Vocabulary

First 100 Malayalam words for beginners

Do not learn random vocabulary first. Start with words you can use in family calls, food conversations, travel, questions and daily routines.

Open dictionary

The first 100 words

  1. amma - mother
  2. achan - father
  3. chechi - elder sister
  4. chettan - elder brother
  5. aniyan - younger brother
  6. aniyathi - younger sister
  7. ammumma - grandmother
  8. appuppan - grandfather
  9. veedu - house
  10. kudumbam - family
  11. vellam - water
  12. choru - rice
  13. kanji - rice porridge
  14. chaya - tea
  15. kappi - coffee
  16. pazham - banana
  17. meen - fish
  18. kari - curry
  19. uppu - salt
  20. panchasara - sugar
  21. evide - where
  22. entha - what
  23. eppo - when
  24. aara - who
  25. enthinu - why
  26. engane - how
  27. ithu - this
  28. athu - that
  29. ivide - here
  30. avide - there
  31. varu - come
  32. poku - go
  33. kazhikku - eat
  34. kudikku - drink
  35. parayu - say
  36. kelkku - listen
  37. kaanuka - see
  38. ariyuka - know
  39. venam - want
  40. ishtam - like
  41. njan - I
  42. nee - you
  43. ningal - you respectful
  44. avan - he
  45. aval - she
  46. avar - they
  47. nammal - we
  48. ente - my
  49. ninte - your
  50. namude - our
  51. innu - today
  52. nale - tomorrow
  53. innale - yesterday
  54. ravile - morning
  55. uchakku - noon
  56. vaikittu - evening
  57. rathri - night
  58. ippo - now
  59. pinne - later
  60. divasam - day
  61. nalla - good
  62. mosham - bad
  63. valiya - big
  64. cheriya - small
  65. puthiya - new
  66. pazheya - old
  67. chood - hot
  68. thanutha - cold
  69. eluppam - easy
  70. buddhimuttu - difficult
  71. santhosham - happy
  72. dukham - sad
  73. deshyam - angry
  74. bhayam - fear
  75. sneham - love
  76. kshama - sorry
  77. nanni - thank you
  78. dayavu - please
  79. shari - okay
  80. vendaa - no need
  81. school - school
  82. joli - work
  83. kada - shop
  84. road - road
  85. bus - bus
  86. auto - auto rickshaw
  87. hospital - hospital
  88. bank - bank
  89. airport - airport
  90. station - station
  91. onnu - one
  92. randu - two
  93. moonnu - three
  94. naalu - four
  95. anju - five
  96. aaru - six
  97. ezhu - seven
  98. ettu - eight
  99. onpathu - nine
  100. pathu - ten

How to use these words

Pick 10 words, then make them into 10 small sentences. For example: I want water, where is the bus, I am going home, please say again, I like tea.

Go deeper with the family dictionary, food dictionary, verb dictionary, and question words dictionary.

Next step

Use these words with spoken Malayalam conversation patterns, then continue into the first week of Malayalam lessons.

Download starter pack

Continue through the SpeakMalayalam network

This lesson is one doorway. Use the connected hubs to move from learning into practice, feedback, books, certification and long-term fluency.

Find your Malayalam path | Learn Malayalam guide | Malayalam lessons | Malayalam course | Malayalam tutor | Malayalam dictionary | AI Malayalam tutor | Certification | Membership | Books

Want to actually speak Malayalam, not just look words up?

Live 1-to-1 lessons with Reshmi R Nair, a qualified Malayalam linguist. Spoken-first and taught in English — built for learners in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and the Gulf.

Book your first Malayalam lesson →