బల్లి
balli/balːi/
The English word "lizard" is బల్లి (balli) in Telugu.
The word refers to the reptile known as a lizard.
Meaning: reptile (noun)
Which one should you use?
While బల్లి is the standard term, పల్లి is a more formal variant.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as balli.
Did you know?
- While బల్లి describes a lizard, the word పల్లి in different contexts can refer to a village or a school in related Dravidian dialects.
- In Telugu culture, seeing a బల్లి fall from the ceiling onto your body can be used to predict your future fortune.
- In some Telugu folklore, the బల్లి is seen as a guardian of the house, and killing one is traditionally considered bad luck.
Examples in context
- అందరికీ శకునము చెప్పే బల్లి కుడితితోట్టెలో పడ్డట్టుThe lizard which tells the fortunes of all fell itself into the tub of rice-washings.This sentence is useful for seeing how బల్లి is used in a descriptive context regarding fortunes.
- గోడ మీద బల్లి ఉంది.gōda mīda balli undi.There is a lizard on the wall.
- ఆ బల్లి చాలా చిన్నది.ā balli chālā chinna di.That lizard is very small.
Example conversation
Kavya and Kiran are looking at the living room wall.
- కావ్య Kavyaకిరణ్, అక్కడ గోడ మీద బల్లి ఉంది చూసావా?Kiran, akkaḍa gōda mīda balli undi chūsāvā?Kiran, did you see that lizard on the wall over there?
- కిరణ్ Kiranఅవును, అది చాలా వేగంగా వెళ్ళిపోయింది.Avunu, adi chālā vēgamgā veḷḷipōyindi.Yes, it went away very quickly.
- కావ్య Kavyaఅది ఎక్కడికి వెళ్ళిందో తెలుసా?Adi ekkaḍiki veḷḷindō telusā?Do you know where it went?
- కిరణ్ Kiranబహుశా ఆ మూలలో దాక్కుందని అనుకుంటున్నాను.Bahuśā ā mūlallō dākkundani anukuṇṭunnānu.I think it probably hid in that corner.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lizard” translations and entries బల్లి, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
