Ennanga is a Tamil word. Unable to give an exact English translation. It is a Tamil word where wife is calling for the attention of the husband. Just one word but meaning changes depending on the situation.
Ennanga, during morning – filter coffee is ready
Ennanga, during lunch time – come to the dining table to eat
Ennanga, when eating lunch/dinner – is the food tasty?
Ennanga, during evening – what should I cook for dinner?
Ennanga, at the hospital – what did the doctor say?
Ennanga, with child’s report card in hand – why our kid did so poorly?
Ennanga, after she opened the front door – someone is here, come and see
Ennanga, at the saree store – I have selected the saree and you pay for it
Ennanga, when leaving for a marriage – do I look good in saree?
Ennanga, while attending a marriage – I want to introduce you to someone
Ennanga, when he is about to go out – here is a list of things to buy
Ennanga (with a tight smile) – I am very angry
Ennanga (when husband calls her) – What do you want?
Ennanga (when husband's office room is a mess) – What the hell is this?
Ennanga at bed time – I am ready if you are
என்னங்க (ennanga) is technically drawing the attention of someone with respect. Ennanga is not only used to draw the attention of spouse, it is also used in several context to draw attention of some elder person of your age.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Anonymous. I was trying to show how the same word has different meaning depending on the situation.
DeleteI feel Ennanga is used mainly to husbands and rarely with others. The meaning varies with context,time and place. I liked the post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Mr. KP. I fully agree with you,
DeleteEnnanga is not mainly used for husband's. in Tamilnadu (india) widely used for others and rarely used between spouses. For example, ennanga what is the time now to a stranger? Ennanga when are you coming?
DeleteEnnanga neenga ippadi solreenga? (What do you say like this?). Maybe in a Brahmin spouses only it is sparingly used.Mostly used in others with a respect.
Haha. Your commenrs itself states the flaw in your argument. Your comments says ennanga what is time, ennnanga when are you coming, ennanga ipdi solreenga, blah blah. But without going into full sentence, just the one word only "ennanga" is between wife and husband only. Other may use it as part of the full sentence. Just Ennanga without any following words is wife to husband.
DeleteWhat you say may be correct but from the examples given in the post, it could be only berween spouses.
DeleteBut such form of addressing is a passe’ these days amid white collar working and educated people where spouses are addressed by shortened names. There are still women who would not utter husbands’ name out of respect. Thank you
You are correct Mr. KP. Just one word "ennanga" without going into full sentence is only betweeen wife and husband.
DeleteI stand to differ with Anonymous 's comment. It is mostly between husband and wife and rarely with others. The modulation differs depending on the situation. Out of frustration/vexation it sounds differently. Those days wife used to address the husband "Ennanga" with due respect. Nowadays "Ennada" Vaada poda without respect in a friendly way, sometimes out of affection and love too
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Gowri.
DeleteNice one. Amazing to see the multiplicity of meanings of a seemingly simple word! Just shows how context and tone can completely transform the meaning of a word!
ReplyDeleteMy latest post: Zoological parks
Thanks for your comments Pradeep.
DeleteYeah, that's some complexity. I think, that word is used here commonly between many people, but always with other words to clear the meaning. However, as a stand-alone word, it should make sense only with husband and wife.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rajesh. You are correct.
DeleteThis post is humorous.
ReplyDeleteA one word has so many meanings. And personal taste also.
Very well written blog post and has made us laugh.
Thanks for your comments Kirtivasan.
DeleteJust like money, which has many names as per use and situations just as donation, subscription, alimony, bribe and so on. You always choose such topics that do not stand as a common topic, S.G. Nice.
ReplyDelete