ചായ / കാപ്പി
Chaaya / Kaapi — Tea / Coffee
▶ Hear it spoken by a native voice.
In short: In Malayalam, "tea" is ചായ (chaaya) and "coffee" is കാപ്പി (kaapi). To order: ഒരു ചായ താ (oru chaaya thaa) ("one tea"). Want it strong? കടുപ്പത്തിൽ (kaduppathil).
Variations & related phrases
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ചായ | Chaaya | Tea |
| കാപ്പി | Kaapi | Coffee |
| ഒരു ചായ താ | Oru chaaya thaa | One tea, please |
| കടുപ്പത്തിൽ | Kaduppathil | Strong (for tea/coffee) |
When & how to use it
Kerala runs on chaaya. Black tea is kattan chaaya; with milk is the default. Add kaduppathil for strong.
Example sentences
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ചേട്ടാ, ഒരു ചായയും ഒരു കാപ്പിയും. | Chetta, oru chaayayum oru kaapiyum. | Brother, one tea and one coffee. |
| കാപ്പി കടുപ്പത്തിൽ വേണം. | Kaapi kaduppathil venam. | I'd like the coffee strong. |
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.
Practise speaking it for real
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Book a lesson →Frequently asked questions
How do you say tea in Malayalam?
Tea is ചായ (chaaya).
How do you say coffee in Malayalam?
Coffee is കാപ്പി (kaapi).
How do you order one tea in Malayalam?
Say ഒരു ചായ താ (oru chaaya thaa).
How do you ask for strong tea?
Add കടുപ്പത്തിൽ (kaduppathil) ("strong").