Signification
Asking the identity of a male person.
Contexte culturel
In Tamil Nadu, using 'Avar' is not just about grammar; it's about 'Panbu' (culture). Even if you are angry with an elder, you would still likely use 'Avar' in public to avoid being seen as 'uneducated' or 'disrespectful'. Sri Lankan Tamil dialects often use 'Avar' even more frequently than Indian Tamil, sometimes applying it to younger people as a standard form of polite address in professional settings. In the diaspora, younger generations sometimes struggle with the Avan/Avar distinction, often defaulting to 'Avar' for everyone to be safe, which is generally accepted as a polite learner's strategy. Cinema uses 'Yaar Avar?' to create 'Mass' entries. The first time a hero's face is shown, a character will ask this to signal to the audience that the hero is someone important.
The 'R' Rule
Whenever you want to be respectful in Tamil, look for the 'r' sound at the end of pronouns (Avar, Neengal, Ivar).
Avoid 'Avan'
When in doubt, always use 'Avar'. It is never offensive to be too respectful, but it is very offensive to be too informal.
Signification
Asking the identity of a male person.
The 'R' Rule
Whenever you want to be respectful in Tamil, look for the 'r' sound at the end of pronouns (Avar, Neengal, Ivar).
Avoid 'Avan'
When in doubt, always use 'Avar'. It is never offensive to be too respectful, but it is very offensive to be too informal.
Body Language
When asking 'Yaar Avar?', avoid pointing with one finger. Use your whole hand or a slight nod of the head toward the person.
Spoken vs Written
In writing, always use 'யார் அவர்?'. In speaking, 'யாரு அவரு?' is more natural.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct respectful pronoun.
யார் ____? (Who is he - respectful)
'அவர்' is the respectful masculine pronoun.
Which phrase is the most appropriate to ask about an elderly man?
Asking about a grandfather:
'Avar' is mandatory for elders to show respect.
Match the Tamil phrase to its English equivalent.
Match the following:
Correctly matches respect and distance.
Complete the dialogue.
A: அங்கே நிற்பது ____? B: அவர் என் ஆசிரியர்.
The answer uses 'Avar' and 'Aasiriyar' (teacher), so the question must be respectful.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesயார் ____? (Who is he - respectful)
'அவர்' is the respectful masculine pronoun.
Asking about a grandfather:
'Avar' is mandatory for elders to show respect.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Correctly matches respect and distance.
A: அங்கே நிற்பது ____? B: அவர் என் ஆசிரியர்.
The answer uses 'Avar' and 'Aasiriyar' (teacher), so the question must be respectful.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, 'Avar' is masculine or honorific singular for men. For a woman, use 'Yaar aval?' (neutral) or 'Yaar avargal?' (very formal).
Yes, both are correct. 'Yaar avar?' is more common when you are surprised or asking quickly.
In that case, you can use 'Yaar அது?' (Yaar athu? - Who is that?) which is gender-neutral until you get closer.
You can say 'அவர் என் [relationship]' (He is my...) or 'அவர் [name]' (He is [name]).
Technically, yes, it comes from a plural root, but in modern Tamil, it is used as a singular honorific (like the royal 'we' but for 'he').
Usually no. You would use 'Yaar avan?' for someone younger than you.
Tamil is a zero-copula language for identity. Noun + Noun is enough to make a sentence.
It's not slang, just the colloquial spoken form of 'Yaar'. It's used by everyone in daily conversation.
'Avar' is for someone far away (distal), 'Ivar' is for someone close to you (proximal).
Yes, it's better to ask a third person privately or introduce yourself first.
Expressions liées
யார் இவர்?
similarWho is this person (proximal)?
யார் அவர்கள்?
specialized formWho are they? / Who is he (ultra-formal)?
யார் அது?
similarWho is that?
அவர் யார் தெரியுமா?
builds onDo you know who he is?
யார் அவன்?
contrastWho is he (informal)?
