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Spoken Malayalam phrases

How to Say "Be Quiet" in Malayalam

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

മിണ്ടാതിരിക്കൂ
Mindaathirikkoo — Be quiet

In short: To say "be quiet", say മിണ്ടാതിരിക്കൂ (mindaathirikkoo) ("don't speak"). A softer "please keep quiet" is ഒന്ന് മിണ്ടാതിരിക്ക് (onnu mindaathirikku). For "lower your voice": ശബ്ദം കുറയ്ക്ക് (shabdam kuraykku).

Variations & related phrases

MalayalamRomanisedEnglish
മിണ്ടാതിരിക്കൂMindaathirikkooBe quiet
ഒന്ന് മിണ്ടാതിരിക്ക്Onnu mindaathirikkuPlease keep quiet
ശബ്ദം കുറയ്ക്ക്Shabdam kuraykkuLower your voice
ശ്ശ്!Shh!Shh!

When & how to use it

Mindaathirikku = "don't speak / be quiet". For volume, use shabdam kuraykku ("lower your voice"). Shabdam = sound/noise.

Example sentences

MalayalamRomanisedEnglish
ക്ലാസ്സിൽ മിണ്ടാതിരിക്കൂ.Class-il mindaathirikkoo.Be quiet in class.
ശബ്ദം കുറയ്ക്ക്, കുട്ടി ഉറങ്ങുവാ.Shabdam kuraykku, kutty uranguvaa.Keep it down, the baby's sleeping.

Want to hear this used in a real conversation? Listen to Episode 16 - Family & Home Talk in the free Listen & Learn library — every line has a Malayalam, romanised and English transcript.

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Reshmi R Nair, Malayalam Linguist

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you say be quiet in Malayalam?

Say മിണ്ടാതിരിക്കൂ (mindaathirikkoo).

How do you say lower your voice in Malayalam?

Say ശബ്ദം കുറയ്ക്ക് (shabdam kuraykku).

How do you politely ask for quiet?

Say ഒന്ന് മിണ്ടാതിരിക്ക് (onnu mindaathirikku).

What does shabdam mean?

"Sound / noise".

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