In Tamil, some nouns (e.g. மாணவர், நண்பர்) have gendered forms.
- Whats the difference between மாணவர், மாணவர்கள், மாணவன் and மாணவி? மாணவி is always a ‘female’ student and மாணவன் is always a ‘male’ student. மாணவர்கள் always refers to students in the plural and is gender non-specific. மாணவர், on the other hand, can be either singular or plural and can refer to a student of either gender. In this course we’ll use மாணவர் in a gender-neutral way and to mean ‘student’ in the singular form.
- Whats the difference between நண்பர், நண்பர்கள், நண்பன் and நண்பி? நண்பி is always a ‘female’ friend and நண்பன் is always a ‘male’ friend. நண்பர்கள் always refers to students in the plural and is gender non-specific. நண்பர், on the other hand, can be either singular or plural and can refer to a student of either gender. In this course we’ll use நண்பர் in a gender-neutral way and to mean ‘student’ in the singular form.
- Is மனிதர் (human) in the singular or plural? மனிதர் can indicate a human of either gender in the singular or plural form. In this course we will use it to refer to a human of either gender in the singular form. மனிதர்கள் will be used to indicate plurality.