ಜಿರಳೆ
jirale
The English word "cockroach" is ಜಿರಳೆ (jirale) in Kannada.
ಜಿರಳೆ is used to refer to the type of insect known as a cockroach.
Meaning: type of insect (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
jirale
Did you know?
- In certain Kannada idioms, the resilience of a ಜಿರಳೆ is used to describe a person who survives difficult situations against all odds.
- Because the word ಜಿರಳೆ shares its linguistic origin with the Marathi word झुरळ, a speaker of both languages can instantly recognize the insect's name across the border.
- While ಜಿರಳೆ is the standard term, some speakers use the word ಹುಳ ('worm' or 'insect') as a generic catch-all for cockroaches when they are too disgusted to name them specifically.
Examples in context
- ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಜಿರಳೆ ಇದೆ.alli ondu jiraḷe ide.There is a cockroach there.
- ಅವನು ಜಿರಳೆ ನೋಡಿ ಹೆದರಿದನು.avanu jiraḷe nōḍi hedaridanu.He got scared seeing the cockroach.
Example conversation
Anvita and Rahul are in the kitchen.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaರಾಹುಲ್, ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡು, ಒಂದು ಜಿರಳೆ ಇದೆ!Rahul, illi nodu, ondu jirale ide!Rahul, look here, there is a cockroach!
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulಎಲ್ಲಿ? ನನಗೆ ಕಾಣಿಸುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ.elli? nanage kanisuttilla.Where? I can't see it.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaಆ ಮೇಜಿನ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಜಿರಳೆ ಇದೆ.aa mejina kelage jirale ide.The cockroach is under that table.
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulಅಯ್ಯೋ, ನಾನು ಅದನ್ನು ತೆಗೆಯುತ್ತೇನೆ.ayyo, naanu adannu tegeyuttene.Oh no, I will remove it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ಜಿರಳೆ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
