ആന
āna/aːnɐ/
The Malayalam word for elephant is ആന (āna).
The term ആന is used to refer to the biological species of elephant and specifically to the large Asian elephants that are prominent in the region's cultural contexts.
Meaning: mammal (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /aːnɐ/ (āna).
Did you know?
- In some Malayalam folk songs, an elephant is referred to as കരി (kari), which literally means 'black' but functions as a nickname for the animal.
- In Kerala's traditional temple festivals, the term ആന is often followed by the elephant's specific name, such as 'Gajendran' or 'Keshavan', as if it were a person.
- While ആന is the common name for the animal, the word ഗജ (gaja) is often used in literature and classical poetry to describe an elephant, borrowed from Sanskrit.
Examples in context
- അവന് ഒരു ആന വളർത്തുന്നു.He raises an elephant.
- ആന വളരെ വലിയ മൃഗമാണ്.ana valare valiya mrugamanu.The elephant is a very large animal.
- ആനയെ കാണാൻ എനിക്ക് ഇഷ്ടമാണ്.anaye kanan enikku ishtamanu.I like seeing the elephant.
- കാട്ടിൽ ഒരു ആനയുണ്ട്.kattil oru anayundu.There is an elephant in the forest.
Example conversation
Rahul and Lakshmi are visiting a zoo.
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiരാഹുൽ, നോക്കൂ! അവിടെ ഒരു ആനയുണ്ട്.rahul, nokku! avide oru aanayundu.Rahul, look! There is an elephant there.
- രാഹുൽ Rahulഅത് എത്ര വലുതാണ്!athu ethra valuthanu!How big it is!
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiആനയ്ക്ക് വലിയ തുമ്പിക്കൈയുണ്ട്.aanaykku valiya thumbikkaiyundu.The elephant has a big trunk.
- രാഹുൽ Rahulഅതെ, അത് കാണാൻ നല്ല രസമുണ്ട്.athe, athu kaanan nalla rasamundu.Yes, it is very nice to see.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “elephant” translations and entries ആന, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
