Jaffna Tamil · Eelam Tamil
The Tamil of northern and eastern Sri Lanka. Often described as more conservative than Indian Tamil, retaining several features lost in the Chennai variety.
- Approximate centre
- 9.66°, 80.02°
Dialect comparison
Sri Lankan Tamil vs Standard Tamil
Compare two dialects of Tamil side by side — where they're spoken, what they're called, and how they relate.
Chennai Tamil
The Chennai-area variety of Tamil that forms the basis of the modern spoken standard. Tamil itself has one of the longest continuous literary traditions in the world.
- Approximate centre
- 13.08°, 80.27°
Keep exploring
Read the full picture of Tamil and the dialects within it.