One real, colloquial Malayalam word every single day — with script, meaning and a sentence you can actually use. Bookmark this page (or install the site as an app) and make it your daily 30-second habit.
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The word changes automatically every day at midnight — 40 colloquial words on rotation, all everyday spoken Malayalam (no textbook stiffness). Pair it with the Phrase of the Day podcast and the free 30-day course.
The full word list
Want to binge instead of waiting? Here are all 40 words:
| Word | Meaning | Real example |
|---|---|---|
| Adipoli അടിപൊളി | Awesome / fantastic | Padam adipoli aayirunnu! — The movie was awesome! |
| Kidu കിടു | Super / brilliant (slang) | Aa biriyani kidu! — That biryani is brilliant! |
| Sheri ശരി | Okay / alright | Sheri, naale kaanaam. — Okay, see you tomorrow. |
| Mathi മതി | Enough | Mathi mathi! Vayar niranju. — Enough! I'm full. |
| Kollaam കൊള്ളാം | Nice / not bad | Ee veedu kollaam. — This house is nice. |
| Venam വേണം | Want / need | Enikku chaaya venam. — I want tea. |
| Venda വേണ്ട | Don't want | Enikku venda, nanni. — I don't want it, thanks. |
| Evide എവിടെ | Where | Bus stand evide? — Where is the bus stand? |
| Entha എന്താ | What | Entha vishesham? — What's new? |
| Engane എങ്ങനെ | How | Engane undu? — How is it? |
| Povaam പോവാം | Let's go | Sheri, povaam! — Okay, let's go! |
| Vaa വാ | Come | Vaa, chaaya kudikkaam. — Come, let's have tea. |
| Irikku ഇരിക്കൂ | Sit / have a seat | Irikku, ippo varaam. — Sit, I'll be right back. |
| Nokku നോക്കൂ | Look | Nokku, mazha varunnu! — Look, rain is coming! |
| Ariyaam അറിയാം | I know | Enikku ariyaam. — I know. |
| Ariyilla അറിയില്ല | I don't know | Enikku Malayalam kurachu ariyaam, kurachu ariyilla. — I know a little Malayalam, a little I don't. |
| Pattum പറ്റും | Can / possible | Naale pattum. — Tomorrow is possible. |
| Pattilla പറ്റില്ല | Can't / not possible | Innu pattilla, sorry. — Can't today, sorry. |
| Vishakkunnu വിശക്കുന്നു | Hungry | Enikku nalla vishakkunnu! — I'm really hungry! |
| Daahikkunnu ദാഹിക്കുന്നു | Thirsty | Daahikkunnu, vellam tharumo? — I'm thirsty, will you give me water? |
| Vellam വെള്ളം | Water | Oru glass vellam, please. — A glass of water, please. |
| Chaaya ചായ | Tea | Oru chaaya kitto? — Can I get a tea? |
| Choru ചോറ് | Rice / a meal | Choru kazhicho? — Did you eat (rice)? |
| Veedu വീട് | House / home | Njaan veettil aanu. — I'm at home. |
| Mazha മഴ | Rain | Nalla mazha! — What a rain! |
| Chetta ചേട്ടാ | Big brother / hey (to a man) | Chetta, ithu ethra? — Brother, how much is this? |
| Chechi ചേച്ചി | Big sister / hey (to a woman) | Chechi, oru help venam. — Sister, I need a help. |
| Sughamano സുഖമാണോ | How are you? | Sughamano? — Sugham! — How are you? — I'm fine! |
| Kuzhappamilla കുഴപ്പമില്ല | No problem / it's fine | Sorry! — Kuzhappamilla! — Sorry! — No problem! |
| Nanni നന്ദി | Thank you | Othiri nanni! — Thanks a lot! |
| Pinne പിന്നെ | Then / and also / of course! | Pinne! — Of course! |
| Ketto കേട്ടോ | Okay? / got it? (friendly) | Naale varane, ketto? — Come tomorrow, okay? |
| Aiyyo അയ്യോ | Oh no! / oops! | Aiyyo, marannu poyi! — Oh no, I forgot! |
| Nallathu നല്ലത് | Good | Athu nallathu aanu. — That is good. |
| Chooda ചൂടാ | It's hot | Innu nalla chooda! — It's really hot today! |
| Thanuppu തണുപ്പ് | Cold (weather) | Ennthoru thanuppu! — What a cold! |
| Urangatte ഉറങ്ങട്ടെ | Let me sleep / good night | Njaan urangatte. — Let me sleep (good night). |
| Samayam സമയം | Time | Samayam ethra aayi? — What time is it? |
| Kurachu കുറച്ച് | A little | Kurachu kurachu ariyaam. — I know a little. |
| Poyi varaam പോയി വരാം | Bye (lit. I'll go and come) | Sheri, njaan poyi varaam! — Okay, bye! |
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