ദൈവം അനുഗ്രഹിക്കട്ടെ
daivam anugrahikkatte
The English phrase 'God bless you' is translated into Malayalam as ദൈവം അനുഗ്രഹിക്കട്ടെ (daivam anugrahikkatte).
Said to somebody who has sneezed.
Meaning: said to somebody who has sneezed (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of daivam (God) and anugrahikkatte (let [Him] bless).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb anugrahikkatte is in the optative mood, expressing a wish or a prayer.
How do you pronounce it?
daivam anugrahikkatte
Did you know?
- While 'daivam anugrahikkatte' is a grammatically correct translation, many Malayalis actually ignore a sneeze entirely. Unlike in English, there is no strong social obligation to say anything at all when someone sneezes.
- While ദൈവം അനുഗ്രഹിക്കട്ടെ is the standard translation, using it in a casual conversation can feel as heavy and dramatic as saying 'may the Almighty bestow His grace upon you' in English.
- The word ദൈവം is a learned borrowing from the Sanskrit word deva, which originally referred to a celestial being or deity.
Example conversation
Arjun and Meera are sitting together in a room.
- മീര Meeraഹച്ചീ!Hachhee!Achoo!
- അർജുൻ Arjunദൈവം അനുഗ്രഹിക്കട്ടെ, മീര.Daivam anugrahikkatte, Meera.God bless you, Meera.
- മീര Meeraനന്ദി, അർജുൻ.Nandi, Arjun.Thank you, Arjun.
- അർജുൻ Arjunകുഴപ്പമില്ല.Kuzhappamilla.No problem.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ദൈവം, CC BY-SA 4.0.
