In short: "Excuse me / sorry" is ക്ഷമിക്കണം (kshamikkanam). But to get someone's attention — a waiter, a passer-by — Malayalis don't say "excuse me"; they call ചേട്ടാ (chetta) ("brother") or ചേച്ചീ (chechi) ("sister").
Variations & related phrases
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ക്ഷമിക്കണം | Kshamikkanam | Excuse me / sorry |
| ചേട്ടാ / ചേച്ചീ | Chetta / Chechi | (to get attention: brother / sister) |
| ഒന്ന് മാറി നിൽക്കാമോ? | Onnu maari nilkkaamo? | Could you move aside? |
| ഒരു മിനിറ്റ് | Oru minute | One minute / just a sec |
When & how to use it
Use kshamikkanam to apologise or interrupt politely. To flag down a waiter or stranger, calling chetta / chechi is normal and friendly — not rude at all.
Example sentences
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ക്ഷമിക്കണം, വഴി ഒന്ന് മാറാമോ? | Kshamikkanam, vazhi onnu maaraamo? | Excuse me, could you move aside? |
| ചേട്ടാ, ഒരു സഹായം. | Chetta, oru sahaayam. | Excuse me (brother), a little help. |
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 excuse me in Malayalam?
Say ക്ഷമിക്കണം (kshamikkanam).
How do you get a waiter's attention in Malayalam?
Call ചേട്ടാ (chetta) ("brother") or ചേച്ചീ (chechi) ("sister").
How do you say sorry in Malayalam?
ക്ഷമിക്കണം (kshamikkanam) works for both "sorry" and "excuse me."
How do you ask someone to move aside in Malayalam?
Say ഒന്ന് മാറി നിൽക്കാമോ? (onnu maari nilkkaamo?).