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Re: words for "father" in Tamil

From the Bhakti List Archives

Shreyas Sarangan • July 21, 1998 


My maternal grandfather refers to his late father as "aNNa".
(This really used to confuse me as to whom he was talking about :)
 
Though originally from Srirangam, his family had settled 
in Malleswaram, Bangalore, atleast two generations before 
his. I've always been curious to which community 
(geographic?) this could have been characteristic of.
Interestingly, my mamas (maternal uncles) address him as
"appa" only.

About me.... I use "appa".

 -Shreyas


> Are there other members who address their fathers
> as "aNNa" instead of "appa"?  Many Karnataka-based
> Tamil people, including myself, say aNNa, and I have
> heard a few other Tamil people say this.  
> 
> What do Bhakti list members say?
> 
> Mani