TAMIL RYHMES

A COLLECTION OF CUTE TAMIL RHYMES
This is my attempt to learn Tamil from my 4 year old daughter and to go a step closer towards learning my mother tongue. Being born and brought up in Bombay and not being exposed to Tamil except for speaking Tamil at home put me at a relative disadvantage when I moved to Singapore and realized that people here are so passionate about the Tamil language, since its one of the national languages of Singapore, its taught at a very low cost to children to promote and make children love their national language.(The Government encourages and supports teaching and promoting the national languages of the country), so I sent my daughter to a Tamil class which happens to be just below my block and now Iam trying to learn Tamil from her and I am quite fascinated by the language and especially love the rhymes. This collection is an ode to my daughter, who absolutely loves these rhymes. Since I don’t know to read and write Tamil, the rhymes are written in English for people of all languages to enjoy.

A

ADHO PAAR PATTAM

Adho paar pattam

Pada pada pattam

Kannai kavarum pattam

Katril medakum pattam

Meaning

See there is a kite

Flapping in the winds is a kite

See how eye-catching is the kite

Floating in the wind is the kite

ANIL (SQUIRREL)

Aniley Aniley odi vaa Azhaku aniley odi vaa

Koyya marame eri vaa Gundu pazhamai kondu vaa

Paathi pazham unnidam Paathi pazham ennidam

Kooti kooti iruvarum Kotittu kotittu tinnalaam

Meaning

Squirrel, Squirrel come running, Beautiful Squirrel come running

Climbing up a guava tree, Bring a fat ripe guava fruit back to me

Lets share the fruit half half

Lets relish the fruit.

C

CHUNDELIKAL

Tak Tak ghadiyaaram Tattu niramba paniyaaram

Kutty kutty chundelikal Ety etty paartanavey

Tan tan endrathu Ghadiyaaram, Taavi vandatu karimppoonai

Kandu mirandaal chundelikal Kaatril parandu maraindanavey

D

DOSAI

Dosai amma dosai amma chutta dosai

Arisi maavum ulundu maavum araittu chutta dosai

Appaavukku naangu ammaavukku moondru

Annaavukku rendu paappaavukku ondru

Akka mottham patthu

Thinna thinna aasai innum ketaal poosai

Kudukka kudukka aasai Edukka ponaal poosai

K

KAAKKA KANNUKKU MAI KONDU VAA

kaakka kannukku mai kondu vaa

kuruvi kondaikku poo kondu vaa

kokke kuzhandhaikku paal kondu vaa

kiliye kuzhandhaikku then kondu vaa

Meaning

Crow, bring eyeliner for the eyes

Sparrow, bring flowers for the hair

Crane, bring milk for the baby

Parrot, bring honey for the baby

Notes

"Mai" (also known as kajal in Hindi) is a thick black kohl usually prepared at home which is used as an eye liner to enhance the baby's eyes, it also acts as a coolant, and protector against the evil eye. Flowers often adorn women's hair. This beautiful song calls for each bird to bring something for the baby. The idea is to introduce birds and commonly used items to the baby through a song.

KAAKKA AND NARI (CROW AND THE FOX)

Paappaa Paappaa kadhai kelu, Kaakkaa nariyin kadhai kelu

Taatta Paati chonna kadhai, Amma appa ketta kadhai

Ooorukku veliya kadai irukku, Kadayiley vengaya vadai irukku

Kaakkai vadayai tirudirichu, Marattiley eri kundirichu

Kaakkai mookiley vadai irukka, Kulla nariyum paattiducchaam

Nekku vadayai vaangitavey, Nari oru tantiram panniducchaam

Kaakkayai paattu paada cholli, Nariyum keezhey ninniduccham

Kaakka vaayai tirandu paaditavey, Vadayum keezhey vizhundicchaam

Vizhuntadai nariyum kavvidicchaam, Vaayiley pottu tinnudicchaam

KAI VEESAMMA KAI VEESU

Kai veesamma kai veesu

Kadaikku pogalam kai veesu

Mittai vaangalaam kai veesu

Methuvai thinalam kai veesu

Sokkai vaangalaam kai veesu

Sogusai podalam kai veesu

Kovilukki pogalam kai veesu

Kumbitu varalaam kai veesu

Meaning

Swing your hands, my dear, swing your hands

Let's go to the shop, swing your hands

Let's buy candy, swing your hands

Let's eat it slowly, swing your hands

Let's buy clothes, swing your hands

Let's wear them gladly, swing your hands

Let's go to the temple, swing your hands

Let's pray and come back, swing your hands

KULLA KULLA VAATHU

Kulla kulla vaathu

kuvaa kuvaa vaathu

mella udalai saaithu

melum kizhem paarthu

chellamaga nadakkum

chinna mani vaathu

Meaning

Short, short duck,

Quack, quack duck,

Slowly slides its body left and right,

Looking up and down,

Walks like a child,

A cute little gem this duck

Notes

"'Chellam means pet, it is a word in tamil affectionaltely used to address kids.

Nadakkum refers to walking. The walk of the duck is compared to the walk of a child."

N

NAAIKUTTY

Nalla nalla naaikutty, Naan valarkkum naaikutty

Vaalai vaalai aattumey, Veettai kaaval kaakkumey

Tirudan vandaal kuraikkumey, Dinamum paal kudikkumey

Nalla nalla naaikutty, Naan valarkkum naai kutty.

NILA NILA ODI VAA

Nila, Nila, Odi Vaa

Nillaamal Odi Vaa

Malai Mela Eri Vaa

Malligai Poo Kondu Vaa.

Nadu Veetil Vaiyee

Nalla Saidhi Kondu Vaa

Meaning

Moon, Moon, come running to me.

Don't stop while you run.

Climb over the mountain and,

Bring a Jasmine Flower when you come to me.

Keep in the middle of the house

Bring good news.

P

POONAIKKYUM POONAIKKYUM KALYANAM

Poonaikkyum Poonaikkyum kalyanamam

boologham ellam kondattamam

yaanai mela ooruvalamam, ottaga chivingi natiyamam

oor kuruvi pinpattam

arpudhamana sapaad am

thali kattum nerrathilai, mapillai poonaiyay kaannomam

vandavar ellam thedinaar am

varutham kondu thirumbinaar am

pakkattu veetu paalai dhan thirudi aduvum kudithudham

Thiruttu poonaikyu "en ponnai thirumanam saidhu tharamathen".

Vendaam indha sambandham vettka kedu poi varalam

Meaning

The Cats' marriage was being conducted and

all the people in the world were enjoying it,

Going around the village sitting on an elephant chariot,

(Ottagam)Camels and (Chivingi)Giraffes dancing,

All the village birds were singing in the background,

There was fine food served for all the invitees

At the time of tying the "mangalya rope" the male cat was missing,

everybody searched for the male cat,

and they all returned worried.

It seems that the male cat was stealthily drinking the milk of neighbor.

"For a thief cat I won't give my daughter,

it was disgusting to give my daughter to a thief.

I don't want this marriage proposal" says the father-in-law cat.

And with that the marriage broke out.

Vettkakedu (Vekkakedu) Shame on the cat, (Poi varalam) lets take our leave.

Moral: We should not steal.

S

SAAINDHAADAMMA SAAINDHAADU

Saaindhaadamma saaindhaadu

Saayakilliye saaindhaadu

Thithikkum thene saaindhaadu

Thevittadha tamizhe saaindhaadu

Mayile kuyile saaindhaadu

Maadapuraave saaindhaadu

Kattikarumbe saaindhaadu

Kaaichiyapaale saaindhaadu

Kuthuvillakke saaindhaadu

Kutti nilave saaindhaadu

Meaning

Rock baby rock

Rock my colorful parrot

Rock sweet honey

Rock insatiable Tamil

Rock my peacock, my cuckoo

Rock my dove

Rock my sweet sugarcane

Rock my boiled milk

Rock my lamp

Rock my little moonView

"This is a popular rhyme sung in every Tamilian household. This is sung while one actually rocks a baby sitting on the lap. The baby is rocked in tune with the rhyme and it never fails to put an instant smile on the baby's face.

U

UYIRUM NEEYE( This is the special prayer for Mother’s Day)

Uyirum Neeye Udalum Neeye Uravum Neeye Thaaye (2)

Un Udalil Sumandhu Uyirai Pagirndhu

Uruvam Tharuvaai Neeye (2)

Un Kannil Vazhiyum Oru thuLLi Podhum

Kadalum Urugum Thaaye

Un Kaaladi Mattum Tharuvai Thaaye

Sorgam Enbadhum Poyye

PeNNai padaithaan MaNNai Padaitthaan

Katrum Oliyum Mazhaiyum Padaitthaan (2)

Boomikku Adhanaal Nimmadhi Illai (2)

Sami Thavitthan Thaayai Padaitthan

V

VAL VAL ENDRU KURAIKKATHU

Val val endru kuraikkathu

vaalai vaalai aatathu

engal veettu naai kutty

enakku piditha naai kutty.

Paalum sorum unnathu

pakkam azhaithaal varathu

engal veettu naai kutty

enakku piditha naai kutty.

Angum ingum odaathu

athanaal thollai kidaiyathu

engal veettu naai kutty

enakku piditha naai kutty.

Appadi enna naai kutty

athisayamana naai kutty

appa enakku vaangi thantha

rubber bommai naai kutty.

Meaning

It doesn't bark like, "Bow, wow!"

Its tail doesn't move.

Our house puppy,

My favorite puppy.

It doesn't eat milk and rice

It doesn't come near, if you call.

Our house puppy,

My favorite puppy.

It doesn't run here and there,

So its no trouble at all.

Our house puppy,

My favorite puppy.

What type of puppy is it?...

Surprising puppy,

My father bought it for me,

A rubber doll puppy

VARAPPU UYARA

Varappu uyara, neer uyarum.

Neer uyara nel uyarum.

Nel uyara, kol uyarum.

Kol uyara kon uyarvan"

- The verse was composed by Ouvaiyar.

Varappu means field bed to hold water

Neer means water for irrigation

Nel means paddy we grow for our food

Kol means Sceptre held by Kings to rule. (In tamil Sengol)

Kon means King.

Uyara neans "to become tall"