▶ Hear it spoken by a native voice.
In short: To ask "how far is it?", say എത്ര ദൂരം ഉണ്ട്? (ethra dooram undu?). To check if it's walkable: നടന്നു പോകാമോ? (nadannu pokaamo?). A common reply: അധികം ദൂരമല്ല (adhikam dooramalla), "not far."
Variations & related phrases
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| എത്ര ദൂരം ഉണ്ട്? | Ethra dooram undu? | How far is it? |
| നടന്നു പോകാമോ? | Nadannu pokaamo? | Can I walk there? |
| അധികം ദൂരമല്ല | Adhikam dooramalla | It's not far |
| അഞ്ച് മിനിറ്റ് നടന്നാ മതി | Anchu minute nadannaa mathi | Just a five-minute walk |
When & how to use it
Dooram means "distance." Pair ethra dooram undu? with nadannu pokaamo? to plan whether to walk or take an auto.
Example sentences
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഇവിടുന്ന് എത്ര ദൂരം ഉണ്ട്? | Ividunnu ethra dooram undu? | How far is it from here? |
| ബസ് സ്റ്റാന്ഡ് നടന്നു പോകാമോ? | Bus stand nadannu pokaamo? | Can I walk to the bus stand? |
Want to hear this used in a real conversation? Listen to Episode 9 - Asking for Directions in the free Listen & Learn library — every line has a Malayalam, romanised and English transcript.
Practise speaking it for real
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Book a lesson →Frequently asked questions
How do you ask how far is it in Malayalam?
Say എത്ര ദൂരം ഉണ്ട്? (ethra dooram undu?).
How do you ask if something is walkable in Malayalam?
Say നടന്നു പോകാമോ? (nadannu pokaamo?).
What is the Malayalam word for distance?
"Distance" is ദൂരം (dooram).
How do you say it's not far in Malayalam?
Say അധികം ദൂരമല്ല (adhikam dooramalla).