പുളി
puḷi/puɭi/
The English word "sour" is translated into Malayalam as പുളി (puḷi).
പുളി is used to describe a taste that is acidic, sharp or tangy.
Meaning: having an acidic, sharp or tangy taste (adj)
Which one should you use?
While പുളി can mean the sensation of sourness, it is also the common word for tamarind, a frequent source of sourness in Malayalam cuisine.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /puɭi/. The romanization is puḷi.
Did you know?
- Because tamarind is so ubiquitous, പുളി is often used as a generic term for any souring agent in a recipe, even if the actual ingredient is a piece of mango or a slice of lemon.
- The word പുളി is shared across the Dravidian family, appearing as puḷi in Tamil and huḷi in Kannada, reflecting an ancient linguistic root for the taste of acidity.
- The taste of പുളി is considered a primary balancing element in the 'Sadhya', the traditional feast of Kerala, where sourness is used specifically to cut through the richness of coconut milk.
Examples in context
- ഈ കറിയിൽ പുളി കൂടുതലാണ്.ee kariyil puli kooduthalaanu.There is too much sourness in this curry.
Example conversation
Vishnu and Lakshmi are tasting a new dish in the kitchen.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuലക്ഷ്മി, ഈ കറിക്ക് ഒരുപാട് പുളി ഉണ്ടോ?Lakshmi, ee karikku orupaad puli undo?Lakshmi, is this curry too sour?
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiഇല്ല വിഷ്ണു, ഇതിന് നല്ല രുചിയുണ്ട്.illa Vishnu, ithinu nalla ruchiyundu.No Vishnu, it tastes very good.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഎനിക്ക് ഇതിലെ പുളി ഇഷ്ടമായി.enikku ithile puli ishtamaayi.I liked the sourness in this.
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiസന്തോഷം, നമുക്ക് ഇത് കഴിക്കാം.santhosham, namukku ithu kazhikkaam.I'm glad, let's eat this.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry പുളി, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries പുളി, CC BY-SA 4.0.
