இல்லை

See also: இல்லா

Tamil

Alternative forms

Etymology

From the root இல்- (il-, (existential) negative particle) +‎ -ஐ (-ai).[1] Cognate with Kannada ಇಲ್ಲ (illa) and Malayalam ഇല്ല (illa).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /illai/
  • Audio:(file)

Interjection

இல்லை • (illai)

  1. (existential negation) no
    Coordinate term: அல்ல (alla)
  2. (Spoken Tamil, absolute negation) no
    Synonym: அல்ல (alla)

Usage notes

  • While இல்லை (illai) originally refers only to existential negation, spoken Tamil does not differentiate between the two senses (with dialectal exceptions), in contrast with its cognates.

Adverb

இல்லை • (illai) (Spoken Tamil)

  1. not
    Synonym: அல்ல (alla)
    என் பெயர் தேன்மொழி இல்லை.
    eṉ peyar tēṉmoḻi illai.
    My name is not Thenmozhi.
    இது நல்லது இல்லை.itu nallatu illai.This is not good.

Usage notes

  • When used sentence-finally, it takes on the meaning of "to not be" if there is no verb in the sentence.

Conjunction

இல்லை • (illai) (Spoken Tamil)

  1. not, and not
    Synonym: அல்ல (alla)
    என் பெயர் தேன்மொழி இல்லை, கனிமொழி.
    eṉ peyar tēṉmoḻi illai, kaṉimoḻi.
    My name is Kanimozhi, and not Thenmozhi.
    இது நல்லது இல்லை, கெட்டது.itu nallatu illai, keṭṭatu.This is bad, and not good.

References

  1. ^ University of Madras (1924–1936) “இல்லை”, in Tamil Lexicon, Madras [Chennai]: Diocesan Press