Stagger in Malayalam
To stagger is ചാളുക (chaaluka), the verb for walking unsteadily, the gait of someone drunk or exhausted. It also has a second life meaning to dribble or slaver. Three syllables, the long aa held.
Most common translation
Walk unsteadily, stagger, exude saliva, slaver.
വയ്യാതെ ആയപ്പോള് വൃദ്ധന് ചാളി നടന്നു.
vayyaathe aayappol vridhan chaali nadannu.
Being weak, the old man walked staggering.
All Malayalam words for “stagger”
- ചാളുക (chaaluka) — Walk unsteadily, stagger, exude saliva, slaver.
- പീച്ചുക (peechuka) — Squirt, syringe, stagger, milk a cow, goat, etc.
പീച്ചുക (peechuka) is mainly to squirt or to milk a cow and reaches stagger only through a secondary gloss, so it would be misread if used for an unsteady walk.
Common questions
How do you say stagger in Malayalam?
ചാളുക (chaaluka), to walk unsteadily or stagger.
Does Malayalam use it for staggering figures or news?
No. ചാളുക (chaaluka) is about physical unsteadiness; for news that shocks, a different expression is used.