പണം
paṇaṁ/pɐɳɐm/
The Malayalam word for money is പണം (paṇaṁ).
പണം is used to refer to currency.
Meaning: currency (noun)
Which one should you use?
While പണം (paṇaṁ) is the standard and formal term for money, കാശ് (kāś) is much more frequent in everyday spoken conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is paṇaṁ (/pɐɳɐm/).
Did you know?
- The common spoken word for money കാശ് (kāś) is derived from the 'cowrie shell', which was used as a currency in ancient India.
- In old Malayalam literature, references to money often used terms relating to gold or weight since coins were not always the primary medium of exchange.
- The word പണം (paṇaṁ) is a cognate with the Kannada word ಹಣ (haṇa), the Tamil word பணம் (paṇam) and the Telugu word పణము (paṇamu).
Examples in context
- എനിക്കാവശ്യം പണം മാത്രമാണ്.All I want is money.This sentence is useful for expressing a singular desire for money using the form പണം.Tatoeba #759861 by jjrodz, translation #247118 by CK
- അയാൾ പണം എവിടെയാണ് സൂക്ഷിക്കുന്നത്?ayaal panam evideyaanu sookshikkunnathu?Where does he keep the money?
Example conversation
Vishnu and Anjali are discussing a shopping trip.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഅഞ്ജലി, നിന്റെ കയ്യിൽ പണം ഉണ്ടോ?Anjali, ninte kayyil panam undo?Anjali, do you have money with you?
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഇല്ല വിഷ്ണു, എന്റെ പഴ്സ് വീട്ടിലുണ്ട്.illa Vishnu, ente purse veettilundu.No Vishnu, my purse is at home.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഎങ്കിൽ ഞാൻ പണം തരാം.engil njaan panam tharaam.Then I will give you money.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഅതൊരു വലിയ സഹായമായിരിക്കും.athoru valiya sahaayamaayirikkum.That would be a big help.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “money” translations and entries പണം, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries പണം, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
