திருநம்பி

Tamil

Etymology

• திரு (tiru, “respectable, respected, title similar to Sri/Mr./Ms.”) +‎ நம்பி (nampi, “gentleman”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t̪ɪɾʊn̪ɐmbɪ/,

Noun

திருநம்பி • (tirunampi)

1. trans man
   • 2021 January 22, Va. Ravikumar, The Hindu Tamil‎:

     லோகேஸ்வரி என்னும் திருநங்கை ஒருவருக்கும், திருநம்பி ஒருவருக்கும் தங்களின் கடையில் பணி வாய்ப்பையும் வழங்கியிருக்கின்றனர்.

     lōkēsvari eṉṉum tirunaṅkai oruvarukkum, tirunampi oruvarukkum taṅkaḷiṉ kaṭaiyil paṇi vāyppaiyum vaḻaṅkiyirukkiṉṟaṉar.

     They have given job opportunities for a trans woman named Lokeshwari and a trans man.

Usage notes

This term, along with திருனர் (tiruṉar, “trans person”) and திருநங்கை (tirunaṅkai, “trans woman”) 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.

References