മേഘം
mēghaṁ/meːɡ(ʱ)ɐm/
The English word 'cloud' is translated into Malayalam as മേഘം (mēghaṁ). Wiktionary also lists മുകിൽ (mukil) and എഴിലി (eḻili).
Meaning: visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air (noun)
Ways to say it
| Malayalam | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| മേഘം | mēghaṁ | /meːɡ(ʱ)ɐm/ |
| മുകിൽ | mukil | /muɡil/ |
| എഴിലി | eḻili | /eɻili/ |
The term refers to a visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air.
Which one should you use?
മേഘം is the standard, most common word for 'cloud' used in everyday conversation and news. In contrast, മുകിൽ is a more poetic or literary term often found in classical poetry or songs.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal expression, you may use മേഗം. മുകിൽ is reserved for literary contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is mēghaṁ. The IPA is /meːɡ(ʱ)ɐm/.
Did you know?
- In classical Malayalam poetry, the use of മുകിൽ often evokes a specific mood of longing or romantic yearning associated with the rainy season.
- The common word മേഘം is a loanword from Sanskrit, meaning it shares a common root with words for 'cloud' in Hindi and Punjabi.
Examples in context
- ആകാശത്ത് ഒരു വലിയ മേഘം കാണുന്നു.akashathu oru valiya megham kaanunnu.I see a big cloud in the sky.
- ആ മേഘം വളരെ കറുത്തതാണ്.aa megham valare karuthathaanu.That cloud is very black.
- മേഘം പതുക്കെ നീങ്ങുന്നു.megham pathukke neengunnu.The cloud is moving slowly.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at the sky before a rainstorm.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliവിഷ്ണു, ആ മേഘം നോക്കൂ.vishnu, aa megham nokku.Vishnu, look at that cloud.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഅതെ, അത് വളരെ കറുത്തതാണ്.athe, athu valare karuthathaanu.Yes, it is very black.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliമഴ പെയ്യാൻ പോകുന്നുണ്ടോ?mazha peyyan pokunnundo?Is it going to rain?
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഅതെ, ഉടനെ മഴ വരും.athe, udane mazha varum.Yes, rain will come soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cloud” translations and entries മേഘം, മുകിൽ, എഴിലി, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries എഴിലി, മുകിൽ, മേഘം, CC BY-SA 4.0.
