ഭീരു
bhīru/b(ʱ)iːɾu/
The Malayalam word for coward is ഭീരു (bhīru).
ഭീരു is a noun used to describe a person who lacks courage.
Meaning: a person who lacks courage (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as bhīru (/b(ʱ)iːɾu/).
Did you know?
- The word ഭീരു is frequently used in traditional Kathakali performances to characterize certain roles through stylized gestures and facial expressions.
- Because ഭീരു is a Sanskrit loanword, it is a 'pan-Indian' word that a speaker of Hindi or Bengali would instantly recognize, even if they have never studied Malayalam.
- The phonetic sound bh in ഭീരു is a voiced aspirate, a sound that does not exist in English and requires a sudden burst of air from the throat.
Examples in context
- അവൻ ഒരു ഭീരു ആണ്.avan oru bheeru aanu.He is a coward.
- ഭീരുവിനെപ്പോലെ പെരുമാറരുത്.bheeruvineppole perumaararuthu.Do not behave like a coward.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a person's reaction to a challenge.
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiഅർജുൻ, അവൻ ഒരു ഭീരു ആണെന്ന് തോന്നുന്നു.Arjun, avan oru bheeru aanennu thonnunnu.Arjun, I think he is a coward.
- അർജുൻ Arjunഅതെ, ലക്ഷ്മി, അവന് പേടിയാണ്.athe, Lakshmi, avannu pediyaanu.Yes, Lakshmi, he is afraid.
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiഅവൻ ഭീരുവിനെപ്പോലെ ഒളിച്ചോടി.avan bheeruvineppole olichodi.He ran away like a coward.
- അർജുൻ Arjunഅതൊരു മോശം സ്വഭാവമാണ്.athoru mosham swabhavamaanu.That is a bad trait.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coward” translations and entries ഭീരു, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ഭീരു, CC BY-SA 4.0.
