50+ Easy Common Malayalam Vocabs You Should Master

Looking to learn some of the common Malayalam vocabs? ഹലോ (halēā), ദയവായി (dayavāyi), ക്ഷമിക്കണം (kṣamikkaṇaṁ), and നന്ദി (nandi), which means hello, please, sorry, and thank you respectively are some of the essential Malayalam words that every beginner should know. While these may seem simple, the locals find it really interesting when travelers try their best to use these in their interactions. So, if you want to get on their good side, learning Malayalam vocabulary can undoubtedly take you far. Ready to learn more? 

Covering from most commonly used words to words and phrases that locals use daily, this blog will give you an insight into the Malayalam language with proper pronunciation examples and translations. Keep reading below! So, if you are eager to learn, buckle up and get ready to ride into the world of the Malayalam language.

Is Learning The Malayalam Language Difficult?

When it comes to learning a new language, no doubt, the journey will never be a smooth ride. Learning Dravidian languages can quickly become tedious, especially for native English speakers with minimal touch with the Sanskritic world.

Malayalam is the official state language of the South Indian State of Kerala. It is considered one of the most complex languages to learn among the other Dravidian languages. It is a language with a different and unique alphabet set, additional letters, and complicated grammar that is quite distinct from what we see in other languages. The language is also known for its different dialects, from North Kerala and Malabar to all social dialects that take different shapes concerning different religions and caste.

However, learning Malayalam is not impossible. With proper guidance, translations, and grammatical explanations, one can successfully master the language just like any other language. The beauty of its unique grammar and literature makes the language even more appealing and attractive for people eager to connect with its native speakers truly. Thus, before you land in India’s holy land, you must look inside its language and culture.

And to make it easier for you, this blog has prepared all the necessary items you need to learn Malayalam with proper meaning and translation. Although learning some common Malayalam words is just a baby step, it is worth the time and practice. So, let’s get right into learning Malayalam.

Common Malayalam Vocabs

First, let us know some of the essential Malayalam words with proper English translations. And as we all know, when it comes to learning the Malayalam language or any new language, learning the basic greetings can help you get started. In the first part of this section, we will introduce some greetings words followed by common words under different categories.

Greetings In Malayalam

1. ഹലോ (Halēā)

The first word you need to greet someone new is the word halēā. The word halēā means Hello in English, which you can use in formal and informal situations. It is a simple greeting word like Hey and Hi. Although, in this generation, you would see many people saying even Hi and Hello, it is pretty standard for them to use western words.

2. സുപ്രഭാതം (Suprabhātaṁ)

Next up is the word സുപ്രഭാതം (suprabhātaṁ), which means Good Morning. Locals commonly use it to wish and greet each other in the morning, and especially when you encounter an older person, it is quite polite to wish them using suprabhātaṁ.

3. ശുഭ രാത്രി (Subha rātri)

Just like suprabhātaṁ, ശുഭ രാത്രി (śubha rātri) is also used when it comes to greeting someone at night or wishing them a good sleep. And it is also applicable for informal and formal settings, although people mostly use such phrases in formal settings. 

4. എന്തൊക്കെയുണ്ട് (Enteākkeyuṇṭ)

Apart from the good morning and good night words, you also need to know how to start a conversation. And to do so, the best possible choice is to ask how the other person is doing. So, use the words enteākkeyuṇṭ, which means “How are you” in English. 

5. താങ്കളെ കണ്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം (Tāṅkaḷe kaṇṭatil santēāṣaṁ)

Whenever you meet someone, be it your friends or strangers, it is always kind and polite to end the conversation with a generous phrase like “It’s nice to meet you.” And in the Malayalam language, you say it as താങ്കളെ കണ്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം (tāṅkaḷe kaṇṭatil santēāṣaṁ). Our tip here is that you can consider using this expression to leave a solid impression.

6. വീണ്ടും കാണാം (Vīṇṭuṁ kāṇāṁ)

After you have ended a meeting, another phrase that you can use to impress the partner is vīṇṭuṁ kāṇāṁ. It means “See you again” and shows you are eager to meet the person again.

7. ഒരു നല്ല ദിനം ആശംസിക്കുന്നു (oru nalla dinaṁ āśansikkunnu)

What better way to send someone off than saying ഒരു നല്ല ദിനം ആശംസിക്കുന്നു (oru nalla dinaṁ āśansikkunnu)? The sentence means “Have a good day,” and it is something you must memorize and use in front of the Malayalam speakers once you are in Kerala.

Well, these are some of the greeting vocab that you should learn. Now, we will move on to different words that are regularly used by the locals and that you will constantly need.

Common Malayalam Household Vocabs

Food-Related Vocabs

Travel Vocabs

Relationship Vocabs

Other Essential Malayalam Vocabs

While the words mentioned above are some of the most commonly used terms you must learn before your trip, there are more that you should be aware of. To give yourself an insight into those different words, look at the table below and try to memorize the words. It will come in quite handy and will help you in many situations.

Basic Phrases In Malayalam

Travel With Confidence With Ling

Now that you know some of the commonly used words like a sister, mother, laptop, book, cooking, etc., it is time to explore the beauty of the language more by engaging with topics such as basic phrases, funny words, family vocab, grammar, and even introductory lessons. But if you genuinely want to gain knowledge and confidence about this language, there’s nothing more we can recommend than the Ling App.

Ling App is a language learning app that will help you learn Malayalam without any hassle of a costly course or book. The app provides access to multiple contents reviewed and checked by experts worldwide with genuine details that will not disappoint you. The best part is that Ling provides not only words but also videos and audio recordings that will make learning fun. In addition, you can access not just the Malayalam language lesson but over 60+ foreign languages. So, what are you waiting for? Check it out today!