Which Dravidian languages besides Tamil are spoken in Tamil Nadu?

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In addition to Tamil, which is the official state language, several other Dravidian languages are spoken within Tamil Nadu.1

These include:

  • Telugu: Spoken by approximately one-tenth of the state's population.1
  • Kannada: Spoken by a smaller number of residents, particularly in the western region near the borders of Karnataka and Keralam. This includes the Badaga dialect.1
  • Malayalam: Also spoken by a smaller number of people, with a stronger presence in the western border regions.1

Additionally, various indigenous communities living in the hill regions of the state speak their own Dravidian languages.1