Nothing delights a Malayali family like receiving wishes in Malayalam, especially from someone still learning. This guide gives you the greeting for every big occasion: birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, Onam, Vishu, Christmas, Eid, New Year and good luck before an exam. Each wish comes with the Malayalam script, an easy romanised spelling and the English meaning, ready for your next call or WhatsApp message.
🔊 Hear it spoken — tap play
Real colloquial pronunciation, the way it’s actually said in Kerala.
The magic word: ashamsakal
Ashamsakal (ആശംസകൾ, also spelt aashamsakal) means “wishes” or “greetings.” Attach it to almost any occasion and you have a perfect greeting. Two words make any wish warmer: hridayam niranja (heartfelt, lit. “heart-filled”) and orupaadu (lots of).
Happy birthday
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ജന്മദിനാശംസകൾ | Janmadinashamsakal | Happy birthday |
| പിറന്നാൾ ആശംസകൾ | Pirannaal ashamsakal | Happy birthday (everyday) |
| ഒരുപാട് ഒരുപാട് ജന്മദിനാശംസകൾ | Orupaadu orupaadu janmadinashamsakal | Many, many happy returns |
| ഹൃദയം നിറഞ്ഞ ജന്മദിനാശംസകൾ | Hridayam niranja janmadinashamsakal | Heartfelt birthday wishes |
| നന്മ വരട്ടെ | Nanma varatte | May goodness come to you |
| ഈശ്വരൻ അനുഗ്രഹിക്കട്ടെ | Eeshwaran anugrahikkatte | May God bless you |
For children and close family, Malayalis often add a blessing after the wish. Janmadinashamsakal, mole! Nanma varatte. sounds completely native. Pirannaal also refers to the traditional birthday by the Malayalam star calendar, which many families still celebrate.
Happy anniversary and wedding wishes
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| വിവാഹ വാർഷിക ആശംസകൾ | Vivaaha vaarshika ashamsakal | Happy wedding anniversary |
| ഹൃദയം നിറഞ്ഞ വിവാഹ വാർഷിക ആശംസകൾ | Hridayam niranja vivaaha vaarshika ashamsakal | Heartfelt anniversary wishes |
| ഇനിയും ഒരുപാട് വർഷം സന്തോഷത്തോടെ ഒരുമിച്ച് ജീവിക്കട്ടെ | Iniyum orupaadu varsham santhoshathode orumichu jeevikkatte | May you live happily together for many more years |
| വിവാഹ ആശംസകൾ | Vivaaha ashamsakal | Wedding wishes / happy wedding |
| അഭിനന്ദനങ്ങൾ | Abhinandanangal | Congratulations |
Happy Onam
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഓണാശംസകൾ | Onashamsakal | Happy Onam |
| എല്ലാവർക്കും എന്റെ ഹൃദയം നിറഞ്ഞ ഓണാശംസകൾ | Ellavarkkum ente hridayam niranja Onashamsakal | Heartfelt Onam wishes to everyone |
| ഓണസദ്യ | Ona sadya | The Onam feast |
| പൂക്കളം | Pookkalam | Flower carpet |
Onam (August–September) celebrates King Mahabali’s yearly visit: ten days of flower carpets, the grand Onam sadya feast and family reunions. One warm Onashamsakal in a family WhatsApp group earns instant affection. For more Onam words, see wedding and Onam vocabulary.
Happy Vishu
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| വിഷു ആശംസകൾ | Vishu ashamsakal | Happy Vishu |
| ഐശ്വര്യവും സമൃദ്ധിയും നിറഞ്ഞ വിഷു ആശംസകൾ | Aishwaryavum samruddhiyum niranja Vishu ashamsakal | Wishing you a Vishu full of prosperity and plenty |
| വിഷുക്കണി | Vishukkani | The first auspicious sight on Vishu morning |
| വിഷുക്കൈനീട്ടം | Vishukkaineettam | Vishu gift money from elders |
| കണി കണ്ടോ? | Kani kando? | Did you see the kani? |
Vishu (mid-April) opens the Malayali new year. The night before, the family arranges the Vishukkani: golden konna flowers, rice, fruit, a lamp and a mirror. On waking, eyes stay closed until you reach the kani. Elders then give children Vishukkaineettam.
Merry Christmas
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ക്രിസ്മസ് ആശംസകൾ | Christmas ashamsakal | Merry Christmas |
| ക്രിസ്മസ് പുതുവത്സര ആശംസകൾ | Christmas puthuvalsara ashamsakal | Merry Christmas and a happy New Year |
| നക്ഷത്രം | Nakshathram | Star (the paper star lanterns hung outside Kerala homes) |
Kerala’s Christian community celebrates with midnight mass, star lanterns, carol groups and plum cake. The English “Happy Christmas” is widely used too, but a Malayalam wish stands out.
Eid Mubarak
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഈദ് മുബാറക് | Eid Mubarak | Eid Mubarak (used as is) |
| പെരുന്നാൾ ആശംസകൾ | Perunnaal ashamsakal | Eid greetings (the Malayalam way) |
| ചെറിയ പെരുന്നാൾ | Cheriya perunnaal | Eid al-Fitr (lit. small festival) |
| ബലി പെരുന്നാൾ / വലിയ പെരുന്നാൾ | Bali perunnaal / Valiya perunnaal | Eid al-Adha (lit. big festival) |
Perunnaal is the Malayalam word for Eid, so perunnaal ashamsakal is the natural local greeting alongside Eid Mubarak.
Happy New Year
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| പുതുവത്സരാശംസകൾ | Puthuvalsaraashamsakal | Happy New Year |
| എല്ലാവർക്കും ഐശ്വര്യപൂർണ്ണമായ പുതുവത്സരാശംസകൾ | Ellavarkkum aishwaryapoornamaaya puthuvalsaraashamsakal | A prosperous New Year to everyone |
Malayalis celebrate the 1 January New Year with this wish. The traditional Malayali new year is Vishu in April, and the Kollam calendar year begins in Chingam (August–September).
Good luck and all the best
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| എല്ലാ ഭാവുകങ്ങളും | Ellaa bhaavukangalum | All the best / best wishes |
| നന്നായി വരട്ടെ | Nannaayi varatte | May it go well |
| വിജയിക്കട്ടെ | Vijayikkatte | May you succeed |
| പരീക്ഷയ്ക്ക് ഓൾ ദി ബെസ്റ്റ് | Pareekshakku all the best | All the best for the exam |
In daily speech, the English “all the best” is what most people say, often mixed into Malayalam as above. Ellaa bhaavukangalum is the warmer, more formal version for cards and messages.
How to reply to a wish
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| നന്ദി! | Nandi! | Thank you! |
| തിരിച്ചും ആശംസകൾ | Thirichum ashamsakal | Wishes to you too |
| നിനക്കും / നിങ്ങൾക്കും | Ninakkum / Ningalkkum | You too (casual / respectful) |
Quick reference: every occasion
| Occasion | Malayalam wish (Romanised) |
|---|---|
| Happy birthday | Janmadinashamsakal / Pirannaal ashamsakal |
| Happy anniversary | Vivaaha vaarshika ashamsakal |
| Happy wedding / congratulations | Vivaaha ashamsakal / Abhinandanangal |
| Happy Onam | Onashamsakal |
| Happy Vishu | Vishu ashamsakal |
| Merry Christmas | Christmas ashamsakal |
| Eid Mubarak | Perunnaal ashamsakal |
| Happy Diwali | Deepaavali ashamsakal |
| Happy New Year | Puthuvalsaraashamsakal |
| Good luck | Ellaa bhaavukangalum |
Written wishes are lovely; spoken ones are unforgettable. Practise the pronunciation with the free 100 Essential Malayalam Phrases, or book a lesson before the next family occasion. Saying it to someone special? See how to say I love you in Malayalam.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say happy birthday in Malayalam?
“Janmadinashamsakal” (ജന്മദിനാശംസകൾ) or “pirannaal ashamsakal”. Add “nanma varatte” (may goodness come to you) to make it warmer.
How do you say happy anniversary in Malayalam?
“Vivaaha vaarshika ashamsakal” means happy wedding anniversary.
How do you wish Happy Onam in Malayalam?
Say “Onashamsakal!” For a fuller blessing: “Ellavarkkum ente hridayam niranja Onashamsakal”.
How do you say Happy Vishu in Malayalam?
“Vishu ashamsakal”. Vishu is the Malayali new year in mid-April.
How do you wish Eid in Malayalam?
“Perunnaal ashamsakal” is the Malayalam Eid greeting; “Eid Mubarak” is also widely used.
How do you say Happy New Year and Merry Christmas in Malayalam?
Happy New Year is “puthuvalsaraashamsakal” and Merry Christmas is “Christmas ashamsakal”.
How do you say good luck in Malayalam?
“Ellaa bhaavukangalum” (all the best) or “vijayikkatte” (may you succeed). In casual speech, “all the best” in English is common.
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