Tamil numerals

File:Milestone tanjore old.jpg

A milestone which uses both Tamil and Indo-Arabic Numerals (Tanjore Palace Museum).

File:Mauritian rupees 100.png

Modern Tamil numerals featured on a 100 Mauritian rupee note.

The Tamil language has number words and dedicated symbols for them in the Tamil script.

Basic numbering in Tamil

Zero

Old Tamil possesses a special numerical character for zero (see Old Tamil numerals below), which is read as Template:Translit (literally, no/nothing). Modern Tamil words for zero include (Template:Translit) or (Template:Translit).

First ten numbers ()

Modern Tamil script	Tamil numeral	Tamil word and transliteration
	0	(Template:Translit) Old Tamil: (Template:Translit)
	1	(Template:Translit)
	2	(Template:Translit)
	3	(Template:Translit)
	4	(Template:Translit)
	5	(Template:Translit)
	6	(Template:Translit)
	7	(Template:Translit)
	8	(Template:Translit)
	9	(Template:Translit)
	10	(Template:Translit)

Transcribing other numbers

Reproductive and attributive prefixes

Tamil has a numeric prefix for each number from 1 to 9, which can be added to the words for the powers of ten (ten, hundred, thousand, etc.) to form multiples of them. For instance, the word for fifty, (Template:Translit) is a combination of (Template:Translit, the prefix for five) and (Template:Translit, which is ten). The prefix for nine changes with respect to the succeeding base 10. + the unvoiced consonant of the succeeding base 10 forms the prefix for nine. For instance, 90 is + ( being the unvoiced version of ), hence, ).

Tamil script	Tamil prefix	Transliteration
		Template:Translit
		Template:Translit
		Template:Translit
		Template:Translit
		Template:Translit
		Template:Translit
		Template:Translit
		Template:Translit

These are typically void in the Tamil language except for some Hindu references; for example, (the eight Lakshmis). Even in religious contexts, the Tamil language is usually more preferred for its more poetic nature and relatively low incidence of consonant clusters.

Specific characters

Unlike other modern Indian number systems, Tamil has distinct digits for 10, 100, and 1000. It also has distinct characters for other number-based aspects of day-to-day life.

ten	hundred	thousand

day	month	year	debit	credit	as above	rupee	numeral

Powers of ten ()

There are two numeral systems that can be used in the Tamil language: the Tamil system which is as follows Template:Clarify

The following are the traditional numbers of the Template:Translit region.Template:Clarify

Original Tamil system

Rank	101	102	103	104	105	106	109	1012	1015	1018	1020	1021
Words	பத்து	நூறு	ஆயிரம்	பத்தாயிரம்	நூறாயிரம்	மெய்யிரம்	தொள்ளுண்	ஈகியம்	நெளை	இளஞ்சி	வெள்ளம்	ஆம்பல்
Character
Transliteration	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit
Translation	ten	hundred	thousand	ten thousand	hundred thousand	million	billion (milliard)	trillion (billion)	quadrillion (billiard)	quintillion (trillion)	hundred quintillion	sextillion (trilliard)

Current Tamil system

Rank	105	106	107	108	109	1011	1013	1015	1017	1019	1021	1025
Words
Character
Transliteration	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit
Translation	lakh	ten lakh	crore	ten crore	arab	kharab	nil / hundred kharab	padma	shankh / hundred padma	hundred shankh	ten thousand shankh	ten crore shankh

Partitive numerals ()

Fractions ()

Proposals to encode Tamil fractions and symbols to Unicode were submitted. As of version 12.0, Tamil characters used for fractional values in traditional accounting practices were added to the Unicode Standard.

Transcribing fractions ()

Any fraction can be transcribed by affixing - (-il) after the denominator followed by the numerator. For instance, 1/41 can be said as (Template:Translit).

The suffixing of the - (Template:Translit) requires the last consonant of the number to be changed to its (Template:Translit) form. For example, + (Template:Translit + Template:Translit) becomes (Template:Translit); note the (Template:Translit) has been omitted.

Common fractions () have names already allocated to them, hence, these names are often used rather than the above method.

Value	1⁄4	1⁄2	3⁄4	1⁄5	1⁄8	1⁄10	1⁄16	1⁄20	1⁄40	1⁄80	1⁄160
Symbol
Name							,
Transliteration	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit

Other fractions include:

Value	Name	Transliteration
3⁄16 = 0.1875		Template:Translit
3⁄20 = 0.15		Template:Translit
3⁄64 = 0.046875		Template:Translit
3⁄80 = 0.0375		Template:Translit
1⁄32 = 0.03125		Template:Translit
1⁄64 = 0.015625		Template:Translit
3⁄320 = 0.009375		Template:Translit
1⁄320 = 0.003125		Template:Translit
3⁄1280 = 0.00234375		Template:Translit
1⁄640 = 0.0015625		Template:Translit
1⁄1280 = 7.8125Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄1600 = 0.000625		Template:Translit
3⁄5120 ≈ 5.85938Template:E		Template:Translit
3⁄6400 = 4.6875Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄2500 = 0.0004		Template:Translit
1⁄3200 = 3.12500Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄5120 ≈ 1.95313Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄6400 = 1.56250Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄102400 ≈ 9.76563Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄2150400 ≈ 4.65030Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄23654400 ≈ 4.22754Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄165580800 ≈ 6.03935Template:E		Template:Translit[1]
1⁄1490227200 ≈ 6.71039Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄7451136000 ≈ 1.34208Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄44706816000 ≈ 2.23680Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄312947712000 ≈ 3.19542Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄5320111104000 ≈ 1.87966Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄74481555456000 ≈ 1.34261Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄1489631109120000 ≈ 6.71307Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄59585244364800000 ≈ 1.67827Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄3575114661888000000 ≈ 2.79711Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄357511466188800000000 ≈ 2.79711Template:E		Template:Translit
1⁄2323824530227200000000 ≈ 4.30325Template:E		Template:Translit

^ Aṇu was considered as the lowest fraction by ancient Tamils as size of smallest physical object (similar to an atom). Later, this term went to Sanskrit to refer directly to atoms.

Decimals ()

Decimal point is called (Template:Translit) in Tamil. For example, 1.1 would be read as (Template:Translit). In Sri Lankan Tamil, Thasam தசம்.

Percentage ()

Percentage is known as (Template:Translit) in Tamil or (Template:Translit). These words are simply added after a number to form percentages. For instance, four percent is (Template:Translit) or (Template:Translit). Percentage symbol (%) is also recognised and used.

Ordinal numbers ()

Ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix - (Template:Translit) after the number, except for 'First'.

Ordinal	Tamil	Transliteration
First	முதல்	Template:Translit
Second		Template:Translit
Third		Template:Translit
Fourth		Template:Translit
101st		Template:Translit

Collective numerals ()

English	Tamil	Transliteration
Single		Template:Translit
Pair		Template:Translit
Reproductives	+	Numeric prefix + noun*
Single (pillar), double (pillar)...	(), ()-	Template:Translit, Template:Translit*
Distributives	+	Numeric prefix + Template:Translit
Once, twice...	,	Template:Translit, Template:Translit

• As always, when blending two words into one, an unvoiced form of the consonant as the one that the second starts with, is placed in between to blend.

Traditional Tamil counting song

This song is a list of each number with a concept its primarily associated with.

Tamil	Transliteration	English
	Template:Translit	One race
	Template:Translit	Two sexesTemplate:Sndmale (, Template:Translit), female (, Template:Translit)
	Template:Translit	Three sections of TamilTemplate:Sndliterature (, Template:Translit), music (, Template:Translit), and drama (, Template:Translit)
	Template:Translit	Four scriptures
	Template:Translit	Five senses
	Template:Translit	Six tastesTemplate:Sndsweet (Template:Translit), pungent (Template:Translit), bitter (Template:Translit), sour (Template:Translit), salty (Template:Translit), and astringent (Template:Translit).
	Template:Translit	Seven musical notes (Template:Translit, Template:Translit, Template:Translit, Template:Translit, Template:Translit, Template:Translit, Template:Translit)
	Template:Translit	Eight directionsTemplate:Sndeast (Template:Translit), west (Template:Translit), north (Template:Translit), south (Template:Translit), south-west (Template:Translit), south-east (Template:Translit), north-west (Template:Translit), and north-east (Template:Translit).
	Template:Translit	Nine gemsTemplate:Snddiamond (, Template:Translit), emerald (, Template:Translit), blue sapphire (, Template:Translit), garnet (, Template:Translit), red coral (, Template:Translit), ruby (, Template:Translit), pearl (, Template:Translit), topaz (, Template:Translit), and cat's eye (, Template:Translit).
	Template:Translit	Also known as Template:Translit as per the dance expressions. These are joyful (Template:Translit), humour (Template:Translit), cries (Template:Translit), innocent (Template:Translit), proud (Template:Translit), fear (Template:Translit), disgust (Template:Translit), wonder (Template:Translit), and tranquility (Template:Translit).

Influence on other dravidian languages

As the ancient classical language of the Dravidian languages, Tamil numerals influenced and shaped the numerals of the others in the family. The following table compares the main Dravidian languages.

Number	Tamil	Kannada	Malayalam	Tulu	Telugu	Kolami	Kurukh	Brahui	Proto-Dravidian
1	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	*oru(1)
2	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit, Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	*iru(2)
3	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	*muC
4	Template:Translit, Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit (II)	*nān
5	Template:Translit, Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit, Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit 3	Template:Translit (II)	Template:Translit (II)	*cayN
6	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit 3	Template:Translit (II)	Template:Translit (II)	*caru
7	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit, Template:Translit, Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit 3	Template:Translit (II)	Template:Translit (II)	*ēlu
8	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit, Template:Translit, Template:Translit, Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit 3	Template:Translit (II)	Template:Translit (II)	*eṭṭu
9	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit 3	Template:Translit (II)	Template:Translit (II)	*toḷ
10	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit 3	Template:Translit (II)	Template:Translit (II)	*pat(tu)

Also, Tamil through the Pallava script which itself through the Kawi script, Khmer script and other South-east Asian scripts has shaped the numeral grapheme of most South-east Asian languages.

History

Before the Government of India unveiled Template:Indian rupee as the new rupee symbol, people in Tamil Nadu used the Tamil letter as the symbol. This symbol continues to be used occasionally as rupee symbol by Indian Tamils. It is also used by Tamils in Sri Lanka.

The symbol is also known as the Template:Translit (Template:Lit), a symbol that most Tamil Hindus will start off any auspicious document with. It is written to invoke the god Template:Translit, known otherwise as Ganesha, who is the remover of obstacles.

See also

• Kaṇita Tīpikai
• Tamil script
• Tamil units of measurement