పిచ్చి
picci/pit͡ɕːi/
The English word "mad" (in the sense of being angry) translates to Telugu as పిచ్చి (picci).
Meaning: angry (adj)
Which one should you use?
The term కోపము (Kopamu) refers to the concept of "anger" itself, whereas the phrase కోపంగా ఉన్నాను (Kopanga Unnaanu) is used specifically to mean "I am angry".
How do you pronounce it?
The word is romanized as picci and pronounced /pitɕːi/.
Did you know?
- In Telugu, the word పిచ్చి (picci) is often used to describe an intense or obsessive passion, such as పిచ్చి ప్రేమ (picci prema) for 'mad love', which is viewed as romantic rather than a mental illness.
- The word పిచ్చి shares a common ancient root with the Tamil word பிச்சு (piccu), tracing back to the Proto-Dravidian language spoken thousands of years ago.
- Because పిచ్చి (picci) can mean 'crazy', calling someone 'mad' in Telugu is much more insulting than it is in English, where it can be used playfully or lightly.
Example conversation
Venkat forgot his anniversary and Pallavi is upset.
- పల్లవి Pallaviవెంకట్, నువ్వు నా మీద పిచ్చి పడవు అని అనుకుంటున్నావా?venkaṭ, nuvvu nā mīda picci paḍavu ani anukuṇṭunnāvā?Venkat, do you think I won't get mad at you?
- వెంకట్ Venkatక్షమించు పల్లవి, నేను మర్చిపోయాను.kṣamiñcu pallavi, nēnu marcipōyānu.Forgive me Pallavi, I forgot.
- పల్లవి Pallaviఅందుకే నేను ఇప్పుడు పిచ్చిగా ఉన్నాను!andukē nēnu ippuḍu piccigā unnānu!That is why I am mad now!
- వెంకట్ Venkatసరే, మనం బయటికి వెళ్దాం.sarē, manam bayaṭiki veḷdām.Okay, let's go out.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry పిచ్చి, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries పిచ్చి, CC BY-SA 4.0.
