Ancestor in Malayalam
An ancestor or forefather is പൂര്വ്വികന് (poovikan). The first part means former or earlier and the an ending marks a male person, which is why it is used of forefathers in particular. In speech it comes out poor-vi-kan.
Most common translation
Ancestor, forefather.
ഞങ്ങളുടെ പൂര്വ്വികന് ഇവിടെ താമസിച്ചിരുന്നു.
njangalude poovikan ivide thaamasichirunnu.
Our ancestor used to live here.
Dictionary entry
- പൂര്വ്വികന് (poovikan) — Ancestor, forefather.
പൂര്വ്വികന് (poovikan) is the word used in talk about family lines, inherited land and tradition, and it is formal enough for writing without sounding archaic.
Common questions
What is the Malayalam word for ancestor?
Ancestor is പൂര്വ്വികന് (poovikan), a forefather.
Is പൂര്വ്വികന് used for ancestors in general?
In practice yes, it stands for forebears collectively, even though the ending is grammatically masculine.