Falling ill away from home is stressful, and a few Malayalam phrases make the pharmacy, the clinic and worried relatives much easier to deal with. This guide covers saying you’re unwell, describing pain, buying medicine, seeing a doctor, and wishing someone a quick recovery, in everyday spoken Malayalam with the script, an easy romanised spelling and the English meaning.
🔊 Hear it spoken — tap play
Real colloquial pronunciation, the way it’s actually said in Kerala.
In an emergency in India, dial 112. For an ambulance, 108 also works in Kerala.
I’m not feeling well
Sukham means wellbeing, so sukhamilla is literally “no wellbeing.” Illnesses follow the same enikku (to me) pattern as feelings: enikku paniyundu, “to me there is fever.”
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| എനിക്ക് സുഖമില്ല | Enikku sukhamilla | I’m not feeling well |
| എനിക്ക് പനിയുണ്ട് | Enikku paniyundu | I have a fever |
| ജലദോഷമുണ്ട് | Jaladoshamundu | I have a cold |
| ചുമയുണ്ട് | Chumayundu | I have a cough |
| തല കറങ്ങുന്നു | Thala karangunnu | I feel dizzy |
| ഛർദിക്കാൻ വരുന്നു | Chardikkaan varunnu | I feel like vomiting |
| ഇന്നലെ മുതൽ സുഖമില്ല | Innale muthal sukhamilla | I’ve been unwell since yesterday |
Pain: headache, stomach ache, toothache
The pattern is body part + vedana (pain). Point and say ivide vedanayundu (it hurts here) if you don’t know the word. For more body words, see body parts in Malayalam.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| തലവേദന | Thalavedana | Headache |
| വയറുവേദന | Vayaruvedana | Stomach ache |
| പല്ലുവേദന | Palluvedana | Toothache |
| എനിക്ക് നല്ല തലവേദനയുണ്ട് | Enikku nalla thalavedanayundu | I have a bad headache |
| ഇവിടെ വേദനയുണ്ട് | Ivide vedanayundu | It hurts here |
| ശരീരം മുഴുവൻ വേദന | Shareeram muzhuvan vedana | My whole body aches |
At the pharmacy
In Kerala a pharmacy is usually called a medical shop. Marunnu means medicine.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| മെഡിക്കൽ ഷോപ്പ് എവിടെയാ? | Medical shop evideyaa? | Where’s the pharmacy? |
| എനിക്ക് മരുന്ന് വേണം | Enikku marunnu venam | I need medicine |
| പനിക്കുള്ള മരുന്ന് ഉണ്ടോ? | Panikkulla marunnu undo? | Do you have medicine for fever? |
| തലവേദനയ്ക്കുള്ള മരുന്ന് | Thalavedanaykkulla marunnu | Medicine for a headache |
| ഇതിന് കുറിപ്പടി വേണോ? | Ithinu kurippadi veno? | Do I need a prescription for this? |
| ഈ മരുന്ന് എങ്ങനെ കഴിക്കണം? | Ee marunnu engane kazhikkanam? | How should I take this medicine? |
| ദിവസം എത്ര നേരം? | Divasam ethra neram? | How many times a day? |
Seeing a doctor
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| എനിക്ക് ഡോക്ടറെ കാണണം | Enikku doctor-e kaananam | I need to see a doctor |
| ആശുപത്രി എവിടെയാ? | Aashupathri evideyaa? | Where’s the hospital? |
| ആംബുലൻസ് വിളിക്കൂ! | Ambulance vilikkoo! | Call an ambulance! |
| എനിക്ക് അലർജിയുണ്ട് | Enikku allergy-undu | I have an allergy |
Get well soon / take rest
When someone you know is ill, these are the warm things to say, in person, on the phone or on WhatsApp.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| വേഗം സുഖമാകട്ടെ | Vegam sukhamaakatte | Get well soon |
| നന്നായി വിശ്രമിക്കൂ | Nannaayi vishramikkoo | Rest well |
| കുറച്ച് വിശ്രമിക്ക് | Kurachu vishramikku | Rest a little (casual) |
| സൂക്ഷിക്കണേ | Sookshikkane | Take care of yourself |
| മരുന്ന് കൃത്യമായി കഴിക്കണേ | Marunnu kruthyamaayi kazhikkane | Take your medicine on time |
Put it together: at the medical shop
You: Chetta, enikku sukhamilla. Paniyum thalavedanayum undu. — Brother, I’m not well. I have a fever and a headache.
Pharmacist: Ennu muthal? — Since when?
You: Innale muthal. Panikkulla marunnu undo? — Since yesterday. Do you have medicine for fever?
Pharmacist: Undu. Ithu divasam moonnu neram kazhikkanam. — Yes. Take this three times a day.
You: Sheri. Ethrayaayi? — Okay. How much is it?
Pharmacist: Anpathu roopa. Vegam sukhamaakatte! — Fifty rupees. Get well soon!
This guide is for everyday conversation, not medical advice. If you feel seriously unwell, see a doctor.
Travelling in Kerala? See the Malayalam travel phrases for directions, autos and asking for help.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “I’m not feeling well” in Malayalam?
Say “enikku sukhamilla” (എനിക്ക് സുഖമില്ല).
How do you say “I have a fever” in Malayalam?
Say “enikku paniyundu”. “Pani” means fever.
How do you say “headache” in Malayalam?
Headache is “thalavedana” (thala = head, vedana = pain). “I have a headache” is “enikku thalavedanayundu”.
How do you say “get well soon” in Malayalam?
Say “vegam sukhamaakatte” (വേഗം സുഖമാകട്ടെ), literally “may you get well quickly.”
How do you ask for a pharmacy in Malayalam?
Say “medical shop evideyaa?”. “I need medicine” is “enikku marunnu venam”.
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