Body-part words are useful for daily life, doctor visits and teaching children. Here they are in Malayalam.
| English | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Head | തല | thala |
| Hair | മുടി | mudi |
| Eye | കണ്ണ് | kannu |
| Ear | ചെവി | chevi |
| Nose | മൂക്ക് | mookku |
| Mouth | വായ | vaaya |
| Tooth | പല്ല് | pallu |
| Hand | കൈ | kai |
| Leg | കാല് | kaal |
| Stomach | വയറ് | vayaru |
| Heart | ഹൃദയം | hridayam |
| Face | മുഖം | mukham |
How to practise
- Say each word aloud — sound first.
- Use them in tiny sentences with words from common words.
- Test yourself on the free flashcards & quiz.
Keep going
Grab the free 100 Essential Malayalam Phrases, or book a trial to use these words in real conversation.
Using body-part words in real sentences
Body-part vocabulary becomes far more useful when you can combine it with a few simple patterns. The most valuable is ‘[body part] + vedana’ (pain), which lets you describe almost any ache: thala vedana (headache), vayaru vedana (stomach ache), pallu vedana (toothache). This single pattern is invaluable at a doctor’s clinic or pharmacy in Kerala.
Body words are also some of the easiest and most fun to teach children — point to your own head, eyes and hands and name them in Malayalam, or turn it into a ‘touch your…’ game. Young heritage learners pick these up quickly because they’re tied to actions and the body they already know.
Practise by narrating everyday actions aloud — washing your kai (hands), covering your mukham (face) — so the words attach to real moments rather than a static list.
A fuller body-parts vocabulary
Here is an expanded reference covering the body parts you'll most often need — for the doctor, for describing things, and for talking with children.
| English | Malayalam (Romanised) |
|---|---|
| head | thala |
| hair | mudi |
| eye | kannu |
| ear | chevi |
| nose | mookku |
| mouth | vaa |
| tooth | pallu |
| tongue | naavu |
| face | mukham |
| neck | kazhuthu |
| hand | kai |
| finger | viral |
| leg / foot | kaal |
| stomach | vayaru |
| back | mutuku |
| heart | hridayam |
Describing aches and actions
The single most useful pattern is ‘[body part] + vedana’ (pain): thala vedana (headache), pallu vedana (toothache), vayaru vedana (stomach ache). This one structure lets you describe almost any ailment at a clinic or pharmacy.
Body words also pair naturally with everyday verbs — wash your kai (hands), open your kannu (eyes), close your vaa (mouth) — which makes them perfect for action games with children. Narrating real actions aloud is the fastest way to make this vocabulary automatic.
Frequently asked questions
What are body parts called in Malayalam?
Thala (head), kannu (eye), mukham (face), kai (hand), kaal (leg) and vayaru (stomach) are common, useful starting words.
Why learn body-part words in Malayalam?
They're essential for describing pain at the doctor, talking with children, and everyday conversation — a high-value practical vocabulary set.
How do I say 'my head hurts' in Malayalam?
"Enikku thala vedana" means "I have a headache." Combining body parts with "vedana" (pain) lets you describe many symptoms.
Are body-part words useful for travellers?
Yes — especially for explaining health issues or symptoms to a doctor or pharmacist in Kerala.
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