Similar words in both Portuguese and Malayalam language

 Similar words in both Portuguese and Malayalam language

Have you ever wondered about the language you actually speak that includes some borrowed words from another language? Yes, there are. Today's topic we are going to discuss the language exchange that happened between Portuguese and Malayalam. Yes, there are some Malayalam words that are derived from Portuguese.

Actually, some of the words that we spoke or even in the Malayalam dictionary are from Portuguese but we are unaware of it until we do some research or accidentally hear those words. And also you can find that most of them are old Malayalam words and some of the words are rarely used today and some words really surprise us.
How exactly do our language systems and forms of communication come together throughout the cultures that interact with each other in the world?
Cultures are expressed and transmitted with the learning of language in both the greater community and smaller communities.
Language is an integral part of any culture. A form of communication and its expression is also transmitted culturally. And that is so closely tied to its language, that if you change one word you also change the other.
Here we are going to discuss how the Portuguese influenced Kerala and its language. There are around 150 words that sound similar in Portuguese and Malayalam. It may be due to borrowing the words from each culture during the time Portuguese ruled in Kerala.
Portuguese was the first major European power at the time to visit India and Portuguese influence can be seen in some Indian languages. But Kerala was the first place they visited before having a foothold in different cities. That is the reason why Malayalam was most influenced by the Portuguese.
It is quite interesting because of the fact that the root of these two languages is different.
Let us look at the Malayalam words derived from Portuguese which is given below.


 ENGLISH
 MALAYALAM
 PORTUGUESE
 Raft
 ചങ്ങാടം   (Changādam)
 Jangada
 Window
 ജനാലാ   (Janāla)
 Janela
 Chair
 കസേര   (Kasēra)
Cadeira
 Ironing
 ഇസ്തിരി     (Isthiri)
 Estirar
 Teak
 തേക്ക്       (Tēkku)
 Teca
 Barrel
 വീപ്പ         (Vēppa)
 Pipa
 Viniger
 വിനാഗിരി   (Vināgiri)
 Vinagre
 Towel
തുവാല   (Tuvāla) 
 Toalho
 Cap
 തൊപ്പി     (Toppi)
 Topo
 Onion
 സവോള   (Savōla)
 Cebola
 Table
 മേശ           (Mēsa)
 Mesa
 Jack Fruit
 ചക്ക         (Chakka)
 Jaca
 Head mason
 മേസ്തിരി   (Mēstiri)
 Mestre
 Shorts
 കളസം   (Kalasam)
 Calcao
 Lemon
 നാരങ്ങ   (Nāranga)
 Laranja
 Plate
 പാത്രം   (Pāthram)
 Prato
 Kitchen
 കുഷിനി   (Kushini)
 Cozinha
 Pen
 പേന           (Pēna)
 Pena
 Soldier
 പട്ടാളം   (Patālam)
 Batalhao
 Wine
 വീഞ്ഞ്     (Vēnj)
 Vinho
 Maid
 ആയ            (Āia)
 Aia
 Cup
 കോപ്പ        (Copa)
 Copa
 Sack
 ചാക്ക്      (Chākk)
 Saco
 Wardrobe
 അലമാര   (Alamāra)
 Armaria
 Auction
 ലേലം      (Lēlam)
 Leilao
 Chapel
 കപ്പേള    (kapēla)
 Capela
 Betel
 വെറ്റില     (Vettila)
 Betel
 Jaggery
 ചക്കര    (Chakkara)
 Jagra
 Altar
 ആള്ത്താര    (Ālthāra)
 Altar
 African
 കാപ്പിരി    (Kāppiri)
 Cafre
 Cross
 കുരിശ്     (Kuris)
 Cruz
 Rosary
 കൊന്ത    (Contha)
 Conta
 Court
 കോടതി    (Codati)
 Corte
Christ 
 ക്രിസ്തു    (Christu)
 Cristo
 Key
 ചാവി        (Chāvi)
 Chave
 Measure
 തോത്        (Tōdu)
 Todo
 Revenge
 പക             (Paka)
 Pagar
 Guava 
 പേര            (Pera)
 Pera
 Province
 പ്രവിശ്യ    (Previsya)
 Província
 To curse
 പ്രാകുക    (Prākuka)
 Pragar
 Scar
 മറുക്      (Maruk)
 Marco
 Receipt
 രസീത്    (Raceith)
 Receito
 Patrol
 റോന്ത്     (Rondu)
 Rondo
 Rose
 റോസ        (Rosa)
 Rosa
 Kerchief
 ലേസ്         (Lesu)
 Lenco
 Cassock
 ളോഹ        (Loha)
 Loba
 Veranda
 വരാന്ത    (Varānda)
 Varanda
 Hinge
 വിജാഗിരി    (Vijāgiri)
 Visagra
 Paper
 കടലാസ്    (Katalāsu)
 Cartaz
 Catholic
 കത്തോലിക്ക    (Katholikka)
 Católica
 Captain
 കപ്പിത്താൻ    (Kappithān)
 Capitão
 Godown
 ഗുദാം        (Gudām)
 Godão
 Page
 താൾ                (Tāl)
 Talão
 Jail
 തുറുങ്ക്    (Turunku)
 Tronco

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