തേൾ
tēḷ/t̪eːɭ/
The Malayalam word for "scorpion" is തേൾ (tēḷ).
തേൾ is a noun used to refer to any of the various arachnids belonging to the order Scorpiones.
Meaning: any of various arachnids of the order Scorpiones (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is romanized as tēḷ. It is pronounced /t̪eːɭ/.
Did you know?
- The word തേൾ is a cognate with the word for 'scorpion' in the Brahui language, which is spoken primarily in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- The term തേൾ appears in ancient Sangam literature, where the sting of the scorpion is often used as a poetic metaphor for the pain of separation from a lover.
- Unlike English, which uses the same word 'scorpion' for the animal and the astrological sign, Malayalam often uses different terminology for the zodiac sign 'Vrishchika'.
Examples in context
- തേൾ കടിക്കുന്നത് വേദനയുണ്ടാക്കും.thel kadikkunnathu vedanayundakkum.A scorpion sting causes pain.
- മണലിൽ ഒരു തേൾ ഉണ്ട്.manalil oru thel undu.There is a scorpion in the sand.
Example conversation
Vishnu and Anjali are walking in a garden.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഅഞ്ജലി, സൂക്ഷിക്കണം, അവിടെ ഒരു തേൾ ഉണ്ട്!Anjali, sookshikkanam, avide oru thel undu!Anjali, be careful, there is a scorpion there!
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഎവിടെ? എനിക്ക് ഒന്നും കാണാൻ കഴിയുന്നില്ല.Evide? Enikku onnum kaanan kazhiyunnilla.Where? I can't see anything.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuആ കല്ലിന് അടുത്ത് നോക്കൂ.Aa kallinu aduthu nokkoo.Look near that stone.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഓ, ഞാൻ അത് കണ്ടു. നന്ദി വിഷ്ണു.Oh, njan athu kandu. Nandhi Vishnu.Oh, I saw it. Thanks, Vishnu.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scorpion” translations and entries തേൾ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries തേൾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
