ಅಳಿಲು
aḷilu
The English word "squirrel" is translated to Kannada as ಅಳಿಲು (aḷilu).
The word refers to the rodent commonly known as a squirrel.
Meaning: rodent (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
aḷilu
Did you know?
- In the legend of the bridge to Lanka, it is said that Lord Rama stroked the back of the ಅಳಿಲು in gratitude, which is why squirrels have stripes on their backs.
- In many South Indian stories, the squirrel is a symbol of devotion because of a legend where a squirrel helped Lord Rama build a bridge to Lanka by rolling in sand and shaking it off.
- While the word ಅಳಿಲು is common, Kannada has distinct terminology to separate tree squirrels from the larger ground-dwelling rodents.
Examples in context
- ಅಳಿಲು ಮರ ಹತ್ತುತ್ತಿದೆ.alilu mara hattuttide.The squirrel is climbing the tree.
- ಅಳಿಲು ತುಂಬಾ ವೇಗವಾಗಿದೆ.alilu tumbā vēgavāgide.The squirrel is very fast.
Example conversation
Kavya and Rahul are walking in a garden.
- ಕಾವ್ಯ Kavyaರಾಹುಲ್, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡು, ಒಂದು ಅಳಿಲು ಇದೆ!Rāhul, alli nōḍu, ondu alilu ide!Rahul, look there, there is a squirrel!
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulಹೌದು ಕಾವ್ಯ, ಅದು ತುಂಬಾ ಮುದ್ದಾಗಿದೆ.Haudu Kāvya, adu tumbā muddāgide.Yes Kavya, it is very cute.
- ಕಾವ್ಯ Kavyaಅದು ಹಣ್ಣನ್ನು ತಿನ್ನುತ್ತಿದೆಯೇ?Adu haṇṇannu tinnuttiddeyē?Is it eating a fruit?
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulಹೌದು, ಅದು ಹಣ್ಣನ್ನು ತಿನ್ನುತ್ತಿದೆ.Haudu, adu haṇṇannu tinnuttide.Yes, it is eating the fruit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “squirrel” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
