Do you want to learn Malayalam? Or are you contemplating visiting Kerala but don’t know any Malayalam?
We have gathered basic Malayalam phrases and categorised them into different sections, including greetings and salutations for when you meet someone for the first time, phrases for initiating conversations, and guidance on navigating the area. Additionally, we've included expressions related to number, quantities, time, days, and dates in Malayalam.
Our compilation consists of more than 300 frequently spoken phrases to help you learn Malayalam. However, if you need additional phrases in Malayalam, you can visit our online English to Malayalam translation tool, which can convert English sentences and phrases into their Malayalam equivalents.
In Malayalam, Greetings and Pleasantries plays a important part in fostering social connections. The language offers a range of greetings to suit different times of the day and occasions. For example, "Namaskaram" can be used to convey respect and welcome. When it comes to specific times of day, "Suprabhaatham" can be used to wish "good morning" and "Shubha Sandhya" can be used to wish "good evening".
Below are few more of them:
Knowing how to start conversation can open doors to meaningful exchanges and create lasting bonds. When interacting with Malayalam speakers, understanding the nuances of starting conversations can help you participate in social interaction and foster connection with local communities.
Personal pronouns refer to the subject or object of a sentence.
Possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession of something. For e.g., This Pen is mine. (ഈ പേന എന്റേതാണ്. - ee pena entethaanu.). There are several types of possessive pronouns depending on the gender and number of the noun referring to.
Demonstrative pronouns emphasize a specific person or a thing. For e.g., This is my Son. (ഇത് എന്റെ മകനാണ്. - ithu ente makanaanu.)
For travellers visiting Malayalam-speaking regions such as Kerala, it is crucial to familiarize with key phrases that would enable to purchase tickets, navigate transportation options such as buses, taxis, or trains, and easily explore local areas.
Few essential phrases are:
Navigating the local areas and transportation systems in Malayalam-speaking regions can sometimes be challenging for travellers. Whether you need assistance in reaching specific destinations or have queries about public transportation schedules, learning some basic phrases for getting around can greatly enhance your ability to navigate with ease and communicate effectively with the locals.
Below are some essential phrases for buying tickets or changing, confirming and even cancelling the tickets.
In Kerala, buses are a prevalent and convenient mode of transportation, often favored by both locals and tourists for their affordability and efficiency. If you plan to use buses during your visit, it is helpful to familiarize yourself with some basic phrases to gather information and navigate the bus system effectively.
Trains in Kerala provide a comfortable, fast, safe, and scenic mode of transportation, despite being relatively expensive compared to other mode of transportation. To make the most of your journey, it is beneficial to learn essential phrases for gathering train-related information.
Taxi offer a convenient and comfortable way to get around the place. Knowing following basic phrases can help you communicate effectively with taxi drivers and even get a good bargain.
Explore and familiarize yourself with key phrases that will assist you in finding suitable accommodations, whether it be a hostel, hotel, or staying with locals.
Finding the right accommodation and navigating the process of booking, checking in, and checking out can be difficult in Malayalam-speaking regions. Below are some useful hotel-related phrases:
Camping offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse oneself in the beauty of the outdoors. To make the most of your camping experience and communicate effectively, it is essential to learn a few essential camping phrases. Few of them are as below:
To make the most of your home stay experience, learn essential phrases for staying with local which would enable you to express gratitude, ask for assistance, and engage in meaningful conversations.
When shopping in Kerala, knowing some Malayalam phrases can enhance your retail experience and create a delightful exchange with shopkeepers. Here are some essential shopping phrases in English with Malayalam transliterations:
Whether it's dealing with health issues, contacting the police, or accommodating disabilities, understanding some essential phrases can prove invaluable in ensuring safe travel in Kerala.
Knowing emergency phrases is crucial for ensuring safety and seeking immediate help during unforeseen situations. Below are few of them:
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to seek help from the police, here are some phrases.
Below are the set of phrases that could prove beneficial in seeking medical attention and explaining your symptoms while traveling or living in Kerala.
Whether you require wheelchair accessibility, sign language interpretation, or support for visual impairments, phrases below will help ensure a smoother journey.
Having a good knowledge of phrases related to time, days, and dates is essential, as it can assist you in planning your activities, scheduling appointments, and communicating effectively with locals in Malayalam-speaking regions.
Having the skill to effectively communicate and write numbers and amounts becomes incredibly vital when visiting Kerala. This proficiency proves invaluable in diverse situations, including bargaining, shopping, dealing with exchange rates, and various other scenarios.
Below is the list of how you pronounce ordinal numbers in Malayalam.