இது என்ன?
idhu enna?/ɪd̪ɯ ɛnːɐ/word by word
The English phrase "what is this?" is translated into Tamil as இது என்ன? (idhu enna?)
இது என்ன? is a question used to ask for the identity or name of an object.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of இது (idhu), which means "this" and என்ன (enna), which means "what".
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is idhu enna? and the IPA is /ɪd̪ɯ ɛnːɐ/.
Did you know?
- Asking இது என்ன? (idhu enna?) about a person is considered an insult in Tamil culture because it treats a human as an inanimate object.
- In spoken Tamil, என்ன (enna) is often used as an exclamation of shock or disbelief, functioning like 'What on earth!' rather than a request for information.
- Tamil uses a system of 'proximal' markers, where the first letter இ (i) in இது (idhu) specifically signals that the object is physically close to the speaker.
Examples in context
- இது என்ன?idhu enna?What is this?
- அன்பு, இது என்ன?anbu, idhu enna?Anbu, what is this?
Example conversation
Divya finds an unknown object on the table.
- திவ்யா Divyaசந்தோஷ், இது என்ன?Santhosh, idhu enna?Santhosh, what is this?
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஅது ஒரு பழைய நாணயம்.Adhu oru pazhaiya naanayam.That is an old coin.
- திவ்யா Divyaஇது எங்கே கிடைத்தது?Idhu engae kidaiyathadhu?Where was this found?
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshநான் அதை தோட்டத்தில் கண்டெடுத்தேன்.Naan adhai thottathil kandeduthen.I found it in the garden.
