In short: To say "I'm lost", say ഞാൻ വഴി തെറ്റി (njaan vazhi thetti) ("I took the wrong way"). To ask the way: ഈ വഴി എങ്ങോട്ടാ? (ee vazhi engottaa?) ("where does this road go?").
Variations & related phrases
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഞാൻ വഴി തെറ്റി | Njaan vazhi thetti | I lost my way |
| എനിക്ക് വഴി അറിയില്ല | Enikku vazhi ariyilla | I don't know the way |
| ഈ വഴി എങ്ങോട്ടാ? | Ee vazhi engottaa? | Where does this road go? |
| ___ എങ്ങനെ പോകും? | ___ engane pokum? | How do I get to ___? |
When & how to use it
Vazhi = way/road. Engane pokum? ("how do I get there?") + a place name is the key phrase for finding your way.
Example sentences
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ക്ഷമിക്കണം, ഞാൻ വഴി തെറ്റി. സ്റ്റേഷൻ എങ്ങനെ പോകും? | Kshamikkanam, njaan vazhi thetti. Station engane pokum? | Sorry, I'm lost. How do I get to the station? |
| എനിക്ക് വഴി അറിയില്ല, ഒന്ന് സഹായിക്കാമോ? | Enikku vazhi ariyilla, onnu sahaayikkaamo? | I don't know the way, can you help? |
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 say I'm lost in Malayalam?
Say ഞാൻ വഴി തെറ്റി (njaan vazhi thetti).
How do you ask how to get somewhere?
Say the place + എങ്ങനെ പോകും? (engane pokum?).
How do you say I don't know the way?
Say എനിക്ക് വഴി അറിയില്ല (enikku vazhi ariyilla).
What does vazhi mean?
"Way" or "road".