Talking about what you enjoy is one of the easiest ways to keep a Malayalam conversation going. This guide covers how to ask about hobbies, the words for popular hobbies and sports, and how to say what you like, play and do in your free time. Each phrase comes with the Malayalam script, an easy romanised spelling and the English meaning.
Asking about hobbies
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| നിന്റെ ഹോബി എന്താ? | Ninte hobby enthaa? | What’s your hobby? |
| ഒഴിവുസമയത്ത് എന്ത് ചെയ്യും? | Ozhivusamayathu enthu cheyyum? | What do you do in your free time? |
| നിനക്ക് എന്താ ഇഷ്ടം? | Ninakku enthaa ishtam? | What do you like? |
| നിങ്ങൾക്ക് സ്പോർട്സ് ഇഷ്ടമാണോ? | Ningalkku sports ishtamaano? | Do you like sports? (polite) |
Hobby words
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| വായന | Vaayana | Reading |
| പാട്ട് | Paattu | Songs / singing |
| സംഗീതം | Sangeetham | Music |
| നൃത്തം | Nrutham | Dance |
| സിനിമ | Cinema | Films |
| യാത്ര | Yaathra | Travel |
| പാചകം | Paachakam | Cooking |
| ചിത്രം വരയ്ക്കൽ | Chithram varaykkal | Drawing / painting |
| നീന്തൽ | Neenthal | Swimming |
Sports
Most sports keep their English names. The verb is kalikkuka (to play): njaan cricket kalikkum (I play cricket).
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ക്രിക്കറ്റ് | Cricket | Cricket |
| ഫുട്ബോൾ | Football | Football |
| ബാഡ്മിന്റൺ | Badminton | Badminton |
| വള്ളംകളി | Vallamkali | Kerala snake-boat race |
| കളി | Kali | Game / play |
| ഞാൻ ക്രിക്കറ്റ് കളിക്കും | Njaan cricket kalikkum | I play cricket |
| ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് ഫുട്ബോൾ ഇഷ്ടമാ | Njangalkku football ishtamaa | We love football |
Saying what you like
Use enikku ___ ishtamaa (I like ___). For activities, add -aan to the verb: paadaan (to sing), vaayikkaan (to read).
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| എനിക്ക് വായന ഇഷ്ടമാ | Enikku vaayana ishtamaa | I like reading |
| എനിക്ക് പാടാൻ ഇഷ്ടമാ | Enikku paadaan ishtamaa | I like singing |
| ഒഴിവുസമയത്ത് ഞാൻ സിനിമ കാണും | Ozhivusamayathu njaan cinema kaanum | In my free time I watch films |
| എനിക്ക് ഇഷ്ടല്ല | Enikku ishtalla | I don’t like it |
Put it together: a short chat
Friend: Ozhivusamayathu enthu cheyyum? — What do you do in your free time?
You: Enikku vaayana ishtamaa. Pinne cinema kaanum. Ninte hobby enthaa? — I like reading. And I watch films. What’s your hobby?
Friend: Njaan football kalikkum! — I play football!
More ways to say what you like are in I like you / I like this. For more small talk, see the greetings guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do you ask about hobbies in Malayalam?
“Ninte hobby enthaa?” (what’s your hobby?) or “ozhivusamayathu enthu cheyyum?” (what do you do in your free time?).
How do you say I like reading in Malayalam?
“Enikku vaayana ishtamaa.” For singing: “enikku paadaan ishtamaa.”
How do you say I play cricket in Malayalam?
“Njaan cricket kalikkum.” Kalikkuka means to play.
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