ಪೊಣ್ಣು
poṇṇu
The Tulu word for girl is ಪೊಣ್ಣು (poṇṇu).
ಪೊಣ್ಣು is used to refer to a young female person.
Meaning: young female person (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
poṇṇu
Did you know?
- The Tulu word ಪೊಣ್ಣು shares a common ancient ancestor with the Tamil word பெண், the Malayalam പെൺ and the Kannada ಹೆಣ್ಣು.
- Even though ಪೊಣ್ಣು specifically means 'girl', in certain Tulu-speaking contexts, it can be used as a general term to describe the female gender or sex.
- In Tulu literature and folk songs, the term can be used metaphorically to represent youth or innocence.
Example conversation
Sunil and Sumitha are talking about a child in the park.
- ಸುಮಿತಾ Sumitaಆ ಪೊಣ್ಣು ಪೋರ್ಲು ಅಲ್ವೇ?Aa ponnu porlu alve?That girl is beautiful, right?
- ಸುನಿಲ್ Sunilಜೂಮ್, ಆ ಪೊಣ್ಣು ಬಾರಿ ಪೋರ್ಲು.Joom, aa ponnu bari porlu.Yes, that girl is very beautiful.
- ಸುಮಿತಾ Sumitaಆ ಪೊಣ್ಣು ನಿನ್ನ ಮಗಲೆನಾ?Aa ponnu ninna magalena?Is that girl your daughter?
- ಸುನಿಲ್ Sunilಅತ್ತಿ, ಆ ಪೊಣ್ಣು ಎನ್ನ ಮಗಲೆ ಅತ್ತಿ.Atti, aa ponnu enna magale atti.No, that girl is not my daughter.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ಪೊಣ್ಣು, CC BY-SA 4.0.
