അമ്മാവന്
ammāvaṉ
In Malayalam, the word for uncle is അമ്മാവന് (ammāvaṉ). Wiktionary also lists മാമന് (māmaṉ) and വല്യച്ചന് (valyaccaṉ).
Meaning: brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Malayalam | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| അമ്മാവന് | ammāvaṉ |
| മാമന് | māmaṉ |
| വല്യച്ചന് | valyaccaṉ |
| ചെറിയച്ചന് | ceṟiyaccaṉ |
What does it mean word for word?
In the term വല്യച്ചന്, the prefix വല്യ means big or elder. In the term ചെറിയച്ചന്, the prefix ചെറിയ means small or younger.
Which one should you use?
The forms are used to distinguish between different types of uncles: അമ്മാവൻ specifically refers to a maternal uncle (mother's brother). വല്യച്ചൻ refers to an elder uncle, typically a paternal uncle (father's elder brother). ചെറിയച്ചൻ refers to a younger uncle, typically a paternal uncle (father's younger brother).
Is it said differently in some regions?
The terms മാമന് or Mamayi/Mama are used to address a maternal uncle or generally an uncle in certain regions.
How do you pronounce it?
ammāvaṉ
Did you know?
- In traditional Kerala society, the അമ്മാവൻ (maternal uncle) often held more authority over a child's upbringing and marriage arrangements than the biological father.
- It is common in Kerala to address any older man who is a family friend or neighbor as മാമൻ or മാമയി even if there is no blood relation.
- The word അമ്മാവൻ is closely linked to the concept of 'Marumakkathayam', an ancient system where inheritance passed from a man to his sister's children.
Example sentences for Malayalam are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Anjali and Vishnu are talking about a family visit.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliവിഷ്ണു, അമ്മാവന് എന്ത് സമ്മാനം വാങ്ങണം?viṣṇu, ammāvanu entu sammānam vāṅṅaṇam?Vishnu, what gift should we buy for uncle?
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഅദ്ദേഹത്തിന് ഒരു പുസ്തകം നൽകാം.addēhattinu oru pustakam nalkām.We can give him a book.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഅമ്മാവന് പുസ്തകങ്ങൾ വളരെ ഇഷ്ടമാണ്.ammāvanu pustakaṅṅaḷ vaḷare iṣṭamāṇu.Uncle likes books very much.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഎങ്കിൽ നമുക്ക് ഇന്ന് തന്നെ വാങ്ങാം.eṅkil namukku innu tanne vāṅṅām.Then let's buy it today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “uncle” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
