In short: To say "sorry" in Malayalam, say ക്ഷമിക്കണം (kshamikkanam) - it covers both "sorry" and "excuse me". For a small slip, people also just say "sorry" in English, or എന്റെ തെറ്റാ (ente thettaa) ("my mistake").
Variations & related phrases
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ക്ഷമിക്കണം | Kshamikkanam | Sorry / forgive me |
| എന്റെ തെറ്റാ | Ente thettaa | My mistake |
| വിഷമം ആയോ? | Vishamam aayo? | Did I upset you? |
| സാരമില്ല | Saaramilla | It's okay (reply) |
When & how to use it
One word, kshamikkanam, handles apologising and "excuse me". When someone apologises to you, reply warmly with സാരമില്ല (saaramilla) - "it's okay".
Example sentences
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ക്ഷമിക്കണം, എനിക്ക് വൈകി. | Kshamikkanam, enikku vaiki. | Sorry, I'm late. |
| എന്റെ തെറ്റാ, ക്ഷമിക്കണേ. | Ente thettaa, kshamikkane. | My mistake, sorry. |
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
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Book a lesson →Frequently asked questions
How do you say sorry in Malayalam?
Say ക്ഷമിക്കണം (kshamikkanam), which means both "sorry" and "excuse me".
How do you say it's my mistake in Malayalam?
Say എന്റെ തെറ്റാ (ente thettaa).
How do you respond when someone says sorry?
Reply സാരമില്ല (saaramilla) - "it's okay / no worries".
Is kshamikkanam formal?
It works in both casual and polite situations; for tiny slips many also just say "sorry" in English.