ഒന്ന്
onnŭ/on̪n̪ɨ/
The English word 'one' is translated into Malayalam as ഒന്ന് (onnŭ). Wiktionary also lists ഒന്നു (onnu).
Meaning: cardinal number 1 (num)
Ways to say it
| Malayalam | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ഒന്ന് | onnŭ | /on̪n̪ɨ/ |
| ഒന്നു | onnu |
In Malayalam, the primary way to express the cardinal number 1 is via the word ഒന്ന്. This form can also function as an impersonal pronoun to mean 'one thing' or 'something'.
Which one should you use?
While ഒന്ന് refers specifically to the number one, the word ഒരു is used as the indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' before a noun.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ഒന്ന് can function as an impersonal pronoun in a sentence, representing 'one thing' or 'something'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is onnŭ.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the word ആദ്യം to mean 'one'. That word means 'first'.
Did you know?
- In Malayalam, adding ഒന്ന് to the beginning of a request can act as a softener, turning a command into a polite plea, similar to saying 'just' in English.
- Although ഒന്ന് sounds very similar to the English word 'one', they are not related. The Malayalam word comes from an ancient Proto-Dravidian root, while the English word has a completely different Germanic origin.
- The term ഒന്നാം is used to denote the first position in a sequence, creating a distinct morphological shift from the cardinal ഒന്ന് to an ordinal meaning.
Examples in context
- എന്റെ കയ്യിൽ ഒന്ന് ഉണ്ട്.ente kayyil onnu undu.I have one in my hand.
- അവിടെ ഒന്ന് ഉണ്ട്.avide onnu undu.There is one there.
Example conversation
Meera and Vishnu are at a fruit shop.
- മീര Meeraവിഷ്ണു, ആ ആപ്പിൾ ഒന്ന് എടുത്തു തരുമോ?Vishnu, aa apple onnu eduthu tharumoo?Vishnu, can you pick up that apple for me?
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuശരി, എത്ര വേണം?Sheri, ethra venam?Okay, how many do you want?
- മീര Meeraഎനിക്ക് ഒന്ന് മതി.Enikku onnu mathi.One is enough for me.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuദാ, ഇതാ ഒന്ന്.Daa, itha onnu.Here, here is one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “one” translations and entries ഒന്ന്, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ഒന്ന്, CC BY-SA 4.0.
