Tamil vs. Malayalam: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on February 27, 2024
Tamil is a Dravidian language primarily spoken in Tamil Nadu, India, and Sri Lanka, known for its antiquity, while Malayalam is another Dravidian language spoken mainly in Kerala, India, with a younger script and literary tradition.
Key Differences
Tamil, one of the oldest living languages, has a rich history dating back thousands of years. Malayalam, though ancient in its spoken form, developed its script and literary culture later, around the 9th century.
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Feb 27, 2024
Tamil is predominantly spoken in Tamil Nadu, India, and in Sri Lanka, as well as in a diaspora worldwide. Malayalam is primarily spoken in Kerala, India, and by Malayali communities globally.
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Feb 27, 2024
The Tamil script, derived from Brahmi, has a unique and ancient orthography. Malayalam script, evolved from the Grantha script, is more rounded and has several unique letters for sounds not present in Tamil.
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Feb 27, 2024
Tamil boasts a vast classical literature, including Sangam poetry, which is among the world's oldest. Malayalam, while relatively younger in its literary tradition, has a rich and diverse modern and classical literature.
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Feb 27, 2024
Both languages share some grammatical similarities due to their Dravidian roots but differ in phonology, vocabulary, and syntax, reflecting their distinct cultural and historical contexts.
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Feb 27, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Age and Origin
One of the oldest languages, ancient origins
Relatively younger, developed around 9th century
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Script
Derived from Brahmi, ancient and unique
Evolved from Grantha, more rounded script
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Literary Tradition
Ancient literature including Sangam poetry
Rich modern and classical literature
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Linguistic Features
Unique phonology and syntax
Distinct phonetics, vocabulary, and syntax
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Tamil and Malayalam Definitions
Tamil
Tamil culture encompasses the traditions and practices of Tamil people.
Tamil culture is rich in classical music and dance.
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Malayalam
Malayalam refers to the people hailing from Kerala, India.
The Malayalam community is known for its vibrant Onam festival.
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Jan 20, 2024
Tamil
Tamil cuisine is known for its flavorful and diverse dishes.
Idli and sambar are staples of Tamil cuisine.
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Jan 20, 2024
Malayalam
Malayalam script is used for writing the Malayalam language.
The Malayalam script has a distinctive set of characters.
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Jan 20, 2024
Tamil
Tamil script is a unique writing system used for the Tamil language.
Tamil script is known for its distinct, non-linear characters.
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Malayalam
Malayalam cuisine features an array of spices and seafood.
The fish curry is a delicacy in Malayalam cuisine.
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Jan 20, 2024
Tamil
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken in South India and Sri Lanka.
He learned to write poems in Tamil at a young age.
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Jan 20, 2024
Malayalam
Malayalam is a Dravidian language predominantly spoken in Kerala, India.
Malayalam literature is renowned for its poetic expressions.
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Jan 20, 2024
Tamil
Tamil refers to a group of people from Tamil Nadu, India, and northern Sri Lanka.
The Tamil community celebrated Pongal with traditional fervor.
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Malayalam
Malayalam culture is reflective of Kerala's rich artistic and historical heritage.
Kathakali is a major part of Malayalam cultural heritage.
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Jan 20, 2024
Tamil
A member of a Dravidian people of southern India and northern Sri Lanka.
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Jan 17, 2024
Malayalam
A Dravidian language spoken in the state of Kerala on the Malabar Coast of southwest India.
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Jan 17, 2024
Malayalam
The name given to one the cultivated Dravidian languages, closely related to the Tamil.
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Jan 17, 2024
Malayalam
A Dravidian language (closely related to Tamil) that is spoken in southwestern India
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Jan 17, 2024
Tamil
One of a Dravidian race of men native of Northern Ceylon and Southern India.
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Jan 17, 2024
Tamil
A member of the mixed Dravidian and Caucasoid people of southern India and Sri Lanka
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Tamil
The Dravidian language spoken since prehistoric times by the Tamil people in southern India and Sri Lanka
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Tamil
Of or relating to a speaker of the Tamil language or the language itself;
The Tamil Tigers are fighting the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka
Tamil agglutinative phrases
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is Tamil?
Tamil is an ancient Dravidian language spoken in Tamil Nadu, India, and Sri Lanka.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 27, 2024
How old is the Tamil language?
Tamil's origins trace back over 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest languages.
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Feb 27, 2024
What is Malayalam?
Malayalam is a Dravidian language spoken mainly in Kerala, India.
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Feb 27, 2024
Are Tamil and Malayalam scripts the same?
No, they have distinct scripts, with Tamil having an older script and Malayalam's script being more rounded.
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Feb 27, 2024
What is the origin of the Malayalam language?
Malayalam developed around the 9th century from Middle Tamil influences.
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Feb 27, 2024
Are Tamil and Malayalam mutually intelligible?
They have some similarities but are generally not mutually intelligible due to differences in vocabulary and pronunciation.
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What is unique about Malayalam cinema?
Malayalam cinema is known for its realistic storytelling and strong scriptwriting.
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Does Malayalam have classical literature?
Yes, Malayalam has a rich classical literature, though younger than Tamil's.
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Feb 27, 2024
What cultural festivals are common among Malayalam speakers?
Onam and Vishu are major festivals celebrated by Malayalam speakers.
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Feb 27, 2024
Do Tamil and Malayalam share cultural similarities?
They share some cultural elements due to their Dravidian roots but have distinct cultural identities.
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Feb 27, 2024
Can Tamil speakers easily understand Malayalam?
Not easily, as both languages have different phonology, syntax, and vocabulary.
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Feb 27, 2024
What is the significance of Tamil Sangam literature?
Sangam literature represents the earliest body of secular poetry in Tamil, dating from the last centuries BCE to early centuries CE.
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Feb 27, 2024
How is Tamil literature unique?
Tamil literature is diverse, encompassing ancient epics, devotional and secular poetry, and modern works.
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What are some typical Malayalam cuisines?
Typical Malayalam cuisines include appam, fish curry, and puttu.
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What are some common Tamil dishes?
Common Tamil dishes include dosa, idli, and sambar.
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How many people speak Malayalam globally?
Malayalam has around 38 million speakers globally.
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Is Tamil recognized as a classical language?
Yes, Tamil is recognized as a classical language by the Government of India.
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Feb 27, 2024
What is the role of Tamil in Indian cinema?
Tamil cinema, or Kollywood, is a major part of Indian cinema with a global audience.
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Is Malayalam recognized as a classical language?
Malayalam is not officially recognized as a classical language but has a rich literary tradition.
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Feb 27, 2024
How many people speak Tamil worldwide?
Tamil has approximately 70 million speakers worldwide.
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Feb 27, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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