അനിയൻ
aniyaṉ/ɐnijɐn/
The English phrase 'younger brother' is translated into Malayalam as അനിയൻ (aniyaṉ). Wiktionary also lists അനുജൻ (anujaṉ).
Meaning: single-word translations (noun)
Ways to say it
| Malayalam | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| അനിയൻ | aniyaṉ | /ɐnijɐn/ |
| അനുജൻ | anujaṉ | /ɐnud͡ʒɐn/ |
Both അനിയൻ and അനുജൻ are used to refer to a younger brother.
Which one should you use?
അനിയൻ is the more common, colloquial term for younger brother, whereas അനുജൻ is more formal or literary.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the word plural, the suffix -മാർ is added to the end to form അനിയൻമാർ. To indicate possession (younger brother's), the suffix -ന്റെ is added to the word to form അനിയന്റെ.
How do you pronounce it?
aniyaṉ
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'brother' is neutral, the very existence of a dedicated word like അനിയൻ highlights the importance of seniority and hierarchy in the family structure.
- The Sanskrit root of അനുജൻ uses the prefix 'anu', which means 'after' or 'following', literally signifying someone who 'follows' in birth order.
- While അനിയൻ refers to a younger brother, the word അനിയത്തി is used specifically for a younger sister, showing how Malayalam creates gendered sibling terms through vowel shifts.
Examples in context
- അവൾക്ക് ഒരു അനിയൻ ഉണ്ട്.aval kku oru aniyan undu.She has a younger brother.
- നിന്റെ അനിയൻ എവിടെയാണ്?ninte aniyan evideyanu?Where is your younger brother?
Example conversation
Anjali and Manoj are talking about their families.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliമനോജ്, നിനക്ക് അനിയൻ ഉണ്ടോ?manoj, ninakku aniyan undo?Manoj, do you have a younger brother?
- മനോജ് Manojഉണ്ട്, എനിക്ക് ഒരു അനിയൻ ഉണ്ട്.undu, enikku oru aniyan undu.Yes, I have a younger brother.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഅവന് എത്ര വയസ്സുണ്ട്?avanu ethra vayassundu?How old is he?
- മനോജ് Manojഅവന് പത്തു വയസ്സുണ്ട്.avanu pathu vayassundu.He is ten years old.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “younger brother” translations and entries അനിയൻ, അനുജൻ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries അനുജൻ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
