You say உட்காருங்கள் ｢uṭkāruṅkaḷ｣ in Tamil. The ending makes it polite, so it already means "please sit" without a separate word for "please".
உட்காருங்கள்
uṭkāruṅkaḷ
Please sit
No audio yet
Word by word
In a conversation
- Speaker A
வாருங்கள், உட்காருங்கள்.
vāruṅkaḷ, uṭkāruṅkaḷ.
Come in, please sit.
- Speaker B
நன்றி.
naṉṟi.
Thank you.
- Speaker A
தேநீர் குடிக்கிறீர்களா?
tēnīr kuṭikkiṟīrkaḷā?
Would you like some tea?
- Speaker B
ஆம், கொஞ்சம்.
ām, koñcam.
Yes, a little.
When to say it
Say உட்காருங்கள் when a guest comes into your home, or when an elder walks into the room and you offer them your chair. Hosts often say two words together at the door: வாருங்கள், உட்காருங்கள், "come in, please sit".
How it is built
The word comes from உட்கார், "sit". The ending -ங்கள் is the polite form of a request. It shows respect, so Tamil does not need an extra word for "please" here.
Who to say it to
Use this polite form with guests, elders and anyone you do not know well. With a small child or a close friend, people use the plain form உட்கார் instead. To an elder, the plain form would sound rude, so keep the polite one.
What comes next
In a Tamil home, the host rarely stops at a seat. Tea, a snack or a full meal often follows, and it is polite to accept at least a little. You will soon hear சாப்பிட்டீர்களா? too.
Related phrases
Have you eaten?
சாப்பிட்டீர்களா?
Thank you
நன்றி
How are you?
நீங்கள் எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்?