Many people in Kerala speak some English, but a few words of Malayalam change everything: warmer welcomes, fairer prices and easier journeys. This guide covers what travellers actually need: getting by when you don’t understand, asking the way, left and right, taking an auto-rickshaw, asking for help and sending a parcel home. Everything is 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.
Getting by: I don’t understand, please speak slowly
Ariyaamo? means “do you know?”, and it’s how you ask whether someone speaks a language. Telling people you’re learning always earns patience and a smile.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് അറിയാമോ? | English ariyaamo? | Do you speak English? |
| എനിക്ക് മലയാളം നന്നായി അറിയില്ല | Enikku Malayalam nannaayi ariyilla | I don’t speak Malayalam well |
| ഞാൻ മലയാളം പഠിച്ചോണ്ടിരിക്കുവാ | Njaan Malayalam padichondirikkuvaa | I’m learning Malayalam |
| എനിക്ക് മനസ്സിലായില്ല | Enikku manassilaayilla | I didn’t understand |
| ഇത്തിരി പതുക്കെ പറയാമോ? | Ithiri pathukke parayaamo? | Can you speak a little slowly? |
| ഒന്നൂടെ പറയാമോ? | Onnoode parayaamo? | Can you say that again? |
| ഇതിന്റെ അർത്ഥം എന്താ? | Ithinte artham enthaa? | What does this mean? |
Asking the way: where is…?
The pattern is simply [place] + evideyaa? (where is it?). English place words like bus stand, station, toilet and post office are used as they are.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ബസ് സ്റ്റാൻഡ് എവിടെയാ? | Bus stand evideyaa? | Where’s the bus stand? |
| ടോയ്‌ലറ്റ് എവിടെയാ? | Toilet evideyaa? | Where’s the toilet? |
| ഇവിടെ അടുത്ത് ബാത്റൂം ഉണ്ടോ? | Ivide aduthu bathroom undo? | Is there a bathroom nearby? |
| പോസ്റ്റ് ഓഫീസ് എവിടെയാ? | Post office evideyaa? | Where’s the post office? |
| എത്ര ദൂരമുണ്ട്? | Ethra dooramundu? | How far is it? |
| നടന്ന് പോകാമോ? | Nadannu pokaamo? | Can I walk there? |
Directions: left, right, straight, here and there
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഇടത് / വലത് | Idathu / Valathu | Left / Right |
| ഇടത്തോട്ട് തിരിയൂ | Idathottu thiriyoo | Turn left |
| വലത്തോട്ട് തിരിയൂ | Valathottu thiriyoo | Turn right |
| നേരെ പോകൂ | Nere pokoo | Go straight |
| ഇവിടെ / അവിടെ | Ivide / Avide | Here / There |
| ഇങ്ങോട്ട് / അങ്ങോട്ട് | Ingottu / Angottu | This way / That way |
| മുകളിൽ / താഴെ | Mukalil / Thaazhe | Upstairs, above / Downstairs, below |
| നേരെ പോയിട്ട് ഇടത്തോട്ട് | Nere poyittu idathottu | Go straight, then left |
Taking an auto-rickshaw or taxi
Agree the fare before you get in, or ask for the meter. Pokumo? (will you go?) is how you ask a driver whether he’ll take you somewhere.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| എനിക്ക് സ്റ്റേഷനിൽ പോകണം | Enikku station-il pokanam | I want to go to the station |
| എയർപോർട്ട് പോകുമോ? | Airport pokumo? | Will you go to the airport? |
| എത്ര ആകും? | Ethra aakum? | How much will it be? |
| മീറ്റർ ഇടാമോ? | Meter idaamo? | Can you put the meter on? |
| പതുക്കെ പോകൂ | Pathukke pokoo | Please go slowly |
| ഇവിടെ നിർത്തൂ | Ivide nirthoo | Stop here |
Asking for help
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഒന്ന് സഹായിക്കാമോ? | Onnu sahaayikkaamo? | Could you help me? |
| എനിക്ക് വഴി തെറ്റി | Enikku vazhi thetti | I’m lost |
| ഒരു ടാക്സി വിളിക്കാമോ? | Oru taxi vilikkaamo? | Can you call a taxi? |
| ആരെങ്കിലും സഹായിക്കണേ! | Aarenkilum sahaayikkane! | Somebody help, please! |
Feeling unwell on the road? See the Malayalam health phrases for the doctor and the pharmacy.
At the post office
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| എനിക്ക് ഒരു പാർസൽ അയക്കണം | Enikku oru parcel ayakkanam | I want to send a parcel |
| ഒരു കത്ത് അയക്കണം | Oru kathu ayakkanam | I want to send a letter |
| സ്റ്റാമ്പ് എവിടെ കിട്ടും? | Stamp evide kittum? | Where can I get stamps? |
| എത്ര ചാർജ് ആകും? | Ethra charge aakum? | How much will it cost? |
| എത്ര ദിവസം എടുക്കും? | Ethra divasam edukkum? | How many days will it take? |
Greetings, food and shopping
For the rest of your trip, see the greetings & introductions guide (hello, thank you, goodbye), food & drink phrases (ordering tea, “not spicy”, water) and shopping phrases (prices, bargaining, the bill). Numbers for prices and distances are in Malayalam numbers 1 to 100.
Put it together: an auto ride
You: Chetta, beach pokumo? — Brother, will you go to the beach?
Driver: Pokaam. Kayaru. — I’ll go. Get in.
You: Ethra aakum? Meter idaamo? — How much will it be? Can you put the meter on?
Driver: Sheri, meter idaam. — Okay, I’ll put the meter on.
You: Nere pokoo… ivide valathottu. Ivide nirthoo. Ethrayaayi? — Go straight… right here. Stop here. How much is it?
Driver: Nooru roopa. — A hundred rupees.
You: Ithaa. Nandi chetta! — Here you go. Thanks, brother!
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “I don’t understand” in Malayalam?
Say “enikku manassilaayilla” (എനിക്ക് മനസ്സിലായില്ല), then “ithiri pathukke parayaamo?” (can you speak a little slowly?).
How do you ask “where is…?” in Malayalam?
Say the place, then “evideyaa?”: “toilet evideyaa?”, “bus stand evideyaa?”
What are left and right in Malayalam?
Left is “idathu” and right is “valathu”. “Turn left” is “idathottu thiriyoo”; “go straight” is “nere pokoo”.
How do you tell an auto driver where to go in Malayalam?
Say “[place] pokumo?” (will you go to [place]?) or “enikku [place]-il pokanam”. “Stop here” is “ivide nirthoo”.
How do you ask for help in Malayalam?
Say “onnu sahaayikkaamo?” (could you help me?). “I’m lost” is “enikku vazhi thetti”.
Ready to actually speak Malayalam?
Learn one-to-one with Reshmi R Nair, Malayalam Linguist — speak from your first lesson. Or grab the free phrasebook to start today.
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