நாங்கள்
nāṅkaḷ/nɑːŋɡɐɭ/
The English word 'we' is translated into Tamil as நாங்கள் (nāṅkaḷ).
The word நாங்கள் is used to refer to a group of people that includes the speaker and at least one other person, but specifically excludes the person being spoken to.
Meaning: generic we (the speaker and at least one other person, regardless of whether it's the person being addressed) (pron)
Which one should you use?
Tamil makes a distinction between an exclusive 'we' and an inclusive 'we'. Use நாங்கள் when you are referring to a group that does not include the listener (exclusive). To include the listener in the group, you would use a different form, நாம் (inclusive).
How does it change in a sentence?
நாங்கள் is a first-person plural pronoun. When using it in a sentence, you must ensure the verb is also conjugated in the first-person plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is nāṅkaḷ and the IPA is /nɑːŋɡɐɭ/.
Did you know?
- In certain grammatical cases, the pronoun நாங்கள் changes its form entirely because it is derived from an ancient, different word யாங்கள்.
- While English often uses 'we' as a 'royal we' for a single person, Tamil uses specific honorific structures instead of just the plural pronoun.
- The plural marker -கள் used in நாங்கள் is the exact same suffix used to make almost any common noun plural in Tamil.
Examples in context
- நாங்கள் திருடனுக்குப் பின்னால் ஓடினோம்We ran after the thief.This sentence shows the use of நாங்கள் when describing an action following a thief.Tatoeba #4267962 by Singaravelu, translation #263161 by CK
- நாங்கள் நடக்க ஆரம்பித்தோம்We started to walk.This sentence demonstrates using நாங்கள் to describe the start of a walking motion.Tatoeba #4157560 by Singaravelu, translation #263273 by CK
- அத்திரைப்படத்தைப் பார்த்தபோது நாங்கள் அனைவரும் அழுதோம்.We all cried when we watched the movie.This sentence illustrates how நாங்கள் is used when describing a collective reaction to a movie.Tatoeba #3425784 by tamiliam, translation #3424496 by Hybrid
Example conversation
Vijay and Divya are talking about their travel plans.
- விஜய் Vijayநாங்கள் நாளைக்கு சென்னைக்குக் கிளம்புகிறோம்.Nāngal nāḷaikku Chennai-kku kiḷambukiṟōm.We are leaving for Chennai tomorrow.
- திவ்யா Divyaநீங்கள் எங்கே தங்கப் போகிறீர்கள்?Nīṅgaḷ eṅgē taṅga pōkiṟīrgaḷ?Where are you going to stay?
- விஜய் Vijayநாங்கள் ஒரு ஹோட்டலில் தங்கப் போகிறோம்.Nāngal oru hotel-il taṅga pōkiṟōm.We are going to stay in a hotel.
- திவ்யா Divyaமிகவும் நல்லது, விஜய்.Mikavum nallatu, Vijay.That is very good, Vijay.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry நாங்கள், CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries நாங்கள், CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
