The word ‘vulnerable’ is used widely in English to describe people, situations, or things that are exposed to harm, attack, or emotional damage. It is a powerful word that conveys sensitivity, openness, and sometimes weakness. In the Malayalam language, the meaning of vulnerable is communicated through different expressions that reflect the emotional, physical, or psychological aspects of being at risk. Understanding the Malayalam meaning of vulnerable helps in translating ideas accurately, whether you’re speaking about a person’s feelings, social conditions, or environmental threats.
Definition of Vulnerable in English
In English, vulnerable typically refers to a state of being susceptible to harm or attack. It can apply to:
- People who are emotionally fragile or exposed.
- Communities or groups at risk of social or economic issues.
- Systems or structures that are weak or unprotected.
This concept is relevant in discussions related to mental health, social justice, cybersecurity, disaster response, and interpersonal relationships.
Malayalam Meaning of Vulnerable
The Malayalam language has multiple words and phrases to express the idea of being vulnerable. The choice of word depends on the context, whether physical, emotional, or situational.
- à´¦àµà´°àµà´¬à´²à´®à´¾à´¯ (durbalamÄya)– Means ‘weak’ or ‘feeble,’ often used for physical or structural vulnerability.
- à´ à´¸à´à´°à´àµà´·à´¿à´¤à´®à´¾à´¯ (asamraká¹£itamÄya)– Translates to ‘unprotected’ or ‘defenseless,’ used when there is a lack of security.
- à´à´¾à´ àµà´¯à´µà´¶à´¾àµ½ à´¸à´à´°à´àµà´·à´¿à´àµà´à´ªàµà´ªàµà´à´¾à´¤àµà´¤ (bhÄgyavaÅÄl samraká¹£ikkappeá¹Ätta)– Describes someone or something that is not fortunate enough to be protected.
- à´à´¾à´µà´¨à´¾à´¶àµà´²à´®à´¾à´¯ (bhÄvanÄÅÄ«lamÄya)– Suggests emotional sensitivity or a tender emotional state.
Usage in Different Contexts
To understand how vulnerable is used in Malayalam, it’s helpful to look at examples from different contexts:
- Emotional Vulnerability: ഠവൾ വളരൠà´à´¾à´µà´¨à´¾à´¶àµà´²à´®à´¾à´¯ à´µàµà´¯à´àµà´¤à´¿à´¯à´¾à´£àµ. – She is a very emotionally vulnerable person.
- Social Vulnerability: ദരിദàµà´°à´°à´¾à´¯à´µàµ¼ സമàµà´¹à´¤àµà´¤à´¿àµ½ à´ à´¸à´à´°à´àµà´·à´¿à´¤à´°à´¾à´àµà´¨àµà´¨àµ. – Poor people are vulnerable in society.
- Physical or Structural Vulnerability: പഴയ à´àµà´àµà´à´¿à´à´ à´¦àµà´°àµà´¬à´²à´®à´¾à´¯à´¿ à´¤àµàµ¼à´¨àµà´¨à´¿à´°à´¿à´àµà´àµà´¨àµà´¨àµ. – The old building has become structurally vulnerable.
- Environmental Vulnerability: à´ à´ªàµà´°à´¦àµà´¶à´ à´ªàµà´°à´³à´¯à´àµà´àµ¾à´àµà´àµ à´µàµà´£àµà´à´¿ à´ à´¸à´à´°à´àµà´·à´¿à´¤à´®à´¾à´£àµ. – This area is vulnerable to floods.
These examples show the richness of the Malayalam vocabulary in expressing different shades of vulnerability.
Emotional and Psychological Vulnerability
In modern psychology and personal development, emotional vulnerability is seen as a strength, not a weakness. Being able to express one’s emotions openly is considered a sign of inner confidence. In Malayalam, this is often described with words that suggest emotional openness, such as:
- നിസàµà´¸à´¹à´¾à´¯à´ (nissahÄyaá¹)– Meaning helpless or unable to resist emotionally.
- മനസàµà´¸àµà´¤àµà´±à´¨àµà´¨ (manassut̲uranna)– Open-hearted or exposed in a mental or emotional way.
Example:
ഠവൻ തനàµà´±àµ വിഷമà´àµà´àµ¾ à´¤àµà´±à´¨àµà´¨àµà´ªà´±à´àµà´à´ªàµà´ªàµàµ¾ à´ à´¦àµà´¦àµà´¹à´ മാനസിà´à´®à´¾à´¯à´¿ നിസàµà´¸à´¹à´¾à´¯à´¨à´¾à´¯à´¿ à´¤àµà´¨àµà´¨à´¿. – When he opened up about his problems, he felt mentally vulnerable.
These phrases reflect how emotional vulnerability is understood within Malayalam-speaking communities, often with empathy and seriousness.
Social and Economic Vulnerability
In discussions about poverty, social injustice, and marginalized communities, the term vulnerable is commonly used to describe those at risk. In Malayalam, such vulnerability is usually expressed as:
- à´ à´à´¾à´µà´¤àµà´¤à´¿àµ½ à´à´´à´¿à´¯àµà´¨àµà´¨à´µàµ¼ (abhÄvattil kaḻiyunnavar)– Those living in lack or scarcity.
- സാമàµà´¹à´¿à´à´®à´¾à´¯à´¿ ഠവഠണിà´àµà´à´ªàµà´ªàµà´àµà´¨àµà´¨à´µàµ¼ (sÄmÅ«hikamÄyi avagaá¹ikkappeá¹unnavar)– Socially excluded or ignored individuals.
Example:
à´ à´à´¯à´¾àµ¼à´¤àµà´¥à´¿à´àµ¾ സാമàµà´¹à´¿à´à´®à´¾à´¯à´¿ à´ à´¸à´à´°à´àµà´·à´¿à´¤à´°à´¾à´¯à´µà´°à´¾à´£àµ. – Refugees are socially vulnerable individuals.
This aspect of vulnerability is widely discussed in public policy, journalism, and activism in Kerala, where terms like these are used to advocate for protective measures and support.
Vulnerability in Disaster and Climate Contexts
Kerala has faced several natural disasters such as floods and landslides, making vulnerability in environmental contexts a common topic. The Malayalam expression:
- à´ªàµà´¤àµà´µàµ à´ à´ªà´à´à´¾à´µà´¸àµà´¥à´¯à´¿à´²àµà´³àµà´³ (pothuvÄ apakÄá¸Ävasthayilulla)– Generally in a dangerous or risky condition.
Example:
à´à´¾à´à´¿à´¨àµ സമàµà´ªà´®àµà´³àµà´³ à´ àµà´°à´¾à´®à´àµà´àµ¾ à´à´ªàµà´ªàµàµ¾ à´ à´ªà´à´à´¾à´µà´¸àµà´¥à´¯à´¿à´²à´¾à´¯à´¿à´°à´¿à´àµà´àµà´¨àµà´¨àµ. – The villages near the forest are currently in a vulnerable state.
These expressions are often used in news media and government reports to describe areas needing urgent attention.
Vulnerability in Cybersecurity and Technology
In the digital age, being vulnerable also means being exposed to hacking or data breaches. In Malayalam, modern usage adapts words like:
- à´¸àµà´°à´àµà´·à´¿à´¤à´®à´²àµà´²à´¾à´¤àµà´¤ (suraká¹£itamallaatta)– Not secure or unsafe.
- à´à´àµà´°à´®à´£à´¤àµà´¤à´¿à´¨àµà´³àµà´³ സാധàµà´¯à´¤à´¯àµà´³àµà´³ (Äkramanattiluḷḷa sÄdhyayuḷḷa)– Prone to attack.
Example:
ഠസിസàµà´±àµà´±à´¤àµà´¤à´¿àµ½ à´¸àµà´°à´àµà´·à´¿à´¤à´®à´²àµà´²à´¾à´¤àµà´¤ à´à´¾à´®àµà´ªàµà´£à´¨àµà´±àµà´à´³àµà´£àµà´àµ. – This system has vulnerable components.
Such terminology is becoming more common in technical discussions, user manuals, and IT news in Malayalam.
Synonyms and Related Malayalam Words
To enrich vocabulary and translation precision, here are more Malayalam words related to ‘vulnerable’:
- à´ à´¶à´àµà´¤àµ» (aÅaktan)– Powerless.
- സൠമàµà´¯à´¨à´¾à´¯ (saumyanaaya)– Gentle or mild, used in poetic or literary settings to imply vulnerability.
- à´ªàµà´°à´¤à´¿à´°àµà´§à´¶àµà´·à´¿à´¯à´¿à´²àµà´²à´¾à´¤àµà´¤ (pratirodhaÅÄá¹£iyillÄtta)– Lacking resistance or defense.
These words can be used depending on the tone and subject matter being discussed.
The Malayalam meaning of vulnerable spans across emotional, physical, social, environmental, and digital domains. Words like à´¦àµà´°àµà´¬à´²à´®à´¾à´¯, à´ à´¸à´à´°à´àµà´·à´¿à´¤à´®à´¾à´¯, à´à´¾à´µà´¨à´¾à´¶àµà´²à´®à´¾à´¯, and നിസàµà´¸à´¹à´¾à´¯à´ provide rich expressions for conveying vulnerability in specific contexts. Knowing when and how to use each term is essential for accurate communication and deep understanding. As society becomes more aware of the importance of protecting the vulnerable whether people, places, or systems these Malayalam words gain more relevance in everyday conversations, public discourse, and emotional expression.