How do you say ‘What is your name?’ in Tamil?

When to say it

Ask this when you meet someone for the first time, for example at a wedding, a temple or a family visit. Tamil puts the question word at the end: word by word, the sentence says "your name what". There is no word for "is".

Who to say it to

உங்கள் is the polite word for "your". Use it with adults, and with anyone older than you. With a small child, people use the familiar உன் instead: உன் பெயர் என்ன? Children hear this question from almost every relative they meet, so it is a good one to learn early.

How to answer

Say என் பெயர், "my name", and then your name: என் பெயர் மீனா. You can then ask the same question back. In Tamil families, younger people often do not call an elder by their name. They use a family word such as "uncle" or "elder sister" instead. So you may ask an elder's name, but you will not always use it.