The word on may seem simple at first glance, but translating it into Tamil requires understanding its different meanings and contexts. Depending on how on is used in a sentence, its Tamil equivalent can change significantly. On can function as a preposition, an adverb, or even part of a phrasal verb. When translated correctly, it helps preserve the clarity and intention of the original English sentence. Understanding how to translate on in Tamil accurately is important for learners, translators, and anyone interested in mastering both languages.
Basic Translation of On in Tamil
The most common Tamil translation of on isà®®à¯à®²à¯ (mÄl). This word is used when on expresses physical position or surface contact.
Examples:
- The book is on the table.
பà¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®à®®à¯ à®®à¯à®à¯à®¯à®¿à®©à¯ à®®à¯à®²à¯ à®à®³à¯à®³à®¤à¯. - He sat on the chair.
஠வன௠நாறà¯à®à®¾à®²à®¿à®¯à®¿à®©à¯ à®®à¯à®²à¯ ஠மரà¯à®¨à¯à®¤à®¾à®©à¯.
In both cases, on is translated as à®®à¯à®²à¯ because it refers to something placed or situated above a surface.
Different Contexts Where On Is Used
To translate on properly, it is important to look at the context. The meaning of on can vary based on how it’s used in a sentence. Let’s look at several uses with their Tamil equivalents.
1. Time Expressions
When on is used to refer to specific days or dates, it can often be translated asநாள௠(nÄḷ)or simply omitted if the meaning is understood from context.
- He will come on Monday.
஠வன௠திà®à¯à®à®à¯à®à®¿à®´à®®à¯ வரà¯à®®à¯. - The meeting is on January 1st.
à®à®¨à¯à®¤à®¿à®ªà¯à®ªà¯ à®à®©à®µà®°à®¿ 1 à®à®®à¯ தà¯à®¤à®¿ à®à®³à¯à®³à®¤à¯.
In many Tamil sentences, the word on does not need a direct translation, as the day or date itself makes the meaning clear.
2. Devices and Machines
On is also used when referring to the operation of devices, such as turn on the light. In Tamil, this is usually translated with a verb that expresses switching or activating.
- Turn on the fan.
பà®à¯à®à®¾ à®à®©à¯ à®à¯à®¯à¯à®¯à®µà¯à®®à¯ / பà®à¯à®à®¾à®µà¯ à®à®´à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à¯ à®à®¯à®à¯à®à®µà¯à®®à¯. - The TV is on.
தà¯à®²à¯à®à¯à®à®¾à®à¯à®à®¿ à®à®¯à®à¯à®à®¤à¯à®¤à®¿à®²à¯ à®à®³à¯à®³à®¤à¯.
Here, on is translated based on the verb associated with activating something.
3. About a Topic
When on refers to the subject of a conversation or topic, it is usually translated asபறà¯à®±à®¿ (paá¹á¹i).
- He gave a lecture on climate change.
஠வன௠à®à®¾à®²à®¨à®¿à®²à¯ மாறà¯à®±à®®à¯ பறà¯à®±à®¿ à®à¯à®©à¯à®©à®¾à®©à¯. - The book is on history.
à®à®¨à¯à®¤à®ªà¯ பà¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®à®®à¯ வரலாற௠பறà¯à®±à®¿ à®à®°à¯à®à¯à®à®¿à®±à®¤à¯.
In these cases, on means about, and the appropriate Tamil translation is பறà¯à®±à®¿.
4. Responsibility or Burden
On can also indicate responsibility or pressure. In Tamil, this often becomesà®®à¯à®²à¯, sometimes used metaphorically.
- The decision is on you.
தà¯à®°à¯à®®à®¾à®©à®®à¯ à®à®©à¯ à®®à¯à®²à¯ à®à®°à¯à®à¯à®à®¿à®±à®¤à¯. - It’s a big task on his shoulders.
஠வனத௠தà¯à®³à¯à®à®³à®¿à®²à¯ பà¯à®°à®¿à®¯ பணி à®à®³à¯à®³à®¤à¯.
This kind of usage retains the word à®®à¯à®²à¯ but carries a deeper, figurative meaning rather than physical location.
5. Continuation or Status
Sometimes on expresses an ongoing action, as in keep on trying. In Tamil, this is translated with continuity verbs or participles.
- Keep on working.
வà¯à®²à¯ à®à¯à®¯à¯à®¤à¯ à®à¯à®£à¯à®à®¿à®°à¯. - She went on talking.
஠வள௠பà¯à®à®¿à®à¯à®à¯à®£à¯à®à¯ à®à®°à¯à®¨à¯à®¤à®¾à®³à¯.
Here, on is not translated as a separate word, but the sense of continuation is captured in the verb form.
Phrasal Verbs with On and Their Tamil Equivalents
English uses many phrasal verbs with on, such as move on, go on, or carry on. These cannot be translated word for word but must be translated as a unit with context in mind.
- Move on – தà¯à®à®°à®µà¯à®®à¯
Let’s move on to the next topic.
à® à®à¯à®¤à¯à®¤ தலà¯à®ªà¯à®ªà¯à®à¯à®à¯ à®à¯à®²à¯à®²à®²à®¾à®®à¯. - Go on – தà¯à®à®°à®µà¯à®®à¯ / நà®à®¨à¯à®¤à¯à®à¯à®£à¯à®à¯ à®à®°à¯
Please go on with your story.
தயவà¯à®à¯à®¯à¯à®¤à¯ à®à®à¯à®à®³à¯ à®à®¤à¯à®¯à¯ தà¯à®à®°à®µà¯à®®à¯. - Carry on – à®à¯à®¯à®²à¯à®ªà®à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à¯ / தà¯à®à®°à®µà¯à®®à¯
Carry on with the work.
வà¯à®²à¯à®¯à¯ தà¯à®à®°à®µà¯à®®à¯.
These examples show that phrasal verbs with on require thoughtful translation, not just literal word-for-word rendering.
Using On in Idiomatic Expressions
There are many idioms in English that include on, and these often do not have a direct Tamil equivalent. Translating idioms requires understanding the meaning behind the phrase and expressing that in natural Tamil.
- On cloud nine – மி஠மà®à®¿à®´à¯à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®¿à®²à¯
He was on cloud nine after hearing the news.
à®à¯à®¯à¯à®¤à®¿à®¯à¯ à®à¯à®à¯à®à®µà¯à®à®©à¯ ஠வன௠மி஠மà®à®¿à®´à¯à®à¯à®à®¿à®¯à®¿à®²à¯ à®à®°à¯à®¨à¯à®¤à®¾à®©à¯. - On thin ice – à®à®ªà®¤à¯à®¤à®¾à®© நிலà¯
She’s on thin ice with her boss.
஠வள௠தன௠மà¯à®²à®¾à®³à®°à¯à®à®©à¯ à®à®ªà®¤à¯à®¤à®¾à®© நிலà¯à®¯à®¿à®²à¯ à®à®°à¯à®à¯à®à®¿à®±à®¾à®³à¯. - On the spot – à®à®à®©à¯ / à®
பà¯à®ªà¯à®¤à¯
He was hired on the spot.
஠வன௠஠பà¯à®ªà¯à®¤à¯ வà¯à®²à¯à®à¯à®à¯ à®à®à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à¯à®à¯ à®à¯à®³à¯à®³à®ªà¯à®ªà®à¯à®à®¾à®©à¯.
These idioms show how translation must focus on the intent rather than the structure of the sentence.
Tips for Translating On Into Tamil
To translate on into Tamil correctly, here are a few important tips to remember:
- Always identify the part of speech preposition, adverb, or part of a phrasal verb.
- Look at the context of the sentence before choosing the Tamil equivalent.
- Do not translate word-for-word when dealing with idioms or expressions.
- Choose natural-sounding Tamil phrases rather than overly literal ones.
- Pay attention to tone formal, informal, poetic, or conversational.
Translating the word on into Tamil may seem easy at first, but it requires an understanding of grammar, context, and cultural nuances. The word on can indicate position, time, topic, responsibility, continuity, and more. Each of these meanings calls for a different Tamil word or structure. From the simple à®®à¯à®²à¯ for physical placement to more complex expressions for phrasal verbs and idioms, knowing how to translate on correctly helps bridge the gap between English and Tamil. Whether you’re a student, translator, or language enthusiast, mastering such words brings you one step closer to fluency and precision in both languages.