மிகவும் நல்லது
migavum nallathu/mɪɡɐʋʊm nɐllɐd̪ɯ/word by word
The English phrase "very nice" is translated into Tamil as மிகவும் நல்லது (migavum nallathu).
The phrase is used to describe something that is of high quality or very pleasing. In casual spoken Tamil, people often use ரொம்ப நல்லது to express this meaning instead of the more formal மிகவும் நல்லது.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of migavum (very) and nallathu (good/nice).
Which one should you use?
In everyday spoken conversation, the colloquial ரொம்ப நல்லது is much more common. For an even more informal, slang-influenced option, Tamil youth may use சூப்பரான to mean "super nice."
How does it change in a sentence?
In more formal or written contexts, you can replace மிகவும் நல்லது with மிகவும் நன்று to express the same meaning of "very good/nice".
How do you pronounce it?
migavum nallathu (/mɪɡɐʋʊm nɐllɐd̪ɯ/)
Did you know?
- In Tamil culture, saying something is 'very nice' about a person's child or possession can sometimes be seen as an invitation for the 'evil eye', leading some to add a protective gesture.
- In Tamil, the distinction between 'good' and 'nice' is often blurred, as the word நல்ல (nalla) covers a wide spectrum of positive attributes from morality to aesthetic beauty.
- The word நல்லது (nallathu) shares the same root as the Malayalam word നല്ലത് (nallatŭ), making it a cognate in the Dravidian language family.
Examples in context
- உங்கள் வீடு மிகவும் அழகாக உள்ளது. (Uṅkaḷ vīṭu mikavum azhagāka uḷḷadhu)Your house is very beautiful.
- உங்கள் பாடல் மிகவும் நல்லது.ungal paadal migavum nallathu.Your song is very nice.
- இந்த உணவு மிகவும் நல்லது.intha unavu migavum nallathu.This food is very nice.
Example conversation
Priya and Karthik are discussing a new painting.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஇந்த ஓவியம் எப்படி இருக்கிறது?intha oviyam eppadi irukkirathu?How is this painting?
- பிரியா Priyaஇது மிகவும் நல்லது.ithu migavum nallathu.It is very nice.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஉங்களுக்குப் பிடித்திருக்கிறதா?ungalukku pidithirukkirathaa?Do you like it?
- பிரியா Priyaஆம், எனக்கு மிகவும் பிடித்திருக்கிறது.aam, enakku migavum pidithirukkirathu.Yes, I like it very much.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (மிகவும், நல்லது) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries நல்லது, மிகவும், CC BY-SA 4.0.
