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Loan words in Malayalam, excluding the huge number of words from Sanskrit originated mostly due to the centuries long interactions between the native population of Kerala and the trading (predominantly, spice trading) powers of the world. This included trading contacts with Arabia, Persia, Levant, Europe, and China spanning millennia, and with European colonial powers for several centuries. According to Sooranad Kunjan Pillai who compiled the authoritative Malayalam lexicon, the other principal languages whose vocabulary was incorporated over the ages were Arabic, Dutch, Pali, Persian, Portuguese, Prakrit, Syriac, and Urdu. [1]
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness.
Most of the loan words from Portuguese language are for items which the native population lacked when the encounter with Portuguese empire happened from around the final years of the 15th century. Portuguese was the lingua franca in Africa, Brazil, South Asia and parts of South East Asia during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The Portuguese Empire was the major ruling colonial power in South India during this period, they were first modern European power to encounter India on a large scale, and thus their language had a strong influence on Malayalam (similar to many other Indian languages). [2]
Malayalam | Malayalam Romanization | IPA Alphabet | Meaning | Original form |
---|---|---|---|---|
അണ്ണാര | aṇṇāra | /aɳ:a:ɾa/ | pineapple | ananás |
അന്തിക്രിസ്തു | antikristu | /an̪d̪ikrist̪u/ | antichrist | anticristo |
അപ്പോസ്തലന് | appōstalan | /ap:o:st̪alan/ | Apostle | apóstola |
അമ്മിഞ്ഞ | ammiñña | /am:iɲ:a/ | breast | maminha |
അലമാരി | alamāri | /alama:ɾi/ | almirah (wardrobe) | armário |
അലവാങ്ക് | alavāṅkŭ | /alaʋa:ŋgɨ/ | lever | alavanca |
അൾത്താര | aḷtāra | /aɭt̪:a:ɾa/ | altar | altar |
അസേന്തി | asēnti | /ase:n̪d̪i/ | assistant priest | assistente |
ആത്ത | ātta | /a:t̪:a/ | Annona reticulata | ata |
ആയ | āya | /a:ja | maid, female peon | aia |
ഇങ്കിരീസ് | iṅkirīsŭ | /iŋgiɾi:sɨ/ | English | inglês |
ഇലുമ്പി | ilumpi | /ilumbi/ | Averrhoa bilimbi | bilimbi |
ഇസ്തിരി | istiri | /ist̪iɾi/ | ironing, pressing | estirar |
ഒലന്ത | olanta | /olan̪d̪a/ | Holland, Netherlands | holanda |
ഓസ്തി | ōsti | /o:st̪i/ | sacramental wafer | hóstia |
കടലാസ് | kaṭalāsŭ | /kaɖala:sə/ | paper | cartaz |
കമീസ് | kamēssu | /kamiːsˈu/ | shirt | camisa |
കത്തോലിക്ക | kattōlikka | /kat̪:o:lik:a/ | catholic | católica |
കദ്രീഞ്ഞ | kadrīñña | /kad̪ri:ɲ:a/ | stool | cadeirinha |
കപ്പിത്താന് | kappittān | /kap:it̪:a:n/ | captain | capitão |
കപ്പേള | kappēḷa | /kap:e:ɭa/ | chapel | capela |
കറൂപ്പ് | kaṟūppŭ | /karu:pɨ/ | Epinephelus malabaricus (grouper) | garoupa |
കളസം | kaḷasaṁ | /kaɭasam/ | shorts | calção |
കശു | kaśu | /kaʃu/ | cashew | caju |
കസേര | kasēra | /kase:ɾa/ | chair | cadeira |
കാപ്പ | kāppa | /ka:pa/ | Cape (cloth) | capa |
കാപ്പിരി | kāppiri | /ka:piɾi/ | African | cafre |
കുനീല് | kunīl | /kuni:l | funnel | funil |
കുമ്പസാരം | kumpasāraṁ | /kumbasa:ɾam/ | Confession | confessar |
കുമ്പാതിരി | kumpātiri | /kumba:d̪iri/ | Godparent | compadre |
കുരിശ് | kuriśŭ | /kuriʃɨ/ | cross | cruz |
കുശിനി | kuśini | /kuʃini/ | kitchen | cozinha |
കൊന്ത | konta | /kond̪a/ | String beads (Rosary) | conta |
കൊരടാവ് | koraṭāvŭ | /koɾaɖa:v/ | whip | corda |
കൊലേരി | kolēri | /kole:ɾi/ | trowel | colher |
കൊവേന്ത | kovēnta | /koʋe:nd̪a/ | convent | convento |
കോടതി | kōṭati | /ko:ɖad̪i/ | court | corte |
ക്രിസ്തു | kristu | /krist̪u/ | Christ | Cristo |
ഗുദാം | gudāṁ | /gud̪a:m/ | godown, factory | godão |
ഗോവര്ണതദോര് | gōvarṇadōr | /go:ʋarɳad̪or/ | Governor | governador |
ചകലാസ് | cakalāsŭ | /t͡ʃagala:sɨ/ | a red blanket | escarlate |
ചങ്ങാടം | caṅṅāṭam | /t͡ʃaŋŋa:ɖam/ | raft | jangada |
ചാക്ക് | cākkŭ | /t͡ʃa:kɨ/ | sack | saco |
ചാപ്പ | cāppa | /t͡ʃa:pa/ | seal, stamp | chapa |
ചാറ | cāṟa | /t͡ʃa:ra/ | a big jar | jarra |
ചാവി | cāvi | /t͡ʃa:ʋi/ | key | chave |
ചിന്തേര് | cintēr | /t͡ʃind̪e:r/ | polishing chisel | cinzel |
ജനാല | janāla | /d͡ʒan̪a:la/ | window | janela |
തമ്പാക്ക് | tampākkŭ | /t̪amba:kɨ/ | tobacco | tabaco |
തമ്പേറ് | tampēṟŭ | /t̪ambe:rɨ/ | a kind of drum | tambor |
താള് | tāḷ | /t̪a:ɭ/ | page (of book) | talão |
തീരുവ | tīruva | /t̪i:ɾuʋa/ | tariff | tarifa |
തുറുങ്ക് | tuṟuṅkŭ | /t̪urungɨ/ | jail | tronco |
തുവാല | tuvāla | /t̪uʋa:la/ | towel | toalha |
തൊപ്പി | toppi | /t̪opi/ | cap, hat | topo |
തോത് | tōtŭ | /t̪o:d̪ɨ/ | measure, total | todo |
നങ്കൂരം | naṅkūraṁ | /nangu:ɾam/ | anchor | âncora |
നോന | nōna | /n̪o:n̪a/ | Luso-Indian Lady | dona |
പാതിരി | pāthiri | pädrā | priest | padre |
പിക്കാസ് | pikkāsu | pikkāssu | pick axe | picão |
പക | paka | /paga/ | to pay (revenge) | pagar |
പട്ടാളം | paṭṭāḷaṁ | /paʈ:a:ɭam/ | soldier, battalion | batalhão |
പപ്പാഞ്ഞി | pappāññi | /pap:a:ɲi/ | old man, Santa Claus | papaizinho |
പപ്പായ | pappāya | /pap:a:ja/ | papaya | papaia |
പലക | palaka | /palaga/ | board, a piece of wood | placa |
പാനോസ് | pānōsŭ | pa:n̪o:sɨ/ | Fabrication work | panos |
പാപ്പ | pāppa | /pa:pa/ | Pope | papa |
പാപ്പം | pāppaṁ | /pa:pam/ | food | papa |
ഇസ്ട്രി | isṭri | /is:thri/ | clothing | esticar |
പാര | pāra | /pa:ɾa/ | crow-bar, beam | barra |
പാറ്റ | pātta | /pa:rra/ | cockroach | barata |
പിസ്താശി | pistāśi | /pist̪a:ʃi/ | pistachio | pistache |
പീഞ്ഞ | pīñña | /pi:ɲa/ | pine tree sp. | pinha |
പീലാസ് | pīlāsŭ | /pi:la:sɨ/ | godchild | filha |
പുര്ത്തുഗാല് | purtugāl | /purt̪uga:l/ | Portugal | Portugal |
പദ്രീഞ്ഞ | padrīñña | /pad̪ri:ɲa/ | godparents | padrinho |
പൂറ് | pūṟŭ | /pu:rɨ/ | vagina | furo |
പദ്രീഞ്ഞ | padrīñña | /pad̪ri:ɲa/ | godparents | padrinho |
പേന | pēna | /pe:n̪a/ | pen | pena |
പേര | pēra | /pe:ɾa/ | Psidium guajava | pera |
പോർക്ക് | pōrkkŭ | /po:rkɨ/ | pork | porco |
പ്രവിശ്യ | praviśya | /praʋiʃja/ | province | província |
പ്രാകുക | prākuka | /pra:guga/ | to curse | pragar |
ബത്തേരി | battēri | /bat̪:e:ri/ | battery | bateria |
ബർബര | barbara | /barbaɾa/ | barbarian | bárbara |
ഒലിവ് ഫലം | olive phalam | /olivphalaṁ/ | olive | Oliva |
ബര്മ | barma | /barma/ | gimlet | verruma |
ബോര്മര | bōrma | /bo:rma/ | oven, furnace | forno |
മറുക് | maṟukŭ | /marugɨ/ | scar | marco |
മാമം | māmaṁ | /ma:mam/ | breast | mama |
മെത്രാപൊലീത്ത | metrāpolītta | /met̪ra:poli:ta/ | Metropolitan Bishop | metropolitan |
മേശ | mēśa | /me:ʃa/ | table | mesa |
മേസ്തിരി | mēstiri | /me:st̪iɾi/ | head of a masonry work | mestre |
മുറി | muṟi | /mur:hi/ | wall/room | muro |
രസീത് | rasītŭ | /ɾæsi:d̪ɨ/ | receipt | receito |
റാത്തല് | ṟāttal | /ra:tal/ | pound (weight) | arrátel |
റാന്തല് | ṟāntal | /ra:nd̪al/ | lantern | lanterna |
റേന്ത | ṟēnta | /re:nd̪a/ | lacework | renda |
റോന്ത് | ṟōntŭ | /ro:nd̪ɨ/ | patrol | rondo |
റോസ | ṟōsa | /ro:sa/ | Rosa sp. | rosa |
ലത്തീന് | lattīn | /lat̪:i:n | Latin | latim |
ലേലം | lēlaṁ | /le:lam/ | auction | leilão |
ലേസ് | lēsŭ | /le:sɨ/ | kerchief | lenço |
ളോഹ | ḷōha | /ɭo:ha/ | cassock | loba |
വങ്ക്/വക്ക് | vaṅkŭ/vakku | /ʋangɨ/ | edge, a kind of bench | banco |
വരാന്ത | varānta | /ʋaɾa:nd̪a/ | veranda | varanda |
വാത്ത | vātta | /ʋa:t̪:a/ | goose | pata |
വാര | vāra | /ʋa:ɾa/ | a yard (measure) | vara |
വിജാഗിരി | vijāgiri | /ʋid͡ʒa:giri/ | hinge | visagra |
വിനാഗിരി | vināgiri | /vin̪a:giri/ | vinegar | vinagre |
വീഞ്ഞ് | vīñŭ | /ʋi:ɲɨ/ | wine | vinho |
വെഞ്ചിരിക്കുക | veñcirikkuka | /ʋend͡ʒiɾikuga/ | to sacrament | benzer |
സവോള | savōḷa | /saʋo:ɭa/ | Allium cepa | cebola |
സാത്താന് | sāttān | /sa:t̪:a:n/ | Satan | Satã |
സെമിത്തേരി | semittēri | /semit̪:e:ɾi/ | cemetery | cemitério |
സെമിനാരി | semināri | /semin̪a:ɾi/ | Seminary | seminari |
The Portuguese language had also taken some words from Malayalam, and they should not be confused vice versa.
Portuguese | Meaning | Original form | Malayalam transliteration |
---|---|---|---|
jaca | jackfruit | ചക്ക | chakka |
manga | mango | മാങ്ങ | maanga |
betel | Betel | വെറ്റില | vettila |
teca | Teak | തേക്ക് | thekku |
jagra | Jaggery | ചക്കര | chakkara |
Malayalam | Malayalam Romanization | IPA Pronunciation | Meaning | Original form |
---|---|---|---|---|
അടുതാപ്പ് | aṭutāppŭ | /aɖud̪a:p:ɨ̆/ | air potato | aardappel |
അപ്പോത്തിക്കരി | appōttikkari | /ap:o:t̪:ik:aɾi/ | Pharmacist | apotheker |
കാബറേ | kābaṟē | /ka:bare:/ | Strip Joint | cabaret |
ബിസ്കൂപ്പ് | biskūppŭ | /bisku:ppɨ̆/ | cinema | bioscoop |
കക്കൂസ് | kakkūsŭ | /kak:u:sɨ̆/ | Toilet | kakhuis |
കള്കം | kaḷkaṁ | /kaɭkam/ | Turkey (bird) | kalkoen |
കാപ്പി | kāppi | /ka:p:i/ | Coffea sp. | koffie |
കോപ്പ | kōppa | /ko:p:a/ | cup | kopje |
കോക്കി | kōkki | /ko:k:i/ | cook | kokin |
തപാല് | tapāl | /t̪aba:l/ | post | de paal |
തേ | tē | /t̪e:/ | tea | thee |
റൗക്ക | rowkka | /raʊka/ | frock | rok |
Due to British and foreign influence, English words are common in spoken and formal Malayalam. These words are predominantly used by the newer generations and they are used as substitutions. If somebody forgot a word in Malayalam, they will use English words combined with Malayalam to explain. Manglish (not to be confused with the informal form of Malaysian English) is a form of Malayalam which uses Roman script to write Malayalam. Here are some examples
Malayalam | Malayalam Transliteration | Meaning | Original form |
---|---|---|---|
മദാമ്മ | madāmma | A woman of European decent, used in a derogatory manner | Madam/e |
മാഷ് | māṣŭ | Teacher, guru | Master |
ഹാലോവീൻ | hālōvīn̠ | The holiday Halloween | Halloween |
ക്രിസ്തുമസ് | kristumasŭ | The holiday of Christmas | Christmas |
പ്രിൻ്റർ | prin̠d̠ar̠ | What you use to print (printer) | Printer |
കമ്പ്യൂട്ടർ | kambyūṭṭar̠ | Computer | Computer |
ലാപ്ടോപ്പ് | lāpṭōppǔ | Laptop | Laptop |
റിഹേഴ്സൽ | ṟihēḻsal | Rehearsal | Rehearsal |
കസിൻ | kasiṉ | Cousin | Cousin |
റെഡി | ṟeḍi | Ready | Ready |
ഫോൺ | fōṇ | Phone | Phone |
ആഫീസ് | āphīsǔ | Office | Office |
ഡോക്ടർ | ḍōkṭar̠ | Doctor | Doctor |
സാർ | sār̠ | Sir | Sir |
സ്കൂൾ | skūḷ | School | School |
സിനിമ | siṉima | Movie | Cinema |
പോലീസ് | pōlīsǔ | Police | Police |
പ്രാക്ടീസ് | pṟākṭīsǔ | Practice | Practice |
ഫൗൾ | fauḷ | Foul | Foul |
മിൽ | mil | Mill | Mill |
സ്ലിപ്പ് | slippǔ | Small piece of paper. | Slip |
സൈക്കിൾ | saikkiḷ | Cycle | Cycle |
ഫ്ലാഷ്ബാക്ക് | flāṣbākkǔ | Flashback | Flashback |
ഹോസ്പിറ്റൽ | hōspiṯal | Hospital | Hospital |
കോളേജ് | kōḷējǔ | College | College |
ക്ലാസ് | klāsǔ | Class | Class |
ടർക്കി | ṭar̠kki | Turkey | Turkey |
ടീം | ṭīṃ | Team | Team |
റോക്കറ്റ് | ṟōkkaṯǔ | Rocket | Rocket |
ബ്രേക്ക് | brēkkǔ | Break/brake, to break | Break/brake |
ലോൺ | lōṇ | Loan | Loan |
ജഡ്ജ് | jaḍjǔ | Judge, to thank you | Judge |
കിലോമീറ്റർ | kilōmīṯar̠ | Kilometre | Kilometre |
സ്പോഞ്ച് | spōñjǔ | Sponge | Sponge |
ചിക്കൻ | cikkaṉ | Chicken | Chicken |
മാനേജർ | māṉējar̠ | Manager | Manager |
പാഴ്സൽ | pāḻsal | Parcel | Parcel |
കാർണിവൽ | kār̠ṇival | Carnival | Carnival |
ബാങ്ക് | bāṅkǔ | Bank | Bank |
ബിൽ | bil | Bill | Bill |
കാഷ്യർ | kāṣyar̠ | Cashier | Cashier |
ഹെൽമെറ്റ് | helmeṯǔ | Helmet | Helmet |
ലോറി | lōr̠i | Lorry | Lorry |
നമ്പർ | ṉambar̠ | Number | Number |
എക്സ്റേ | eksr̠ē | X-ray | X-ray |
സ്കാനിങ് | skāṉiṅǔ | Scanning | Scanning |
സ്റ്റേഷൻ | sṯēṣaṉ | Station | Station |
ജീപ്പ് | jīppǔ | Jeep | Jeep |
ബൈക്ക് | baikkǔ | Bike | Bike |
ആപ്പിൾ | āppiḷ | Apple | Apple |
പോസ്റ്റോഫീസ് | pōsṯōfīsǔ | Post office | Post office |
ബസ് | basǔ | Bus | Bus |
പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് | plāsṯikǔ | Plastic | Plastic |
സോപ്പ് | sōppǔ | Soap | Soap |
ബാർബർ | bāṟbaṟ | Barber | Barber |
കാർ | kāṟ | Car | Car |
ടാക്സ് | ṭāksǔ | Tax | Tax |
മൊബൈൽഫോൺ | mobailfōṇ | Mobile phone | Mobile phone |
സെൽഫോൺ | selfōṇ | Mobile phone | Cell phone |
ടെലിഫോൺ | telifōṇ | Telephone | Telephone |
ടെലിവിഷൻ | teliviṣaṉ | Television | Television |
പെൻസിൽ | peṉsil | Pencil | Pencil |
ക്ലോക്ക് | klōkkǔ | Clock | Clock |
ബസ്സ്റ്റോപ്പ് | bassṯōppǔ | Bus stop | Bus stop |
ബസ്സ്റ്റാൻഡ് | bassṯāṉḍǔ | Bus stop | Bus stand |
ഡ്രൈവ് | ḍraivǔ | To drive | Drive |
സ്റ്റാർട്ട് | sṯār̠ṭṭǔ | To start a machine | Start |
ബുക്ക് | bukkǔ | Book | Book |
റൂളർ | r̠ūḷar̠ | Ruler | Ruler |
കണക്ഷൻ | kaṇakṣaṉ | Connection | Connection |
ഫോട്ടോ | fōṭṭō | Photograph | Photo |
ഫോട്ടോഗ്രാഫ് | fōṭṭōgrāfǔ | Photograph | Photograph |
പാർട്ടി | pār̠ṭṭi | Party | Party |
പ്രിൻ്റ് | prin̠d̠ŭ | To print | To print |
കമ്പഞ്ഞി | kampaññi | Company (Archaic) | Company |
കാടത് | kāṭatŭ | Guard (Archaic) | Guard |
കോഫി | kōfi | Coffee | Coffee |
അമേരിക്ക | amērikka | United States of America | America |
അലുമിനിയം | alumin̠iyaṃ | Aluminium | Aluminium |
പാക്കെട്ട് | pākkeṭṭŭ | Pocket (Archaic) | |
പോക്കറ്റ് | pōkkaṯŭ | ||
ഗൾഫ് | gaḷf(ŭ) | The Khaleeji nations. | Gulf |
The Arabic language contributes a large number of words into a dialect form of Malayalam, called Arabi Malayalam that is spoken by the Muslim Mappila community of North Kerala. There are also many common words which are used throughout all communities of Kerala. There are more than 900 words taken from Arabic and some are commonly used in spoken and literary forms of Malayalam.
Malayalam | Malayalam Romanization | IPA pronunciation | Meaning | Original Form | Romanization} |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
അത്തര് | attar | /ät̪:ɐr/ | perfume | عطر | ʿaṭar |
അദാലത്ത് | adālattŭ | /äd̪äːlɐt̪ːɨ̆/ | court of justice | عدالة | ʿadāla(t) |
അനാമത്ത് | anāmattŭ | /änäːmɐt̪ːɨ̆/ | deposits given for security | امانة | amāna(t) |
അസല് | asal | /äsɐl/ | original document | أصل | aṣl |
ആലം | ālaṁ | /äːlɐm/ | world | عالم | ʿālm |
ആപത്ത് | āpattŭ | /äːbɐt̪ːɨ̆/ | danger | آفة | āffáthu |
ഇക്ക | ikka | /ik:ä/ | brother | أخ | akh |
ഇത്ത | itta | /it̪:ä/ | sister | أخت | ikht |
ഇഷ്ക്ക് | iṣkkŭ | /iʂkɨ̆/ | love | عشق | ʿishq |
ഉപ്പ | uppa | /up:ä/ | father | أب | ab |
ഉമ്മ | umma | /um:ä/ | mother | أم | um |
ഉലുവ | uluva | /uluʋä/ | Trigonella foenum-graecum | حلبة | hulba(t) |
ഉസ്താദ് | ustādŭ | /ust̪ä:d̪ɨ̆/ | Islamic teacher, scholar, imam | أستاذ | ustādh |
ഒപ്പന | oppana | /op:ɐnä/ | Oppana | عبنا | ʿabna |
ഇഞ്ജീൽ | iñjīl | /iɲ:d͡ʒiːl/ | Gospel (Bible) | الإنجيل | al-ʾinjīl |
ഒസ്യത്ത് | osyattŭ | /osjɐt̪:ɨ̆/ | the last will, testament | وصية | waṣya(t) |
ആഫിയത്ത് | āphiyattŭ | /äːpʰijɐt̪ːɨ̆/ | Opium | افیون | afyūn |
കത്ത് | kattŭ | /kät̪:ɨ̆/ | letter | خط | khaṭ |
കാലി | kāli | /kä:li/ | empty | خالی | khali |
കബര് | kabar | /käbɐr/ | grave | قبر | qabr |
കബൂല് | kabūl | /käbu:l/ | accept, clarify | قبول | qabūl |
കരാര് | karār | /kɐɾä:r/ | agreement, contract | قرار | qarār |
കലാശം | kalāśaṁ | /kɐlä:ʃɐm/ | conclusion | خلاص | khalāṣ |
കശാപ്പ് | kaśāppŭ | /käʃäːpːɨ̆/ | butchery | قصاب | qaṣāb |
കായിതം | kāyitaṁ | /käːjid̪ɐm/ | note | قاعدة | qāʿeda(t) |
കവാത്ത് | kavātt | /käʋäːt̪ːɨ̆/ | drill | قَادَ | qāda |
കിസ്മത്ത് | kismattŭ | /kismät̪ːɨ̆/ | fate, luck, share | قسمة | qisma(t) |
കീമാ | kīmā | /kiːmäː/ | chemistry, chemical | كيمياء | kīmyāʾ |
കീശ | kīśa | /kiːʃä/ | كيس | kīs | |
കൈപ്പീത്ത് | kaippīttŭ | /käipːiːt̪ːɨ̆/ | chronicle | كيفية | kyfia(t) |
ഖജനാവ് | khajanāvŭ | /kʰäd͡ʒɐnäːʋɨ̆/ | treasury | خزينة | khazīna(t) |
ഖൽബ് | khalbŭ | /kʰälbɨ̆/ | heart | قلب | qalb |
കിതാബ് | kitābŭ | /kid̪äːbɨ̆/ | book | كِتَاب | kitāb |
കുബൂസ് | kubūsŭ | /kubu:sɨ̆/ | Flat Bread | خُبْز | ḵubz |
ചെകുത്താൻ | cekuttān | /t͡ʃekut̪ːäːn/ | devil | الشيطان | Al shythan |
ചേക്ക് | cēkkŭ | /t͡ʃeːkːɨ̆/ | gambling | قِمَار | qimār |
ജപ്തി | japti | /d͡ʒɐpt̪i/ | foreclosure | ضبطي | ḍabt̪i |
ജാമ്യം | jāmyaṃ | /d͡ʒäːmjɐm/ | bail | الكفالة | ḍāmyäm |
ജില്ല | jilla | /d͡ʒil:ä/ | district | ضلع | ḍilʿa |
തകരാര് | takarār | /t̪ägɐɾä:r/ | repeat | تكرار | takrār |
താക്കീത് | tākītŭ | /t̪äːkːiːd̪ɨ̆/ | warning | تاقيد | tāqīd |
തർജ്ജമ | tarjjama | /t̪ärd͡ʒːɐmä/ | translation | ترجمة | tarjama(t) |
തലാക്ക് | talākkŭ | /t̪ɐläːkːɨ̆/ | divorce | طلاق | ṭalāq |
തവണ | tavaṇa | /t̪äʋɐɳä/ | times, turns, installment | دفعة | dafʿa(t) |
താലൂക്ക് | tālukkŭ | /t̪äːluːkːɨ̆/ | Tehsil (administrative division) | تعلق | tʿālq |
ദല്ലാള് | dallāḷ | /d̪ɐlːäɭ/ | mediator, broker | دلال | dalāl |
ദുനിയാവ് | duniyāvŭ | /d̪unijäːʋɨ̆/ | world | دنيا | duniā |
നക്കല് | nakkal | /n̪äkːɐl/ | copy | نقل | naql |
നിക്കാഹ് | nikkāhŭ | /nikːäːhɨ̆/ | wedding (Muslim) | نكاح | nikāḥ |
ഫക്കീര് | fakkīr | /fäkːiːr/ | fakir | فقير | faqīr |
പത്തിരി | pattiri | /pät̪ːiɾi/ | Pathiri | فطيرة | faṭīra(t) |
ഫർക്കം | farkkam | /fäɾkːɐm/ | a part of a district | فرقة | farqa(t) |
ബദല് | badal | /bäd̪ɐl/ | substitute | بدل | badl |
ബാക്കി | bākki | /bäːkːi/ | left, remaining | باقی | bāqi |
ബിലാത്തി | bilātti | /biläːt̪ːi/ | England | ولايتى | wilāyti |
ഗരീബ് | garībŭ | /ɡäɾiːbɨ̆/ | strange person | غريب | ḡarīb |
മഹസ്സര് | mahassar | /mähɐsːɐr/ | report, inquest | محضر | muḥḍar |
മയ്യത്ത് | mayyattŭ | /mäjːet̪ːɨ̆/ | death | ميت | maytūna |
മാപ്പ് | māppŭ | /mäːpːɨ̆/ | sorry, apology | معاف | mʿāf |
മാലൂമി | mālūmi | /mäːluːmi/ | teacher, leader | معلم | muʿalam |
മീറ | mīṟa | /miːrä/ | myrrh | مر | mir |
മുക്തിയാര് | muktiyār | /mukt̪ijäːr/ | attorney, authorized representative | مختار | mukhtār |
മുൻഷി | muṉṣi | /munʂi/ | writer, interpreter | منشی | munshi |
മുൻസിഫ് | muṉsifŭ | /munsifɨ̆/ | advocate | منصف | munaṣif |
മുസാവരി | musāvari | /musäʋɐɾi/ | rest house, inn | مسافر | musāfir |
മുസീവത്ത് | musīvattŭ | /musiːʋɐt̪ːɨ̆/ | trouble, problem | مصيبة | muṣība(t) |
മുഹബ്ബത്ത് | muhabbattŭ | /muhäbːɐt̪ːɨ̆/ | love | محبة | muhaba(t) |
മൈതാനം | maitānaṃ | /mäjd̪äːnɐm/ | ground, arena | ميدان | mīdān |
രൊക്കം | rokkaṃ | /ɾokːɐm/ | ready cash | رقم | raqm |
റദ്ദ് | ṟaddŭ | /räd̪ːɨ̆/ | cancel, deactivate | رد | rad |
റഹ്മാൻ | ṟahmāṉ | /rähmäːn/ | compassion | رحمة | raḥma |
വക്കാലത്ത് | vakkālattŭ | /ʋäkːäːlɐt̪ːɨ̆/ | power of attorney | وكالة | wkāla(t) |
വക്കീല് | vakkīl | /ʋäkːiːl/ | advocate | وکیل | wakīl |
വത്തയ്ക്ക | vattaykka | /ʋät̪ːɐjkːä/ | Citrullus lanatus fruit | بطيخ | baṭīkh |
വർക്കത്ത് | varkkattŭ | /ʋärkːɐt̪ɨ̆/ | prosperity, fortune | بركة | barka(t) |
വാപ്പ | vāppa | /ʋäːpːä/ | father | بابا | bābā |
വയ്യ | vayya | /ʋäjːä/ | weary | إعياء | āyyāvu |
ഷമാം | ṣamāṁ | /ʂɐmäːm/ | Cucumis melo | شمام | shamām |
സന്നത് | sannatŭ | /sänːɐd̪ɨ̆/ | licence | سند | sand |
സർബത്ത് | sarbattŭ | /särbɐt̪ɨ̆/ | sherbet | شربات | sharabāt |
സുറിയാനി | suṟiyāni | /surijäːni/ | Syrian | سورياني | sūryāni |
സുൽത്താൻ | sulttāṉ | /sult̪ːäːn/ | Ruler | سلطان | sultan |
ഹക്കിം | hakkiṃ | /häkːim/ | physician | حكيم | ḥakīm |
ഹജൂര് | hajūr | /häd͡ʒuːr/ | presence | حضور | ḥuḍūr |
ഹർജി | haṟji | /härd͡ʒi/ | petition | عريضة | ʿarīḍa(t) |
അങ്ങ് | aṅṅŭ | /äŋːɨ̆/ | You (formal) | أنت | ant(t) |
അലുവ | aluva | /äluʋä/ | sweet | حلوى | halwā |
ജസരി | jasari | /d͡ʒɐsɐɾi/ | islander | جزري | jazur |
The Hebrew language contributes a large number of words into a dialect form of Judeo-Malayalam that is spoken by the Cochin Jewish community of Kerala.
Malayalam Transliteration | Meaning | Original Form | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|---|
അളം | world | עולם | oˈlam |
അലിയ | ascension | עלייה | aliyá |
അലുവ/ഹലുവ | sweet | חלבה | halvah |
ബാ | come | בא | ba |
ബേത് ക്നേസേത് | synagogue | בית כנסת | beit-k'néset |
ഇവിരീത് | Hebrew language | עברית | ivrít |
കബറ് | grave, tomb | קבר | kéver |
മിശ്രേം, മിശ്രീം | Egypt, Egyptian | מצרים, מצרי | mitsráyim, mitsrí |
മെത്ത | bed | מיטה | metah |
നവി | prophet | נביא | naví |
റബ്ബാൻ, രമ്പാൻ | rabbi, teacher, monk | רבי | rabbi |
സായിത്ത് | olive | זית | záyit |
സഫറാദ്, സഫറാദി | Spain, Spaniard | ספרד, ספרדי | sfarad, sfaradi |
ശാലോം | hello, peace | שלום | shalóm |
ശാലോം ആയി | death | שלום עליי | shalóm ali |
ശീർ | song, music | שיר | shir |
ശോഷന്നാ | lily | שושן | shoshán |
തപ്പുവാഖ് | apple | תפוח | tapúakh |
തോറ | Torah | תורה | torá |
യവൻ, യാവന | Greece, Greek (Likely to be derived from "Ionian", the Greeks who lived in Asia Minor) | יוון, יווני | yaván, yevani |
യഹോവ | Lord | יהוה | YHVH |
യിസ്രായേൽ, യിസ്രായേലി | Israel, Israeli | ישראל, הישראלי | yisra'él, yisra'éli |
യൂദാ, യെഹൂദൻ | Jew, Jewish | יהודי | y'hudi |
There are a few words of Persian origin in Malayalam, though it's possible that these are indirectly loaned from Urdu.
Malayalam | Malayalam Romanization | IPA Pronunciation | Meaning | Persian word | Transliteration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
അബ്കാരി | abkāri | /äbkäːɾi/ | dealing of alcohol | آبکاری | âbkârī |
ചൊറുക്ക | coṟukka | /t͡ʃorukːä/ | pickle | سرکه | serkâ |
ബദാം | badāṃ | /bɐd̪äːm/ | Almond | بادام | bâdâm |
ഹവിൽദാർ | havildār | /häʋild̪äːr/ | Havildar | حولدار | ḥavildâr |
ഉഷാര് | uṣār | /uʂäːr/ | alert, enthusiasm | هوشیار | hūšyâr |
ഉറുമാല് | uṟumāl | /urumäːl/ | handkerchief | رومال | rūmâl |
കമാനം | kamānaṁ | /kämäːnɐm/ | arc | کمان | kamân |
കശകശ | kaśakaśa | /käʃägɐʃä/ | poppy seed | خشخاش | xašxâš |
കാക്കി | kākki | /käːkːi/ | Khaki | خاکی | xâkī |
കാനേഷുമാരി | kānēṣumāri | /käːneːʂumäːɾi/ | census | خانه شماری | xânah šumârī |
കിലേദാര് | kilēdār | /kileːd̪äːr/ | fort keeper | قلعه دار | q̈ilʿah dâr |
കുശാല് | kuśāl | /kuʃä:l/ | happy | خوشحال | xūšḥâl |
ഗുസ്തി | gusti | /gust̪i/ | wrestling | کشتی | kuštī |
ഗോതമ്പ് | gōtampŭ | /ɡoːd̪ɐmpɨ̆/ | wheat | گندم | gandom |
ഇനാം | ināṃ | /inäːm/ | Reward | انعام | inʿām |
ചപ്രാസി | caprāsi | /t͡ʃäpɾäːsi/ | peon | چپراسی | čaprâsī |
ചാക്കിരി | cākkiri | /t͡ʃäːkːiɾi/ | servant | چاکری | čâkrī |
തയ്യാർ | tayyār | /t̪äjːäːr/ | ready | تیار | tayyar |
ജമാവന്തി | jamāvanti | /d͡ʒɐmäːʋɐnt̪i/ | land record | جمع بندی | jamaʿ bandī |
ജമീന്ദാര് | jamīndār | /d͡ʒɐmiːn̪d̪äːr/ | landlord | زمین دار | zamīndâr |
ജവാന | javāna | /d͡ʒɐʋäːnɐ/ | youth | جوان | javân |
ജീനി | jīni | /d͡ʒi:ni/ | saddle | زین | zīn |
ജോര് | jōr | /d͡ʒo:r/ | magnificent, powerful | زور | zūr |
തമാശ | tamāśa | /t̪ämäːʃɐ/ | joke | تماشا | tamâšâ |
തമ്പാക്ക് | tampākkŭ | /t̪ämpäːkːɨ̆/ | tobacco | تنباکو | tanbâkū |
ദർബാര് | daṟbār | /d̪ärbäːr/ | king’s court | دربار | darbâr |
ദസ്താവേജ് | dastāvējŭ | /d̪äst̪äʋeːd͡ʒɨ̆/ | documentation | دستاویز | dastâviz |
പയല്വാൻ | payalvāṉ | /päjelʋäːn/ | wrestler | پهلوان | pahlvân |
പർദ്ദ | paṟdda | /pärd̪ːä/ | burka | پرده | pardah |
പറങ്കി | paṟaṅki | /pärɐŋki/ | Portuguese | فرنگی | firangī |
പാപ്പാസ് | pāppāsŭ | /pä:p:ä:sɨ̆/ | slipper | پاپوش | pâpūš |
ബസാര് | basār | /bɐsäːr/ | market | بازار | bazaar |
ബന്തവസ് | bantavasŭ | /bän̪t̪ɐʋäsɨ̆/ | custody | بند و بست | band ū bast |
ബന്ദി | bandi | /bän̪d̪i/ | slave, prisoner | بندی | bandī |
ബേജാര് | bējār | /be:d͡ʒä:r/ | sad, worried | بیزار | bīzâr |
മാപ്പ് | māppŭ | /mäːpːɨ̆/ | apology | ماف | māffu |
നിരക്ക് | nirakkŭ | /n̪iɾɐkːɨ̆/ | rate | نرخ | nerx |
മേലാൽ | mēlāl | /me:lä:l/ | ever | مهلعل | malāl |
ലഗാന് | lagān | /lɐgä:n/ | bridle, control | لگام | lagâm |
വാങ്ക് | vāṅkŭ | /ʋä:ŋkɨ̆/ | Azaan, prayer call | بانگ | bang |
ശിപായി | śipāyi | /ʃibä:ji/ | soldier | سرباز | sarbâz |
ശരാശരി | śarāśari | /ʃɐɾäːʃɐɾi/ | average | سراسری | sarâsrī |
സാമാനം | sāmānaṁ | /säːmäːnɐm/ | stuff | سامان | sâmân |
സവാരി | savāri | /si.waːr/ | ride | سوار | sovâr |
സിന്ദാബാദ് | sindābād | /sin̪d̪aːbaːd̪/ | long live | زنده باد | zende bâd |
ശുപാർശ | śupārśa | /ʃuba:rʃa/ | recommendation | سفارش | sifâr |
സബാഷ് | sabash | /ʃɑː.bɑːʃᵊ/ | well done | شاباش | šâbâš |
Suriyani Malayalam (or Karshoni), which used the East Syriac script to write Malayalam, was a popular medium of written communication among Saint Thomas Christians (Suriyani Christiani) in Kerala until the 19th century. [3] [4] [5]
Malayalam | Malayalam Romanization | IPA Pronunciation | Meaning | Original form | Transliteration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
അറം | aram | /aram/ | Earth | ܐܪܥܐ | ar'ā |
കത്തനാര് | kattanār | /kat̪:ana:r/ | Priest | ܟܗܢܐ | kahnā |
കബ്റ | kabṟa | /kabra/ | Grave | ܩܒܪܐ | qaḇrā |
കശീശ | kaśīśa | /kaʃi:ʃa/ | Priest | ܩܫܝܫܐ | qaššīšā |
കുര്ബാന | kurbāna | /kurba:na/ | Sacrifice (Holy Qurbana) | ܩܘܪܒܢܐ | qurbānā |
കൂദാശ | kūdāśa | /ku:d̪a:ʃa/ | Sacrament | ܩܘܕܫܐ | quddāšā |
ദുക്രാന | dukṟāna | /d̪ukra:na/ | Remembrance | ܕܘܟܪܢܐ | duḵrānā |
നസ്രാണി | nasrāṇi | /nasra:ɳi/ | Christians (Saint Thomas) | ܢܨܪܐܢܝ | naṣrāni |
പരീശന് | parīśan | /paɾi:ʃan/ | Pharisee | ܦܪܝܫܐ | prīšā |
പറുദീസ | paṟudīsa | /parud̪i:sa/ | paradise | ܦܪܕܝܣܐ | pardaysā |
പിഞ്ഞാണം | piññāṇaṁ | /piɲːäːɳɐm/ | plate | ܦܝܢܟܐ | pinkā |
പെസഹ | pesaha | /pesaha/ | Passover | ܦܣܚܐ | pesḥā |
ബാവ | bāva | /ba:ʋa/ | father/patriarch | ܒܒܐ | bābā |
മദ്ബഹ | madbaha | /mad̪baha/ | Madbaha (Altar in Syrian churches) | ܡܕܒܚܐ | maḏbḥā |
മഹറോന് | mahaṟōn | /maharo:n/ | interdiction | ܐܚܪܡ | aḥram |
മാമോദീസ | māmōdīsa | /ma:mo:d̪i:sa/ | baptism | ܡܥܡܘܕܝܬܐ | ma’mōḏīṯā |
മാര് | mār | /ma:r/ | Saint, Holy | ܡܪܝ | mār(i) |
മാലാഖ | mālākha | /ma:la:kʰa/ | angel | ܡܠܐܟܐ | malāḵā |
മിശിഹ | miśiha | /miʃiha/ | Messiah | ܡܫܝܚܐ | mšīḥā |
ഈശോ | īśō | /i:ʃo:/ | Jesus | ܝܫܘܥ | yšō’ |
റമ്പാന് | ṟampān | /ramba:n/ | archdeacon | ܪܡܒܐܢ | rambān |
റാസ | ṟāsa | /ra:sa/ | A sacrament | ܪܐܙܐ | rāzā |
റൂഹ | ṟūha | /ru:ha/ | Holy Spirit | ܪܘܚܐ | rūḥā |
ശ്ലീഹ | ślīha | /ʃli:ha/ | Apostle | ܫܠܝܚܐ | šlīḥā |
ശെമ്മാശന്/മ്ശമ്ശാനാ | śemmāśan/mśamśānā | /ʃem:a:ʃan/ | Deacon | ܡܫܡܫܢܐ | mšammšānā |
സാവപ് | sāvap | /ʃa:v:ap/ | soap | ܨܦܘܢܐ | ṣappōnā |
സ്ലീവ, സിലുവ | slīva | /sli:ʋa/ | Cross | ܨܠܝܒܐ | ṣlīḇā |
Tamil is a Dravidian language natively spoken by the Tamil people of South Asia. Tamil is an official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and union territory of Puducherry, and the sovereign nations of Sri Lanka and Singapore. Tamil is also spoken by significant minorities in the four other South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is also spoken by the Tamil diaspora found in many countries, including Malaysia, Myanmar, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, Indonesia, and Mauritius. Tamil is also natively spoken by the Sri Lankan Moors. One of 22 scheduled languages in the Constitution of India, Tamil was the first to be classified as a classical language of India.
Malayalam is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was designated a "Classical Language of India" in 2013. Malayalam has official language status in Kerala, Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé), and is also the primary spoken language of Lakshadweep and is spoken by 35 million people in India. Malayalam is also spoken by linguistic minorities in the neighbouring states; with a significant number of speakers in the Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka, and Kanyakumari, Coimbatore and Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. It is also spoken by the Malayali Diaspora worldwide, especially in the Persian Gulf countries, due to the large populations of Malayali expatriates there. They are a significant population in each city in India including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune etc. Malayalam is closely related to the Tamil language.
Malayalam script is a Brahmic script used commonly to write Malayalam, which is the principal language of Kerala, India, spoken by 45 million people in the world. It is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry by the Malayali people. It is one of the official scripts of the Indian Republic. Malayalam script is also widely used for writing Sanskrit texts in Kerala.
Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puduchery, is one of the six classical languages of India. Malayalam literature comprises those literary texts written in Malayalam, a South-Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala. The first travelogue in any Indian language is the Malayalam Varthamanappusthakam, written by Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar in 1785. Malayalam literature has been presented with 6 Jnanapith awards, the second-most for any Dravidian language and the third-highest for any Indian language.
The Malayali people are a Dravidian ethnolinguistic group originating from the present-day state of Kerala in India, occupying its southwestern Malabar coast. They form the majority of the population in Kerala and Lakshadweep. They are predominantly native speakers of the Malayalam language, one of the six classical languages of India. The state of Kerala was created in 1956 through the States Reorganisation Act. Prior to that, since the 1800s existed the Kingdom of Cochin, the Kingdom of Travancore, Malabar District, and South Canara of the British India. The Malabar District was annexed by the British through the Third Mysore War (1790–92) from Tipu Sultan. Before that, the Malabar District was under various kingdoms including the Zamorins of Calicut, Kingdom of Tanur, Arakkal kingdom, Kolathunadu, Valluvanad, and Palakkad Rajas.
Judeo-Malayalam is the traditional language of the Cochin Jews, from Kerala, in southern India, spoken today by a few dozens of people in Israel and by probably fewer than 25 in India.
The culture of Kerala has developed over the past millennia, influences from other parts of India and abroad. It is defined by its antiquity and the organic continuity sustained by the Malayali people. Modern Kerala society took shape owing to migrations from different parts of India and abroad throughout Classical Antiquity.
The Marakkars are a South Asian Muslim community found in parts of the Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Sri Lanka. The Marakkars speak Malayalam in Kerala and Tamil in Tamil Nadu and both Tamil and Sinhala in Sri Lanka.
Malayalam poetry is poetry written, spoken, or composed in Modern, as well as Old and Classical, Malayalam.
Sooranad P. N. Kunjan Pillai was an Indian researcher, lexicographer, poet, essayist, literary critic, orator, grammarian, educationist, and scholar of the Malayalam language, best remembered for his contributions in compiling Malayala Maha Nighantu, a lexicon. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padmashri in 1984 for his contribution to Malayalam literature and education. He was also a recipient of the Vallathol Award in 1992 and when the Government of Kerala instituted the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, their highest literary honour in 1993, he received the inaugural award.
The population of Kerala, India is a heterogenous group that comprises many ethnic groups that originated in other parts of India as well as the world, with distinctive cultural and religious traditions. While the majority of Keralites speak the Malayalam language, various ethnic groups may speak other languages as well.
Veerankutty is a Malayalam poet and former associate professor in Dept of Malayalam Govt College Madappally. He was born in Narayamkulam near Perambra in Kozhikode District, Kerala, India. Veerankutty worked as Head of Malayalam Department at MEASS College Areacode.
Gentoo, also spelled Gentue, Gentow or Jentue, was a term used by Europeans for the native inhabitants of India before the word Hindu, with its religious connotation, was used to distinguish a group from Muslims and members of other religious groups in India.
Suriyani Malayalam, also known as Karshoni, Syro-Malabarica or Syriac Malayalam, is a dialect of Malayalam written in a variant form of the Syriac alphabet which was popular among the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala in India. It uses Malayalam grammar, the Maḏnḥāyā or "Eastern" Syriac script with special orthographic features, and vocabulary from Malayalam and East Syriac. This originated in the South Indian region of the Malabar Coast. Until the 19th century, the script was widely used by Syrian Christians in Kerala.
Karintamil is a hypothetical term used to refer to the western coastal dialect of Middle Tamil spoken in ancient Kerala until the 9th century CE or possibly later. It is thought to be the earliest predecessor of the modern Malayalam language. The Sangam literature can be considered as the ancient predecessor of Malayalam.
Old Malayalam, the inscriptional language found in Kerala from c. 9th to c. 13th century CE, is the earliest attested form of Malayalam. The language was employed in several official records and transactions. Old Malayalam was mostly written in Vatteluttu script. Most of the inscriptions were found from the northern districts of Kerala, those lie adjacent to Tulu Nadu. The origin of Malayalam calendar dates back to year 825 CE.