Spoken Malayalam phrases

How to Ask "What's in This Dish?" in Malayalam

Casual, everyday Malayalam — not textbook. By Dr. Reshmi R Nair, PhD.

ഇതിൽ എന്താ ഉള്ളത്?
Ithil entha ullathu? — What's in this?

In short: To ask "what's in this dish?", say ഇതിൽ എന്താ ഉള്ളത്? (ithil entha ullathu?). For allergies: എനിക്ക് ___ അലർജി ആണ് (enikku ___ allergy aanu) ("I'm allergic to ___"). "Is there nuts in it?" is ഇതിൽ പരിപ്പ് ഉണ്ടോ? (ithil parippu undo?).

Variations & related phrases

MalayalamRomanisedEnglish
ഇതിൽ എന്താ ഉള്ളത്?Ithil entha ullathu?What's in this?
എനിക്ക് ___ അലർജി ആണ്Enikku ___ allergy aanuI'm allergic to ___
ഇതിൽ മീൻ ഉണ്ടോ?Ithil meen undo?Is there fish in it?
എരിവ് ഉണ്ടോ?Erivu undo?Is it spicy?

When & how to use it

Important for allergies and diet. Ithil ___ undo? ("is there ___ in it?") checks for specific items like meen (fish) or parippu (nuts/lentils).

Example sentences

MalayalamRomanisedEnglish
ഇതിൽ എന്താ ഉള്ളത്? എനിക്ക് പരിപ്പ് അലർജി ആണ്.Ithil entha ullathu? Enikku parippu allergy aanu.What's in this? I'm allergic to nuts.
ഇതിൽ ഇറച്ചി ഉണ്ടോ?Ithil irachi undo?Is there meat in it?

Want to hear this used in a real conversation? Listen to Episode 11 - At a Restaurant in the free Listen & Learn library — every line has a Malayalam, romanised and English transcript.

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Dr. Reshmi R Nair, PhD

Teaches casual, everyday spoken Malayalam to beginners, NRIs, partners of Malayalis and travellers — never stiff textbook Malayalam.

Frequently asked questions

How do you ask what's in a dish in Malayalam?

Say ഇതിൽ എന്താ ഉള്ളത്? (ithil entha ullathu?).

How do you say I'm allergic to ... in Malayalam?

Say എനിക്ക് ___ അലർജി ആണ് (enikku ___ allergy aanu).

How do you ask if there's fish in it?

Say ഇതിൽ മീൻ ഉണ്ടോ? (ithil meen undo?).

How do you ask if it's spicy?

Say എരിവ് ഉണ്ടോ? (erivu undo?).