மிளகு
miḷaku/mɪɭɐɡɯ/
The English word pepper is translated into Tamil as மிளகு (miḷaku).
The term is used to refer to the spice pepper.
Meaning: spice (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is miḷaku.
Did you know?
- Ancient Greeks and Romans called pepper 'black gold' and traded for it via the coast of Tamil Nadu, making மிளகு one of the primary reasons for early global trade between Europe and India.
- The Tamil region of the Western Ghats is considered the ancestral home of the plant that provides மிளகு, meaning the spice is indigenous to the land where the language is spoken.
- Tamil speakers use different letters for the 'l' sound in மிளகு (miḷaku) than in other words, using a retroflex consonant where the tongue curls back to touch the roof of the mouth.
Examples in context
- Milagu irukka? (மிளகு இருக்கா?)Do you have pepper?
- மிளகு மிகவும் காரமானது.milagu migavum kāṟamāṉatu.Pepper is very spicy.
- இந்த உணவில் மிளகு குறைவு.inta uṇavil milagu kuṟaivu.There is little pepper in this dish.
- மிளகு ஒரு நல்ல மணம் கொண்டது.milagu oru nalla maṇam koṇṭatu.Pepper has a good aroma.
Example conversation
A woman is cooking in the kitchen and a man enters.
- விஜய் Vijayகவிதா, இந்த குழம்பில் மிளகு இருக்கிறதா?kavitā, inta kuḻambil milaku irukkiṟatā?Kavitha, is there pepper in this curry?
- கவிதா Kavithaஆம் விஜய், நான் மிளகு சேர்த்தேன்.ām vijay, nāṉ milaku cērttēṉ.Yes Vijay, I added pepper.
- விஜய் Vijayமிளகு சுவை நன்றாக இருக்கிறது.milagu cuvai naṉṟāka irukkiṟatu.The pepper taste is good.
- கவிதா Kavithaமிளகு இன்னும் சேர்க்க வேண்டுமா?milaku iṉṉum cērkka vēṇṭumā?Do you want more pepper added?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pepper” translations and entries மிளகு, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
