Every Malayali family conversation is woven from these words: amma, achan, chetta, chechi. If you grew up hearing them abroad, or you’ve married into a Malayali family, this guide makes the whole family tree clear, from parents and grandparents to in-laws, plus how to talk about friends and say you’re married. Every word comes with the Malayalam script, an easy romanised spelling and the English meaning.
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Real colloquial pronunciation, the way it’s actually said in Kerala.
Family-terms finder: what do I call them?
Pick a relative to see the Malayalam word, written in Malayalam script with the romanised spelling. Words vary by region and family, so these are the most widely understood ones.
Mother, father and the core family
Amma (mother) and achan (father, also spelt achchan) are the first words every Malayali child learns. Together they become achanum ammayum: father and mother.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| അമ്മ | Amma | Mother |
| അച്ഛൻ | Achan | Father |
| അച്ഛനും അമ്മയും | Achanum ammayum | Father and mother (parents) |
| ചേട്ടൻ | Chettan | Elder brother (address: chetta) |
| ചേച്ചി | Chechi | Elder sister |
| അനിയൻ | Aniyan | Younger brother |
| അനിയത്തി | Aniyathi | Younger sister |
| മകൻ | Makan | Son (affectionate: mone) |
| മകൾ | Makal | Daughter (affectionate: mole) |
| ഭർത്താവ് | Bharthaavu | Husband |
| ഭാര്യ | Bhaarya | Wife |
| കുടുംബം | Kudumbam | Family |
Two of the most loving words in Malayalam are mone (son) and mole (daughter). Parents, uncles, aunties and even shopkeepers use them warmly for any younger person.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഇത് എന്റെ ചേട്ടനാ | Ithu ente chettanaa | This is my elder brother |
| അമ്മ അടുക്കളയിലാ | Amma adukkalayilaa | Amma’s in the kitchen |
| അച്ഛൻ വന്നു | Achan vannu | Dad’s here (lit. father came) |
| ചേച്ചി സുഖമാണോ? | Chechi sukhamaano? | Chechi, how are you? |
Grandparents
Words for grandparents vary by region and community, so use whatever your family uses. These are the most widely understood.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| അമ്മമ്മ | Ammamma | Grandmother (mother’s mother) |
| അച്ഛമ്മ | Achamma | Grandmother (father’s mother) |
| അമ്മൂമ്മ | Ammoomma | Grandmother (common in many regions) |
| അപ്പൂപ്പൻ | Appooppan | Grandfather |
| മുത്തശ്ശൻ / മുത്തശ്ശി | Muthassan / Muthassi | Grandfather / grandmother (general) |
Uncles, aunts and in-laws
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| അമ്മാവൻ | Ammaavan | Mother’s brother (address: ammaava / maaman) |
| അമ്മായി | Ammaayi | Aunt; uncle’s wife |
| വല്യമ്മ | Valyamma | Mother’s elder sister |
| കുഞ്ഞമ്മ / ചെറിയമ്മ | Kunjamma / Cheriyamma | Mother’s younger sister |
| വല്യച്ഛൻ | Valyachan | Father’s elder brother |
| കൊച്ചച്ഛൻ / ചെറിയച്ഛൻ | Kochachan / Cheriyachan | Father’s younger brother |
| അമ്മായിയപ്പൻ | Ammaayiyappan | Father-in-law |
| അമ്മായിയമ്മ | Ammaayiyamma | Mother-in-law |
| അളിയൻ | Aliyan | Brother-in-law |
| നാത്തൂൻ | Naathoon | Sister-in-law |
The respect rule: -etta and -echi
Malayalis rarely call elders by bare names. Add -chetta / -etta for older men and -chechi / -echi for older women: Rajesh-etta, Deepa-chechi. The same words are used for neighbours, colleagues and the man at the tea shop, as a sign of respect and warmth. Many wives traditionally call their husbands chetta. Using this rule correctly is the fastest way to sound naturally respectful.
Friend, buddy and best friend
Friend words switch by gender: koottukaaran for a male friend, koottukaari for a female friend. Among friends, Malayalis use playful slang that you’ll hear in every Malayalam film.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| കൂട്ടുകാരൻ | Koottukaaran | Friend (male) |
| കൂട്ടുകാരി | Koottukaari | Friend (female) |
| സുഹൃത്ത് | Suhruthu | Friend (neutral, a little formal) |
| ചങ്ങാതി | Changaathi | Pal, buddy |
| ഉറ്റ ചങ്ങാതി | Utta changaathi | Best friend |
| ചങ്ക് | Chunk | Bestie (slang, lit. “heart”) |
| മച്ചാനേ! | Machaane! | Buddy! / Dude! (to a male friend) |
| അളിയാ! | Aliyaa! | Bro! (lit. brother-in-law; friendly slang) |
| എന്താ ഡാ? / എന്താ ഡീ? | Entha da? / Entha di? | What’s up? (to a male / female friend; very casual) |
| ഇത് എന്റെ കൂട്ടുകാരനാ | Ithu ente koottukaaranaa | This is my friend |
Da and di are strictly for close friends and people younger than you. Never use them with elders; use chetta or chechi instead.
I’m married / are you married?
Expect this question early when meeting a Malayali family. The formal word vivaahithan changes with gender, while the everyday version simply says “my wedding is done.”
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഞാൻ വിവാഹിതനാണ് | Njaan vivaahithanaanu | I’m married (man) |
| ഞാൻ വിവാഹിതയാണ് | Njaan vivaahithayaanu | I’m married (woman) |
| എന്റെ കല്യാണം കഴിഞ്ഞു | Ente kalyaanam kazhinju | I’m married (everyday) |
| ഞാൻ അവിവാഹിതനാണ് / അവിവാഹിതയാണ് | Njaan avivaahithanaanu / avivaahithayaanu | I’m single (man / woman) |
| കല്യാണം കഴിഞ്ഞോ? | Kalyaanam kazhinjo? | Are you married? |
| എനിക്ക് രണ്ട് മക്കളുണ്ട് | Enikku randu makkalundu | I have two children |
| ഇത് എന്റെ ഭാര്യയാ / ഭർത്താവാ | Ithu ente bhaaryayaa / bharthaavaa | This is my wife / husband |
Put it together: a family video call
Ammamma: Mole, sukhamaano? Choru kazhicho? — Dear, are you well? Have you eaten?
You: Sukhamaanu, ammamma. Kazhichu! Ammamma kazhicho? — I’m well, Ammamma. I ate! Did you?
Ammamma: Kazhichu. Achanum ammayum evide? — I did. Where are your dad and mum?
You: Amma adukkalayilaa. Achan ippo varum. — Amma’s in the kitchen. Dad will come now.
Ammamma: Ente ponnu mole! — My precious girl!
For more practice, see family conversation in Malayalam and how to say I love you in Malayalam.
For families raising kids abroad
If you want your children to keep these words alive, start by using them consistently at home (amma, achan, ammamma on video calls) long before any formal lessons. Kinship words are usually the first Malayalam children abroad learn, and the ones they keep for life. See the full guide to teaching kids Malayalam abroad. Family words also carry sounds English doesn’t have (the soft zh, the rolled r), so grab the free 100-phrase PDF or book a lesson to master them in one sitting.
Frequently asked questions
What do Amma and Achan mean?
Amma (അമ്മ) means mother and achan (അച്ഛൻ) means father. “Achanum ammayum” means father and mother.
What does Chetta mean in Malayalam?
Chetta (from chettan) means elder brother. It is also used respectfully for any older man, and traditionally by wives for husbands. The female form is chechi.
What do Malayalis call their grandparents?
Ammamma (mother’s mother), achamma (father’s mother), ammoomma, and appooppan or muthassan for grandfather. Usage varies by region.
How do you say friend in Malayalam?
Koottukaaran (male friend) or koottukaari (female friend). Suhruthu is a neutral word; utta changaathi means best friend, and machaane is the slang “buddy”.
How do you say I am married in Malayalam?
A man says “njaan vivaahithanaanu” and a woman says “njaan vivaahithayaanu”. In everyday speech, “ente kalyaanam kazhinju”.
What do mone and mole mean?
Mone means son and mole means daughter, used affectionately for any younger person.
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