| Aadi | A month of the Tamil calendar, about July-Aug |
| Aavani | A month of the Tamil calendar, about Aug-Sept |
| Advaita | A philosophy, belief in the non-dual nature of God |
| Akka | Elder sister, a respectful greeting for an older girl |
| Amma | Mother, a respectful greeting for women |
| Ankush | A goad used by elephant drivers |
| Anna | Elder brother, respectful address for older men |
| Araya, raya, arasa | King, chieftain, Raja |
| Ayya | Father, mode of address for an older man |
| Bharata Natyam | Classical dance style |
| Chakra | Discus |
| Champaka | A fragrant flower |
| Chanakya | A medieval personality of political cunning, a Machiavelli |
| Devi, Deva | Lady, Lord |
| Iruvatchi | A fragrant flower |
| Jaamam | A period of time 3 hrs long;
1 Jaamam = 7½ Nazli; 1 Nazli = 24 minutes |
| Jaggery | Unrefined or brown sugar |
| Kaadal | Love |
| Kaadam | A league or about 10 miles |
| Kaalaa-mukhas | Ascetic followers of Shiva, a fanatic sect |
| Kaavi | Reddish, ocher dye |
| Kadal | Sea |
| Kadamba | A flower |
| Kama | Love, Passion |
| Kapaalika | An ascetic sect of Saiva Faith |
| Karadi | 1. A musical instrument 2. Bear |
| Karagam | Folk dance with balancing decorated pots |
| Karaiyar | Coastal, fisherfolk |
| Karpaga | A cornucopious tree of heavens |
| Karppu | Sanctity of a married woman. Chastity |
| Kavi | 1. Poet 2. Monkey |
| Kinnara | Demi-divinities; heavenly musicians |
| Kolam | Decorative drawings of rice flour |
| Konnai, Konrai | A flowering tree; red flowers of the mountains
|
| Kumkum | Red powder, used to decorate the forehead
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| Kummi | A folk dance of women circling while clapping hands
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| Kunrimani | A tiny red-black berry or bead
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| Kural | Ancient Tamil couplets
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| Kuravai Koothu | Gypsy dance or dance by maidens
|
| Malai | Mountain
|
| Mariamman | A village deity, a pagan Goddess
|
| Marudai | A shade giving tree, a colloquial name for Madurai City
|
| Mattalam | Drum
|
| Maya | Deception, unreal
|
| Moringa | A leafy tree
|
| Mu-ttholl-ayiram | A collection of romantic verse in Tamil
|
| Muzlai | Cave
|
| Naadu | Country
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| Naamam | A vertical, religious mark worn by followers of Vishnu
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| Nanal | A sedge like grass
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| Nandavana | Garden
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| Netri-chutti | Forehead ornament |
| Padai Veedu | Army Housing |
| Padinettam Perukku | Eighteenth day flood |
| Palli Padai | Memorial temple |
| Panchayat | Council of Village Elders, often five persons |
| Parai | A kind of country drum, an announcement |
| Pattinam | City or Town |
| Perumal | Lord, God |
| Pirati | Lady, Royal Princess |
| Pitam | Monastic seat |
| Punnai | A tree with yellow flowers |
| Rudraksha | A multifaceted bead, a sacred berry |
| Saelai | Loose pleated garment of women worn with one loose end thrown over a shoulder |
| Saiva | A sect of Hinduism, follower of Shiva |
| Salli | A musical instrument |
| Selvan | Beloved, Darling (masculine) |
| Selvi | Beloved, Darling (feminine) |
| Silappadikaram | A Tamil Epic |
| Sindhu | Folk song |
| Tamarind | A shade giving tree bearing a sour fruit |
| Thambi | Younger brother, mode of address for young men |
| Thaye | Mother, mode of respectful address for women |
| Thaazlai | A fragrant cactus |
| Thevar-aalan, | Divine man, dancers |
| Thevar-aatti | Divine woman, dancers |
| Thevaram | Devotional Poems |
| Thiru-vai-mozli | Devotional Poems |
| Thinnai | A raised platform or dais on the front porch of houses in South India. Often used like a living room; for family gatherings, seating visitors, and sleeping in the night |
| Udukku | Small palm held drum |
| Uriyadi | A game to get the prize-pot tied to a pole similar to the Maypole |
| Vaetti | Loose lower garment of men |
| Vaishnava | A sect of Hinduism, follower of Vishnu |
| Vamsa | Dynasty |
| Veena | A musical stringed instrument |
| Velan Attam | A semi-religious dance, usually by a man |
| Villu-pattu | Folk songs accompanying a string instrument, story telling |
| Vinnagara | Vishnu temple |
| Yaazl | A stringed musical instrument |
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