திருநங்கை

Compound of திரு (tiru, “respectable, respected, title similar to Sri/Mr./Ms.”) +‎ நங்கை (naṅkai, “woman”); coined by activists in the 2000s "as a progressive, 'modern,' and 'authentically Tamil' identity in contrast to hijra".

• IPA^(key): /t̪iɾun̪aŋɡai/

• Audio:

  (file)

திருநங்கை • (tirunaṅkai)

1. trans woman
   • 2021 October 5, Thisara Aravinda Rathuwithana, “இலங்கையில் தன்பாலினத்தவரை இலக்கு வைக்கும் பிரித்தானிய கால சட்டத்துக்கு எதிர்ப்பு - என்ன காரணம்?”, in BBC‎:

     மாதவி, ஒரு திருநங்கை. 32 வயதாகிறது.

     mātavi, oru tirunaṅkai. 32 vayatākiṟatu.

     Matavi is a 32-year-old trans woman.

This term, along with திருனர் (tiruṉar, “trans person”) and திருநம்பி (tirunampi, “trans man”) are considered the most respectful terms of reference among the Tamil Nadu transgender community. They were adopted by the government of Tamil Nadu between 2006 and 2020 upon the community's request as a replacement for the term அரவாணி (aravāṇi), which was considered derogatory and restricted to only trans women. In 2020, the government ordered the use of the term மூன்றாம் பாலினத்தவர் (mūṉṟām pāliṉattavar, “third gender”) instead, but transgender activists have stated that it is demeaning and othering.

• → English: thirunangai (“specifically for a trans woman of Tamil Nadu or movements pertaining to the community”)