Describing words are easiest to learn in pairs: big and small, hot and cold, right and wrong, good and bad. This guide gives you the most useful Malayalam opposites, how they change before a noun, and the everyday sentences you’ll use them in. Each word comes with the Malayalam script, an easy romanised spelling and the English meaning.
Big and small
On their own, “big” and “small” are valuthu and cheruthu. Before a noun they become valiya and cheriya: valiya veedu (a big house), cheriya kutty (a little child).
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| വലുത് | Valuthu | Big (one / a big one) |
| ചെറുത് | Cheruthu | Small (one / a small one) |
| വലിയ | Valiya | Big (before a noun) |
| ചെറിയ | Cheriya | Small (before a noun) |
| ഇതിന്റെ വലിയ സൈസ് ഉണ്ടോ? | Ithinte valiya size undo? | Do you have this in a bigger size? |
| ഒരു ചെറിയ കപ്പ് മതി | Oru cheriya cup mathi | A small cup is enough |
Hot and cold
Choodu (heat) and thanuppu (cold) work for weather, food and water alike. Kerala is hot most of the year, so nalla choodaa! is a very common complaint.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ചൂട് | Choodu | Heat / hot |
| തണുപ്പ് | Thanuppu | Cold / coldness |
| നല്ല ചൂടാ | Nalla choodaa | It’s really hot |
| നല്ല തണുപ്പുണ്ട് | Nalla thanuppundu | It’s quite cold |
| ചൂടുവെള്ളം / തണുത്ത വെള്ളം | Chooduvellam / Thanutha vellam | Hot water / Cold water |
| വെള്ളം ചൂടാണോ? | Vellam choodaano? | Is the water hot? |
More weather words are in weather words in Malayalam.
Correct and wrong
Sheri means correct, okay and alright all in one. Thettu means wrong, or a mistake.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ശരി | Sheri | Correct / right / okay |
| തെറ്റ് | Thettu | Wrong / a mistake |
| ഇത് ശരിയാണോ? | Ithu shariyaano? | Is this right? |
| അതെ, ശരിയാ | Athe, shariyaa | Yes, it’s right |
| അത് തെറ്റാ | Athu thettaa | That’s wrong |
| എന്റെ തെറ്റാ, ക്ഷമിക്കണം | Ente thettaa, kshamikkanam | My mistake, sorry |
Good and bad
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| നല്ല / നല്ലത് | Nalla / Nallathu | Good (before a noun / on its own) |
| ചീത്ത | Cheetha | Bad |
| നല്ല കുട്ടി | Nalla kutty | A good child |
| ഇത് നല്ലതാ | Ithu nallathaa | This is good |
More everyday opposites
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| പുതിയ / പഴയ | Puthiya / Pazhaya | New / Old (things) |
| കൂടുതൽ / കുറവ് | Kooduthal / Kuravu | More / Less |
| അടുത്ത് / ദൂരെ | Aduthu / Doore | Near / Far |
| വേഗം / പതുക്കെ | Vegam / Pathukke | Fast / Slow |
| എളുപ്പം / ബുദ്ധിമുട്ട് | Eluppam / Buddhimuttu | Easy / Difficult |
| മുകളിൽ / താഴെ | Mukalil / Thaazhe | Up / Down |
| അകത്ത് / പുറത്ത് | Akathu / Purathu | Inside / Outside |
| നേരത്തെ / വൈകി | Nerathe / Vaiki | Early / Late |
How describing words change before a noun
Many describing words have two forms. The short form goes before a noun (valiya, cheriya, nalla, puthiya); the form ending in -thu stands alone or ends a sentence (valuthu, cheruthu, nallathu, puthiyathu). So you say puthiya phone (a new phone) but ithu puthiyathaa (this one is new).
Want to use these in real sentences? See shopping phrases for sizes and prices, and everyday replies for sheri and other short answers.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say big and small in Malayalam?
Valuthu (big) and cheruthu (small). Before a noun: valiya and cheriya, as in valiya veedu (big house).
How do you say hot and cold in Malayalam?
Choodu (heat, hot) and thanuppu (cold). “It’s really hot” is “nalla choodaa”.
How do you say correct and wrong in Malayalam?
Sheri (correct, okay) and thettu (wrong, mistake). “Is this right?” is “ithu shariyaano?”
How do you say good and bad in Malayalam?
Nalla / nallathu (good) and cheetha (bad).
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