Malayalam phrasebook – Travel guide at Wikivoyage
Malayalam phrasebook
Malayalam belongs to the Dravidian language family, and is mostly spoken in Southern India in the states of Kerala and Lakshadweep. Around thirty six million people uses this language, which is one of the twenty two official languages of India.
Basics Edit
The basic difference in structure of sentences is that in English the pattern is Subject-Verb-Object, but it, in Malayalam, is Subject-Object-Verb
Hello. (നമസ്കാരം) namaskaaram. (very formal, so the below informal form is common) Hello. (informal) Aay or “a’ye”, You can use English “Hello” or “Hi”. How are you? (സുഖമാണോ?) sukhamaano? (Literal meaning: Are you fine/comfy?)
or, Enthokkeyundu / Enth okke undu? (Literally, What all are there?) I am not fine Enikk sukham illa Yes, thank you. (ശരി / അതെ, നന്ദി) Ssherri/Athe, Nanni. I am fine. (എനിക്ക് സുഖമാണ് )Enikku sukhamaanu. What is your name? (നിങ്ങളുടെ പേരെന്താണ്?) Ningalude peru enthaanu? / Peru entha? / Pay-ray-ntha? / Thangalude peru enthaanu? (with respect) My name is ______ . Ente peru ______ . Nice to meet you. Kandathil santhosham.
Parichayappettathil valare santhosham. (Literal meaning: Enormously delighted for you acquaintance) Please. Dayavu cheythu / Dayavayi, or use English word “Please” Thank you. Nanni (pronounced: nan-ní), or use English word “Thank you” or “Thanks” Thank you very much orupadu nanni or Valare upakaram, or you can say in English, or repeat “Thank you” two times. You’re welcome. (formal) Swaagatham; Yes. Athey/ Ssherri (Literal Meaning: Correct) No. Illa Not Alla Excuse me. (getting attention) sradhikyu / kshamikkanam onningottu nokkoo / or in English “Excuse me”. Excuse me. (begging pardon) Kshamikkoo or in English “Sorry” / “I am sorry”. I’m sorry. Ennodu Kshamichaalum. (say this if it was your fault) I’m sorry. Kashttamayi Pooyi / Kashttamundu (when u listen a bad news) Don’t mind Saaramilla, (say this if you are comforting sombody) Goodbye Pinneedu kaananam (Vida) / Pinne kaanam / Veendum kaanaam (Literal meaning: I will see you again later),
or say in English “Goodbye” / “Bye” / “Bye Bye”/ “Tata” / “Tata Bye Bye”. Goodbye (informal) see above. I can’t speak Malayalam. Enikku ‘Malayalam’ samsaarikkan ariyilla / Malayalam ariyilla. Do you speak English? Ningal English Samsaarikkumo ? / English ariyumo? Is there someone here who speaks English? Ivide English samsaarikkan ariyunnavar aarenkilum undo ? / English ariyunnavar aarenkilum undo? Help! Sahaayikkoo! Help (Save) Rakshikoo Look out! Nokkoo! / Sradhikku ! Good morning. Suprabhaatham (way formal), say in English “Good morning”. Good evening. Shubha Saayaahnam (not used), say in English “Good evening”. Good night (to sleep) Subha Raathri (not used), say in English “Good night” / “Good night, sweet wishes”. I did not understand. Kshamikkanam Enikku manassilaayilla / manassilaayilla. I like sweets Enikku mittaay ishtamaanu
(I like sweet stuff) Eniku madhuram ishtamaanu Flower Poovu Elephant Aana Dog Naaya/Patti Cat Poocha(POO in poor) Spicy (hot) Erivu(‘E’ is pronounced as the very first English alphabet’A’) Spicy food Erivulla bhakshanam Where are you going? Ningal evideya pokunnathu? Where is the toilet? Kakkoos Evideyaanu? (Kakkoos means toilet) Where is the Bathroom? Kulimuri Evideyaanu? (Kuli = bath, muri = room) Get lost Dayavu cheythu Maari Pooku (polite / as a request), Maari Pooku (less polite / as an order), Podaa (very impolite) Wake up Eneekku (slang)(the very first ‘e’ pronounced as ‘A’ in English) / Ezhunelku (informal)/ Dayavu cheythu Ezhunelku (as a request) Do you like me? Enne ishtamaano? I love you enniku ninne ishtam annu / enniku ninne ishtamaayi (I like you); I love you (as a paramour): Njan ninne premikkunnu ( Njan means ‘I’); I hate you : Njan ninne verukkunnu. OR enniku ninne verripu annu Can you display me the way? Enikku vazhi kaanichu tharaamo? ( vazhi means ‘way’) How old are you? Ningalketra vayassayi? I am thirsty Enikku vishakunnu Where can I get some water? Enikku alpam vellam evide kittum? (alpam corresponds to some, little etc) OR kurachu vellam tharumo? (literal: Can you give me a little water?) Hospital Aashupathri Can we go for a movie? Namukku oru cinemekku pokaamo? Woman is looking good Penkutty Kaanaan Kollam / Pennu Adi poli (informal) What is the matter? Entha karyam? I left behind Njan Marannu I don’t know Enikku ariyilla (r as in Rough) Later Pinneedu After Kazhinjittu/shesham Before Mumbu /Munpu Please Wait Onnu Nilku One question Oru choodyam
Days Monday: Thingal-aazhicha (can be pronounced as Thingle Aaycha) Tuesday: Chovva-azhicha Wednesday: Budhana-azhicha Thursday: Vyaazha-azhicha / alternate spelling Vyaara-azhicha (r as in rha) Friday: Velli-aazhicha Saturday: Shani-aazhicha Sunday: Njaayar-aazhicha letters “zh” sounds like “r” in “purse”, or like a combination of “r”, “ya”, “la”
Problems Edit
Numbers Edit
Time Edit
Clock time Edit
Use Ravile for AM, Rathri for PM and Ucha for noon
midnight paathi rathri
Duration Edit
Days Edit
Colors Edit
Transportation Edit
Bus and train Edit
which is the train now?? (ethu train anu ippool)
