Grammar Bridge
Tamil and Korean are both SOV languages with postpositions, verb-final sentences, and suffixes that carry tense and respect. Every sentence below shows the structural parallel word by word — matching colours mean matching roles.
Particles
Korean particles are postpositions — they attach to the end of a word to mark its role in the sentence, exactly like Tamil case suffixes. The main difference is that Korean writes them as separate syllable blocks.
Subject / Topic
| Tamil | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| — (unmarked) | 이 / 가· i / ga | subject marker |
| — (contextual) | 은 / 는· eun / neun | topic marker |
- •이 after consonants, 가 after vowels (subject marker)
- •은 after consonants, 는 after vowels (topic marker)
- •Korean marks subject and topic explicitly with particles
- •Tamil often drops the subject when clear from context
나는 사과를 먹었어요
Naneun sagwa-reul meogeosseoyo
நான் ஆப்பிளை சாப்பிட்டேன்
Naan aappilai saappitten
는 (neun) follows a vowel. 나 (na) ends in the vowel sound ㅏ, so 는 is used as the topic marker. Tamil has no equivalent topic particle — the subject is simply stated first.
친구가 학교에 가요
Chinguga hakgyo-e gayo
நண்பன் பள்ளிக்கு போகிறான்
Nanban pallikku poakiraan
가 (ga) follows a vowel. 친구 (chingu, friend) ends in the vowel sound ㅜ, so 가 is used as the subject marker. Tamil leaves the subject unmarked.
Object
| Tamil | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| -ஐ (-ai) | 를 / 을· reul / eul | object marker |
- •를 after vowels, 을 after consonants
저는 한국어를 공부해요
Jeoneun hangugeo-reul gongbuhaeyo
நான் கொரியனை படிக்கிறேன்
Naan Koreanai padikkireen
를 (reul) follows a vowel. 한국어 (hangugeo, Korean language) ends in the vowel sound ㅓ, so 를 marks it as the object. In Tamil, -ஐ (-ai) does the same job.
그는 밥을 먹어요
Geuneun bab-eul meogeyo
அவன் சோற்றை சாப்பிடுகிறான்
Avan sorrai saappidukiraan
을 (eul) follows a consonant. 밥 (bap, rice) ends in the consonant ㅂ, so 을 marks it as the object. In Tamil, -ஐ (-ai) does the same job.
Dative — to / for someone
| Tamil | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| -க்கு (-kku) | 에게· ege | to / for (formal) |
| -கிட்ட (-kiTTa) | 한테· hante | to / for (casual spoken) |
- •에게 (ege) = formal; used in writing and careful speech
- •한테 (hante) = casual; the everyday spoken form
나는 친구에게 사과를 줘요
Naneun chingu-ege sagwa-reul jweoyo
நான் நண்பனுக்கு ஆப்பிளை கொடுக்கிறேன்
Naan nanbanukku aappilai kodukkiraen
에게 (ege) is the formal dative particle. It attaches to 친구 (chingu, friend) to mean "to a friend". In Tamil, -க்கு (-kku) does the same job.
친구한테 전화해요
Chingu-hante jeonhwahaeyo
நண்பனுக்கு போன் செய்கிறேன்
Nanbanukku phone seikiraen
한테 (hante) is the casual spoken dative. It attaches to 친구 (chingu, friend) and means the same as 에게 (ege), but used in everyday conversation.
Location / Time
| Tamil | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| -இல் (-il) / -க்கு (-kku) | 에· e | destination or point in time |
| 에 (e) is more commonly used than 에서 (eseo), which is more frequently used to mean "from a location" (see the From section below). However, | ||
- •에 (e) = destination (where you are going) or a point in time
- •에서 (eseo) = location where an action is performed
그는 학교에 가요
Geuneun hakgyo-e gayo
அவன் பள்ளிக்கு போகிறான்
Avan pallikku poakiraan
에 (e) marks the destination — where you are going. It attaches to 학교 (hakgyo, school) to mean "to school". In Tamil, -க்கு (-kku) marks the same destination.
From — source
| Tamil | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| -இலிருந்து (-ilirundhu) | 에서· eseo | from a location |
| -முதல் (-mudal) | 부터· buto | from a point in time / sequence |
- •부터 (buto) = starting point in time or sequence
- •에서 (eseo) = departing from a physical location
오늘부터 한국어를 공부해요
Oneulbuto hangugeo-reul gongbuhaeyo
இன்றிலிருந்து கொரியன் படிக்கிறேன்
Indrilirundhu Korean padikkiraen
부터 (buto) marks the starting point in time. It attaches to 오늘 (oneul, today) to mean "from today". In Tamil, -இலிருந்து (-ilirundhu) does the same.
학교에서 집에 가요
Hakgyo-eseo jib-e gayo
பள்ளியிலிருந்து வீட்டிற்கு போகிறேன்
Palliyilirundhu veetirku poakiraen
에서 (eseo) marks the departing location. It attaches to 학교 (hakgyo, school) to mean "from school". In Tamil, -இலிருந்து (-ilirundhu) does the same.
Until / Up to — extent
| Tamil | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| வரை (varai) | 까지· kkaji | until / up to / as far as |
- •Pairs with 부터 (from time) or 에서 (from place) to express a full range
- •부터...까지 (buto...kkaji) = from [time] until [time]
- •에서...까지 (eseo...kkaji) = from [place] to [place]
오늘부터 내일까지 한국어를 공부해요
Oneulbuto naeil-kkaji hangugeo-reul gongbuhaeyo
இன்றிலிருந்து நாளை வரை கொரியன் படிக்கிறேன்
Indrilirundhu naalai varai Korean padikkiraen
부터 (buto, from) and 까지 (kkaji, until) pair up to mark a time range. 오늘부터 내일까지 means "from today until tomorrow". In Tamil, -இலிருந்து (-ilirundhu) and வரை (varai) do the same.
학교에서 집까지 가요
Hakgyo-eseo jib-kkaji gayo
பள்ளியிலிருந்து வீடு வரை போகிறேன்
Palliyilirundhu veedu varai poakiraen
에서 (eseo, from) and 까지 (kkaji, to) pair up to mark a location range. 학교에서 집까지 means "from school to home". In Tamil, -இலிருந்து (-ilirundhu) and வரை (varai) do the same.
With / by
| Tamil | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| -உடன் (-udan) | 와 / 과· wa / gwa | with (formal / written) |
| -உடன் (-udan) / -ஓடு | 랑 / 이랑· rang / irang | with (casual spoken) |
- •와 after vowels, 과 after consonants (formal / written)
- •랑 after vowels, 이랑 after consonants (casual spoken)
친구와 영화를 봐요
Chinguwa yeonghwa-reul bwayo
நண்பனுடன் படம் பார்க்கிறேன்
Nanbanudan padam paarkkiraen
와 (wa) follows a vowel. 친구 (chingu, friend) ends in the vowel sound ㅜ, so 와 is used. This is the formal written form meaning "with". In Tamil, -உடன் (-udan) does the same.
오늘 그랑 학교에 가요
Oneul geurang hakgyo-e gayo
இன்று அவனோடு பள்ளிக்கு போகிறேன்
Indru avanodu pallikku poakiraen
랑 (rang) follows a vowel. 그 (geu, he) ends in the vowel sound ㅡ, so 랑 is used. This is the casual spoken form meaning "with". In Tamil, -ஓடு (-odu) does the same.
Build your vocabulary
Here are 5 new words to complete your particle toolkit.
Try these sentences
Each sentence uses a particle from this page. Identify the particle in Korean, then work out the Tamil equivalent.
나는 도서관에 가요
Naneun doseogwan-e gayo
그녀는 친구에게 선물을 줘요
Geunyeoneun chingu-ege seonmul-eul jweoyo
나는 집에서 밥을 먹어요
Naneun jib-eseo bab-eul meogeyo
오늘부터 한국어를 공부해요
Oneulbuto hangugeo-reul gongbuhaeyo
나는 친구와 커피를 마셔요
Naneun chinguwa keopi-reul mashyeoyo