Patting in Malayalam
Patting in the affectionate sense, a hand moving softly over a head or a back, is തലോടല് (thalodal) in Malayalam. The word is a noun of action, and it belongs to ordinary family talk as much as to songs and poetry. Say it tha-lo-dal, with the stress barely on the first syllable.
Most common translation
Patting, caressing, gently rubbing.
അമ്മയുടെ തലോടല് കുട്ടിയെ ഉറക്കി.
ammayude thalodal kuttiye urakki.
Mother's caress put the child to sleep.
All Malayalam words for “patting”
- തലോടല് (thalodal) — Patting, caressing, gently rubbing.
- തഴുകല് (thazhukal) — Patting, caressing, embracing.
തഴുകല് (thazhukal) overlaps with it but leans towards stroking and embracing, the fuller caress, while thalodal is the light repeated pat.
Common questions
How do you say patting in Malayalam?
Patting is തലോടല് (thalodal).
Could patting be mistaken for hitting in Malayalam?
No. thalodal is gentle by definition, and a blow or a slap is a completely different word, so the two never overlap.