In short: To say "long time no see!", say എത്ര നാളായി കണ്ടിട്ട്! (ethra naalaayi kandittu!) ("how long since we met!"). A casual version: കുറേ നാളായല്ലോ! (kure naalaayallo!) ("it's been ages!").
Variations & related phrases
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| എത്ര നാളായി കണ്ടിട്ട്! | Ethra naalaayi kandittu! | Long time no see! |
| കുറേ നാളായല്ലോ! | Kure naalaayallo! | It's been ages! |
| എവിടെയായിരുന്നു? | Evideyaayirunnu? | Where have you been? |
| സുഖമാണോ? | Sukhamaano? | How are you? |
When & how to use it
A warm reunion opener. Follow with evideyaayirunnu? ("where have you been?") and sukhamaano? ("how are you?").
Example sentences
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| അയ്യോ! എത്ര നാളായി കണ്ടിട്ട്! സുഖമാണോ? | Ayyo! Ethra naalaayi kandittu! Sukhamaano? | Oh wow! Long time no see! How are you? |
| കുറേ നാളായല്ലോ, എവിടെയായിരുന്നു? | Kure naalaayallo, evideyaayirunnu? | It's been ages, where were you? |
Want to hear this used in a real conversation? Listen to Episode 7 - Meeting Someone New 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 Dr. Reshmi trains your mouth — real-time correction only a teacher can give.
Book a lesson →Frequently asked questions
How do you say long time no see in Malayalam?
Say എത്ര നാളായി കണ്ടിട്ട്! (ethra naalaayi kandittu!).
How do you say it's been ages in Malayalam?
Say കുറേ നാളായല്ലോ! (kure naalaayallo!).
How do you ask where have you been?
Say എവിടെയായിരുന്നു? (evideyaayirunnu?).
Is this phrase casual?
Yes - it's a warm, friendly greeting for someone you haven't seen in a while.