In Kerala the weather is a conversation in itself: the heat, the sudden downpours and, above all, the monsoon. This guide covers the weather words you need, how to talk about rain, sun and heat, the names of Kerala’s two monsoons, and the small-talk lines that start a friendly chat. Each phrase comes with the Malayalam script, an easy romanised spelling and the English meaning.
Weather words
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| കാലാവസ്ഥ | Kaalaavastha | Weather / climate |
| മഴ | Mazha | Rain |
| വെയിൽ | Veyil | Sunshine |
| ചൂട് | Choodu | Heat |
| തണുപ്പ് | Thanuppu | Cold |
| കാറ്റ് | Kaattu | Wind |
| മേഘം | Megham | Cloud |
| ഇടി / മിന്നൽ | Idi / Minnal | Thunder / Lightning |
| കൊടുങ്കാറ്റ് | Kodunkaattu | Storm |
| കുട | Kuda | Umbrella |
Rain: it’s raining, take an umbrella
Mazha (rain) comes up constantly in Kerala, and it’s great practice for the zha sound: curl the tongue back, somewhere between an r and an l.
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| മഴ പെയ്യുന്നു | Mazha peyyunnu | It’s raining |
| നല്ല മഴയുണ്ട് | Nalla mazhayundu | It’s pouring |
| മഴ പെയ്യുമോ ഇന്ന്? | Mazha peyyumo innu? | Will it rain today? |
| മഴ തോർന്നു | Mazha thornnu | The rain has stopped |
| കുട എടുക്കണം | Kuda edukkanam | Take an umbrella |
| ഞാൻ നനഞ്ഞു | Njaan nananju | I got wet / soaked |
| നല്ല മഴയുണ്ട്, കുട എടുക്കാൻ മറക്കണ്ട | Nalla mazhayundu, kuda edukkaan marakkanda | It’s pouring, don’t forget the umbrella |
Sun and heat
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| നല്ല വെയിലുണ്ട് | Nalla veyilundu | It’s very sunny |
| നല്ല ചൂടാ | Nalla choodaa | It’s really hot |
| ഇന്ന് തണുപ്പുണ്ട് | Innu thanuppundu | It’s cold today |
| നല്ല കാറ്റുണ്ട് | Nalla kaattundu | It’s very windy |
| ഇടിയും മിന്നലും ഉണ്ട് | Idiyum minnalum undu | There’s thunder and lightning |
For hot and cold food and water, and other opposites, see Malayalam opposites.
Kerala’s two monsoons
Kerala gets two rainy seasons. Kaalavarsham is the south-west monsoon that arrives around June; its heavy start is known as Edavappathi, after the Malayalam month of Edavam. Thulavarsham is the north-east monsoon of October and November, known for evening thunderstorms. If you visit in these months, kuda is the most useful word you’ll learn.
Weather small talk
Malayalis often start a chat with the weather, and the tag alle? (isn’t it?) invites the other person to agree.
Neighbour: Innu nalla choodaa, alle? — It’s really hot today, isn’t it?
You: Athe, bhayankara choodu! Mazha peyyumo? — Yes, terribly hot! Will it rain?
Neighbour: Vaikunneram peyyum. Kuda edutho! — It’ll rain in the evening. Take an umbrella!
Planning a trip? See the Malayalam travel phrases.
Frequently asked questions
What is rain called in Malayalam?
Rain is “mazha” (മഴ). “It’s raining” is “mazha peyyunnu”.
How do you say it’s hot in Malayalam?
“Nalla choodaa” (it’s really hot). Cold is “thanuppu”.
What is weather called in Malayalam?
Weather or climate is “kaalaavastha” (കാലാവസ്ഥ).
What are Kerala’s monsoons called?
Kaalavarsham (the south-west monsoon from June) and Thulavarsham (the north-east monsoon in October and November).
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