Yes, no and the essentials in Malayalam
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Malayalam words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Malayalam phrases in this lesson
- ഉവ്വ്UV-vu
- Yes
- ഇല്ലIL-la
- No
- ശരിSHA-ree
- Okay
- എനിക്ക് മനസ്സിലായില്ലe-NIK-ku ma-nas-si-LA-yil-la
- I don't understand
- നിങ്ങൾക്ക് ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് അറിയാമോ?nin-NGAL-kku ing-GLEESH a-ri-YAH-moh
- Do you speak English?
- ഒന്നുകൂടി പറയാമോ?on-nu-KOO-di pa-ra-YAA-mo
- Can you repeat that?
- പതുക്കെ പറയൂpa-THUK-ke pa-ra-YOO
- Slowly, please
- ഇത് എന്താണ്?ith EN-thaa-nu
- What is this?
- എനിക്ക് ... ആവശ്യമുണ്ട്e-NIK-ku ... aa-VASH-ya-mun-du
- I need...
- എന്നെ സഹായിക്കാമോ?EN-ne sa-haa-yik-KAA-mo
- Can you help me?
The everyday conversational yes. You will also hear "അതെ" (A-the) which is slightly more formal or emphatic.
Used for "no" and also "there is not." A head wobble often accompanies this in Kerala, similar to elsewhere in South India.
The most useful word in everyday Malayalam. It means okay, alright, correct, and good. You will hear it constantly in conversation.
A long word but worth learning. You can also just say "മനസ്സിലായില്ല" (ma-nas-si-LA-yil-la) on its own. People will usually slow down and try again.
Kerala has one of the highest English literacy rates in India. In towns and cities, most people working in hospitality or retail will speak English.
Literally "say it slowly".