ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം
uchabhakshaṇam
The English word 'lunch' is ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം (uchabhakshaṇam) in Malayalam.
ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം refers to a meal eaten around midday. In casual conversation, speakers often shorten this to ഉച്ച when referring to the midday meal.
Meaning: meal around midday (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
In the word ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം, the second part, ഭക്ഷണം, means food or meal.
Which one should you use?
While ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം is the standard term, other forms exist depending on the context. Oonu is the most common formal word for lunch, and Madhyahnam Bhojanam translates to 'midday meal' and is used in formal or traditional contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
uchabhakshaṇam
Did you know?
- While ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം is the formal term, many Malayalis will simply say Oonu kazhicho? meaning 'Did you eat lunch?' as a standard, warm greeting to friends and neighbors.
- While ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം is the general term, a Sadhya is a special kind of lunch feast where dishes are served in a specific order on a banana leaf to balance different tastes.
- The word ഭക്ഷണം ('bhakshaṇam') used in ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം comes from the Sanskrit root meaning 'to eat' or 'to consume', which is shared with several other Indian languages.
Examples in context
- ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം തയ്യാറാണ്.uchabhakshanam thayyaraanu.Lunch is ready.
- എനിക്ക് ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം വേണം.enikku uchabhakshanam venam.I want lunch.
- നിങ്ങൾ ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം കഴിച്ചോ?ningal uchabhakshanam kazhiccho?Did you have lunch?
Example conversation
At home during the afternoon.
- മനോജ് Manojമീര, ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം കഴിച്ചോ?Meera, uchabhakshanam kazhiccho?Meera, did you have lunch?
- മീര Meeraഇല്ല, എനിക്ക് വിശക്കുന്നു.illa, enikku vishakkunnu.No, I am hungry.
- മനോജ് Manojഎങ്കിൽ വേഗം വന്ന് ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം കഴിക്കൂ.enkil vegam vannu uchabhakshanam kazhikku.Then come quickly and eat lunch.
- മീര Meeraശരി, ഞാൻ ഇപ്പോൾ വരാം.shari, njan ippol varaam.Okay, I will come now.
