Tamil numerals
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Numeral systems |
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Hindu–Arabic numeral system |
East Asian |
Alphabetic |
Former |
Positional systems by base |
Non-standard positional numeral systems |
List of numeral systems |

The Tamil language has number words and dedicated symbols for them in the Tamil script.
Basic numbering in Tamil
Zero
Old Tamil possesses a special numerical character for zero (see Old Tamil numerals below), which is read as Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (literally, no/nothing); yet Modern Tamil renounces the use of its native character and uses the Indian symbol '0' for Shunya meaning nothingness in Indic thought. Modern Tamil words for zero include சுழியம் (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) or பூஜ்ஜியம் (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.).
First ten numbers (முதல் எண்கள்)
Modern Tamil script |
Tamil numeral | Tamil word and transliteration |
---|---|---|
௦ | 0 | சுழியம் (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) Old Tamil: பாழ் (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.)[1] |
௧ | 1 | ஒன்று (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
௨ | 2 | இரண்டு (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
௩ | 3 | மூன்று (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
௪ | 4 | நான்கு (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
௫ | 5 | ஐந்து (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
௬ | 6 | ஆறு (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
௭ | 7 | ஏழு (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
௮ | 8 | எட்டு (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
௯ | 9 | ஒன்பது (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
௰ | 10 | பத்து (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
Transcribing other numbers
Reproductive and attributive prefixes
Tamil has a numeric prefix for each number from 1 to 9, which can be added to the words for the powers of ten (ten, hundred, thousand, etc.) to form multiples of them. For instance, the word for fifty, ஐம்பது (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) is a combination of ஐ (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., the prefix for five) and பத்து (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., which is ten). The prefix for nine changes with respect to the succeeding base 10. தொ + the unvoiced consonant of the succeeding base 10 forms the prefix for nine. For instance, 90 is தொ + ண் (ண் being the unvoiced version of ணூ), hence, தொண்ணூறு).
Tamil script | Tamil prefix | Transliteration |
---|---|---|
௧ | ஓர் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
௨ | ஈர் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
௩ | மூ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
௪ | நான் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
௫ | ஐ | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
௬ | ஆறு | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
௭ | ஏழ் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
௮ | எண் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
These are typically void in the Tamil language except for some Hindu references; for example, அட்ட இலட்சுமிகள் (the eight Lakshmis). Even in religious contexts, the Tamil language is usually more preferred for its more poetic nature and relatively low incidence of consonant clusters.
Specific characters
Unlike other Indian writing systems, Tamil has distinct digits for 10, 100, and 1000. It also has distinct characters for other number-based aspects of day-to-day life.
ten | hundred | thousand |
---|---|---|
௰ | ௱ | ௲ |
day | month | year | debit | credit | as above | rupee | numeral |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
௳ | ௴ | ௵ | ௶ | ௷ | ௸ | ௹ | ௺ |
Powers of ten (பதின்பெருக்கம்)
There are two numeral systems that can be used in the Tamil language: the Tamil system which is as follows[2][clarification needed]
The following are the traditional numbers of the Ancient Tamil Country, Script error: The function "transl" does not exist..[clarification needed]
Original Tamil system
Rank | 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 | 106 | 109 | 1012 | 1015 | 1018 | 1020 | 1021 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Words | பத்து | நூறு | ஆயிரம் | பத்தாயிரம் | நூறாயிரம் | மெய்யிரம் | தொள்ளுண் | ஈகியம் | நெளை | இளஞ்சி | வெள்ளம் | ஆம்பல் |
Character | ௰ | ௱ | ௲ | ௰௲ | ௱௲ | ௲௲ | ௲௲௲ | ௲௲௲௲ | ௲௲௲௲௲ | ௲௲௲௲௲௲ | ௱௲௲௲௲௲௲ | ௲௲௲௲௲௲௲ |
Transliteration | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
Translation | ten | hundred | thousand | ten thousand | hundred thousand | million | billion (milliard) | trillion (billion) | quadrillion (billiard) | quintillion (trillion) | hundred quintillion | sextillion (trilliard) |
Current Tamil system
Rank | 105 | 106 | 107 | 108 | 109 | 1011 | 1013 | 1015 | 1017 | 1019 | 1021 | 1025 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Words | இலட்சம் | பத்து இலட்சம் | கோடி | பத்துக் கோடி | அற்புதம் | நிகர்ப்புதம் | கர்வம் | சங்கம் | அர்த்தம் | பூரியம் | முக்கொடி | மாயுகம் |
Character | ௱௲ | ௲௲ | ௰௲௲ | ௱௲௲ | ௲௲௲ | ௱௲௲௲ | ௱௲௲௲௲ | ௲௲௲௲௲ | ௱௲௲௲௲௲ | ௰௲௲௲௲௲௲ | ௲௲௲௲௲௲௲ | ௰௲௲௲௲௲௲௲௲ |
Transliteration | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
Translation | lakh | ten lakh | crore | ten crore | arab | kharab | nil / hundred kharab | padma | shankh / hundred padma | hundred shankh | ten thousand shankh | ten crore shankh |
Partitive numerals (பகுத்தல்)
Fractions (பின்னம்)
Proposals to encode Tamil fractions and symbols to Unicode were submitted.[3][4] As of version 12.0, Tamil characters used for fractional values in traditional accounting practices were added to the Unicode Standard.
Transcribing fractions (பின்னம் எழுத்தல்)
Any fraction can be transcribed by affixing -இல் (-il) after the denominator followed by the numerator. For instance, 1/41 can be said as நாற்பத்து ஒன்றில் ஒன்று (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.).
The suffixing of the -இல் (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) requires the last consonant of the number to be changed to its இ (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) form. For example, மூன்று + இல் (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. + Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) becomes மூன்றில் (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.); note the உ (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) has been omitted.
Common fractions (பொது பின்னங்கள்) have names already allocated to them, hence, these names are often used rather than the above method.
Value | 1⁄4 | 1⁄2 | 3⁄4 | 1⁄5 | 1⁄8 | 1⁄10 | 1⁄16 | 1⁄20 | 1⁄40 | 1⁄80 | 1⁄160 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Symbol | |||||||||||
Name | கால் | அரை | முக்கால் | நாலுமா | அரைக்கால் | இருமா | மாகாணி, வீசம் | ஒருமா | அரைமா | காணி | அரைக்காணி |
Transliteration | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
Other fractions include:
Value | Name | Transliteration |
---|---|---|
3⁄16 = 0.1875 | மும்மாகாணி | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
3⁄20 = 0.15 | மும்மா | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
3⁄64 = 0.046875 | முக்கால்வீசம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
3⁄80 = 0.0375 | முக்காணி | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄32 = 0.03125 | அரைவீசம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄64 = 0.015625 | கால் வீசம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
3⁄320 = 0.009375 | முக்கால்காணி | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄320 = 0.003125 | முந்திரி | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
3⁄1280 = 0.00234375 | கீழ் முக்கால் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄640 = 0.0015625 | கீழரை | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄1280 = 7.8125×10−4 | கீழ் கால் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄1600 = 0.000625 | கீழ் நாலுமா | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
3⁄5120 ≈ 5.85938×10−4 | கீழ் மூன்று வீசம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
3⁄6400 = 4.6875×10−4 | கீழ் மும்மா | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄2500 = 0.0004 | கீழ் அரைக்கால் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄3200 = 3.12500×10−4 | கீழ் இருமா | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄5120 ≈ 1.95313×10−4 | கீழ் வீசம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄6400 = 1.56250×10−4 | கீழொருமா | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄102400 ≈ 9.76563×10−6 | கீழ்முந்திரி | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄2150400 ≈ 4.65030×10−7 | இம்மி | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄23654400 ≈ 4.22754×10−8 | மும்மி | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄165580800 ≈ 6.03935×10−9 | அணு | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.[1] |
1⁄1490227200 ≈ 6.71039×10−10 | குணம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄7451136000 ≈ 1.34208×10−10 | பந்தம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄44706816000 ≈ 2.23680×10−11 | பாகம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄312947712000 ≈ 3.19542×10−12 | விந்தம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄5320111104000 ≈ 1.87966×10−13 | நாகவிந்தம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄74481555456000 ≈ 1.34261×10−14 | சிந்தை | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄1489631109120000 ≈ 6.71307×10−16 | கதிர்முனை | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄59585244364800000 ≈ 1.67827×10−17 | குரல்வளைப்படி | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄3575114661888000000 ≈ 2.79711×10−19 | வெள்ளம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄357511466188800000000 ≈ 2.79711×10−21 | நுண்மணல் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
1⁄2323824530227200000000 ≈ 4.30325×10−22 | தேர்த்துகள் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
Decimals (பதின்மம்)
Decimal point is called புள்ளி (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) in Tamil. For example, 1.1 would be read as ஒன்று புள்ளி ஒன்று (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.). In Sri Lankan Tamil, Thasam தசம்.
Percentage (விழுக்காடு)
Percentage is known as விழுக்காடு (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) in Tamil or சதவீதம் (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.). These words are simply added after a number to form percentages. For instance, four percent is நான்கு சதவீதம் (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) or நான்கு விழுக்காடு (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.). Percentage symbol (%) is also recognised and used.
Ordinal numbers (வரிசை எண்கள்)
Ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix -ஆம் (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) after the number, except for 'First'.
Ordinal | Tamil | Transliteration |
---|---|---|
First | முதல் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
Second | இரண்டாம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
Third | மூன்றாம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
Fourth | நான்காம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
101st | நூற்று ஒறாம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
Collective numerals (கூட்டெண்கள்)
English | Tamil | Transliteration |
---|---|---|
Single | ஒற்றை | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
Pair | இரட்டை | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
Reproductives | ௺ + வினைச்சொல் | Numeric prefix + noun* |
Single (pillar), double (pillar)... | ஒருக்(கால்), இருக்(கால்)- | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.* |
Distributives | ௺ + முறை | Numeric prefix + Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
Once, twice... | ஒருமுறை, இருமுறை | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. |
- As always, when blending two words into one, an unvoiced form of the consonant as the one that the second starts with, is placed in between to blend.
Traditional Tamil counting song
This song is a list of each number with a concept its primarily associated with.
Tamil | Transliteration | English |
---|---|---|
ஒரு குலம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | One race |
ஈரினம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Two sexes – male (ஆண், Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), female (பெண், Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
முத்தமிழ் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Three sections of Tamil – literature (இயல், Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), music (இசை, Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), and drama (நாடகம், Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
நான்மறை | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Four scriptures |
ஐம்புலன் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Five senses |
அறுசுவை | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Six tastes – sweet (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), pungent (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), bitter (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), sour (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), salty (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), and astringent (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.). |
ஏழிசை | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Seven musical notes (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.) |
எண் பக்கம் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Eight directions – east (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), west (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), north (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), south (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), south-west (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), south-east (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), north-west (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), and north-east (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.). |
நவமணிகள் | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Nine gems – diamond (வைரம், Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), emerald (மரகதம், Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), blue sapphire (நீலம், Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), garnet (கோமேதகம், Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), red coral (பவளம், Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), ruby (மாணிக்கம், Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), pearl (முத்து, Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), topaz (புட்பராகம், Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), and cat's eye (வைடூரியம், Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.). |
தொன்மெய்ப்பாடு | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Also known as Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. as per the dance expressions. These are joyful (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), humour (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), cries (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), innocent (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), proud (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), fear (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), disgust (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), wonder (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), and tranquility (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.).[5] |
Influence on other dravidian languages
As the ancient classical language of the Dravidian languages, Tamil numerals influenced and shaped the numerals of the others in the family. The following table compares the main Dravidian languages.
Number | Tamil | Kannada | Malayalam | Tulu | Telugu | Kolami | Kurukh | Brahui | Proto-Dravidian |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | *oru(1) |
2 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | *iru(2) |
3 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | *muC |
4 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | *nān |
5 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 3 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | *cayN |
6 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 3 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | *caru |
7 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 3 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | *ēlu |
8 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 3 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | *eṭṭu |
9 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 3 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | *toḷ |
10 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. 3 | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (II) | *pat(tu) |
Also, Tamil through the Pallava script which itself through the Kawi script, Khmer script and other South-east Asian scripts has shaped the numeral grapheme of most South-east Asian languages.
History
Before the Government of India unveiled Template:Indian rupee as the new rupee symbol, people in Tamil Nadu used the Tamil letter ௹ as the symbol. This symbol continues to be used occasionally as rupee symbol by Indian Tamils. It is also used by Tamils in Sri Lanka.
The symbol ௳ is also known as the Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (lit. Curl of Script error: The function "transl" does not exist.), a symbol that most Tamil Hindus will start off any auspicious document with. It is written to invoke the god Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., known otherwise as Ganesha, who is the remover of obstacles.
See also
- Tamil script
- Tamil units of measurement
References
- ↑ N. Subrahmanian (1996). Śaṅgam polity: the administration and social life of the Śaṅgam Tamils (3 ed.). Ennes Publications. pp. 235, 416. https://books.google.com/books?id=YMJGAAAAMAAJ&q=%22pal%22+zero. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ↑ Selvakumar, V. (2016). History of Numbers and Fractions and Arithmetic Calculations in the Tamil Region: Some Observations. HuSS: International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(1), 27-35. https://doi.org/10.15613/HIJRH/2016/V3I1/111730
- ↑ Sharma, Shriramana. (2012). Proposal to encode Tamil fractions and symbols. Retrieved 12 March 2019 from https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2012/12231-tamil-fractions-symbols-proposal.pdf
- ↑ Government of Tamil Nadu. (2017). Finalized proposal to encode Tamil fractions and symbols. Retrieved 12 March 2019 from http://unicode.org/wg2/docs/n4822-tamil-frac.pdf
- ↑ Literary theories in Tamil: with special reference to Tolka:ppiyam. Pondicherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture. 1997. pp. 135.
![]() | Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil numerals.
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