Pallanguzhi, Pallankuzhi or Pallanguli? Every Name for the Game
Search for this game and you’ll find a dozen spellings. They’re all the same Tamil word, பல்லாங்குழி, written in English letters in different ways. Here’s why, and what neighbouring languages call it.
Why so many spellings?
The Tamil letter ழ (zha) has no exact English equivalent. Some people write it as zh, others as l, and the ங் (ng) and க (k/g) sounds also get written differently. So one word, பல்லாங்குழி, becomes many:
| Spelling | Why people write it that way |
|---|---|
| Pallanguzhi | Most common; zh for ழ, used by Wikipedia |
| Pallankuzhi | k instead of g for கு |
| Pallanguli / Pallankuli | ழ written as l, as it often sounds in everyday speech |
| Palanguzhi / Pallaanguzhi | Single l, or a doubled vowel for the long aa |
| Pallangkuzhi / Pallanghuzhi | Spelling out the ng and gh sounds |
Whichever spelling you searched, you’re in the right place. You can play Pallanguzhi online here.
What does Pallanguzhi mean?
The name is usually explained as பல pala (“many”) + குழி kuzhi (“pit” or “hollow”): the game of many pits. A single pit is a kuzhi.
Names in other South Indian languages
| Language / region | Name |
|---|---|
| Tamil (Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka) | Pallanguzhi · பல்லாங்குழி |
| Kannada (Karnataka) | Ali Guli Mane (also Alaguli Mane) |
| Telugu (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana) | Vamana Guntalu |
| Malayalam (Kerala) | Kuzhipara |
| Tulu (coastal Karnataka) | Chenne Mane |
The boards and rules vary a little between regions and even between families, but they are all close relatives in the worldwide mancala family, alongside games like Oware and Kalah.
Words you’ll hear while playing
- Kuzhi (குழி): a pit.
- Pasu (பசு): “cow”. Four seeds in a pit, claimed by that row’s owner.
- Manjadi (மஞ்சாடி): the red seeds traditionally used.
- Sozhi (சோழி): cowrie shells, another traditional counter.
Next: learn the rules or read about Pallanguzhi’s history.