Loan words in

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...

, excluding the huge number of words from

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

originated mostly due to the centuries long interactions between the native population of

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

and the trading (predominantly, spice trading) powers of the world. This included trading contacts with

Arabia The Arabian Peninsula, (; ar, شِبْهُ الْجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّة, , "Arabian Peninsula" or , , "Island of the Arabs") or Arabia, is a peninsula of Western Asia, situated northeast of Africa on the Arabian Plate. ...

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

Levant The Levant () is an approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia. In its narrowest sense, which is in use today in archaeology and other cultural contexts, it is eq ...

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

, and

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

spanning millennia, and with European colonial powers for several centuries. According to

Sooranad Kunjan Pillai Sooranad P. N. Kunjan Pillai (24 June 1911 8 March 1995) was an Indian researcher, lexicographer, poet, essayist, literary critic, orator, grammarian, educationist, and scholar of the Malayalam language, best remembered for his contributions i ...

who compiled the authoritative Malayalam lexicon, the other principal languages whose vocabulary was incorporated over the ages were

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

Pali Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or ''Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of ''Theravāda'' Buddhism ...

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

Prakrit The Prakrits (; sa, prākṛta; psu, 𑀧𑀸𑀉𑀤, ; pka, ) are a group of vernacular Middle Indo-Aryan languages that were used in the Indian subcontinent from around the 3rd century BCE to the 8th century CE. The term Prakrit is usu ...

Syriac Syriac may refer to: *Syriac language, an ancient dialect of Middle Aramaic *Sureth, one of the modern dialects of Syriac spoken in the Nineveh Plains region * Syriac alphabet ** Syriac (Unicode block) ** Syriac Supplement * Neo-Aramaic languages a ...

, and

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''

language contributes a large number of words into a dialect form of Malayalam, called

Arabi Malayalam Arabi Malayalam (also called Mappila Malayalam and Moplah Malayalam) is the traditional Dravidian language of the Mappila Muslim community. It is spoken by several thousand people, predominantly in the Malabar Coast of Kerala state, southe ...

that is spoken by the

Muslim Mappila Mappila Muslim, often shortened to Mappila, formerly anglicized as Moplah/Mopla and historically known as Jonaka/Chonaka Mappila or Moors Mopulars/Mouros da Terra and Mouros Malabares, in general, is a member of the Muslim community of same n ...

community of North Kerala. There are also many common words which are used throughout all communities of Kerala. There are more than 900 words taken from Arabic and some are commonly used in spoken and literary forms of

. , - , അത്തര്‍ , attar , , perfume , عطر , ʿaṭar , - , അദാലത്ത് , adālattŭ , , court of justice , عدالة , ʿadāla(t) , - , അനാമത്ത് , anāmattŭ , , deposits given for security , امانة , amāna(t) , - , അസല്‍ , asal , , original document , أصل , aṣl , - , ആലം , ālaṁ , , world , عالم , ʿālm , - , , ആപത്ത് , āpattŭ , , danger , آفة , āffáthu , - , ഇക്ക , ikka , , brother , أخ , akh , - , ഇത്ത , itta , , sister , أخت , ikht , - , ഇഷ്ക്ക് , iṣkkŭ , , love , عشق , ʿishq , - , ഉപ്പ , uppa , , father , أب , ab , - , ഉമ്മ , umma , , mother , أم , um , - , ഉലുവ , uluva , ,

Trigonella foenum-graecum Fenugreek (; ''Trigonella foenum-graecum'') is an annual plant in the family Fabaceae, with leaves consisting of three small obovate to oblong leaflets. It is cultivated worldwide as a semiarid crop. Its seeds and leaves are common ingredient ...

, حلبة , hulba(t) , - , ഉസ്താദ് , ustādŭ , , Islamic teacher, scholar, imam , أستاذ , ustādh , - , ഒപ്പന , oppana , ,

Oppana Oppana ( ml, ഒപ്പന) is a popular form of social entertainment among the Mappila (Kerala Muslims) community of Kerala, South India, prevalent throughout Kerala, especially in Malabar. The Term Oppana is believed to be originated from the ...

, عبنا , ʿabna , - , ഇഞ്ജീൽ , iñjīl , , Gospel (Bible) , الإنجيل , al-ʾinjīl , - , ഒസ്യത്ത് , osyattŭ , , the last will, testament , وصية , waṣya(t) , - , ആഫിയത്ത് , āphiyattŭ , , Opium , افیون , afyūn , - , കത്ത് , kattŭ , , letter , خط , khaṭ , - , കാലി , kāli , , empty , خالی , khali , - , കബര്‍ , kabar , , grave , قبر , qabr , - , കബൂല്‍ , kabūl , , accept, clarify , قبول , qabūl , - , കരാര്‍ , karār , , agreement, contract , قرار , qarār , - , കലാശം , kalāśaṁ , , conclusion , خلاص , khalāṣ , - , കശാപ്പ് , kaśāppŭ , , butchery , قصاب , qaṣāb , - , കായിതം , kāyitaṁ , , note , قاعدة , qāʿeda(t) , - , കവാത്ത് , kavātt , , drill , قَادَ , qāda , - , കിസ്മത്ത് , kismattŭ , , fate, luck, share , قسمة , qisma(t) , - , കീമാ , kīmā , , chemistry, chemical , كيمياء , kīmyāʾ , - , കീശ , kīśa , , pocket , كيس , kīs , - , കൈപ്പീത്ത് , kaippīttŭ , , chronicle , كيفية , kyfia(t) , - , ഖജനാവ് , khajanāvŭ , , treasury , خزينة , khazīna(t) , - , ഖൽബ് , khalbŭ , , heart , قلب , qalb , - , കിതാബ് , kitābŭ , , book , كِتَاب‎ , kitāb , - , കുബൂസ് , kubūsŭ , , Flat Bread , خُبْز , ḵubz , - , ചെകുത്താൻ , cekuttān , , devil , الشيطان , Al shythan , - , ചേക്ക് , cēkkŭ , , gambling , قِمَار , qimār , - , ജപ്തി , japti , , foreclosure , ضبطي , ḍabt̪i , - , ജാമ്യം , jāmyaṃ , , bail , الكفالة , ḍāmyäm , - , ജില്ല , jilla , , district , ضلع , ḍilʿa , - , തകരാര്‍ , takarār , , repeat , تكرار , takrār , - , താക്കീത് , tākītŭ , , warning , تاقيد , tāqīd , - , തർജ്ജമ , tarjjama , , translation , ترجمة , tarjama(t) , - , തലാക്ക് , talākkŭ , , divorce , طلاق , ṭalāq , - , തവണ , tavaṇa , , times, turns, installment , دفعة , dafʿa(t) , - , താലൂക്ക് , tālukkŭ , ,

Tehsil A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluka, or taluk) is a local unit of administrative division in some countries of South Asia. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administr ...

(administrative division) , تعلق , tʿālq , - , ദല്ലാള്‍ , dallāḷ , , mediator, broker , دلال , dalāl , - , ദുനിയാവ് , duniyāvŭ , , world , دنيا , duniā , - , നക്കല്‍ , nakkal , , copy , نقل , naql , - , നിക്കാഹ് , nikkāhŭ , , wedding (Muslim) , نكاح , nikāḥ , - , ഫക്കീര്‍ , fakkīr , , fakir , فقير , faqīr , - , പത്തിരി , pattiri , ,

Pathiri Pathiri ( ml, പത്തിരി, pronounced ) is a pancake made of rice flour. It is part of the local cuisine among the Mappilas of Malabar region in Kerala State of Southern India. Today, pathiri is still a popular dish among the Musli ...

, فطيرة , faṭīra(t) , - , ഫർക്കം , farkkam , , a part of a district , فرقة , farqa(t) , - , ബദല്‍ , badal , , substitute , بدل , badl , - , ബാക്കി , bākki , , left, remaining , باقی , bāqi , - , ബിലാത്തി , bilātti , , England , ولايتى , wilāyti , - , ഗരീബ് , garībŭ , , strange person , غريب , ḡarīb , - , മഹസ്സര്‍ , mahassar , , report, inquest , محضر , muḥḍar , - , മയ്യത്ത് , mayyattŭ , , death , ميت , maytūna , - , മാപ്പ് , māppŭ , , sorry, apology , معاف , mʿāf , - , മാലൂമി , mālūmi , , teacher, leader , معلم , muʿalam , - , മീറ , mīṟa , , myrrh , مر , mir , - , മുക്തിയാര്‍ , muktiyār , , attorney, authorized representative , مختار , mukhtār , - , മുൻഷി , muṉṣi , , writer, interpreter , منشی , munshi , - , മുൻസിഫ് , muṉsifŭ , , advocate , منصف , munaṣif , - , മുസാവരി , musāvari , , rest house, inn , مسافر , musāfir , - , മുസീവത്ത് , musīvattŭ , , trouble, problem , مصيبة , muṣība(t) , - , മുഹബ്ബത്ത് , muhabbattŭ , , love , محبة , muhaba(t) , - , മൈതാനം , maitānaṃ , , ground, arena , ميدان , mīdān , - , രൊക്കം , rokkaṃ , , ready cash , رقم , raqm , - , റദ്ദ് , ṟaddŭ , , cancel, deactivate , رد , rad , - , റഹ്മാൻ , ṟahmāṉ , , compassion , رحمة , raḥma , - , വക്കാലത്ത് , vakkālattŭ , , power of attorney , وكالة , wkāla(t) , - , വക്കീല്‍ , vakkīl , , advocate , وکیل , wakīl , - , വത്തയ്ക്ക , vattaykka , ,

Citrullus lanatus Watermelon (''Citrullus lanatus'') is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit. A scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, it is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 varieti ...

fruit , بطيخ , baṭīkh , - , വർക്കത്ത് , varkkattŭ , , prosperity, fortune , بركة , barka(t) , - , വാപ്പ , vāppa , , father , بابا , bābā , - , വയ്യ , vayya , , weary , إعياء , āyyāvu , - , ഷമാം , ṣamāṁ , ,

Cucumis melo ''Cucumis melo'', also known as melon, is a species of ''Cucumis'' that has been developed into many cultivated varieties. The fruit is a pepo. The flesh is either sweet or bland, with or without a musky aroma, and the rind can be smooth (such as ...

, شمام , shamām , - , സന്നത് , sannatŭ , , licence , سند , sand , - , സർബത്ത് , sarbattŭ , , sherbet , شربات , sharabāt , - , സുറിയാനി , suṟiyāni , , Syrian , سورياني , sūryāni , - , സുൽത്താൻ , sulttāṉ , , Ruler , سلطان , sultan , - , ഹക്കിം , hakkiṃ , , physician , حكيم , ḥakīm , - , ഹജൂര്‍ , hajūr , , presence , حضور , ḥuḍūr , - , ഹർജി , haṟji , , petition , عريضة , ʿarīḍa(t) , - , അങ്ങ് , aṅṅŭ , , You (formal) , أنت , ant(t) , - , അലുവ , aluva , , sweet , حلوى , halwā , - , ജസരി , jasari , , islander , جزري , jazur

Hebrew

The

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

language contributes a large number of words into a dialect form of

Judeo-Malayalam Judeo-Malayalam ( ml, links=no, യെഹൂദ്യമലയാളം, '; he, links=no, מלאיאלאם יהודית, ') is the traditional language of the Cochin Jews (also called Malabar Jews), from Kerala, in southern India, spoken today ...

that is spoken by the Cochin Jewish community of Kerala.

Persian

There are a few words of

origin in Malayalam, though it is possible many of them could have been indirectly loaned from Urdu.

Aramaic or East Syriac

Suriyani Malayalam Suriyani Malayalam (സുറിയാനി മലയാളം, ܣܘܪܝܢܝ ܡܠܝܠܡ), also known as Karshoni, Syro-Malabarica or Syriac Malayalam, is a dialect of Malayalam written in a variant form of the Syriac alphabet which was popular ...

(or Karshoni), which used the

East Syriac The East Syriac Rite or East Syrian Rite, also called the Edessan Rite, Assyrian Rite, Persian Rite, Chaldean Rite, Nestorian Rite, Babylonian Rite or Syro-Oriental Rite, is an Eastern Christian liturgical rite that employs the Divine Liturgy ...

script to write Malayalam, was a popular medium of written communication among

Saint Thomas Christians The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, ''Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani'', ''Malankara Nasrani'', or ''Nasrani Mappila'', are an ethno-religious An ethnoreligious group (or an ethno-religious group) is a grouping of ...

(Suriyani Christiani) in Kerala until the 19th century.A sacredlanguage is vanishing from State
The Hindu
India Today
NasraniFoundation

European contributions

Portuguese

Most of the loan words from

Portuguese language Portuguese ( or, in full, ) is a western Romance language of the Indo-European language family, originating in the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. It is an official language of Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau and ...

are for items which the native population lacked when the encounter with

Portuguese empire The Portuguese Empire ( pt, Império Português), also known as the Portuguese Overseas (''Ultramar Português'') or the Portuguese Colonial Empire (''Império Colonial Português''), was composed of the overseas colonies, factories, and the l ...

happened from around the final years of the 15th century. Portuguese was the

lingua franca A lingua franca (; ; for plurals see ), also known as a bridge language, common language, trade language, auxiliary language, vehicular language, or link language, is a language systematically used to make communication possible between groups ...

in Africa, Brazil, South Asia and parts of South East Asia during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The Portuguese Empire was the major ruling colonial power in South India during this period, they were first modern European power to encounter India on a large scale, and thus their language had a strong influence on Malayalam (similar to many other Indian languages). The Portuguese language had also taken some words from Malayalam, and they should not be confused vice versa.

Dutch

English

There are lots of loanwords from English, which are used if there is no word for it for Malayalam or as a substitution for those who forgot the exact word. English words may be more commonly used by Malayali's abroad or new generations of Malayali's in Kerala. Here are some examples.

References

Borrowed words and pronunciation, Rajeev, Rediff

Western Influence on Malayalam Language and Literature, Dr.K.M.George

L._J._Frohnmeyer_(1913)_^[1
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/nowiki>, Basel Mission Book and Tract Depository, page 300">">L. J. Frohnmeyer (1913) ^[1
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