Apart from the common handshakes and hugs, there are various ways to say hello in the Malayalam language. In today’s lesson, let’s see what words and phrases are used in greetings in Malayalam.
In addition to the standard handshake and hugs, there are many ways to say hello in Malayalam. In today’s lesson, let us look at the words and phrases used in greetings in Malayalam.
Malayalam belongs to the Dravidian language family and is the official language of Kerala. This language is commonly spoken in Kerala, Lakshadweep, and neighboring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
There are five major regional dialects of this language, and 90% of Kerala people speak this language. English and Tamil are other languages spoken here. Due to foreign influence, the language of Kerala has Latin, Sanskrit, Urdu, and other words.
Kerala attaches great importance to education, and almost everyone can communicate in English. So if you know any of these languages, talking with locals will not be a problem.
Say These 11 Greetings In Malayalam Like A Malayali
The word “greeting” is ആശംസകൾ, pronounced as āśansakaḷ
Now, let’s get to know other basic greetings in Malayalam you can use to talk to the locals in Kerala and greet them as if you were a native speaker.
Quick List of Malayalam greetings:
| English | Malayalam | Transcription |
| Hello | ഹലോ | halēā |
| Hi or Hey! | ഹായ് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഹേ! | hāy alleṅkil hē! |
| Good day | ശുഭദിനം | śubhadinaṁ |
| How are you? | സുഖമാണോ? | sukhamāṇēā? |
| How have you been? | നിങ്ങൾക്ക് എങ്ങനെയുണ്ട്? | niṅṅaḷkk eṅṅaneyuṇṭ? |
| What’s up/How’s it going? | എന്ത് പറ്റി/എങ്ങനെ പോകുന്നു? | ent paṟṟi/eṅṅane pēākunnu? |
| Long time no see! | ദീർഘനാളായി കണ്ടിട്ട്! | dīrghanāḷāyi kaṇṭiṭṭ! |
| How’s everything? | എങ്ങനെയുണ്ട് എല്ലാം? | eṅṅaneyuṇṭ ellāṁ? |
| How’s your day? | നിങ്ങളുടെ ദിവസം എങ്ങനെയുണ്ട്? | niṅṅaḷuṭe divasaṁ eṅṅaneyuṇṭ? |
| It’s good to see you again | നിന്നേ വീണ്ടും കണ്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം | ninnē vīṇṭuṁ kaṇṭatil santēāṣaṁ |
| It’s nice to meet you | നിങ്ങളെ കണ്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം | niṅṅaḷe kaṇṭatil santēāṣaṁ |
Here you will find the meaning and the transcription of each word to know how to pronounce them.
1. Hello – ഹലോ
Like every culture, hello is a common form of greetings in Malayalam. It is the ഹലോ! If you speak English, then you must remember this word. ഹലോ (pronounced as halēā) is suitable for almost all occasions. It is a common way of greeting in Malayalam.
2. Hi or Hey! – ഹായ് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഹേ!
It is pronounced “hāy alleṅkil hē!” which is quite casual. You can use it with people close to you (friends, family, and colleagues).
Like hi, hey is another way to greet friends. Most people say hey when they see a friend. This sentence will help you appear approachable and more friendly in the local community.
3. Good day – ശുഭദിനം
It is one of the great ways to greet anyone during the daytime. So feel free to greet people with ‘Good day’ by saying ശുഭദിനം (śubhadinaṁ) while roaming around Kerala.
4. How are you? (informal) – സുഖമാണോ?
Like the previous example, this expression has the same meaning but with a touch of randomness. Please feel free to use this specific phrase with your friends and family to speak Malayalam. It is pronounced as sukhamāṇēā?
5. How have you been? – നിങ്ങൾക്ക് എങ്ങനെയുണ്ട്?
If you want to greet somebody, you have not seen for a while, this Malayalam phrase is one of the best phrases to use! Pronunciation is ‘niṅṅaḷkk eṅṅaneyuṇṭ?’
6 What’s up/How’s it going? – എന്ത് പറ്റി/എങ്ങനെ പോകുന്നു?
In Malayalam, this is another way for anyone to ask how you are. Pronounce it as ‘ent paṟṟi/eṅṅane pēākunnu?’
7. Long time no see! – ദീർഘനാളായി കണ്ടിട്ട്!
ദീർഘനാളായി കണ്ടിട്ട്! is the Malayalam phrase to tell in Malayalam if you want to know the fact that it’s been a really long time since you saw your dialogist. You can express it as ‘dīrghanāḷāyi kaṇṭiṭṭ!’
8. How’s everything? – എങ്ങനെയുണ്ട് എല്ലാം?
If you are looking for something else as an alternative to asking, how are you? in Malayalam, this phrase would be the one. Say it like this: ‘eṅṅaneyuṇṭ ellāṁ?’
9. How’s your day? – നിങ്ങളുടെ ദിവസം എങ്ങനെയുണ്ട്?
You can ask this question to anyone or your friend upon meeting and greeting. Who knows, the person may need somebody to share their daily experience with. Pronounce it ‘niṅṅaḷuṭe divasaṁ eṅṅaneyuṇṭ?’
10. It’s good to see you again – നിന്നേ വീണ്ടും കണ്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം
To finally meet someone you have not met for a long time can be fulfilling and gratifying at the same time. So, the right way to express your gratitude is by saying this phrase നിന്നേ വീണ്ടും കണ്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം (ninnē vīṇṭuṁ kaṇṭatil santēāṣaṁ).
11. It’s nice to meet you – നിങ്ങളെ കണ്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം
Make new friends by saying this phrase. It is suitably used once you have met a new person. The pronunciation of this phrase is ‘niṅṅaḷe kaṇṭatil santēāṣaṁ.’
What Are The Formal Greetings In Malayalam
| English Translation | Pronunciation | Malayalam Language |
| Good morning | suprabhātaṁ | സുപ്രഭാതം |
| Good afternoon | guḍ āphṟṟarnūṇ | ഗുഡ് ആഫ്റ്റർനൂൺ |
| Good evening | guḍ īvaniṅg | ഗുഡ് ഈവനിംഗ് |
| Good night | śubha rātri | ശുഭ രാത്രി |
Special Occasion Greetings In Malayalam
You have learned and know the basic greetings in Malayalam like സുപ്രഭാതം (suprabhātaṁ). Now, let us move to other greetings in Malayalam that are commonly used on different occasions. Check out the following:
| English Translation | Pronunciation | Malayalam Language |
| Congratulations! | abhinandanaṅṅaḷ! | അഭിനന്ദനങ്ങൾ! |
| Happy Birthday | janmadināśansakaḷ | ജന്മദിനാശംസകൾ |
| Merry Christmas | santēāṣakaramāya krismas | സന്തോഷകരമായ ക്രിസ്മസ് |
| Happy New Year | putuvatsarāśansakaḷ | പുതുവത്സരാശംസകൾ |
| All the best! | ellā āśansakaḷuṁ! | എല്ലാ ആശംസകളും! |
| Best wishes! | āśansakaḷ! | ആശംസകൾ! |
Master Yourself In The Malayalam Language With Ling App
These basic greetings in Malayalam are essential in Malaya culture. People from Kerala are generally respectful and polite. They follow a somewhat conservative protocol in communication and behavior. If you liked to learn this lesson for free through the Ling app, you may also want to learn essential words and phrases in Malayalam.
Learning a new language from The Ling App feels like playing a game. It is practical and straightforward. With the support of language research, Ling can help you achieve fluency in record time.
One Response
It is fascinating to learn primary Malayalam
I need Malayalam alphabets (A,B,Cs) so that I can write and read at the same time
Many thanks
Could you please also assist in translating “SHIVA SHAMBHO SHAMBHO” into Malayalam