ഭാര്യ
bhārya/b(ʱ)aːɾjɐ/
The English word 'wife' is translated into Malayalam as ഭാര്യ (bhārya). Wiktionary also lists പത്നി (patni).
Meaning: female partner in a marriage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Malayalam | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ഭാര്യ | bhārya | /b(ʱ)aːɾjɐ/ | |
| പത്നി | patni | /pɐt̪n̪i/ | feminine |
Both provided terms refer to a female partner in a marriage.
Which one should you use?
ഭാര്യ is the standard, everyday term used in most spoken and written contexts. In contrast, പത്നി is a more formal and literary term for wife.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using ഭാര്യ in a sentence, you may need to add suffixes to change its role. To indicate possession (wife's), add the suffix -യുടെ to create ഭാര്യയുടെ. When the wife is the direct object of a verb, add the suffix -യെ to create ഭാര്യയെ.
How do you pronounce it?
/b(ʱ)aːɾjɐ/
Did you know?
- If you are describing a wife in a very poetic or classical song, you might encounter the word അർദ്ധാംഗിനി, which literally means 'the half of the body'.
- In many traditional Malayalam households, a wife might be referred to by her relationship to her children, such as 'the mother of [child's name]', rather than using a direct term for wife in social settings.
- The word ഭാര്യ is derived from the Sanskrit root meaning 'one who is to be supported' or 'one who is to be brought home'.
Examples in context
- അവളുടെ ഭാര്യ ഒരു ഡോക്ടറാണ്.avalude bharya oru doctor aanu.Her wife is a doctor.
- എന്റെ ഭാര്യ ഇന്ന് വീട്ടിലുണ്ട്.ente bharya innu veettilundu.My wife is at home today.
Example conversation
Manoj and Lakshmi are talking about a mutual friend.
- മനോജ് Manojരാഹുൽ എവിടെയാണ്?Rahul evide-yaanu?Where is Rahul?
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiഅവൻ ഭാര്യയോടൊപ്പം യാത്രയിലാണ്.Avan bharyayodoppam yathrayilaanu.He is traveling with his wife.
- മനോജ് Manojഅവർ എവിടേക്കാണ് പോകുന്നത്?Avar evidekkaanu pokunnath?Where are they going?
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiഅവർ വയനാട്ടിലേക്ക് പോകുന്നു.Avar Wayanattilekku pokunnu.They are going to Wayanad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wife” translations and entries ഭാര്യ, പത്നി, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries പത്നി, ഭാര്യ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
