In short: In Malayalam, "correct/right" is ശരി (shari) and "wrong/mistake" is തെറ്റ് (thettu). To ask "is this right?": ഇത് ശരിയാണോ? (ithu shariyaano?). Note shari also means "okay".
Variations & related phrases
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ശരി | Shari | Correct / okay |
| തെറ്റ് | Thettu | Wrong / mistake |
| ഇത് ശരിയാണോ? | Ithu shariyaano? | Is this right? |
| അത് തെറ്റാ | Athu thettaa | That's wrong |
When & how to use it
Shari is one of the most useful words in Malayalam - "correct", "okay", and "alright" all in one. Thettu = wrong or a mistake.
Example sentences
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഇത് ശരിയാണോ? - അതെ, ശരിയാ. | Ithu shariyaano? - Athe, shariyaa. | Is this right? - Yes, it's right. |
| എന്റെ തെറ്റാ, ക്ഷമിക്കണം. | Ente thettaa, kshamikkanam. | My mistake, sorry. |
Want to hear this used in a real conversation? Listen to Episode 24 - 'I'm Still Learning Malayalam' (Survival) in the free Listen & Learn library — every line has a Malayalam, romanised and English transcript.
Practise speaking it for real
These pages train your ear. A live 1-to-1 lesson with Reshmi trains your mouth — real-time correction only a teacher can give.
Book a lesson →Frequently asked questions
How do you say correct in Malayalam?
Say ശരി (shari) - which also means "okay".
How do you say wrong in Malayalam?
Say തെറ്റ് (thettu).
How do you ask is this right in Malayalam?
Say ഇത് ശരിയാണോ? (ithu shariyaano?).
How do you say my mistake in Malayalam?
Say എന്റെ തെറ്റാ (ente thettaa).