நாளை
nāḷai/nɑːɭɐɪ̯/
The English word "tomorrow" is translated into Tamil as நாளை (nāḷai).
நாளை is used to refer to the day after the present day. When you need to use the word as an adjective to describe something belonging to tomorrow, such as "tomorrow's newspaper", you use the form நாளைய.
Meaning: on the day after the present day (adv)
Which one should you use?
நாளை is the standard form for the noun or adverb. நாளைய is the adjective form used to mean "tomorrow's". In colloquial spoken Tamil, the form நாளைக்கு is frequently used to function as a time marker when modifying a verb.
How does it change in a sentence?
In spoken Tamil, it is common to add the suffix -க்கு (-ku) to the word, resulting in நாளைக்கு. This construction functions as an adverbial or time marker, essentially meaning "to tomorrow" or "for tomorrow" and is the standard way to express "tomorrow" when it modifies a verb in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
/nɑːɭɐɪ̯/
Did you know?
- In Tamil culture, நாளைக்கு is sometimes used vaguely to mean 'some time in the future' rather than strictly the next calendar day.
- The Tamil word நாளை shares a common ancient ancestor with the word for 'tomorrow' in Kannada, Malayalam and Kurux.
- The word நாளை is built upon the root நாள், which simply means 'day'.
Examples in context
- நான் நாளைக்கு வரேன்.I will come back tomorrow.This sentence is useful for learning how to use நாளை as a time marker in a sentence.Tatoeba #10720859 by DriedGrapes31, translation #10720860 by DriedGrapes31
- நாளை எப்படி இருக்கும்?How will tomorrow be?
- நாளை மழை பெய்யும்.nāḷai mazhai peyyum.It will rain tomorrow.
- நாளை வேலை விடுமுறை.nāḷai vēlai viṭumuṟi.Tomorrow is a holiday.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a project deadline.
- கவிதா Kavithaகார்த்திக், இந்த வேலை எப்போது முடியும்?Kārttik, indha vēlai eppōdhu mudiyum?Karthik, when will this work be finished?
- கார்த்திக் Karthikநான் நாளை முடித்துவிடுவேன்.Nān nāḷai mudithuviḍuvēn.I will finish it tomorrow.
- கவிதா Kavithaநிச்சயமாக நாளை முடிப்பாயா?Nicchayamāga nāḷai mudippāyā?Will you definitely finish it tomorrow?
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஆம், கவிதா, நாளை கொடுத்துவிடுவேன்.Ām, Kavithā, nāḷai koḍuthuviḍuvēn.Yes, Kavitha, I will give it tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tomorrow” translations and entries நாளை, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries நாளை, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
