ഭർത്താവ്
bhaṟttāvŭ/b(ʱ)ɐrt̪t̪aːʋɨ/
The Malayalam word for husband is ഭർത്താവ് (bhaṟttāvŭ).
ഭർത്താവ് is used to refer to a male partner in a marriage.
Meaning: male partner in marriage (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ഭർത്താവ് (or the variation ഭര്ത്താവ്) is the formal and standard term for husband. In informal contexts, you might use the phrase നിന്റെ ഭര്ത്താവ് to mean "your husband".
How do you pronounce it?
bhaṟttāvŭ
Did you know?
- While ഭർത്താവ് is the formal term, many Malayalam speakers avoid using a husband's actual name when speaking to or about him in front of elders. Instead, they may use relational terms like 'husband' or refer to him as 'the person at home'.
- The word ഭർത്താവ് is derived from the Sanskrit root meaning 'to bear' or 'to support'. It implies the husband is the one who sustains or provides for the household.
- The word ഭർത്താവ് is used regardless of the husband's religion, whether the couple is Hindu, Christian, or Muslim, making it a universal secular term across Kerala.
Examples in context
- എന്റെ ഭര്ത്താവ് പണിയില് വന്നു.My husband came to work.
- എന്റെ ഭർത്താവ് എവിടെയാണ്?ente bharthavu evideyaanu?Where is my husband?
- അവളുടെ ഭർത്താവ് ഒരു ഡോക്ടറാണ്.avalude bharthavu oru doctor aanu.Her husband is a doctor.
Example conversation
Sridevi and Rahul are talking about a family gathering.
- ശ്രീദേവി Srideviരാഹുൽ, നിങ്ങളുടെ ഭർത്താവ് വരുന്നുണ്ടോ?Rahul, ningalude bharthavu varunnundo?Rahul, is your husband coming?
- രാഹുൽ Rahulഅതെ, അദ്ദേഹം ഇന്ന് വരും.athe, addeham innu varum.Yes, he will come today.
- ശ്രീദേവി Srideviഅത് സന്തോഷം.athu santhosham.That is happy news.
- രാഹുൽ Rahulനമുക്ക് അവിടെ കാണാം.namukku avide kaanaam.We can see each other there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “husband” translations and entries ഭർത്താവ്, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ഭർത്താവ്, CC BY-SA 4.0.
