Wondering how to ask “How are you” in Malayalam? No matter where we go, wishing someone a good day or showing concern for one’s well-being will definitely earn you a brownie point among the locals. Thus, to make your trip to Kerala, the most culturally maintained Indian state, we have compiled a few basic expressions in Malayalam and other related words to help you have a smooth conversation with the locals. Learning these basic words and phrases in the Malayalam language can make your trip a possible success. So, if you think you are interested, keep reading and learn the Malayalam language below.
The South-Indian Language Of India
Before we make haste to discover the essential words in Malayalam, we need to understand the complexity of the language itself.
Malayalam is the official language of the state of Kerala, which is located in the southern part of the diverse country of India. Never confuse Malayalam with Malay, which stands as a completely different language.
Malayalam language is a part of the southern branch of the Dravidian language group and has a close tie with Tamil. Although Tamil and Malayalam are considered to have similar ancestral roots, Malayalam is taken as a completely independent language in modern times.
Talking about the comprehensiveness of the language, the language is shared by almost 38 million Malayali people in India. A certain population from Qatar, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates also speak Malayalam. Interesting, right? It is highly influenced by the Sanskrit script and has several regional and social dialects, making it one of the hardest to learn languages.
What makes the language very unique and tough is the pronunciations. It has a particular word pronunciation that is utterly different from that of English words, thus, making Malayalam translation a challenging task for native English speakers.
Nevertheless, it is not impossible to attain a substantial knowledge of the language and its word fluency. Proper apps or even google websites can help provide the required translation of words and phrases. One can regularly practice and get acquainted with the nature of the Malayalam dictionary.
And to provide you with the proper resource, this blog has covered you with “How are you” phrase translation and examples, which becomes the first step to learning new languages.
How Are You In Malayalam
Want to make conversations very easy-going and warm with the locals of Kerala? Then knowing how to say “how are you in Malayalam” is the first prerequisite. You can use such a phrase in formal and informal situations to begin and move ahead with an interaction with a person. Kerala is the literature state of India and is known for its warm and welcoming behavior towards newcomers.
Every Malayali people hold greetings and wish close to their customary manners, and uttering a few known words will make your presence very likable. So, let’s move on and learn Malayalam right away!
1. എങ്ങനെയിരിക്കുന്നു?
English Translation: How are you?
എങ്ങനെയിരിക്കുന്നു? (eṅṅaneyirikkunnu) is the literal translation of the English phrase, “How are you?” It has a Malayalam meaning used when you inquire about someone’s present state of living and greet them with good wishes.
എങ്ങനെയിരിക്കുന്നു? (eṅṅaneyirikkunnu) can be used in formal and informal settings and to anyone, from a stranger to a senior citizen. Just like how “how are you” is the first English phrase we speak when we meet someone, എങ്ങനെയിരിക്കുന്നു? (eṅṅaneyirikkunnu) is the Malayalam version of greeting the same!
2. എന്തുണ്ട് വിശേഷം?
English Word Translation: What’s up?
എങ്ങനെയിരിക്കുന്നു (eṅṅaneyirikkunnu) is a standard way of inquiring, while എന്തുണ്ട് വിശേഷം (entuṇṭ viśēṣaṁ) is more casual or informal.
This phrase in the Malayalam dictionary means to ask what is going on in someone’s life in a very conversational and relaxing tone. Thus, if you are engaging in a conversation in a formal setting with a senior member, you might want to avoid this phrase.
However, എന്തുണ്ട് വിശേഷം (entuṇṭ viśēṣaṁ) is a perfect Malayalam translation when you are talking to an old friend or someone familiar.
3. എല്ലാം എങ്ങനെയുണ്ട്?
English Translation: How is everything?
If you want to sound more like a pro and not basic, എല്ലാം എങ്ങനെയുണ്ട്? (ellāṁ eṅṅaneyuṇṭ) is the correct phrase for you. It is one of the synonyms of “How are you” and is used when you are trying to be more concerned and aware of the other person.
Unlike എന്തുണ്ട് വിശേഷം (entuṇṭ viśēṣaṁ), it is acceptable for both situations and every kind of person. It is just an alternative to എങ്ങനെയിരിക്കുന്നു? (eṅṅaneyirikkunnu) with a more comprehensive touch.
4. എങ്ങിനെ ഇരിക്കുന്നു
English Translation: How are you doing?
To make “how are you” more inclusive and expressive, you can use എങ്ങിനെ ഇരിക്കുന്നു (eṅṅine irikkunnu) which says “how are you doing.” Very similar to എങ്ങനെയിരിക്കുന്നു? (eṅṅaneyirikkunnu), എങ്ങിനെ ഇരിക്കുന്നു (eṅṅine irikkunnu) also tends to ask about someone’s well being in a very similar tone, viable for both situations, formal and casual.
5. ജീവിതം എങ്ങനെ പോകുന്നു
English Translation: How’s life?
Before we move on, there is another way of inquiring about someone’s life, ജീവിതം എങ്ങനെ പോകുന്നു (jīvitaṁ eṅṅane pēākunnu). This sentence explicitly mentions “life.” You can use this when you want to ask someone about their life and how they have been holding up. While “how are you” is a standard way of starting a conversation, jīvitaṁ eṅṅane pēākunnu can make you sound more engaging and down to earth.
Additional Useful Malayalam Phrases
Apart from “how are you,” it is important to know how to respond to it when someone else addresses you with the same question. This section will touch upon the sentences that will help reply to questions like “How are you?” and “What’s up.”
6. എനിക്ക് സുഖമാണ്, നന്ദി
എനിക്ക് സുഖമാണ്, നന്ദി (enikk sukhamāṇ, nandi) is the malayalam way of saying, “I’m fine, Thank you.” It is a fundamental response to a question that inquires about your state of living, and you will commonly hear it when you are in Kerala. എനിക്ക് സുഖമാണ്, നന്ദി (enikk sukhamāṇ, nandi) by definition means that you are doing good and you thank them for their concern.
7. എല്ലാം നല്ലത്!
എല്ലാം നല്ലത്! (ellāṁ all!) is one of the synonyms of “I’m good.” It says “All good” in English and is usable in mainly casual situations. ellāṁ nallat! Sounds free of any formal words and is heard more among friends and known faces. So, if someone you know inquires about you, ellāṁ nallat can be a preferred choice. However, it is not prohibited in formal settings either.
8. എല്ലാം ഗംഭീരം!
എല്ലാം ഗംഭീരം! (ellāṁ gambhīraṁ!) is an alternative to the replies mentioned above. You can use എല്ലാം ഗംഭീരം (ellāṁ gambhīraṁ!) when you want to be more expressive and give out a more enthusiastic response. എല്ലാം ഗംഭീരം (ellāṁ gambhīraṁ!) means “Everything is great!” and can be used in any environment with anyone. While all the sentences are correct answers to the same question, എല്ലാം ഗംഭീരം (ellāṁ gambhīraṁ!) is something uncommon that will make you sound like a better and more fluent Malayalam speaker.
9. ഞാൻ നന്നായി ചെയ്തു
Lastly, we present to you one more alternative, ഞാൻ നന്നായി ചെയ്തു (ñān nannāyi ceytu). ñān nannāyi ceytu means “I’ve been doing well” and goes pretty well when someone wishes to express with past references. Although a bit uncommon, you can use the sentence ഞാൻ നന്നായി ചെയ്തു (ñān nannāyi ceytu) without any fear of misconception in front of the locals.
Learn Malayalam With Ling
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