The word ‘spoil’ is used frequently in English to describe various forms of damage, decay, or overindulgence. It can refer to food going bad, a child being over-pampered, or plans being ruined. In Malayalam, the meaning of ‘spoil’ is expressed using different words depending on the context. Understanding the Malayalam meaning of spoil helps learners and speakers of both languages express themselves accurately, whether they’re talking about spoiled food, spoiled behavior, or spoiled opportunities. Malayalam, being a context-sensitive language, provides several options for translating this versatile word.
Basic Meanings of ‘Spoil’ in English
‘Spoil’ in English is a verb with multiple uses. It can mean:
- To decay or rot, especially in the context of food.
- To ruin or damage something that was otherwise good.
- To overindulge or pamper someone, usually a child, leading to bad behavior.
Each of these meanings requires a different Malayalam word to maintain accuracy and clarity in communication.
Malayalam Words for ‘Spoil’
Several Malayalam words capture different meanings of ‘spoil.’ Here are the most common translations:
- à´ªàµà´³à´¿à´àµà´àµà´ (poḷikkuka)– Used when something breaks or gets ruined.
- മാà´àµà´àµà´ (mÄá¹ukuka)– Refers to decay or decomposition, often used for food.
- നശിപàµà´ªà´¿à´àµà´àµà´ (naÅippikkuka)– Means to destroy or ruin intentionally.
- ഠതിരàµà´à´à´àµà´àµà´ (athirukadakkuka)– Implies overindulgence, especially when talking about spoiling children.
Examples of Usage in Sentences
Let’s look at how these Malayalam words are used depending on what is being spoiled:
- പാലൠമാà´àµà´à´¾à´¯à´¿. – The milk has spoiled (gone bad).
- ഠവൻ à´à´¨àµà´±àµ à´ªàµà´¸àµà´¤à´à´ à´ªàµà´³à´¿à´àµà´àµ. – He spoiled (damaged) my book.
- à´®à´à´¨àµ വളരൠഠധിà´à´ à´ªàµà´°àµà´®à´¿à´àµà´àµà´àµà´£àµà´àµ ഠതിരàµà´à´à´¨àµà´¨à´µà´³à´¾à´£àµ. – She spoiled her son by over-pampering him.
- ഠവൻ à´à´¨àµà´±àµ à´à´²àµà´²à´¾ പദàµà´§à´¤à´¿à´à´³àµà´ നശിപàµà´ªà´¿à´àµà´àµ. – He spoiled all my plans.
These examples show how important context is when choosing the correct Malayalam word for ‘spoil.’
Spoiled Food in Malayalam
One of the most common uses of ‘spoil’ is in reference to food. When food spoils, it decays, smells bad, and becomes unfit to eat. The Malayalam word most often used in this case isമാà´àµà´àµà´ (mÄá¹ukuka).
For example:
- ഠമാà´à´¸à´ മാà´àµà´àµà´¯àµà´¨àµà´¨àµ à´¤àµà´¨àµà´¨àµà´¨àµà´¨àµ. – I think this meat has spoiled.
- താഴàµà´¨àµà´¨ താപനിലയിൽ à´à´àµà´·à´£à´ മാà´àµà´à´¯àµà´ വിഷമാà´àµà´à´¯àµà´ à´àµà´¯àµà´¯à´¾à´. – Food may spoil and become toxic at low temperatures.
Malayalam speakers use this word commonly in kitchens, hotels, and discussions about health and hygiene.
Spoiled Behavior and Parenting
Another common meaning of ‘spoil’ is overindulgence, particularly of children. When a child is given everything they want and not taught discipline, they are said to be ‘spoiled.’ The Malayalam term used in such situations is often:
- ഠതിരàµà´à´à´àµà´àµà´ (athirukadakkuka)
- à´ªàµà´°àµà´®à´¾à´±àµà´ (perumÄá¹uka)– can also be used to describe someone who is acting out or behaving poorly due to being spoiled.
Examples:
- ഠവളൠഠതിരàµà´à´à´àµà´à´¾àµ» à´ à´¨àµà´µà´¦à´¿à´àµà´à´°àµà´¤àµ. – Don’t let her get spoiled by giving too much freedom.
- ഠവൻ à´ªàµà´°àµà´®à´¾à´±à´¿à´¯ à´àµà´àµà´à´¿à´¯à´¾à´£àµ. – He is a spoiled child.
This form of spoil is emotional and behavioral and often discussed in parenting and educational contexts in Kerala.
Ruining Plans or Opportunities
Sometimes ‘spoil’ means to ruin a moment, event, or plan. Malayalam has specific verbs for this type of action, including:
- നശിപàµà´ªà´¿à´àµà´àµà´ (naÅippikkuka)– to destroy or ruin deliberately.
- à´¤à´à´°àµà´àµà´àµà´ (thakarkkuka)– to break or ruin something structurally or functionally.
Sample sentences:
- മഴ à´à´¨àµà´±àµ യാതàµà´° നശിപàµà´ªà´¿à´àµà´àµ. – The rain spoiled my trip.
- ഠവനàµà´±àµ വരവൠà´à´àµà´·à´ à´¤à´à´°àµà´àµà´àµà´à´¯à´¾à´¯à´¿à´°àµà´¨àµà´¨àµ. – His arrival spoiled the celebration.
These expressions are commonly used in both formal and informal Malayalam, especially when describing negative outcomes due to unexpected events or actions.
Spoil in Malayalam Literature and Cinema
In Malayalam literature and film, the concept of spoiling is deeply explored in themes such as moral corruption, emotional loss, and social breakdown. A character might be said to be spoiled due to pride or material wealth, leading to their downfall. Such nuanced uses often employ poetic or dramatic language like:
- à´ à´´à´¿à´àµà´àµ à´à´³à´¯àµà´ (azhichu kaḷayuka)– to ruin completely or dismantle emotionally or socially.
- à´àµà´°à´·àµà´àµ» à´à´àµà´ (bhraá¹£á¹an Äkuka)– to become corrupt or morally spoiled.
For example:
- ഠവനàµà´±àµ à´à´à´¾à´à´àµà´· ഠവനൠà´àµà´°à´·àµà´à´¨à´¾à´àµà´à´¿. – His greed spoiled him (morally).
- ഠവളàµà´àµ à´àµà´µà´¿à´¤à´ à´à´¤àµà´®à´ à´¤à´àµà´à´³à´¾àµ½ à´ à´´à´¿à´àµà´àµ à´ªàµà´¯à´¿. – Her life was spoiled by inner conflicts.
These expressions reflect the depth with which Malayalam can convey complex emotional and moral dimensions of the word ‘spoil.’
Summary of Malayalam Equivalents for Spoil
To understand the Malayalam meaning of spoil more clearly, here’s a quick summary based on context:
- മാà´àµà´àµà´ (mÄá¹ukuka)– Food spoilage.
- à´ªàµà´³à´¿à´àµà´àµà´ (poḷikkuka)– Physical damage.
- നശിപàµà´ªà´¿à´àµà´àµà´ (naÅippikkuka)– Destruction of events, plans, or reputation.
- ഠതിരàµà´à´à´àµà´àµà´ (athirukadakkuka)– Overindulgence, especially in parenting.
- à´àµà´°à´·àµà´àµ» à´à´àµà´ (bhraá¹£á¹an Äkuka)– Moral or personal ruin.
The word ‘spoil’ carries a range of meanings in English, each of which finds its match in Malayalam through various context-sensitive words. From food going bad to children becoming overindulged, from ruined plans to corrupted character, the Malayalam language provides rich and accurate vocabulary to express each form of spoiling. Whether you’re using Malayalam in conversation, writing, or translation, choosing the right word for spoil ensures clarity, cultural relevance, and emotional accuracy. Understanding these nuances not only improves communication but also deepens your appreciation of how meaning shifts across languages.