Turmeric in Malayalam
Turmeric as the yellow powder on every Kerala kitchen shelf is മഞ്ഞപ്പൊടി (manjappodi), literally yellow powder. Say man-ja-ppo-di. It is what a recipe asks for by name and what you buy in a packet.
Most common translation
Powder of turmeric, yellow powder.
അമ്മ കറിയിൽ അൽപ്പം മഞ്ഞപ്പൊടി ഇട്ടു.
amma kariyil alppam manjappodi ittu
Mother put a little turmeric powder in the curry.
All Malayalam words for “turmeric”
- മഞ്ഞപ്പൊടി (manjappodi) — Powder of turmeric, yellow powder.
- യാമിനി (yaamini) — Night, turmeric.
- മഞ്ഞ (manja) — Yellow, having the colour of turmeric; yellow colour.
മഞ്ഞ (manja) is the colour yellow, described in the dictionary as the colour of turmeric, so it is not the spice; യാമിനി (yaamini) is a poetic word for night that lists turmeric as a secondary gloss.
Common questions
How do you say turmeric in Malayalam?
Turmeric powder is മഞ്ഞപ്പൊടി (manjappodi).
Is manja the same as turmeric?
No. മഞ്ഞ (manja) means yellow, named after the colour of the spice, while the spice in powder form is മഞ്ഞപ്പൊടി (manjappodi).