സ്വപ്നം
svapnaṁ/sʋɐpnɐm/
The English word 'dream' can be translated into Malayalam as സ്വപ്നം (svapnaṁ) or കിനാവ്.
Meaning: imaginary events seen while sleeping (noun)
Ways to say it
| Malayalam | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| സ്വപ്നം | svapnaṁ | /sʋɐpnɐm/ |
| കിനാവ് | kināvŭ | /kinaːʋɨ/ |
In Malayalam, a 'dream' refers to imaginary events seen while sleeping. To express the action of 'dreaming', speakers use the compound verb form സ്വപ്നം കാണുക, which literally means 'to see a dream'.
Which one should you use?
സ്വപ്നം is the standard and more formal term for a dream, whereas കിനാവ് is a more colloquial or poetic way to refer to a dream or a vision.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can create the word for 'nightmare' by adding the prefix ദു- to the word സ്വപ്നം, resulting in ദുസ്വപ്നം.
How do you pronounce it?
സ്വപ്നം is pronounced /sʋɐpnɐm/.
Did you know?
- In traditional Kerala culture, certain types of സ്വപ്നം are interpreted as omens, leading to specific rituals to ward off the perceived bad luck of a ദുസ്വപ്നം.
- Because സ്വപ്നം is borrowed from Sanskrit, it is often used in high-literature and religious texts, whereas കിനാവ് is rooted in the native Dravidian family.
- The word ദുസ്വപ്നം for 'nightmare' uses the prefix ദു-, which is also used in Malayalam to describe things that are evil, bad or ill-omened.
Examples in context
- ഞാൻ ഇന്നലെ രാത്രി ഒരു ദുസ്വപ്നം കണ്ടു.I had a bad dream last night.This sentence is useful for illustrating the use of സ്വപ്നം in the context of a bad dream.Tatoeba #663070 by jjrodz, translation #257828 by CK
- എന്റെ സ്വപ്നം വളരെ മനോഹരമായിരുന്നു.ente swapnam valare manoharamayirunnu.My dream was very beautiful.
Example conversation
Anjali and Vishnu are talking about their sleep.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഅഞ്ജലി, നീ ഇന്ന് വൈകി എഴുന്നേറ്റല്ലോ?Anjali, nee innu vaiki ezhunnettallo?Anjali, you woke up late today, didn't you?
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഅതെ, ഞാൻ ഒരു സുന്ദരമായ സ്വപ്നം കണ്ടുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുകയായിരുന്നു.athe, njan oru sundaramaya swapnam kandukondirikkukayayirunnu.Yes, I was seeing a beautiful dream.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഎന്തായിരുന്നു ആ സ്വപ്നം?enthayirunnu aa swapnam?What was that dream?
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliവിഷ്ണു, അത് ഞാൻ പറഞ്ഞുതരാം.Vishnu, athu njan paranjutharam.Vishnu, I will tell you about it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dream” translations and entries സ്വപ്നം, കിനാവ്, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
