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 finally makes the whole family tree clear.
🔊 Hear it spoken — tap play
Real colloquial pronunciation, the way it’s actually said in Kerala.
The core family
| English | Malayalam (Romanised) |
|---|---|
| Mother | amma |
| Father | achan |
| Elder brother | chettan (address: chetta) |
| Elder sister | chechi |
| Younger brother | aniyan |
| Younger sister | aniyathi |
| Son | makan (affectionate: mone) |
| Daughter | makal (affectionate: mole) |
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.
Grandparents
Uncles, aunts & in-laws
| Relation | Malayalam (Romanised) |
|---|---|
| Mother’s brother | ammavan (address: ammava / maaman) |
| Uncle’s wife / aunt | ammayi |
| Mother’s elder sister | valyamma |
| Mother’s younger sister | kunjamma / cheriyamma |
| Father’s brother (elder) | valyachan |
| Father’s brother (younger) | kochachan / cheriyachan |
| Father-in-law | ammaayiyappan |
| Mother-in-law | ammaayiyamma |
| Brother-in-law | aliyan |
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. Married couples traditionally use these too — many wives call their husbands chetta. Using this rule correctly is the fastest way to sound naturally respectful.
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 ever learn, and the ones they keep for life. See the full guide to teaching kids Malayalam abroad.
Hear them pronounced properly
Family words carry sounds English doesn’t have (the soft zh, the rolled r). Grab the free 100-phrase PDF or book a lesson and master them in one sitting.
Frequently asked questions
What does Amma and Achan mean?
Amma means mother and Achan means father in Malayalam. They are the two most common family words every Malayali child learns first.
What does Chetta mean in Malayalam?
Chetta (from chettan) means elder brother. It is also used respectfully for any older man — friends, colleagues, even shopkeepers — and traditionally by wives for husbands.
What do Malayalis call their grandparents?
Common forms are ammamma (maternal grandmother), achamma (paternal grandmother), and appooppan or muthassan for grandfather.
What do mone and mole mean?
Mone means son and mole means daughter, used affectionately for any younger person — one of the warmest features of everyday Malayalam.
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