Loan words in Malayalam, excluding the huge number of words from Sanskrit and Tamil, 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, Israel and China spanning millennia, and with European Colonial powers for several centuries.
- 1European contributions
- 2Middle East contributions
European contributions[edit]
Portuguese[edit]
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).[1]
| Malayalam | Malayalam Transliteration | Meaning | Original form |
|---|
| ആയ | āya | Maid | aia |
| അലമാര | alamāra | cupboard | armário |
| അള്ത്താര | altāra | altar | altar |
| അണ്ണാറ, അണ്ണാറച്ചക്ക | Annāra chakka | Pineapple | ananás |
| അസേന്തി | asenthi | Assistant Priest (In a Parish) | assistente |
| ബോർമ, ബോർമ്മ | Bōrmba | Oven / Furnace | forno |
| കപ്പിത്താന് | capitān | captain | capitão |
| ചാപ്പ | chāppa | plate, sheet of metal, seal for impression | chapa |
| ചായ | chāya | tea | chá |
| ചാവി | chāvi | key | chave |
| ചാക്ക്‌ | chākku | sack | saco |
| ചങ്ങാടം | changadam | raft | jangada |
| ഇസ്തിരി | isthiri | to iron, to press | estirar |
| ഇസ്കൂള് | iskool | School | escola |
| ജനാല | janāla | window | janela |
| കളസം | kalasam | shorts/trouser | calção |
| കപ്പേള | Kappela | Chapel | capela |
| കാപ്പിരി | kāppiri | black, African | cafre |
| കറൂപ്പ് | karoopp | A type of fish (Grouper) | garoupa |
| കസേര | kasera | chair | cadeira |
| കശുവണ്ടി | kasuvandi | cashew | caju |
| കടലാസ്‌ | kadalas | paper | cartaz |
| കദ്രീഞ്ഞ | kadreenha | stool | cadeirinha |
| കനാൽ | kanāl | canal | canal |
| കോപ്പ | kōppa | cup, dish | copo |
| കൊവേന്ത | kovenda | convent | convento |
| കുമ്പാരി | kumbāri | Godparents of your child/ children or Parents of your Godchild | compadre |
| കുരിശ്‌ | kurishu | Cross | cruz |
| കുശിനി | kushini | kitchen | cozinha |
| കുനീല് | kuneel | funnel | funil |
| ടെറസ്സ് | terrass | rooftop terrace | terraço |
| ലേലം | lelam | auction | leilão |
| മരയ്ക്കാര്‍ | maraikkar | seafarer, sailor, mariner | marinheiro |
| മേശ | mesha | table | mesa |
| മേസ്തിരി | mesthiri | foreman, supervisor of (e.g. construction) workers | mestre |
| നോന | nōnā | Luso Indian lady | dona |
| ഓസ്തി | ōsthi | Sacramental bread/ wafer | hóstia |
| പാനോസ് | pānos | Fabrication works (Sheet metal works) | panos |
| പാര | pāra | Crowbar | barra |
| പാതിരി | pāthiri | priest, pastor | padre |
| പാത്രം | paathram | dish, plate | prato |
| പദ്രിഞ്ഞപ്പൻ | pardinhappan | God Father | padrinho |
| പദ്രിഞ്ഞമ്മ | pardinhamma | God Mother | madrinha |
| പപ്പാഞ്ഞി | Pappānhi | Christmas Father (Santa Claus) | Papai Noel |
| പേന | pena | pen | pena |
| പേര | pera | pear, guava | pera |
| പിക്കാസ് | pikkās | Pickaxe | picão |
| പീലാസ് | peelās | Godchild | afilhado |
| പ്രാക്ക്, പ്രാകുക | praakk (noun), praakuka (verb) | curse, to curse | praga |
| റാന്തല് | rānthal | lamp, lantern | lanterna |
| റാത്തല് | rāthal | a Pound (1 lb.), weight of sixteen ounces (16 oz.) | arrátel |
| റേന്ത | renda | lace work | renda |
| റോസാ | rosa | Rose | rosa |
| സാത്താന് | sāttān | satan | satan |
| സവാള, സവോള | savāla | onion | cebola |
| സെമിത്തേരി | semithery | cemetery, burial ground | cemitério |
| തമ്പാക്ക് | thampākk | tobacco | tabaco |
| താൾ | thaal | page of a book | talão |
| തിര | tira | gun shot | tiro |
| തീരുവ | teeruva | customs duty | tarifa |
| തൊപ്പി | toppi | hat | topo |
| തൂവാല | tuvāla | towel | toalha |
| നങ്കൂരം | nankooram | anchor (of ships) | âncora |
| ലേസ്, കൈലേസ് | leis, kai-leis | kerchief, handkerchief | lenço |
| വാത്ത | vātha | Goose | pato |
| വാര | vāra | A measure (= 1 yard or 3 feet); Original meaning: rod, stick | vara |
| വരാന്ത | varāntha | open porch | varanda |
| വീപ്പ | veeppa | wooden cask, barrel | pipa |
| വീഞ്ഞ് | Veenh | Wine | vinho |
| വികാരി | vikāri | vicar | vigário |
| വിനാഗിരി | vināgiri | vinegar | vinagre |
The Portuguese language had also taken some words from Malayalam, and they should not be confused vice versa.Some examples are jaca for Jack Fruit (from Chakka / ചക്ക in Malayalam), manga for mango (from Mangaa / മാങ്ങ) in Malayalam.
Dutch[edit]
| Malayalam | Malayalam Transliteration | Meaning | Original form |
|---|
| അപ്പോത്തിക്കരി | Apothikari | Pharmacist | Apotheker |
| അടുതാപ്പ് | Aduthappu | Potato | Aardappel |
| കക്കൂസ്‌ | kakkūs | Toilet | kakhuis |
| കള്ക്ക്‌ | Kalkku | turkey | Kalkoen |
| കാപ്പി | Kaappi | coffee | Koffie |
| കോക്കി | Kokki | Chef/ Cook | kokin |
| തപാല് | Thapal | Post | Tapal, Tapaal |
English[edit]
| Malayalam | Malayalam Transliteration | Meaning | Original form |
|---|
| മാഡം | Madaama | A respectful woman | Madam/e |
| മാഷ് | Maash | Teacher, guru | Master |
Middle East contributions[edit]
Aramaic or East Syriac[edit]
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.[2][3][4]
| Malayalam | Malayalam Transliteration | Meaning | Original Form |
|---|
| നസ്രാണി | Nasrani | Follower of Jesus | Nasraya, Nasrani |
| പെസഹ | Pesaha | Passover | Pesaha[3] |
| മാലാഖ | Malakha | Angel | Malaka[2] |
| കൂദാശ | Kudasha | Sacrament | Qudasha[2] |
| മാമോദീസ | Mamodisa | Baptism | Mamodisa[2][3] |
| സ്ലീവ | Sliva | Cross | Sliva[4] |
| ഈശോ | Easow | Jesus | Iso'[2] |
| കുർബാന | Qurbana | Eucharist (for Holy Mass) | Qurbana[2] |
| മിശിഹ | Mishiha | Anointed | Mishiha[2][3] |
| ദുക്റാന | Dukrana | Remembrance | Dukrana |
| കത്തനാർ | Kathanar | Syrian priest | Kasnar |
| മാർ | Mar | Holy man, Saint | Mar |
| റൂഹ | Rooha | Holy Spirit | Ruha |
| ശ്ലീഹ | Shliha | Apostle | Shliha |
| കബ്റാ | Kabar | Grave | Qabra |
Arabic[edit]
The Arabic language contributes a large number of words into a dialect form of Malayalam that is spoken by the Muslim Mappila community of North Kerala.There are also some common words which are used throughout Kerala.There are more than 900 words taken from Arabic and commonly used in Malayalam.
| Malayalam | Malayalam Transliteration | Meaning | Original form |
|---|
| ആലം | aalam | world | عالم |
| ബാക്കി | baaki | balance/remaining | باقي |
| ദുനിയാവ് | duniyaav | world | دنيا |
| ഹാജർ | haajir | appear, attend, be present | حاضر |
| ഹർജി | harji | petition | عريضة |
| ഇഷ്ക്ക് | ishk | love | عشق |
| ജില്ല | jilla | District | ضلغة |
| കലാശം | kalaasham | final/ending | خلاص |
| കത്ത് | kathth | letter | خط |
| ഖല്‍ബ് | khalb | heart | قلب |
| മാപ്പ് | maappu | sorry/apology | معاف |
| മഹസ്സർ | mahassir | report | محضر |
| മുഹബ്ബത്ത് | muhabbath | love | محبت |
| മുസീബത്ത് | museebath | problem | مصيبة |
| മൈതാനം, മൈതാനി | maithaanam, maithaani | a ground, an open space area, park | ميدان |
| നക്കൽ | nakkal | copy (also can mean True copy) | نقل |
| പത്തിരി | pathiri | Pathiri | فطيره |
| പിഞ്ഞാണം | pinjaanam | bowl | فنجان |
| റദ്ദ് | raddh | cancel/give back | رد |
| താലൂക്ക് | taluk | administrative division | تغلّق |
| തർജ്ജിമ | tarjima | translation | ترجمة |
| വക്കാലത്ത് | wakalath | legal authorization | وكالة |
| വക്കീൽ | vakeel | lawyer/attorney | وكيل |
| ദല്ലാൾ | dallaal | mediator/broker | دللال |
Hebrew[edit]
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 |
|---|
| alam | world | עולם | oˈlam |
| aliya | ascension | עלייה | aliyá |
| alva | sweet | חלבה | halvah |
| ba | come | בא | ba |
| beit kneset | synagogue | בית כנסת | beit-k'néset |
| Ivrit | Hebrew language | עברית | ivrít |
| kabar | grave, tomb | קבר | kéver |
| Mesren, Misri | Egypt, Egyptian | מצרים, מצרי | mitsráyim, mitsrí |
| nivya | prophet | נביא | naví |
| rabban, ramban | rabbi, teacher, monk | רבי | rabbi |
| saith | olive | זית | záyit |
| Sfarad, Sfaradi | Spain, Spaniard | ספרד, ספרדי | sfarad, sfaradi |
| shalom | hello, peace | שלום | shalóm |
| shalom ayi | death | שלום עליי | shalóm ali |
| shir | song, music | שיר | shir |
| sosanna | lily | שושן | shoshán |
| tapuakh | apple | תפוח | tapúakh |
| Tora | Torah | תורה | torá |
| Yavan, Yavana | Greece, Greek (Likely to be derived from 'Ionian', the Greeks who lived in Asia Minor) | יוון, יווני | yaván, yevani |
| Yisrael, Yisraeli | Israel, Israeli | ישראל, הישראלי | yisra'él, yisra'éli |
| Yuda, Yehudan | Jew, Jewish | יהודי | y'hudí |
Persian[edit]
There are a few words of Persian origin in Malayalam, though it is possible many of them could have been indirectly loaned from Urdu.
| Malayalam | Malayalam Transliteration | Source word | Original form | Meaning |
|---|
| പറങ്കി | parangi | Farangi | فرنگی | Derived from 'Firangi' or 'Frank' (a Germanic tribe - that gave their name to France), a term that was used to denote all Europeans. Used however almost exclusively for the Portuguese in Kerala, probably because Parangi was mistaken for Portugali as they sound similar. Might have also been used for the Dutch initially |
| ഗോതമ്പ് | godambu | Gandom; other possible sources are Gantuma in Avestan or Godhuma (गोधुम) in Sanskrit | گندم | Wheat |
| ഗുമസ്തൻ | Gumasthan | Gomastha | ??? | Clerk [5] |
| കീശ | keesha | Keesah | کیسه | Pocket |
| കൂജ | kooja | Kuzah | کوزه | Water Jug |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Dalgado, Sebastião Rodolfo (1988). Portuguese Vocables in Asiatic Languages: From the Portuguese Original of Monsignor Sebastião Rodolfo Dalgado. Asian Educational Services. ISBN9788120604131.
- ^ abcdefgA sacredlanguage is vanishing from State, The Hindu
- ^ abcdPrayer from the Past, India Today
- ^ ab[1], NasraniFoundation
- ^'നമ്മുടെ മലയാളം'. June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_loanwords_in_Malayalam&oldid=894828635'
< Malayalam
Malayalam (Dravidian languages)[edit]
| Translation | Phrase | ISO 15919 Transliteration | IPA | Remarks |
|---|
| Malayalam | മലയാളം | malayāḷam | [ˈmaləjaːɭəm] |
| hello | നമസ്കാരം | namaskāram | [ˈn̪aməsˌkaːɾəm] | This is a much more formal word than in English and there is no actual direct translation of the word 'hello'. |
| good-bye | പോയിട്ടു വരട്ടെ | pōyiṭṭu varaṭṭe | [ˈpoːjiʈːu(.)ˌʋəɾəʈːe] |
| please | ദയവായി | dayavāyi | [ˈd̪əjəʋaːji] | This is slightly more formal than in English and not used as often. |
| thank you | നന്ദി | nanni | [ˈn̪an̪ːi] | It is written as if it were pronounced [ˈn̪an̪d̪i] |
| How much is that? | അതിന്റെ വില എന്താണു | atiṉṯe vila entāṇu | [ˈat̪ˌinte(.)ˌʋilə(.)ˌen̪t̪aːɳŭ] |
| yes | അതെ / ശരി | ate / śari | [ˌat̪e] / [ɕəɾi] | അതെ is used to say something is true, but ശരി is used when one is agreeing that one will do something. |
| no | ഇല്ല / അല്ല | illa / alla | [ˈilːə] / [ˈalːə] | Use ഇല്ല when talking about an action, the presence of someone/something and also used to say someone/something does not have something) and അല്ല when talking about the nature of someone/something. |
| sorry | ക്ഷമിക്കണം / പൊറുക്കണം | kṣamikkaṇam / poṟukkaṇam | [ˈkʂəmikʲːəɳəm] / [ˈporukːəɳəm] | These words both mean 'forgive' in the imperative mood ('me' is implied and is not normally used in this context), and can be made more polite by saying 'ദയവായി' first. |
| English | ഇംഗ്ളീഷ് | iṅgḷīṣ | [ˈiŋgɭiːʂ] |
| I don't understand | എനിക്കു് മനസിലാകുന്നില്ല | enikkŭ manasilākunnilla | [ˌenikʲɨ̆manəsilaːkun̪ːilːə] |
| Do you speak English? | താങ്കള്ക് ഇംഗ്ളീഷ് അറിയാമൊ | tāṅkaḷkk iṅgḷīṣ aṟiyāmo | [ˈt̪aːŋkəɭkːˌiŋgɭiːʂarijaːˌmo] |
| I don't speak Malayalam | എനിക്കു മലയാളം അറിയില്ല | enikku malayāḷam aṟiyilla | [ˌenikʲɨ̆maləjaːɭəmarijilːə] |
| Where's the bathroom? | കുളിമുറി എവിടെയാണു | kuḷimuṟi eviṭeyāṇu | [ˈkuɭiˌmuri(.)ˌeʋiʈeˌjaːɳŭ] | This is literally asking for the location of a room where one can bathe. If you mean the toilet, it would be best to use the English word followed by എവിടെയാണു (eviṭeyāṇu). |
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