The English word 'younger' means less old in age. In Malayalam, the primary word for younger is ഇളയ (Ilaya) — used for people who are less old or junior in age. The word ചെറിയ (Cheriya) also means small/younger in informal contexts.
Malayalam uses different words for 'younger brother' (അനുജൻ — Anujan) and 'older brother' (ജ്യേഷ്ഠൻ — Jyeshtan) — showing that age relationship is grammatically encoded in family terms, unlike English which just adds 'younger' or 'older'.
| English | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Younger | ഇളയ (adjective) | Ilaya |
| Younger (small/junior) | ചെറിയ | Cheriya |
| Youth/Young person | യുവാവ് | Yuvaav |
| Younger brother | അനുജൻ | Anujan |
| Younger sister | അനുജത്തി | Anujatti |
English: He is younger than me. Malayalam: അവൻ എന്നെക്കാൾ ഇളയവൻ ആണ്. (Avan enne-kkaal ilayavan aanu.)
English: My younger sister studies in Class 5. Malayalam: എന്റെ ഇളയ അനുജത്തി അഞ്ചാം ക്ലാസ്സിൽ പഠിക്കുന്നു. (Ente ilaya anujatti ancham classil padikkunnu.)
English: The younger child was crying. Malayalam: ഇളയ കുട്ടി കരയുകയായിരുന്നു. (Ilaya kutti karayukayayirunnu.)
| English | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Young | യുവ / ചെറുപ്പ | Yuva / Cheruppu |
| Youngest | ഏറ്റവും ഇളയ | Ettavum ilaya |
| Elder/Older | മൂത്ത | Mootha |
| Elder brother | ജ്യേഷ്ഠൻ | Jyeshtan |
| Elder sister | ജ്യേഷ്ഠത്തി | Jyeshtatti |
Use **'kkaal ilaya'** construction: 'X-kkaal ilayan/ilayaval' = younger than X. Example: Reena-kkaal ilayavan (younger than Reena).
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