Fruits names in Malayalam and English
Fruits names in Malayalam and English: chakka, maampazham, nellikka, chaambakka, irumban puli and more fruits and nuts, with Malayalam script and notes.
Kerala's home gardens grow a long list of fruit: jackfruit and mango in almost every compound, plus guava, papaya, rose apple, bilimbi and, increasingly, rambutan and mangosteen. Many of these have Malayalam names that do not sound anything like the English, and a few have different names in different districts.
The word pazham means ripe fruit, and on its own it usually means a banana. Maampazham is a ripe mango, while manga is mango in general and pacha manga is the raw green fruit. Jackfruit, chakka, is Kerala's official state fruit; its fleshy bulbs are chakkachula. The list below also includes nuts and dried fruit that turn up on the same shopping list, such as cashew, raisins and dates.
No match on this page. Try the search across all names.
| English | Malayalam | Say it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banana | പഴം | pazham | Also vazhappazham. Kerala has dozens of varieties. |
| Mango | മാമ്പഴം | maampazham | Manga is the fruit in general; maampazham is the ripe fruit. |
| Jackfruit | ചക്ക | chakka | Kerala's state fruit; the bulbs are chakkachula. |
| Pineapple | കൈതച്ചക്ക | kaithachakka | Also just pineapple. |
| Papaya | പപ്പായ | pappaya | Also omakka or karmoosa in different districts. |
| Guava | പേരയ്ക്ക | perakka | |
| Coconut | തേങ്ങ | thenga | Mature coconut, grated for cooking. |
| Tender coconut | കരിക്ക് | karikku | Young green coconut; its water is ilaneer. |
| Orange | ഓറഞ്ച് | orange | Also naranga. |
| Grapes | മുന്തിരി | munthiri | Raisins are unakka munthiri, 'dried grapes'. |
| Pomegranate | മാതളനാരങ്ങ | mathala naranga | |
| Watermelon | തണ്ണിമത്തൻ | thannimathan | |
| Muskmelon | ഷമാം | shamam | |
| Sapota (chikoo) | സപ്പോട്ട | sappotta | |
| Custard apple | ആത്തച്ചക്ക | aathachakka | |
| Rose apple (water apple) | ചാമ്പയ്ക്ക | chaambakka | Bell-shaped, watery fruit from home gardens. |
| Bilimbi | ഇരുമ്പൻപുളി | irumban puli | Also pulinchikka. Very sour, finger-sized green fruit. |
| Indian gooseberry | നെല്ലിക്ക | nellikka | Also called amla. |
| Jamun (Java plum) | ഞാവൽപ്പഴം | njaval pazham | Small dark purple fruit that stains the tongue. |
| Rambutan | റമ്പൂട്ടാൻ | rambutan | Hairy red fruit, widely grown in central Kerala. |
| Mangosteen | മാങ്കോസ്റ്റീൻ | mangosteen | Purple-skinned fruit with white segments. |
| Cashew apple | കശുമാങ്ങ | kashumanga | The fleshy fruit attached to the cashew nut. |
| Cashew nut | കശുവണ്ടി | kashuvandi | Also andiparippu for the processed kernel. |
| Dates | ഈന്തപ്പഴം | eenthappazham | |
| Fig | അത്തിപ്പഴം | athippazham | |
| Apple | ആപ്പിൾ | apple | The English name is used. |
| Raisins | ഉണക്കമുന്തിരി | unakka munthiri | Literally 'dried grapes'. |
| Almonds | ബദാം | badam | |
| Peanuts (groundnuts) | കപ്പലണ്ടി | kappalandi | Also nilakkadala. |
Want these on a shopping list? Tick them in the grocery list maker and copy or share the list in English, Malayalam or both.
Fruits with confusing names
- Bilimbi and star fruit. Bilimbi, irumban puli or pulinchikka, is a small, very sour green fruit that grows straight from the trunk. Star fruit (carambola) is a different, larger relative with a star-shaped cross-section.
- Tender coconut. The young green coconut is karikku, and its water is ilaneer. The mature coconut used for grating is thenga.
- Papaya. Called pappaya in shops, but also omakka, karmoosa and other local names depending on the district.
- Cashew. The fleshy fruit is kashumanga; the nut is kashuvandi.
Most of these fruits have a clear season. The Kerala season calendar shows when mango, jackfruit, rambutan and others are at their best, and our banana varieties guide explains nendran, palayankodan and the rest. Raw fruits used as vegetables, such as raw mango and tender jackfruit, are on the vegetables list.
References
Names were checked against these references and against everyday market usage in Ernakulam. Spellings in Malayalam script follow the dictionary form; transliterations are simple spellings to help you say the word, not a formal scheme.
- Olam English–Malayalam dictionary
- Kerala Agricultural University
- Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare, Kerala
Frequently asked questions
What is jackfruit called in Malayalam?
Jackfruit is chakka (ചക്ക). It is the official state fruit of Kerala.
What is Indian gooseberry called in Malayalam?
Indian gooseberry or amla is nellikka (നെല്ലിക്ക).
What is rose apple called in Malayalam?
Rose apple, also called water apple, is chaambakka (ചാമ്പയ്ക്ക).
What is bilimbi called in Malayalam?
Bilimbi is irumban puli (ഇരുമ്പൻപുളി), also called pulinchikka in some areas.
What is pineapple called in Malayalam?
Pineapple is kaithachakka (കൈതച്ചക്ക), though most people simply say pineapple.
