List of 21 English Words That Originated From Tamil
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The English language contains vocabulary from all over the world. Seeking words with specific etymological roots? Take a look at this list of English words that originated from Tamil.
English has borrowed vocabulary from languages all around the world. A surprising one is Tamil, a Dravidian language from southern India—these words have come all the way from Tamil Nadu and parts of Sri Lanka.
| Word | Origin |
| anicut | aṇaikkaṭṭu |
| betel | veṟṟilai |
| cash | kācu |
| catamaran | kaṭṭumaram |
| cheroot | curuṭṭu |
| coir | kayir̤u |
| corundum | kuruntam |
| curry | kaṟi |
| godown | kiṭaṅku |
| kabaddi | kai piṭi |
| moringa | muruṅkai |
| mulligatawny | miḷakutaṇṇi |
| mung bean | mūngu |
| pandal | pantal |
| papadam | pappaṭam |
| pariah | paṟaiyan |
| patchouli | paccuḷi |
| poon | puṉṉai |
| sambal | campāl |
| teak | tēkku |
| vetiver | veṭṭivēr |
