For a better experience, please study in landscape mode on your mobile.
Topic

Ethugai Monai Iyaibu

Learn Ethugai, Monai, and Iyaibu in Tamil poetry - identification methods, differences, examples, and practice questions for TNPSC Tamil Grammar preparation with detailed explanations.

Share WhatsApp

Learning Content

Scroll sideways to see more tabs →

Ethugai, Monai, Iyaibu - Poetry Embellishments

Ethugai, Monai, and Iyaibu are important sound embellishments in Tamil poetry that add melody and beauty to verses.

1. Ethugai (Rhyme)

Definition:
Agreement of the second letter is Ethugai.

Explanation:
The second letter in each line should match. The first letter can differ.

Example:

  • kalvi - nalvai (second letter "l" matches)
  • maram - tharam (second letter "r" matches)

2. Monai (Alliteration)

Definition:
Agreement of the first letter is Monai.

Explanation:
The first letter in each line should match. The second letter can differ.

Example:

  • maram - malar (first letter "m" matches)
  • kadal - kavin (first letter "k" matches)

3. Iyaibu (Consonance)

Definition:
Agreement of both first and second letters is Iyaibu.

Explanation:
Both the first two letters in each line should match. Iyaibu = Ethugai + Monai.

Example:

  • maram - marakkalam (first two letters "m", "r" match)
  • kadal - kadavul (first two letters "k", "d" match)

Easy Reference:

Type What Matches Example
Monai First letter maram - malar
Ethugai Second letter kalvi - nalvai
Iyaibu First + Second letter kadal - kadavul

Important Note:

"Letter" (எழுத்து) in Tamil refers to phonemes.

  • "kalvi" has: k, a, l, v, i = 5 letters
  • So first letter = k, second letter = a

Character calculation method

In Tamil Seyul you have to count the letters correctly to find out the vowels, monai and iyyabu.

Letter Separation Method:

1. Consonants:
K, Ng, Ch, Nj, T, N, Th, N, B, M, Y, R, L, V, L, L, L, N

2. Vowels:
A, B, E, E, U, F, A, A, I, O, O, AU

3. Vowels:
One real and one life together

Examples - Letter Separation:

Example 1: "Education"

  • K + A = K (1st letter)
  • in (2nd syllable)
  • W + E = V (3rd letter)
  • Total: 3 characters

Example 2: "Wellness"

  • N + A = N (1st letter)
  • in (2nd syllable)
  • W + I = Y (3rd letter)
  • Total: 3 characters

Which:Education - Goodness (second letter comes together with "in")

Example 3: "Tree"

  • M + A = M (1st letter)
  • r + a = r (2nd letter)
  • M (3rd letter)
  • Total: 3 characters

Example 4: "Flower"

  • M + A = M (1st letter)
  • L + A = L (2nd letter)
  • r (3rd letter)
  • Total: 3 characters

Moanai:Tree - Flower (first letter "h" comes together)

Example 5: "Sea"

  • K + A = K (1st letter)
  • D + A = D (2nd letter)
  • in (3rd letter)
  • Total: 3 characters

Example 6: "God"

  • K + A = K (1st letter)
  • D + A = D (2nd letter)
  • V + U = Vu (3rd letter)
  • (4th character)
  • Total: 4 characters

Goodness:Sea - God (first two letters "K" and "D" come together)

Usage in steps:

Example of which:

In some languages
Demadurath Tamilosai

  • In languages: Mo, Chi, Ka, Li, Le (2nd letter: O)
  • Tamil: Tha, Mi, Zo, Sai (2nd letter: a)
    (It's not the whole thing, but the hearing thing)

Example:

You have forgotten Madhavan
You have forgotten Madhavan

  • Menstruation:MA, D, W, N (1st letter: M)
  • For those who forgot:Mর, ন, ত, ল, রে (1st letter: ম)

Example:

All the grains of sand in the sea
Past fame is Odion

 

 

Practice 1: Identify What Type

Q1: "kalvi - nalvai" - What is this?

  • Answer: Ethugai
  • Explanation: Second letter "l" matches

Q2: "maram - malar" - What is this?

  • Answer: Monai
  • Explanation: First letter "ma" matches

Q3: "kadal - kadavul" - What is this?

  • Answer: Iyaibu
  • Explanation: First two letters "ka", "da" match

Q4: "parisu - narigal" - What is this?

  • Answer: Ethugai
  • Explanation: Second letter "ra" matches

Q5: "tamil - tarani" - What is this?

  • Answer: Monai
  • Explanation: First letter "ta" matches

Practice 2: Separating Ethugai, Monai, Iyaibu

Q6: "kavin - navin" - What is this?

  • Answer: Ethugai
  • Explanation:
    • kavin: ka(1), vi(2), n(3)
    • navin: na(1), vi(2), n(3)
    • Second letter "vi" matches

Q7: "palan - paguthi" - What is this?

  • Answer: Monai
  • Explanation:
    • palan: pa(1), la(2), n(3)
    • paguthi: pa(1), ku(2), thi(3)
    • First letter "pa" matches

Q8: "nilam - nilavu" - What is this?

  • Answer: Iyaibu
  • Explanation:
    • nilam: ni(1), la(2), m(3)
    • nilavu: ni(1), la(2), vu(3)
    • First two letters "ni", "la" match

Practice 3: Mixed Questions

Q9: "varam - tharam" - What is this?

  • Answer: Ethugai (Second letter "ra" matches)

Q10: "kanam - karam" - What is this?

  • Answer: Monai (First letter "ka" matches)

Q11: "mazhai - marai" - What is this?

  • Answer: Monai (First letter "ma" matches)

Q12: "padam - nadam" - What is this?

  • Answer: Ethugai (Second letter "da" matches)

Q13: "tamil - tamizhar" - What is this?

  • Answer: Iyaibu (First two letters "ta", "mi" match)

Q14: "vazhai - thazhai" - What is this?

  • Answer: Ethugai (Second letter "aa" matches)

Q15: "pugazh - puthmai" - What is this?

  • Answer: Monai (First letter "pu" matches)

Practice 4: Complex Questions

Q16: "kannan - vinnor" - What is this?

  • Answer: Ethugai
  • Explanation: Second letter "n" matches

Q17: "madhavan - malai" - What is this?

  • Answer: Monai
  • Explanation: First letter "maa" matches

Q18: "thendral - sendru" - What is this?

  • Answer: Ethugai
  • Explanation: Second letter "e" sound matches

Q19: "kadal - kadumai" - What is this?

  • Answer: Iyaibu
  • Explanation: First two letters "ka", "da" match

Q20: "palam - pagal" - What is this?

  • Answer: Monai
  • Explanation: First letter "pa" matches

Practice 5: TNPSC Model Questions

Q21: Which of the following has Ethugai?
a) maram - malar
b) kalvi - nalvai
c) kadal - kadavul
d) tamil - tarani

  • Answer: b) kalvi - nalvai
  • Explanation: Second letter "l" matches

Q22: Which of the following has Monai?
a) padam - nadam
b) vazhai - thazhai
c) pugazh - puthmai
d) kavin - navin

  • Answer: c) pugazh - puthmai
  • Explanation: First letter "pu" matches

Q23: Which of the following has Iyaibu?
a) mazhai - marai
b) nilam - nilavu
c) kanam - karam
d) varam - tharam

  • Answer: b) nilam - nilavu
  • Explanation: First two letters "ni", "la" match

Patterns appearing in TNPSC Exams

Question Formats:

Form 1: Direct identification
"Which of the following words is true?"

Format 2: Match

a) Monai        1) Education – Good
b) Tree - Flower 2) Tree - Flower
c) Iyyapu        3) Sea - God

Pattern 3: Find the wrong one
"Which of the following word pairs is not monophonic?"

Quick way to identify:

Step 1: Separate the characters

  • Write the word into letters
  • Example: "Education" = K + L + V

Step 2: Compare the first two characters

  • Only the first letter is →Moanai
  • Only the second letter is →what is
  • Both by one →It's okay

Step 3: Verify

  • Confirm once again

To remember:

Team What is nothing? A simple note
Moanai MTal letter MTal
Amourning eSecond character eTwo
eYabu eBoth eBoth

Common mistakes:

Mistake 1:Miscounting letters

  • ✗ Incorrect: "Kalvi" = K, L, W, W (4 letters)
  • ✓ Correct: "education" = k, l, v (3 letters)

Mistake 2:Seeing without separating the vowels

  • ✗ Mistake: Thinking "ma" is a letter
  • ✓ Correct: "ma" = m + b (but one letter phonetically)

Mistake 3:Ignoring the sound difference

  • "Rain - Hide" are both monophonic because of "m".

Identifying which mon in the cell:

For example:

Demadurath Tamilosai in Yamarinda languages
Bamalai Tamil is a Pariren language

Analysis:

  • 1st step: In languages ​​- Tamilosai (partial part)
  • 2nd Foot: Bamalai - Bariren (Monai: "pa" comes together)

Important Notes:

  1. Character calculation is very important

    • Writing in Tamil means phonetics
    • Count each sound separately

  2. Mark Neddle Difference

    • "Ka" (Mark) ≠ "Ka" (Needle)
    • But both start with the consonant "k".

  3. The internal environment

    • Every step of the way should be watched
    • Note the initial letters of the words

  4. Focus on the question paper

    • Read the question completely
    • "Just what" means no more
    • "Iyiyapu" means both

Things to practice:

  1. Practice letter segmentation

    • Write 50 words into letters

  2. A comparative exercise

    • Take the two words and find out what is/is/is

  3. Internal analysis

    • Find out what's new in Thirukkural songs

  4. Previous Year Exam Questions

    • Solve and practice TNPSC last 10 year questions

Examples include:

Screw example:

The first letter of the alphabet is Adi
The world is before God

Analysis:

  • Akara - Adi (Example: Second letter "ka/ti")
  • Bhagavan - Bakhuthu (Monai: First Letter "P")

Mantra Example:

Masil veena and evening and afternoon
The wind is blowing and the wind is blowing

Analysis:

  • Masil - Mala (Iyyyub: "ma" comes together)
  • विशु - वीजु (यैयुबु: "wee" comes together)

Final Tips:

✓ Count the letters correctly
✓ Pay attention to the first two letters
✓ Monai = first, Nyakai = second, Iyyapu = both
✓ Practice is the key to success

Previous Topic Selecting Appropriate Meanings Explained by Similes - Metaphor Grammar
Next Topic Proverbs

General Tamil

All Parts

1

Grammar

Matching, Conjunctions, Antonyms, Error Correction - Elimina...

2

Literature

Thirukkural, Aranulams, Eighteen Books, Kamparamayanam, Aime...

3

Tamil scholars and Tamil charity

Bharatiyar, Bharathidasan, Namakkal Poet, Kavimani Desika Vi...

DISCLAIMER

This is an independent educational initiative. Not affiliated with TNPSC.
Please verify official sources before appearing for exams.