முட்டாள்
muṭṭāḷ/mʊʈːɑːɭ/
The English word idiot can be translated into Tamil as முட்டாள் (muṭṭāḷ). Wiktionary also lists அறிவிலி (aṟivili) and லூசு (lūcu).
Meaning: person of low general intelligence (noun)
Ways to say it
| Tamil | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| முட்டாள் | muṭṭāḷ | /mʊʈːɑːɭ/ |
| அறிவிலி | aṟivili | /ɐrɪʋɪliː/ |
| லூசு | lūcu | /luːsɯ/ |
The terms used describe a person of low general intelligence.
Which one should you use?
While முட்டாள் is a standard term for a fool or idiot, லூசு is much more informal and used in casual speech.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term லூசு is a colloquial slang term often used among friends to call someone an idiot or crazy.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /mʊʈːɑːɭ/ (muṭṭāḷ).
Did you know?
- The colloquial term லூசு is actually a direct loanword from the English word 'loose', as in the phrase 'having a screw loose'.
- In casual settings, லூசு can be used as a playful term of endearment among friends rather than a harsh insult.
- The word அறிவிலி is constructed from அறிவு, meaning 'knowledge' or 'sense', and இலி, a suffix meaning 'one without'.
Examples in context
- லூசு!Idiot!Tatoeba #11036679 by DriedGrapes31, translation #693617 by thedowntowncanon
- அவர்கள் புத்தி இல்லாத பசங்க!They are a bunch of idiots with no brains!
- அவன் ஒரு முட்டாள்.avan oru muttaal.He is an idiot.
- அந்த முட்டாள் என்ன செய்தான்?andha muttaal enna seidhaan?What did that idiot do?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Santhosh and Priya are talking about a person's silly mistake.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஅவன் ஒரு பெரிய முட்டாள்.avan oru periya muttaal.He is a big idiot.
- பிரியா Priyaஆமாம், அவன் செய்த வேலை சரியில்லை.aamaam, avan seidha velai sariyillai.Yes, the work he did was not right.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஅவனை எப்படி நம்பலாம்?avanai eppadi nambalaam?How can we trust him?
- பிரியா Priyaஇனி அவனிடம் பேசாதே.ini avanidam paesathey.Don't talk to him anymore.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “idiot” translations and entries முட்டாள், அறிவிலி, லூசு, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries அறிவிலி, முட்டாள், லூசு, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
