പശു
paśu/pɐʃu/
The Malayalam word for cow is പശു (paśu).
The term refers to the adult female of the species Bos taurus.
Meaning: adult female of species Bos taurus (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is paśu.
Did you know?
- The word പശു has a linguistic relative in Assamese, where the word পহু refers more generally to any 'herbivorous animal'.
- In Malayalam, the term പശു is often associated with the goddess Lakshmi. Feeding a പശു is seen as a pious act that invites prosperity into the home.
- The concept of a 'cowherd' in Malayalam culture is deeply tied to the divine figure of Krishna, making the പശു a recurring motif in Kerala's temple murals.
Examples in context
- ആ പശു പാൽ തരുന്നു.aa pashu paal tharunnu.That cow gives milk.
- എന്റെ പശു പുല്ല് തിന്നുകയാണ്.ente pashu pullu thinnukayaan.My cow is eating grass.
- അവിടെ ഒരു പശുയുണ്ട്.avide oru pashuyundu.There is a cow there.
Example conversation
Lakshmi and Manoj are visiting a farm.
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiമനോജ്, ആ പശു നോക്കൂ!Manōj, ā paśu nōkkū!Manoj, look at that cow!
- മനോജ് Manojഅത് വളരെ വലുതാണല്ലോ.atu vaḷare valutāṇallō.It is very big, isn't it?
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiപശു പുല്ല് തിന്നുകയാണ്.paśu pullu tinnukayāṇu.The cow is eating grass.
- മനോജ് Manojഅത് കാണാൻ നല്ല ഭംഗിയുണ്ട്.atu kāṇān nalla bhaṅgiyunṭu.It looks very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cow” translations and entries പശു, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries പശു, CC BY-SA 4.0.
