இதை பற்றி சொல்லலாமா?Can I tell her about this?This sentence shows how to use சொல் to ask permission to tell someone something.Tatoeba #10722099 by DriedGrapes31, translation #3908943 by CH
- நீ காவலன் என்பதை டாமிடம் சொல்லாதே.Don't tell Tom you're a cop.This sentence uses சொல் to give a negative command not to tell someone something.Tatoeba #9808077 by Sathishkumar, translation #2288998 by CK
- நான் என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும் என்று சொல்Tell me what to do.This sentence uses சொல் to give a direct command to tell someone what to do.Tatoeba #4157557 by Singaravelu, translation #24758 by CK
- தயவுசெய்து எனக்கு சொல்லுங்கள்Please tell me
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Karthik and Priya are discussing a secret at home.
- பிரியா Priyaகார்த்திக், உண்மையை என்னிடம் சொல்.Karthik, unmaiyai ennidam sol.Karthik, tell me the truth.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikநான் இப்போது சொல்ல முடியாது.Naan ippodhu solla mudiyadhu.I cannot tell you now.
- பிரியா Priyaதயவுசெய்து எனக்கு சொல்.Thayavuseydhu enakku sol.Please tell me.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikசரி, நான் உனக்கு சொல்கிறேன்.Sari, naan unakku solgirain.Okay, I will tell you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry சொல், CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
