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.
Sri Lankan Tamil
Also known as: 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What language is Sri Lankan Tamil?
Sri Lankan Tamil is a dialect of Tamil.
Which region is Sri Lankan Tamil associated with?
Sri Lankan Tamil is part of the South Asia region on DialectAtlas.
Is Sri Lankan Tamil known by other names?
Yes — Sri Lankan Tamil is also referred to as Jaffna Tamil, Eelam Tamil.
What are the other dialects of Tamil?
Tamil also includes Standard Tamil, Madurai Tamil. Each variety has its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural context.
Other Tamil dialects
See on the atlas →The Tamil of Madurai and the broader southern Tamil Nadu region. Carries a distinctive lexicon and intonation widely featured in Tamil cinema.