Tanglish to English Translation
தங்கிலீஷிலிருந்து ஆங்கிலத்துக்கு
Type Tamil in English letters and read what it means. Your Tanglish becomes Tamil script, you fix any unsure word, and the English meaning appears. Nothing is sent anywhere unless you choose Google.
Machine translation by your browser, on your device. It can take Tamil idioms word for word, so check anything important.
Translate on this device
Your browser can translate Tamil to English without sending your text anywhere. The first time, it downloads a language pack. After that it works offline.
Downloading the Tamil to English language pack
One time only. You can keep fixing the Tamil while it downloads.
The translation could not finish.
Open the Tamil in Google Translate (opens a new tab)Opens translate.google.com and sends your Tamil text to Google.
Phrasebook1105 checked phrases, looked up on your device
Everyday phrases get their English meaning here, in written or spoken Tamil.
Try
Full sentences translate on the device in Chrome 138 or later on a computer, not in this browser.This browser cannot translate Tamil to English on the device.
Translate online with Google (opens a new tab)Opens translate.google.com and sends your Tamil text to Google.
Trysaappitteengalaa?சாப்பிட்டீங்களா?Have you eaten?
How it works
Three Stages You Can See and Check
Tanglish
Type the way you text, in English letters. Spelling does not need to be perfect:
nanriandnandriboth work.Tamil Script
Our engine writes it in Tamil, on your device. Words it is unsure of get a dotted underline. Tap one, or press Check, to pick the right spelling.
English
The Tamil you checked is translated. Chrome on a computer translates any sentence on the device; elsewhere our phrasebook answers everyday phrases and says plainly when it has no match.
Examples
Everyday Tanglish, Translated
Every row is checked against our engine and phrasebook: this is exactly what the tool shows on any phone. Press Try to load one.
| You type | Tamil script | English | Load in the tool |
|---|---|---|---|
vanakkam, eppadi irukkeenga? | வணக்கம், எப்படி இருக்கீங்க? | Hello, how are you? | |
saappitteengalaa? | சாப்பிட்டீங்களா? | Have you eaten?A warm greeting, much like “how are you”. Not an invitation. | |
naan nallaa irukken | நான் நல்லா இருக்கேன் | I am fine | |
romba nanri | ரொம்ப நன்றி | Thank you very much | |
naalaikku paarkkalaam | நாளைக்கு பார்க்கலாம் | See you tomorrowWord for word: “we can see tomorrow”. | |
enakku pasikkuthu | எனக்கு பசிக்குது | I am hungryWord for word: “to me, it is hungering”. | |
ithu enna vilai? | இது என்ன விலை? | How much is this? | |
konjam methuvaa pesunga | கொஞ்சம் மெதுவா பேசுங்க | Please speak slowly | |
ithukku enna arththam? | இதுக்கு என்ன அர்த்தம்? | What does this mean? | |
seekkiram vaanga | சீக்கிரம் வாங்க | Come quickly |
Why stage two matters
One Wrong Letter, One Tap to Fix
Type naan veetukku poren (“I am going home”). The engine writes நான் வீடுக்கு போறேன், with வீடுக்கு underlined: from veetukku alone it cannot tell that the ட is doubled.
Tap the word and pick வீட்டுக்கு, the second choice. The Tamil becomes நான் வீட்டுக்கு போறேன், and the tool remembers your choice next time. Typing veettukku, with a double t, gets it right first time.
This sentence is not in the phrasebook, so on a phone the tool says so instead of guessing, and offers Google Translate. In Chrome on a computer it is translated on your device.
Your device
What Works Where
| Browser | Tanglish to Tamil | Tamil to English |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome 138 or later on a desktop or laptop computer | On your device | Any sentence, on your device, after a one-time language pack download |
| Chrome on Android or iPhone, Safari, Firefox and other browsers | On your device | Everyday phrases from our phrasebook, on your device. Anything else: the optional Google Translate link |
Source for Chrome support: Chrome Translator API documentation, which lists Tamil among its languages and says the API does not work on mobile devices. If another browser offers the same on-device translator, the tool uses it automatically.
Questions People Ask
How do I translate Tanglish to English?
Type or paste your Tanglish in the first box, for example enakku pasikkuthu. The Tamil script appears in the second box (எனக்கு பசிக்குது). Tap any underlined word to fix it. The English meaning appears in the third box: “I am hungry”.
Why does it go through Tamil script first?
Tanglish has no fixed spelling. n can be ந, ண or ன, and l can be ல, ள or ழ, so the same letters can spell different words. Turning it into Tamil script shows you exactly which words the translator will read, and lets you fix a wrong guess before it changes the meaning. Translators also read Tamil script far better than English letters.
Does it work on my phone?
Partly. Converting Tanglish to Tamil script works in every browser. Full sentence translation runs on your device only in Chrome 138 or later on a computer; Google’s documentation says it does not work on mobile devices. On a phone, the English comes from our checked phrasebook, and you can open the Tamil in Google Translate for anything else.
What does “Closest phrase” mean?
The phrasebook found a phrase that is similar to your words but not the same. It always shows the Tamil phrase it matched, so you can see the difference before you trust the English. An exact match is shown as the answer without that label.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No, unless you choose to. The Tamil conversion, the phrasebook and Chrome’s on-device translator all run in your browser. Translate online with Google opens translate.google.com with your Tamil text, so Google receives it. Use that link only for text you are happy to share.
Can I type English words in my Tanglish?
Yes. Everyday English words come out the way Tamil writes them: naan office poren becomes நான் ஆபீஸ் போறேன். If one comes out oddly, tap it and choose the last option to keep it in English letters. Review the middle stage before relying on the English meaning.
I only want Tamil script, not English.
Use Tanglish to Tamil. It converts whole messages, has a line-by-line view and lets you copy or download the Tamil. The separate page is better suited to preparing a message that you already know how to say in Tamil. You do not need a translation step when changing the alphabet is the whole task.
Why does a long Tanglish message show only a suggested phrase?
The phrasebook is a collection of checked examples, not a translator for every sentence. When full translation is unavailable, it can show a nearby phrase rather than the meaning of your whole message. Compare the displayed Tamil match with your text, or use the optional Google link after correcting the Tamil stage.
Which copy button gives me the English meaning?
Use the copy button beside the English result, rather than the one beside the Tamil stage. They copy different text. Before sharing, check whether the English panel contains an actual translation or a labelled closest phrase. A nearby phrase is a reference example and may omit details in your original message.
How do I fix a wrong English meaning caused by Tanglish spelling?
Correct the Tamil word in the middle stage first. Tap it and choose the spelling you intended, then let the English result update. Editing the original Tanglish is another option. A spelling correction can change the meaning, so compare the full sentence again rather than assuming the first English answer remains valid.