Collyrium in Malayalam
Collyrium, the black eye cosmetic known in India as kajal, is കണ്മഷി (kanmashi) in Malayalam. It is applied to the eyes of babies and brides alike, and the word is entirely domestic in tone. The same word turns up in poetry for darkness around the eyes.
Most common translation
Collyrium.
അമ്മ കുഞ്ഞിന് കണ്മഷി എഴുതി.
amma kunjinu kanmashi ezhuthi
Mother applied collyrium to the baby.
All Malayalam words for “collyrium”
- കണ്മഷി (kanmashi) — Collyrium.
- മഷി (mashi) — Ink, collyrium.
- ലോചകം (lochakam) — Eye-ball, collyrium, blue dress, mass of flesh.
- അഞ്ജനം (anjanam) — Ink, cosmetic(applied on the eye), antimony, collyrium.
- മൈക്കണ്ണി (maikkanni) — Woman who applies collyrium to the eyes, a beautiful woman.
kanmashi and anjanam both name the eye cosmetic, with anjanam also meaning ink and antimony; mashi is primarily ink, and maikkanni describes a woman wearing collyrium.
Common questions
How do you say collyrium in Malayalam?
Say കണ്മഷി (kanmashi).
Is mashi the same thing?
Not quite. മഷി (mashi) means ink first, and collyrium only by extension.