Ever felt the need to Paata Paadatam (sing a song) when on a road trip, and no washroom in sight? Singing and road trips make sense, but what has a washroom got to do with that, you ask? Well, this is one of those Telugu idioms that are used to convey “taking a leak” or “attending to nature’s call.” Funny, right?
But on a slightly serious note, idioms are a fundamental aspect of language learning. Languages evolve based on the region, culture, tradition, and sensibilities of people, and idioms mix all of that, giving birth to meaningful yet somewhat ambiguous expressions. As a learner, you may know that it takes a next-level familiarity with a language to use idioms well and achieve that level of colloquial ease we all aim for when learning a language. So, why don’t we look at a few Telugu idioms and learn their meanings?
Table Of Contents
Common Telugu Idioms And Their Meanings
Glitz On The Outside, Hollow On the Inside – Paina Pataram, Lona Lotaram
We all know someone who loves to show off—whether it’s that friend who constantly brags about their foreign trips and expensive gadgets, or a family member who’s so overly proud of their child’s achievements that they can’t help but rub it in everyone’s face, right?
But deep down, we also know that what they project is often just a show. People like this exist in every corner of the world, regardless of country, culture, or community. And that’s exactly what this idiom captures: all glitz on the outside, but hollow on the inside.
An English equivalent for this could be “Big hat, no cattle.” It is written as పైన పటారం, లోన లొటారం in Telugu.
Sing A Song – Paata Paadatam
When someone needs to be excused for nature’s call, they’ll say, “I’ll be back after singing a song” while leaving the room, which means they’re going to the bathroom. It is written as పాట పాడటం in Telugu.
This idiom came up because, in early times when there were no bathrooms, people would use the outdoors and would generally sing a song while carrying out their business to let others know there was a person in the bushes. A similar expression in English is “taking a leak.”
Armpit Punching – Sankalu Guddukovadam
Have you ever come across someone jumping and dancing in excitement? You may or may not have, but instances like that gave birth to this idiom. In Telugu, it is written as సంకలు గుద్దుకోవడం.
This is used in many contexts to say that someone is very happy and excited, and even to warn others not to celebrate or jump to conclusions ahead of time. A similar one in English would be “Jumping for joy.”
Shaking Tail – Tokadinchadam
Let’s say someone is acting full of themselves and you want to put them in their place. What would you say? Maybe as an English speaker, you’d use the idiom, “Don’t get too big for your boots” or “Know your place.”
In the same context, a Telugu speaker would say “Don’t shake your tail in front of me” which translates to Na Mundu Tokadinchaku (తోకాడించడం).
Studied A Leaf More – Oka Aaku Ekkuve Chadivanu
Did you know that the earliest inscriptions of Telugu characters were done on leaves? It’s the main reason why the script is very roundish, so sharp lines don’t tear the leaves.
That’s why when someone wants to say they’ve studied more or know more than others, they say, “I’ve read a leaf more than you” rather than a page. It’s a neat little way to let others know you’re more knowledgeable.
This idiom translated into English would be something like: “I’ve done my homework more thoroughly.” It is written as ఒక ఆకు ఎక్కువే చదివాను.
Difference Between A Fox And Snake Paradise – Nakkaki Nagalokaniki Unnaa Theda
When comparing two very different things, people, places, etc., Telugu people may say the difference between both is like a Fox and Snake Paradise. It reads a little odd in English, but this phrase rhymes great in Telugu.
The English equivalent is “Like night and day” or “Worlds apart” and it is written as నక్కకి నాగలోకానికి ఉన్న తేడా in Telugu.
Tongue In Mouth – Notlo Nalika
This phrase (నోట్లో నాలిక) is used to express that someone’s a great help/aid to you in everything you do. People may say, “He’s like a tongue in mouth in everything I did,” to let others know how helpful you are to them. The English equivalent is “He’s my right-hand man.”
Holding Hair If Possible, If Not Feet – Andite Juttu, Andakapothe Kallu
This phrase (అందితే జుట్టు, లేకపోతే కాళ్ళు) allows you to express the idea that a person is opportunistic and will remain humble until your weakness becomes clear, at which point they will thoroughly exploit you. A similar English idiom is “Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile.”
Chilly Powder On Injury – Pundu Meeda Kaaram
This is the equivalent of “Insult to injury” in English, which means adding more pain and suffering to an already suffering person, whether intentionally or not. It is written as పుండు మీద కారం.
How Do You Say ‘Idiom’ In Telugu?
The translation for idiom in Telugu is Padabandhamu (పదబంధము), which roughly means ‘coded phrases’ due to the hidden meaning behind them.
List Of Telugu Idioms
Here’s a quick summary of the idioms mentioned above.
| English meaning | Telugu Idiom | Transliteration | Close English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glitz On The Outside, Hollow On the Inside | పైన పటారం, లోన లొటారం | Paina Pataram, Lona Lotaram | Big hat, no cattle. |
| Sing a song | పాట పాడటం | Paata Paadatam | Taking a leak |
| Armpit punching | సంకలు గుద్దుకోవడం | Sankalu Guddukovadam | Jumping for joy |
| Shaking tail | తోకాడించడం | Tokadinchadam | Don’t get too big for your boots |
| Studied a leaf more | ఒక ఆకు ఎక్కువే చదివాను | Oka Aaku Ekkuve Chadivanu | I’ve done my homework more thoroughly |
| Difference between a fox and snake paradise | నక్కకి నాగలోకానికి ఉన్న తేడా | Nakkaki Nagalokaniki Unnaa Theda | Like night and day or Worlds apart |
| Tongue in mouth | నోట్లో నాలిక | Notlo Nalika | Right-hand man |
| Holding hair if possible, if not feet | అందితే జుట్టు లేకపోతే కాళ్ళు | Andite Juttu, Andakapothe Kallu | Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile |
| Chilly powder on injury | పుండు మీద కారం | Pundu Meeda Kaaram | Insult to injury |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Everyday Telugu Heavily Dependent On Idioms?
While there are quite a few idioms in Telugu that vary from region to region, the language itself is not heavily dependent on them.
2. Are Telugu Idioms And English Idioms Similar?
As mentioned above, languages evolve around circumstances, weather, tradition, and culture. So, there are similar idioms related to behaviors, activities, and health, but not so many related to culture, weather, and practices.
3. Is There A Book On Telugu Idioms?
As of now, no. Many resources can teach you day-to-day language, like the Ling app, for example, but nothing focuses solely on Telugu idioms.
Explore Telugu Some More
I hope this post helped you understand my language a bit, but trust me, we’ve only scratched the surface. Once you understand the basics, you can then move on to Telugu sentence structure, grammar, and all the technical things. What’s more, learning Telugu idioms will give you great insight into the culture and tradition of Telugu people. So try using these while making conversation and you’re sure to surprise a few people.
If you are looking to learn Telugu and build a solid base, be sure to explore resources like YouTube tutorials or language learning apps like Ling. But no matter what route you take, make sure to practice every day so you get used to the language!
