കടുവ
kaṭuva/kɐɖuʋɐ/
The Malayalam word for tiger is കടുവ (kaṭuva).
The term refers to the mammal Panthera tigris.
Meaning: The mammal Panthera tigris (noun)
Which one should you use?
The common form is കടുവ, while വ്യാഘ്രം is used in more formal contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /kɐɖuʋɐ/. The romanization is kaṭuva.
Did you know?
- In Tamil, a cognate of the word കടുവ refers to a 'hyena' rather than a 'tiger'.
- In Kerala, the 'Pulikali' festival features dancers painted like tigers and leopards who perform to the beat of drums. Interestingly, the name comes from പുലി, the word for leopard, even though the dancers represent both big cats.
- The formal term വ്യാഘ്രം is a loanword from Sanskrit. This is why it appears in classical literature and formal speeches rather than in daily conversation.
Examples in context
- കടുവ ഒരു വലിയ മൃഗമാണ്.kaduva oru valiya mrugamaanu.A tiger is a large animal.
- കാട്ടിൽ ഒരു കടുവയെ കണ്ടു.kaattil oru kaduvaye kandu.I saw a tiger in the forest.
- കടുവയുടെ വരകൾ മനോഹരമാണ്.kaduveyude varakal manoharamaanu.The tiger's stripes are beautiful.
Example conversation
Vishnu and Sridevi are visiting a zoo.
- ശ്രീദേവി Srideviവിഷ്ണു, നോക്കൂ! അവിടെ ഒരു കടുവയുണ്ട്.Vishnu, nokkoo! avide oru kaduvayundu.Vishnu, look! There is a tiger there.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഅത് കാണാൻ എത്ര ഭയങ്കരമാണ്!athu kaanan ethra bhayangaramanu!It looks so scary!
- ശ്രീദേവി Srideviഅതെ, കടുവ വളരെ ശക്തമായ മൃഗമാണ്.athe, kaduva valare shakthamaaya mrigamanu.Yes, the tiger is a very powerful animal.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuനമുക്ക് അടുത്ത കൂട്ടിലേക്ക് പോകാം.namukku adutha koottilekku pokam.Let's go to the next cage.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tiger” translations and entries കടുവ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries കടുവ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
