Your in-laws do not expect you to speak Malayalam. That is exactly why forty sentences, said imperfectly, change everything. Here they are in the order the day actually happens, each with the Malayalam script, an easy romanisation and the meaning.
Arriving
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| സുഖമാണോ? | sukhamaano? | Are you well? The everyday Malayalam "hello" |
| സുഖമാണ് | sukhamaanu | I'm well |
| ഞങ്ങൾ എത്തി | njangal etthi | We've arrived |
| അമ്മേ / അച്ഛാ | amme / achaa | Mother / Father (calling them). Use the same words your partner uses; ask once. |
At the table
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ചോറ് കഴിച്ചോ? | choru kazhicho? | Have you eaten? (you will be asked this a lot) |
| കഴിച്ചു | kazhichu | I have eaten |
| നല്ല രുചി | nalla ruchi | Delicious |
| ഒന്നൂടെ | onnoode | One more, please |
| മതി, മതി | mathi, mathi | Enough, enough. Say it twice, smiling, or the serving continues |
| വേണ്ട, നന്ദി | venda, nanni | No, thank you |
| ഇത് എന്താ? | ithu enthaa? | What is this? |
| എരിവ് കുറവാണോ? | erivu kuravaano? | Is it less spicy? (ask before the chutney) |
Being polite
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ശരി | shari | OK, fine, alright: the most used word in the house |
| സാരമില്ല | saaramilla | No problem, it's fine |
| നന്ദി | nanni | Thank you |
| ക്ഷമിക്കണം | kshamikkanam | Sorry, excuse me |
| ഞാൻ മലയാളം പഠിക്കുകയാണ് | njaan malayaalam padikkukayaanu | I'm learning Malayalam. Say this once and the whole family becomes your teacher |
| പതുക്കെ പറയാമോ? | pathukke parayaamo? | Could you say it slowly? |
Around the house
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| എവിടെ? | evide? | Where? |
| ഇതാ | ithaa | Here it is |
| കുറച്ച് വെള്ളം തരാമോ? | kurachu vellam tharaamo? | Could I have some water? |
| ഞാൻ വരാം | njaan varaam | I'll come |
| എനിക്ക് വിശക്കുന്നു | enikku vishakkunnu | I'm hungry |
| എനിക്ക് ഇഷ്ടമായി | enikku ishtamaayi | I liked it |
| ഞാൻ സഹായിക്കാം | njaan sahaayikkaam | I'll help |
| പോയിട്ട് വരാം | poyittu varaam | "I'll go and come back": the Malayalam goodbye |
With children and elders
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| വാ | vaa | Come (to a child) |
| ഉറങ്ങിക്കോ | urangikko | Go to sleep (to a child) |
| മിടുക്കൻ / മിടുക്കി | midukkan / midukki | Clever boy / clever girl |
| എന്താ വേണ്ടേ? | enthaa vende? | What do you want? |
| ഇരിക്കൂ | irikkoo | Please sit (polite, to an elder) |
| സമയമായി | samayamaayi | It's time |
On the phone
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| കേൾക്കുന്നുണ്ടോ? | kelkkunnundo? | Can you hear me? |
| ഞങ്ങൾ വരുന്നുണ്ട് | njangal varunnundu | We are coming (to visit) |
| പിന്നെ വിളിക്കാം | pinne vilikkaam | I'll call later |
| പിന്നെ കാണാം | pinne kaanaam | See you later |
Festivals
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഓണാശംസകൾ | onaashamsakal | Happy Onam |
| വിഷു ആശംസകൾ | vishu aashamsakal | Happy Vishu |
| ക്രിസ്മസ് ആശംസകൾ | christmas aashamsakal | Merry Christmas |
| ഈദ് മുബാറക് | eid mubaarak | Eid Mubarak (used as it is) |
The one thing to get right: respect
Malayalam shows respect partly in the verb ending. The same verb "sit" has three everyday forms:
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഇരിക്ക് | irikku | Sit: plain, for children and close friends |
| ഇരിക്കൂ | irikkoo | Please sit: polite, safe with anyone |
| ഇരുന്നോളൂ | irunnolu | Do sit: warm and respectful, for elders and guests |
Two more habits make you sound respectful at once. Avoid nee (you, casual) with elders; use their kinship word instead, as in amma kazhicho? (has Amma eaten?) rather than "have you eaten?". And when unsure, add the -oo polite ending: varoo, irikkoo, parayoo.
Start today
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Frequently asked questions
Should I call my mother-in-law Amma?
Ask your partner what they call her and use the same word. In most families Amma is right and welcome.
Is "nanni" too formal inside a family?
It is more formal than English "thanks", so families use it less with each other. Your in-laws will still be delighted to hear it from you.
Which phrases should I learn first before a visit?
Sukhamaano, choru kazhicho and kazhichu, nalla ruchi, mathi mathi, and poyittu varaam. Those five cover arriving, eating and leaving.
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