basic Malayalam words for beginners in English

90 Basic Malayalam Words in English for Beginners – Essential Words Only

Welcome to the beginner’s guide to learning basic Malayalam words! If you’ve ever been curious about picking up some Malayalam to impress your friends or navigate through Kerala with ease, you’re in the right place.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essentials of Malayalam vocabulary in a simple and straightforward manner. No prior experience required – just an eagerness to learn and a desire to dive into the vibrant world of Malayalam language and culture.

Ready to embark on this exciting linguistic journey? Let’s get started!

Common Greetings and Expressions in Malayalam

These words and phrases are used to greet others and express various sentiments in social interactions. From saying hello and thank you to expressing apologies and farewells, mastering these expressions will help you navigate social situations with ease.

Considerations: Malayalam greetings and expressions may vary based on factors such as age, gender, and familiarity with the person, so understanding cultural norms and context is essential for effective communication.

EnglishMalayalamDescription
Helloനമസ്കാരം (Namaskaram)Traditional greeting
Welcomeസ്വാഗതം (Swagatham)Warm welcome
Thank youനന്ദി (Nanni)Expression of gratitude
Pleaseദയവു ചെയ്തു (Dayavu cheythu)Polite request
Malayalam words used for daily greetings

If you find any characters of these words challenging for you then we recommend reading our guide on Malayalam Alphabets. Alternatively you may learn Malayalam by joining our online course.

Numbers and Counting:

Numbers are essential for everyday tasks such as telling time, shopping, and making appointments. Learning numbers and counting allows you to communicate quantities, prices, and other numerical information accurately.

Considerations: In Malayalam, numbers may follow specific patterns or rules for pronunciation, especially for larger numbers, so paying attention to these nuances will help you communicate numbers correctly.

EnglishMalayalamDescription
Oneഒന്ന് (Onnu)The number one
Twoരണ്ട് (Randu)The number two
Threeമൂന്ന് (Moonnu)The number three
Fourനാല് (Naalu)The number four
Fiveഅഞ്ച് (Anchu)The number five
Sixആറു (Aaru)The number six
Sevenഏഴ് (Ezhu)The number seven
Eightഎട്ട് (Ettu)The number eight
Nineഒന്പത് (Onpathu)The number nine
Tenപത്ത് (Pathu)The number ten
Basic words for Malayalam numbers

Malayalam words for Common Objects:

These basic Malayalam words represent everyday objects that are commonly encountered in daily life. From household items to foods and drinks, knowing these words allows you to discuss and describe various aspects of daily living.

Considerations: Malayalam vocabulary for common objects and activities may include terms specific to Kerala’s culture, cuisine, and traditions, so familiarizing yourself with these terms will enrich your language skills and cultural understanding.

EnglishMalayalam
Tableമേശ (Mesha)
Chairകസേര (Kasera)
Bookപുസ്തകം (Pusthakam)
Penപേന (Pena)
Pencilപെൻസിൽ (Pencil)
Paperകടലാസ് (Kadalaas)
Bagസഞ്ചി (Sanji)
Keyതാക്കോൽ (Thaakkol)
Doorവാതിൽ (Vaathil)
Windowജാലകം (Jaalakam)
Cupകോപ്പ (Koppa)
Plateപാത്രം (Paathram)
Spoonകരണ്ടി (Karandi)
Forkമുള്ക്കരണ്ടി (Mulkkarandi)
Knifeകത്തി (Kathi)
Glassഗ്ലാസ് (Glass)
Bottleബോട്ടിൽ (Bottle)
Watchവാച്ച് (Watch)
Phoneഫോൺ (Phone)
Laptopലാപ്പ്ടോപ്പ് (Laptop)
Televisionടെലിവിഷൻ (Television)
Refrigeratorറഫ്രിജറേറ്റർ (Refrigerator)
Bedകിടക്ക (Kidakka)
Pillowതലയണ (Thalayana)
Blanketപുതപ്പ് (Puthappu)
Lampവിളക്ക് (Vilakku)
Clockഘടികാരം (Gadikaaram)
Words list of commonly used items in Kerala

Common Activities:

These words for common activities represent actions and activities that we engage in daily, from eating and drinking to sleeping and playing. Learning these words will help you express yourself and understand conversations about everyday tasks and leisure activities. 

Considerations: Malayalam language may have different expressions or cultural nuances for certain activities, so understanding these words will help you navigate social interactions effectively.

EnglishMalayalam
Eatകഴിക്കുക (Kazhikkuka)
Drinkകുടിക്കുക (Kudikkuka)
Sleepഉറങ്ങുക (Uranjuka)
Walkനടക്കുക (Nadakkuka)
Runഓടുക (Odukka)
Readവായിക്കുക (Vayikka)
Writeഎഴുതുക (Ezhuthuka)
Singപാടുക (Paduka)
Danceനൃത്തം ചെയ്യുക (Nritham cheyyuka)
Playകളിക്കുക (Kalikkuka)
How to say common activities in Malayalam words

Family Members:

Family is an essential part of everyone’s life, and these words help you identify and refer to different family members. Whether it’s your parents, siblings, or spouse, these words allow you to discuss family relationships and interactions.

Considerations: In Malayalam culture, family relationships often hold significant importance, so using the appropriate terms to address family members shows respect and understanding of familial bonds.

EnglishMalayalam
Fatherപിതാവ് (Pithavu)
Motherഅമ്മ (Amma)
Brotherസഹോദരൻ (Sahodaran)
Elder Brotherചേട്ടൻ (Chettan)
Younger Brotherഅനിയൻ (Aniyan)
Sisterസഹോദരി (Sahodari)
Elder Sisterചേച്ചി (Chechi)
Younger Sisterഅനുജത്തി (Anujathi)
Sonമകൻ (Makan)
Daughterമകൾ (Makal)
Husbandഭർത്താവ് (Bharthaavu)
Wifeഭാര്യ (Bhaarya)
Malayalam words for family relations

Pronouns in Malayalam:

Pronouns are words used to replace nouns in sentences and represent different grammatical persons and genders. They play a crucial role in communication by helping us refer to ourselves, others, and objects. Understanding and using pronouns correctly is essential for clear and effective communication in any language.

Considerations: In Malayalam, pronouns may vary based on factors such as formality, social status, and context. It’s important to be aware of these nuances to use pronouns appropriately in different situations and conversations.

EnglishMalayalam
Iഞാൻ (Njaan)
You (singular)നീ (Nee)
Heഅവൻ (Avan)
Sheഅവള്‍ (Aval)
Itഅത് (Ath)
Weഞങ്ങൾ (Njangal)
You (plural)നിങ്ങൾ (Ningal)
Theyഅവർ (Avar)
Malayalam pronouns

Food and Drinks:

Food and drinks are fundamental aspects of culture, and knowing these words enables you to discuss and order meals, whether it’s rice and curry, a cup of tea or coffee, or your favorite snacks.

Considerations: Malayalam cuisine is diverse, and certain dishes may have specific names or variations depending on the region. Being familiar with these terms will enhance your culinary experiences and interactions with locals.

EnglishMalayalam
Riceചോറ് (Choru)
Curryകറി (Kari)
Fishമീൻ (Meen)
Chickenകോഴി (Kozhi)
Vegetableപച്ചക്കറി (Pachakkari)
Friedപൊരിച്ചത് (Porichath)
Waterവെള്ളം (Vellam)
Teaചായ (Chaya)
Coffeeകോഫി (Coffee)
Milkപാൽ (Paal)
Buttermilkമോര് (Moru)
Breadഅപ്പം (Appam)
List of most commonly consumed food in Kerala

Places:

From the comfort of your home to the hustle and bustle of the market, these words describe various locations that we encounter in our daily lives. Whether you’re navigating the city or planning a trip, knowing these words helps you communicate about different places and destinations effectively.

Considerations: Malayalam-speaking regions may have unique place names or landmarks, so being aware of these terms will assist you in getting around and exploring local areas with ease.

EnglishMalayalam
Houseവീട് (Veedu)
Schoolവിദ്യാലയം (Vidyaalayam)
Hospitalആശുപത്രി (Aashupathri)
Marketചന്ത (Chantha)
Gardenഉദ്യാനം (Udyanam)
Templeക്ഷേത്രം (Kshethram)
Mosqueമുസ്ലിം പള്ളി (Muslim Palli)
Churchക്രിസ്ത്യൻ പള്ളി (Cristhyan Palli)
Beachകടൽത്തീരം (Kadalttheeram)
Playgroundകളിസ്ഥലം (Kalisthalam)
Bankബാങ്ക് (Bank)
Officeകാര്യാലയം (Kaaryaalayam)
Libraryപുസ്തകശാല (Pusthakashaala)
Bookshopഗ്രന്ഥപ്പുര (Grandhappura)

Next Steps

Once you started learning the basic words of Malayalam and wants to build a strong vocabulary, better fluency or improve your language skills then we recommend joining our online Malayalam course. Please feel free to fill the below form and our counselors will be happy to help you in learning Malayalam.

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