Signification
A simple command to sit down.
Contexte culturel
Offering a seat is the first sign of respect. Even in small shops, the shopkeeper will offer a stool to a customer. Sitting on the floor (Tharai) is common during village festivals and traditional meals. It signifies that everyone is equal before food/God. The way a hero tells a villain to 'Utkār' often signals a shift in power. If the hero uses the informal form to an older villain, it's a sign of extreme defiance. In Chennai startups, the formal 'Utkāruṅkaḷ' is being replaced by English 'Please sit' or the neutral 'Utkāruṅkaḷ' to bridge the gap between tradition and modernity.
The 'U' factor
In spoken Tamil, almost all words ending in a consonant get a soft 'u' added. 'Utkār' becomes 'Utkāru'.
Age Gap
If someone is even 2 years older than you, use 'Utkāruṅkaḷ' to be safe.
Signification
A simple command to sit down.
The 'U' factor
In spoken Tamil, almost all words ending in a consonant get a soft 'u' added. 'Utkār' becomes 'Utkāru'.
Age Gap
If someone is even 2 years older than you, use 'Utkāruṅkaḷ' to be safe.
Reflexive is better
Saying 'Utkānthuko' sounds much more like a native speaker than the textbook 'Utkār'.
Teste-toi
You are talking to your 5-year-old nephew. Which one do you say?
தம்பி, இங்கே _______.
Since he is younger and it's informal, 'Utkār' is the most natural choice.
Fill in the blank to make the command 'Don't sit'.
அங்கே _________ (utkār + negative suffix).
Adding '-āthē' to the root creates the informal negative command.
Match the word to the person you are speaking to.
1. Your Boss, 2. Your Dog, 3. A Stranger
Boss and Stranger get the formal '-uṅkaḷ', while the dog gets the informal root.
Complete the dialogue between two friends.
A: ரொம்ப களைப்பா இருக்கு. B: அப்போ, இந்த பெஞ்ச்ல _______.
The context is being tired, so 'Sit' (Utkār) is the logical response.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Where to Sit
Places
- • Sōpā (Sofa)
- • Nāṟkāli (Chair)
- • Tharai (Floor)
- • Bench
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesதம்பி, இங்கே _______.
Since he is younger and it's informal, 'Utkār' is the most natural choice.
அங்கே _________ (utkār + negative suffix).
Adding '-āthē' to the root creates the informal negative command.
1. Your Boss, 2. Your Dog, 3. A Stranger
Boss and Stranger get the formal '-uṅkaḷ', while the dog gets the informal root.
A: ரொம்ப களைப்பா இருக்கு. B: அப்போ, இந்த பெஞ்ச்ல _______.
The context is being tired, so 'Sit' (Utkār) is the logical response.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, Tamil imperatives like 'Utkār' are the same for all genders.
Not really. Use 'Iru' for 'stay'. 'Utkār' is specifically for the posture of sitting.
'Utkār' is common/daily speech. 'Amar' is formal/literary.
You can say 'கொஞ்சம் உட்கார்' (Koñcam utkār - Sit for a bit).
No, it's just the colloquial pronunciation of 'Utkār'.
No, for a group you must use the plural 'Utkāruṅkaḷ'.
That is the participle form, used to mean 'having sat' or 'sitting'.
Yes, unless they are a very close friend. Use 'Utkāruṅkaḷ'.
Tharaiyil utkār (தரையில் உட்கார்).
Ezhunthiru (எழுந்திரு - Stand up).
Expressions liées
உட்காருங்கள்
specialized formFormal sit down
அமருங்கள்
synonymFormal/Literary sit down
எழுந்திரு
contrastStand up
உட்கார்ந்துக்கோ
builds onSit down (reflexive)
