How do you say ‘How are you?’ in Tamil?

When to say it

Ask this question when you meet someone you know, or when you call a relative on the phone. It is a warm way to start a conversation. People often ask it right after they say வணக்கம்.

Who to say it to

நீங்கள் is the polite word for "you". Use it with your elders, with people you do not know well, and with anyone you want to show respect to. The verb at the end, இருக்கிறீர்கள், matches நீங்கள், so the whole sentence stays polite. In everyday talk, many people leave out நீங்கள் and only say எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்? The meaning stays the same.

How to answer

The usual answer is நான் நலமாக இருக்கிறேன், "I am well". Then you ask the same question back, just as you would in English. With a close friend or a child you can use a more familiar form, but the polite form is never wrong. If you are not sure, use the polite form.