Spoken Malayalam phrases

How to Say "Open" and "Close" in Malayalam

Casual, everyday Malayalam — not textbook. By Dr. Reshmi R Nair, PhD.

തുറന്നു / അടച്ചു
Thurannu / Adachu — Open / Closed

In short: In Malayalam, "open" is തുറന്നു (thurannu) and "closed" is അടച്ചു (adachu). To ask "is the shop open?": കട തുറന്നോ? (kada thuranno?). "Please open it" is ഒന്ന് തുറക്കാമോ? (onnu thurakkaamo?).

Variations & related phrases

MalayalamRomanisedEnglish
തുറന്നുThurannuOpen (it's open)
അടച്ചുAdachuClosed (it's closed)
കട തുറന്നോ?Kada thuranno?Is the shop open?
എത്ര മണിക്ക് തുറക്കും?Ethra manikku thurakkum?What time does it open?

When & how to use it

Useful when shops keep their own hours. Kada = shop. Ask ethra manikku thurakkum? ("what time does it open?").

Example sentences

MalayalamRomanisedEnglish
കട തുറന്നോ? - ഇല്ല, അടച്ചു.Kada thuranno? - Illa, adachu.Is the shop open? - No, it's closed.
എത്ര മണിക്ക് തുറക്കും?Ethra manikku thurakkum?What time does it open?

Want to hear this used in a real conversation? Listen to Episode 2 - At the Tea Shop in the free Listen & Learn library — every line has a Malayalam, romanised and English transcript.

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RRN
Dr. Reshmi R Nair, PhD

Teaches casual, everyday spoken Malayalam to beginners, NRIs, partners of Malayalis and travellers — never stiff textbook Malayalam.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say open in Malayalam?

"It's open" is തുറന്നു (thurannu).

How do you say closed in Malayalam?

"It's closed" is അടച്ചു (adachu).

How do you ask if a shop is open in Malayalam?

Say കട തുറന്നോ? (kada thuranno?).

How do you ask what time it opens?

Say എത്ര മണിക്ക് തുറക്കും? (ethra manikku thurakkum?).