Tamils

South Indian people

Tamils are an ethnic group originating from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and northern Sri Lanka, with a distinct language, Tamil, that is one of the world's oldest living languages.

The Tamil diaspora has spread worldwide, with significant communities in Malaysia, Singapore, and many Western countries.

In Sri Lanka, tensions between Tamils and the Sinhalese majority led to a decades-long civil war that ended in 2009.

Tamil culture has produced rich traditions in literature, music, dance, and cuisine.

geography

Sri Lanka

Island nation near India

diaspora · South India · coastal · settlement · migration

ethnicity

Sinhalese

Sri Lankan ethnic group

Dravidians · Sri Lankans · Indians · South Asians · diaspora · community · minority · majority

language

Dravidian

South Asian language family

  • SanskritAncient Indo-Aryan language
  • TeluguDravidian language of southeastern India
  • MalayalamDravidian language of Kerala

Kannada · script · literature · classical · ancient · spoken · written · mother tongue

history

Chola

Medieval Tamil imperial dynasty

kings · maritime · trade · colonialism · independence · civil war · conflict · migration · temples · inscriptions

culture

Thirukkural

Tamil moral poetry collection

  • templesHoly places or head sides
  • CholaMedieval Tamil imperial dynasty
  • silkFine woven insect fiber

saree · cuisine · festivals · weddings · traditions · heritage · classical · dance · music

Categories
Opposites
Sri Lankan ethnic/demographic conflict

TamilsSinhalese

Sri Lankan ethnic group

Buddhists

South Indian linguistic/ethnic identity

TamilsIndo-Aryans

South Asian ethnolinguistic group

Phrases
Family

Tamil

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G