Free 30-Day Course · Day 18 of 30 · Out & about

Day 18 — Auto-rickshaw Malayalam

20 minutes · real spoken Malayalam · with audio

60% of the course behind you

🎥 Auto drivers are free tutors — if you open with these 4 words.

The auto ride is Kerala's great conversation chamber. Today: directions, stopping, fares - and the confidence to ride like you've done it forever.

Today’s phrases

Say itScriptMeaning
... evideyaanu?... എവിടെയാണ്?Where is ...?
Evideya bus stand?എവിടെയാ ബസ് സ്റ്റാൻഡ്?Where's the bus stand?
Nere poനേരെ പോGo straight
Valathottu / Idathottuവലത്തോട്ട് / ഇടത്തോട്ട്To the right / to the left
Ivide nirthamo?ഇവിടെ നിർത്താമോ?Can you stop here?
Ethra aayi?എത്ര ആയി?How much (is the fare)?
🔊 Hear it spoken — tap play, repeat out loud
💡 The auto driver is your free tutor

Auto drivers love a foreigner who tries Malayalam. Open with 'Chetta, railway station pokanam' and you'll get a language lesson, a life story, and restaurant recommendations before you arrive. Tip: 'Ethra duram undu?' (how far is it?) keeps the meter honest AND the chat flowing.

Mini dialogue — act it out

You: Chetta, beach pokanam!
Brother, I need to go to the beach!

Driver: Kerri irikku!
Hop in!

You: (arriving) Ivide nirthamo? Ethra aayi?
Stop here please? How much?

Driver: Naalpathu rupa.
Forty rupees.

You: Ithaa. Nanni, chetta!
Here you go. Thanks, brother!

Today’s task

🎯 Practice the four direction words with hand gestures: nere (straight), valathottu (right), idathottu (left), nirthu (stop). Drill until your hands know them too.


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Dr. Reshmi R Nair

PhD in Applied Linguistics · TEFL/TESOL/CELTA · 15+ years teaching Malayalam to learners across the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ & Europe.