Pronouncing Malayalam
Common Malayalam Words for Tourists
In Kerala people speak Malayalam which is a local dravidian language and somewhat similar to Tamil, but entirely different to North Indian languages such as Hindi.
Malayalam is very tongue heavy and difficult to speak. Furthermore, Keralites tend to wilfully misunderstand you even when you pronounce it beautifully. However here are some useful and less useful phrases.
Basics
Hello. namaskaaram.
Hello. (informal)
hello
How are you?
sughamaano?
Fine, thank you.
Ssherri. Nanthi.
What is your name?
Ningalude paer enthaanu?
My name is ______ .
Ente paer ______ aanu.
Nice to meet you.
Parichayappettathil valare santhosham.
Please.
Dayavu cheythu
Thank you.
Nanthi. (Nanhi).
You're welcome.
Swaagatham.
Yes.
Athey.
No.
Alla.
Excuse me. (getting attention)
Excuse me. (ehkz-KYOOZ mee)
Excuse me. (begging pardon)
Kshamikkoo.
I'm sorry.
Ennodu Kshamikkoo.
Goodbye
Vidah. Pinne kaanam
Goodbye (informal)
Veendum kaanaam.
I can't speak Malayalam.
Enikku 'Malayalam' samsaarikkan ariyilla.
Do you speak English?
Ningal English Samsaarikkumo ?
Is there someone here who speaks English?
Evide English ariyunnavar aarenkilum undo ?
Help!
Sahaayikkoo!
Look out!
Nookkoo!
Good morning.
Suprabhaatham.
Good evening.
Good evening. (guhd EEV-ning)
Good night.
Shubharaathri.
Good night (to sleep)
Good night. (good NIGHT)
I don't understand.
Enikku manassilaayilla.
Where is the toilet?
Toilet (Kakkoos) Evideyaanu?
Problems
Leave me alone.
Enne thaniye vidoo.
Don't touch me!
Enne thodaruthu.
I'll call the police.
Njaan policine vilikkum.
Police!
Police! (...)
Stop! Thief!
Nilkoo! Kallan!
I need your help.
Enikku ningalude sahaayam venam.
It's an emergency.
Ithu athhyaavashyamaanu.
I'm lost.
Enikku vazhithetti.
I lost my bag.
Ente bag nashtappettu.
I lost my wallet.
Ente purse nashtappettu.
I'm sick.
Enikku sukhamilla.
I've been injured.
Enikku murivu patti.
I need a doctor.
Enikku doctorude sahaayam venam.
Can I use your phone?
Njaan ningalude phone upayogichootte.
Numbers
1
one (oonh)
2
two (randuh)
3
three (moonuh)
4
four (naluh)
5
five (anjuh)
6
six (aaruh)
7
seven (ezhuh)
8
eight (ettuh)
9
nine (onpathuh)
10
ten (pathhu)
11
eleven (pathinonuh' )
12
twelve (pantharunduh')
13
thirteen (pathimoonuh)
14
fourteen (pathinaaluh)
15
fifteen (pathinanjuh)
16
sixteen (pathinaaruh)
17
seventeen (pathinezhuh)
18
eighteen (pathinettuh)
19
nineteen (pathombathuh)
20
twenty (iruvathuh)
21
twenty one (iruvathonnuh)
22
twenty two (iruvathirunduh)
23
twenty three (iruvathimoonuh)
30
thirty (muppathuh)
40
forty (nalpathuh)
50
fifty (anpathuh)
60
sixty (arupathuh)
70
seventy (ezhupathuh)
80
eighty (enpathuh)
90
ninety (thonnooru)
100
one hundred (nooru)
200
two hundred (Irunoor)
300
three hundred (Munnoor)
1000
one thousand (aayiram)
2000
two thousand (randayiram)
1,000,000
one million (pathu-laksham)
1,000,000,000
one thousand million in UK, one billion in USA--Nooru Kodi
1,000,000,000,000
one billion in UK, one trillion in USA----Laksham Kodi
number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
number _____ (...am Number)eg:-#10 ( Pathh-am Number)
half
half (arai or paadhi or pakuthi)
less
less (kurachu or kuranja)
more
more (kooduthal or koodiya)
Time
now - Ippol
later - Pinne
before - Munpey.
morning -Prabhatham, Raavile.
afternoon - Uchhakku.
evening - Vyikunneram.
night - Raathri.
Clock time
one o'clock AM - oru mani two o'clock AM - randu mani midnight - paathi rathri
Duration
_____ minute(s) (nimisham)
_____ hour(s) (mani)
_____ day(s) (naal, "divasam")
_____ week(s) (vaaram "azhcha")
_____ month(s) (maasam)
_____ year(s) (varsham)
Days
today - (innu) yesterday -(innale) tomorrow - (naale) this week - (iyazhcha) last week - (kazhinhayazhcha) next week - (adutha azhcha)
Sunday - (nhayarazcha) Monday - (thingalazhcha) Tuesday - (chovvazhcha) Wednesday - (budhanazhcha) Thursday - (vyazhazhcha) Friday - (velliyazhcha) Saturday - (shaniyazhcha)
Writing time and date
Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.
Date-Month-Year July 5th 2006 would be 5 July 2006 or 5-7-06
Colors
black -Karuppu white -Veluppu gray -chara niram red - chumappu blue- neela yellow -Manja green -pacha orange -orange purple -purple brown -brown
Transportation
Bus and train
How much is a ticket to _Kottayam____?
How much is a ticket to _____? (Ethra rupayanu Kottayathekku ticket ? )
One ticket to _Kottayam____, please.
One ticket to _____, please. (Kottayathekku oru ticket venam)
Where does this train/bus go?
Where does this train/bus go? (Engottanu ee bus/train pokunnathu?)
Where is the train/bus to _____?
Where is the train/bus to _____? (Aayvide anne Kottayathekkula buseh ? )
Does this train/bus stop in __Kottayam___?
Does this train/bus stop in _____? (ee bus/train kottayathu nirutthumo? )
When does the train/bus for _kottayam____ leave?
When does the train/bus for _____ leave? (eppolaanu Kottayathekkulla ee bus/train povuka? )
When will this train/bus arrive in _kottayam____?
When will this bus arrive in _____? (eppolaanu ee bus/train kottayathu etthuka? )
Directions
How do I get to _____ ? (engine enikku )
...the train station?
...the train station? (Engine enikku railway stationanil ettham? )
...the bus station?
...the bus station? (Engine enikku busstandil ettham? )
...the airport?
...the airport? (Engine enikku vimanathaavalathil ettham? )
...downtown?
...downtown? (...)
...the youth hostel?
...the youth hostel? (engine enikku youth hostelil ettham? )
...the _____ hotel?
...the _____ hotel? (engine enikku hotlil ettham? )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (...)
Where are there a lot of...
Where are there a lot of... (evideyaanu dhaaralam ...)
...hotels?
...hotels? (Evideyaanu dhaaralam hotelukal ullathu? )
...restaurants?
...restaurants? (evideyaanu dhaaralam bhojanashalakal ullathu? )
...bars?
...bars? (evideyanu dhaaralam BARukal ullathu? )
...sites to see?
...sites to see? (Evideyaanu dhaaralam sthalangal kaanuvan ullathu? )
Can you show me on the map?
Can you show me on the map? (Enikku mappil onnu kaanichu tharaamo? )
street -street (theruvu) Turn left. -(idatthekku thiriyuka) Turn right. - (valatthekku thiriyuka) left - (idathu) right - (valathu) straight ahead -(nere povuka) towards the _bridge____ (palathinu aduthekku) past the _____ (kazhinju) before the - (munpu) Watch for the _____. (nokkuka) intersection - (koodicherunna sthalathu)
north - (vadak) south - (thek) east - (kizhak) west - (padinjar) uphill - (kayattathil) downhill -(irakkathil)
Taxi
Taxi! -Taxi! (...) Take me to _____, please. (enne--------- kondupooku)
How much does it cost to get to _____? (etra roopa aakum)
Take me there, please. (enne avide kondupooku)
Lodging
Do you have any rooms available? (Ivide oru muri ozhivindo?)
How much is a room for one person/two people? (Onno/rendo perkkulla muri vaadeka ethra aanu?)
Does the room come with... (Ee muriyil ... kittumo?)
...bedsheets? (kidakka viri)
...a bathroom? (kulimuri)
...a telephone? (phone)
...a TV? (tv)
May I see the room first? (Aathyam muri kandote?)
...bigger? (valiya)
...cleaner? (virthi ulla)
...cheaper? (vila kuranja)
OK, I'll take it. (ok enikku ithu mathi)
That's enough. (ithu madthi)
I will stay for _____ night(s). (Njan ... raatri thamassikkam)
Can you suggest another hotel? (veere hotel undo)
Do you have a safe? (safe locker undo.)
What time is breakfast/supper? (.breakfast eppozhanu)
Please clean my room. (muri onu vrithiyakkanam)
Can you wake me at _____? | Can you wake me at _____? (enna raavile-------manikku vilikkanam) I want to check out. (enikku check out aakanam.)
Money
Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (ningal american dollars edukumo?) Do you accept British pounds? (ningal british pound swekarikumo) Do you accept credit cards? (credit card swekarikumo) Can you change money for me? (eniku vendi panam matti tharumo?) Where can I get money changed? (evide currency maaraan pattum) Can you change a traveler's check for me? (travelers cheque maari tharamo) Where can I get a traveler's check changed? Evide anu travelers cheque maarunnathu) Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM evide aanu)?
Eating
Can I look in the kitchen? (Adukkala Onnu kandotte..?)
Is there a house specialty?
Is there a house specialty? (...)
Is there a local specialty?
Is there a local specialty? (Nadan Bhakshanam vallathum undo)
I'm a vegetarian.
I'm a vegetarian. (Njan Sasyabhojiyaa)
I don't eat pork.
I don't eat pork. (njyaan panni kazhikilla)
I don't eat beef.
I don't eat beef. (Njan pothirachi thinnilla/kazhikkilla)
I only eat kosher food.
I only eat kosher food. (...)
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
Can you make it "lite", please? (enna kurachu bhakshanam undaakkumo)
fixed-price meal
fixed-price meal (...)
à la carte
à la carte (...)
breakfast
breakfast (Prathal)
lunch
lunch (Ooonu)
tea (meal)
tea (chaaya)
supper
supper (Athazham)
I want _____.
I want _____. (Enikk oru......venam)
I want a dish containing _____.
I want a dish containing _____. (......Kondundakkiya enthengilum mathi)
chicken
chicken (kozhi)
beef
beef (Pothirachi)
fish
fish (Meen)
ham
ham (Panni)
sausage
sausage (...)
cheese
cheese (Palkkatty)
eggs
eggs (Mutta)
salad
salad (...)
(fresh) vegetables
(fresh) vegetables (fresh Pachakkary)
(fresh) fruit
(fresh) fruit (...)
bread
bread (...)
toast
toast (...)
noodles
noodles (...)
rice
rice (Ari)
beans
beans (...)
May I have a glass of _____?
May I have a glass of _____? (Oru Glass..... Tharamo..?)
May I have a cup of _____?
May I have a cup of _____? (Oru Kappu.....Tharamo)
May I have a bottle of _____?
May I have a bottle of _____? (Oru Bottle.....Tharamo)
coffee
coffee (Kaappy)
tea (drink)
tea (Chaaya)
juice
juice (juice)
(bubbly) water
water (Soda)
water
water (Vellam)
beer
beer (beer)
red/white wine
red/white wine (chuvanna/Velutha Veenjhu)
May I have some _____?
May I have some _____? (Kurachu....Tharamo?)
salt
salt (uppu)
black pepper
black pepper (Kurumulaku)
butter
butter (venna)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
Excuse me, waiter? (hello/Chetta..)
I'm finished.
I'm finished. (Njan Mathiyakkuvaa)
It was delicious.
It was delicious. (Gambeeram...)
Please clear the plates.
Please clear the plates. (Paathrangal Edutholooo..)
The check, please.
The check, please. (Check thannalum)
[edit] Bars
Do you serve alcohol?
Do you serve alcohol? (...)
Is there table service?
Is there table service? (...)
A beer/two beers, please.
A beer/two beers, please. (randu beer tharoo)
A glass of red/white wine, please.
A glass of red/white wine, please. (Oru glass chuvanna/Velutha veenjhu tharaamo...)
A pint, please.
A pint, please. (Oru pint tharamo)
A bottle, please.
A bottle, please. (Oru Kuppy tharamo)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
_____ and _____, please. (...)
whiskey
whiskey (Whiskey)
vodka
vodka (vodka)
rum
rum (rum)
water
water (Vellam)
club soda
club soda (...)
tonic water
tonic water (...)
orange juice
orange juice (...)
Coke (soda)
Coke (...)
Do you have any bar snacks?
Do you have any bar snacks? (Thottu-koottan enthengilum undo)
One more, please.
One more, please. (onnum koodi please)
Another round, please.
Another round, please. (Orennam koodi)
When is closing time?
When is closing time? (eppozha adakkunnathu)
[edit] Shopping
Do you have this in my size?
Do you have this in my size? (...)
How much is this?
How much is this? (ithu etreykyu aane)
That's too expensive.
That's too expensive. (athu othiri kooduthalaa)
Would you take _____?
Would you take _____? (...)
expensive
expensive (...)
cheap
cheap (...)
I can't afford it.
I can't afford it. (Atrayum kasu ente kaiyyil illa)
I don't want it.
I don't want it. (enikyu athu venda)
You're cheating me.
You're cheating me. (ningal enne chadikyugayannalle)
I'm not interested.
I'm not interested. (enikyu thalpariyam illa)
OK, I'll take it.
OK, I'll take it. (sari. njan itheduthollam)
Can I have a bag?
Can I have a bag? (Oru sanchi/cover kittumo)
Do you ship (overseas)?
Do you ship (overseas)? (Ningal videsathekku ayachu tharumo)
I need...
I need... (Enikku oru.......venam)