വെളുത്തുള്ളി
veḷuttuḷḷi/ʋeɭut̪t̪uɭɭi/
The English word garlic is വെളുത്തുള്ളി (veḷuttuḷḷi) in Malayalam.
poondu is the generic term for garlic in Malayalam.
Meaning: plant (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word വെളുത്തുള്ളി is a compound noun. It is composed of വെളുത്ത (veḷuttha), meaning 'white' and ഉള്ളി (uḷḷi), meaning 'bulb/onion'.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is veḷuttuḷḷi. The IPA pronunciation is /ʋeɭut̪t̪uɭɭi/.
Did you know?
- In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, which heavily influences the culture of Kerala, വെളുത്തുള്ളി is often used as a vehicle for other medicines due to its perceived potency.
- While വെളുത്തുള്ളി literally means 'white shallot', the word ഉള്ളി in Malayalam historically refers to the small red shallots that are a staple in Kerala cuisine.
- Across the southern Dravidian languages, garlic is consistently described as a 'white' version of a smaller bulb, as seen in the Kannada ಬೆಳ್ಳುಳ್ಳಿ and Tamil வெள்ளுள்ளி.
Examples in context
- എനിക്ക് വെളുത്തുള്ളി വേണം.enikku veluthulli venam.I want garlic.
- വെളുത്തുള്ളി ഇന്ന് വില കൂടിയതാണ്.veluthulli innu vila koodiyathaanu.Garlic is expensive today.
- ഈ കറിയിൽ വെളുത്തുള്ളി ചേർക്കണം.ee kariyil veluthulli cherkanam.Add garlic to this curry.
Example conversation
Anjali is shopping for groceries at a market with Rahul.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliരാഹുൽ, ഇവിടെ വെളുത്തുള്ളി ഉണ്ടോ?rahul, ivide veluthulli undo?Rahul, is there garlic here?
- രാഹുൽ Rahulഅതെ, ആ കവറിലുള്ളത് വെളുത്തുള്ളിയാണ്.athe, aa kavarilullathu veluthulliyaanu.Yes, that in the bag is garlic.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഎങ്കിൽ കുറച്ച് വെളുത്തുള്ളി എടുത്തോളൂ.engil kurachu veluthulli edutholu.Then please take some garlic.
- രാഹുൽ Rahulശരി, ഞാൻ അത് വാങ്ങാം.shari, njan athu vangam.Okay, I will buy it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “garlic” translations and entries വെളുത്തുള്ളി, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries വെളുത്തുള്ളി, CC BY-SA 4.0.
