പോത്ത്
pōttŭ/poːt̪t̪ɨ/masculine
In Malayalam, 'buffalo' can be translated as പോത്ത് (pōttŭ) or എരുമ.
Meaning: bovid of the Bubalina subtribe (noun)
Ways to say it
| Malayalam | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| പോത്ത് | pōttŭ | /poːt̪t̪ɨ/ | masculine |
| എരുമ | eruma | /eɾumɐ/ | feminine |
The word refers to a bovid of the Bubalina subtribe.
Which one should you use?
പോത്ത് specifically refers to a male buffalo, whereas എരുമ is used for a female buffalo.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is pōttŭ. The IPA transcription is /poːt̪t̪ɨ/.
Did you know?
- While പോത്ത് refers to the animal, it is also used as a slang term in Malayalam to describe someone who is stubborn or dull-witted.
- In traditional folk songs of Kerala, references to the എരുമ often symbolize patience and endurance due to the animal's steady nature.
- The Malayalam word എരുമ shares a common ancestral root with the Tamil word எருமை 'erumai' and the Kannada word ಎಮ್ಮೆ 'emme'.
Examples in context
- ആ പോത്ത് പാടത്ത് നിൽക്കുന്നു.aa pothu paadath nilkkunnu.That buffalo is standing in the field.
- ഒരു പോത്ത് ഓടിപ്പോയി.oru pothu odippoyi.A buffalo ran away.
Example conversation
Rahul and Anjali are looking at a field near a farm.
- രാഹുൽ Rahulഅവിടെ നോക്കൂ, ഒരു പോത്ത് ഉണ്ട്!avide nokkoo, oru pothu undu!Look there, there is a buffalo!
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഅതെ, അത് വളരെ വലുതാണ്.athe, athu valare valuthaanu.Yes, it is very big.
- രാഹുൽ Rahulആ പോത്ത് ശാന്തമാണോ?aa pothu shanthamano?Is that buffalo calm?
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഅതെ, അത് തിന്നുന്ന തിരക്കിലാണ്.athe, athu thinnunna thirakkilaanu.Yes, it is busy eating.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “buffalo” translations and entries പോത്ത്, എരുമ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries എരുമ, പോത്ത്, CC BY-SA 4.0.
