Language is ever-changing, and Tamil is no exception. With the influence of films and popular culture, a fresh set of words gets added every season to the vocabulary of Chennai’s youngsters. MetroPlus tries to explain ten such cool words that have seeped into everyday life in recent times…
RJs Shyam (Shyam Renganathan) and Syed (Syed Mohsin) present to you a dummy's guide to Chennai Tamil:
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And here is how these words have found a way in Tamil cinema:
The latest Tamil word to catch the fancy of the youth, perhaps because two leading stars (Ajith and Vijay) have referenced it in their films. The stress on the ‘th’, made possible when the tongue is sandwiched between your teeth, usually means that the subject was exceedingly good. Usage : How was the film? Theri! ; Do you think we will win the match? Therika-viduvom.
A word under some controversy due to a recent Tamil film title, ‘gethu’ usually refers to a person’s looks and the stylish way with which he carries himself. It is sometimes also an indication of a person’s standing in a group. We hope you ‘gethu’-it. Usage: Sriram has a ‘thani gethu’ in the office; Vaibhav looked gethu in that blue kurta he wore today
A large body of matter with no definite shape is the meaning of this word without the ‘u’, but once that’s added, it’s Tamilised and means ‘wow’. Also used in another context; that a certain event/thing will be done to the best of someone’s ability. Usage: Andha padam pucca mass-u; Nalaiku cricket match la mass-u katrom…
Machan and mams are so 2000 and we’re in 2016. But, ‘bro’ is here, and here to stay. Currently the most popular way of calling a friend or acquaintance, it is a sure-shot way to get close to them even if you’ve just met. Usage: Bro, endha college neenga?; Vaanga bro, oru coffee adikalama?
A slightly formal way of addressing, ji (or sometimes, boss) is used to call out to a person senior or older to you, out of respect. Works best in an office environment when you want to call someone, but you’re not sure who they are. Also works at supermarkets or your friendly neighbourhood store when you need assistance. Usage: Ji, oru rendu nimisham pesalama? Busy ah?; Ji, namba kadaila chips iruka?
Users of the English language beware — for here’s one way to ‘Tamilise’ any word… by just adding a ‘u’ to it. Worst becomes ‘worshtu’ in Chennai lingo; and the correct way (rather the popular way) to pronounce it is with your mouth in a circle, with both the ‘w’ and ‘r’ being silent. Rather tough? You’re worsthu, we say. A synonym for this word in Chennai lingo would be ‘attu’, which is said to be derived from the Burmese word for duplicate. Usage: Andha kadaila tea romba worshtu; Maha worshtu fellow avan
What do friends do when they get together on a Sunday evening at Besant Nagar beach? Well, they “kalaichufy” each other. Made popular by comedian Santhanam, this word, when used in a questioning tone, can also mean “are you kidding me”. I avoid going to get-togethers. Friends romba kalaipaanga…; Rs. 100 for a battery? Enna kalaaikareengala?
If you’re from North Madras, then this word might be quite familiar. Used prominently in a popular song in Vikram’s I, mersal or mersalayitten, is usually used when you’re blown away by something. Usage: Andha edam evlo azhaga iruku…. Mersalayitten da… ; Semma offer potrukan da… Paathu mersalayitten
For people coming to Chennai from North India, this word evokes laughter. It might mean kiss there, but in Chennai lingo, it refers to being carefree. If you are sitting “chuma” or “vetti” in Chennai, it means that you’re idle. Usage: Sunday full day chuma daan irundhen ; Dai kochikadha. Chuma vilayadinen
The usage of this word depends on the context of the sentence, as in most phrases in Chennai lingo. If someone says a ‘mokkai joke’, he is cracking a PJ and if he’s talking something that goes over your head, he’s ‘putting mokkai’. To sum it up, anything that reduces your interest levels can be termed ‘mokkai’. Usage: Avan neraya mokkai joke adipaan ; Antha padam semma mokkai saar