തത്ത
tatta/t̪ɐt̪ːɐ/
The Malayalam word for parrot is തത്ത (tatta).
The word തത്ത is used to refer to the bird known as a parrot.
Meaning: kind of bird (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced tatta.
Did you know?
- In Malayalam literature and folk songs, the തത്ത is often personified as a messenger or a confidant for lovers, much like a Romeo's messenger in Western traditions.
- Adding a suffix to create തത്തമ്മ (thatham-ma) transforms the bird into a term of endearment for children and close friends.
- While English uses 'parrot' as a verb for mimicry, a Malayalam speaker would not typically use തത്ത to describe someone repeating words mechanically.
Examples in context
- ആ തത്ത സംസാരിക്കുന്നു.aa thatha samsaarikunnu.That parrot is talking.
Example conversation
Sreedevi and Vishnu are looking at a bird in a garden.
- ശ്രീദേവി Srideviവിഷ്ണു, ആ തത്തയെ നോക്കൂ!Vishnu, aa thathaye nokku!Vishnu, look at that parrot!
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഅതെ, അത് വളരെ ഭംഗിയുണ്ട്.athe, athu valare bhangiyundu.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- ശ്രീദേവി Srideviനമുക്ക് ഒരു തത്തയെ വാങ്ങണോ?namukku oru thathaye vaanganamoo?Should we buy a parrot?
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഅമ്മയോട് ചോദിക്കാം.ammayodu chodhikkam.Let's ask mother.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “parrot” translations and entries തത്ത, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
