மார்பு
mārpu/mɑːɾbɯ/
The English word "breast" can be translated into Tamil as மார்பு (mārpu) or முலை.
Meaning: milk-producing organ (noun)
Ways to say it
| Tamil | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| மார்பு | mārpu | /mɑːɾbɯ/ |
| முலை | mulai | /mʊlɐɪ̯/ |
In Tamil, the choice of word depends on whether you are referring to the anatomical chest area or the specific organ used for lactation.
Which one should you use?
மார்பு (mārpu) refers generally to the chest or pectoral region. In contrast, முலை (mulai) refers specifically to the mammary gland or the organ used for breastfeeding.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
மார்பு is the more common and polite term used for the chest in general conversation. முலை is used in biological or clinical contexts regarding lactation, but it can sound blunt or crude in casual social settings.
How do you pronounce it?
mārpu (/mɑːɾbɯ/)
Did you know?
- In classical Sangam literature, the word மார்பு (mārpu) is often used to describe the 'chest' as the seat of courage and strength, rather than just an anatomical part.
- Tamil culture has a specific literary tradition called 'Akam' poetry, where descriptions of the முலை (mulai) are used as highly stylized metaphors for longing and intimacy.
- The term முலை (mulai) is a cognate with the Kannada word ಮೊಲೆ (mole) and the Malayalam word മുല (mula), reflecting a shared linguistic root across the Dravidian family.
Examples in context
- மருத்துவர் மார்பு பகுதியை பரிசோதித்தார்.maruttuvar māṟpu pakutiyai paricōtittār.The doctor examined the breast area.
Example conversation
A woman is discussing a medical symptom with a man.
- கவிதா Kavithaஎனக்கு மார்பு பகுதியில் வலி உள்ளது.eṉakku māṟpu pakutiyil vali uḷḷatu.I have pain in my breast area.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikகவிதா, நீங்கள் மருத்துவரிடம் காட்டினீர்களா?kavitā, nīṅkaḷ maruttuvariṭam kāṭṭiṉṟīḷā?Kavitha, did you show it to a doctor?
- கவிதா Kavithaஇல்லை, இன்னும் செல்லவில்லை.illai, iṉṉum cellavillai.No, I haven't gone yet.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஉடனடியாக மருத்துவரிடம் செல்லுங்கள்.uṭaṉadiyāka maruttuvariṭam celluṅkaḷ.Go to the doctor immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breast” translations and entries மார்பு, முலை, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries மார்பு, முலை, CC BY-SA 4.0.
