വാഴപ്പഴം
vāḻappaḻaṁ/ʋaːɻɐppɐɻɐm/
The English word banana is translated into Malayalam as വാഴപ്പഴം (vāḻappaḻaṁ). Wiktionary also lists പഴം (paḻaṁ).
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Malayalam | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| വാഴപ്പഴം | vāḻappaḻaṁ | /ʋaːɻɐppɐɻɐm/ |
| പഴം | paḻaṁ | /pɐɻɐm/ |
What does it mean word for word?
The word വാഴപ്പഴം is a compound consisting of വാഴ, which means banana plant and പഴം, which means fruit.
How do you pronounce it?
vāḻappaḻaṁ
Did you know?
- In traditional Kerala households, the entire വാഴ plant is utilized, from the fruit to the stem and leaves, making it a symbol of zero waste.
- The pronunciation of the 'zh' sound in വാഴ (vāḻa) involves a unique retroflex liquid sound that does not exist in English, requiring the tongue to curl back significantly.
- In Kerala, the word പഴം is used in the name of a popular snack called പഴംപൊരി, which are banana fritters deep-fried in batter.
Examples in context
- എനിക്ക് ഒരു വാഴപ്പഴം വേണം.enikku oru vazhappazham venam.I want a banana.
- വാഴപ്പഴം വളരെ മധുരമുള്ളതാണ്.vazhappazham valare madhuramullathaanu.The banana is very sweet.
- കടയിൽ വാഴപ്പഴം ഉണ്ടോ?kadayil vazhappazham undo?Is there banana in the shop?
Example conversation
Meera and Arjun are in the kitchen.
- മീര Meeraഅർജുൻ, ഇവിടെ ഒരു വാഴപ്പഴം ഉണ്ടോ?Arjun, ivide oru vazhappazham undo?Arjun, is there a banana here?
- അർജുൻ Arjunഅതെ, ആ പാത്രത്തിൽ നോക്കൂ.Athe, aa paatrathil nokkoo.Yes, look in that bowl.
- മീര Meeraഇവിടെ ഒരു വാഴപ്പഴം മാത്രമേയുള്ളൂ.Ivide oru vazhappazham maathrameyulloo.There is only one banana here.
- അർജുൻ Arjunശരി, അത് നീ എടുത്തോളൂ.Sheri, athu nee edutholoo.Okay, you can take it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “banana” translations and entries വാഴപ്പഴം, പഴം, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
