Colours in Tamil: word list with pictures
12 words · tap 🔊 to hear each one in Tamil.
| Picture | English | Tamil | Say it | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red | சிவப்பு | civappu | ||
| Yellow | மஞ்சள் | mañcaḷ | ||
| Blue | நீலம் | nīlam | ||
| Green | பச்சை | paccai | ||
| Orange | ஆரஞ்சு | ārañcu | ||
| Purple | ஊதா | ūtā | ||
| Pink | இளஞ்சிவப்பு | iḷañcivappu | ||
| Brown | பழுப்பு | paḻuppu | ||
| Black | கருப்பு | karuppu | ||
| White | வெள்ளை | veḷḷai | ||
| Grey | சாம்பல் | cāmpal | ||
| Sky Blue | வான நீலம் | vāṉa nīlam |
Colours in Tamil are some of the most useful words a small child can learn, because colour is everywhere: in clothes, fruit, flowers and the kolam at the door. This page teaches 12 colours with clear audio, from சிவப்பு (sivappu, red) to வான நீலம் (vaana neelam, sky blue). Tap a colour to hear it in Tamil and English, then play Find it or Memory. The word for colour itself is நிறம் (niram), and colours are நிறங்கள் (nirangal).
The 12 colours in Tamil and how to remember them
| Colour | Tamil | Say it | Memory hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | சிவப்பு | sivappu | red kumkum, red tomato |
| Yellow | மஞ்சள் | manjal | the same word means turmeric |
| Blue | நீலம் | neelam | the sea at the beach |
| Green | பச்சை | pachai | leaves, green chilli, parrots |
| Orange | ஆரஞ்சு | aaranju | like the fruit |
| Purple | ஊதா | oothaa | brinjal skin |
| Pink | இளஞ்சிவப்பு | ilanjivappu | "young red", a light red |
| Brown | பழுப்பு | pazhuppu | coconut shell, a ripe leaf |
| Black | கருப்பு | karuppu | a crow |
| White | வெள்ளை | vellai | jasmine, milk, idli |
| Grey | சாம்பல் | saambal | the same word means ash |
| Sky blue | வான நீலம் | vaana neelam | "sky blue", word for word |
Two of these are also everyday nouns: மஞ்சள் is turmeric and சாம்பல் is ash. Children enjoy that "the colour is named after the thing". Point to the turmeric tin and say "மஞ்சள், yellow!"
Using colours in Tamil sentences
In Tamil, the colour usually comes before the thing, just like English. Many colour words change a little when they describe something: சிவப்பு becomes சிவப்புப் பந்து (sivappup panthu, red ball), and பச்சை stays the same in பச்சை இலை (pachai ilai, green leaf). Short phrases your child can try:
- மஞ்சள் வாழைப்பழம் (manjal vaazhaippazham), yellow banana
- வெள்ளை மல்லிகை (vellai malligai), white jasmine
- கருப்பு காகம் (karuppu kaagam), black crow
- நீல வானம் (neela vaanam), blue sky
Asking questions helps too: "இது என்ன நிறம்?" (idhu enna niram?) means "What colour is this?" Ask it about a shirt, a car or a flower, and wait for the answer.
Colours in Tamil homes and festivals
Colour is part of Tamil celebrations. At Pongal and Deepavali, many families draw a coloured kolam with rice flour and bright powders. Children can name each colour as it is poured. Turmeric (மஞ்சள்) is tied to the Pongal pot, jasmine garlands are வெள்ளை, banana leaves are பச்சை, and Kanchipuram silk sarees come in every colour on this page. A rainbow is வானவில் (vaanavil), "sky bow", a lovely word to share after rain.
How to teach colours in Tamil to toddlers
- One colour a week. Start with சிவப்பு. Find red things all week, then add மஞ்சள்.
- Two choices. Hold two cups: "Give me the பச்சை one." This is easier than asking "What colour?"
- Sort toys. Blocks or clothes into colour piles, naming each pile in Tamil.
- Colour together. On the colouring pages, say the Tamil name as your child picks a colour.
- Food colours. Link to the fruits in Tamil: orange ஆரஞ்சு, yellow வாழைப்பழம், red ஆப்பிள்.
| Age | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 2-3 | Matches same colours; may say one or two colour words, often the wrong one. Keep playing. |
| 3-4 | Names 4-6 colours in Tamil, points to the right one when asked |
| 4-5 | Knows all basic colours, uses them in phrases like சிவப்பு பூ |
Colour names are abstract, so many children mix them up until about 3 or 4. That is normal. If your child always confuses red and green, mention it to your paediatrician, as colour blindness is common in boys and easy to check.
Colour games around the site
Colours connect to almost every other topic. On vegetables in Tamil, ask for "something பச்சை" and see how many your child finds. On animals in Tamil, look for a கருப்பு animal like the buffalo. The English and Hindi colours name game has the same 12 colours for children learning three languages, and patterns for kids uses colour sequences like red, blue, red, blue, which you can say in Tamil.
Bilingual tip
Children abroad often learn "red" and "blue" first. Use the language button in the header to set Tamil first, so the game says சிவப்பு before "red". At home, use Tamil for colours during one activity, like getting dressed: "நீல shirt or மஞ்சள் shirt?"
பெற்றோருக்கு
நிறங்களைக் கற்றுக்கொடுக்க வாரத்துக்கு ஒரு நிறம் போதும். இந்த வாரம் சிவப்பு என்றால், வீட்டில் உள்ள சிவப்புப் பொருட்களைத் தேடுங்கள்: தக்காளி, பந்து, பூ.
"இது என்ன நிறம்?" என்று கேளுங்கள். குழந்தை தவறாகச் சொன்னால் சிரித்துக்கொண்டே சரியான நிறத்தைச் சொல்லுங்கள். பொங்கல் அன்று கோலம் போடும்போது ஒவ்வொரு நிறத்தின் பெயரையும் சொல்லுங்கள்.
மஞ்சள் என்பது நிறமும் கூட, சமையல் பொருளும் கூட. இதைக் குழந்தைக்குக் காட்டினால் நன்றாக நினைவில் இருக்கும்.
How to use this page at home
Say it, then find it
Play for a few minutes, then look for the same thing away from the screen: tamil words on the shelf, in the kitchen, on the way to school. A child learns a word properly when they meet it twice, once on the screen and once in their hand.
Ten minutes is enough
Short and happy beats long and tired. Stop while your child still wants more, and come back tomorrow: the same page on five short days teaches far more than one long sitting. Nothing here is scored, so there is no reason to push.
Use both languages
Tap the language button at the top to hear the words in your home language first and the second language after. Hearing the same picture named in two languages is one of the few things research agrees builds attention as well as vocabulary.
