10+ Must Know Important Malayalam Proverbs

Malayalam Proverbs-ling app

The Malayalam language is one of the most beautiful languages that India has gifted the world. If you are on your way to getting acquainted with the complexity and beauty of the Malayalam language, then you must have learned all the essential words by now. However, to make your vocabulary and language speaking skills jump to a new height, this blog is ready with all the essential Malayalam proverbs! If you want to learn more, continue reading.

Why learn proverbs? Well, we all know what sayings are. They are wise words woven together into a phrase to give out meaning that speaks truth and wisdom. The reason to learn proverbs lies not only in the process of becoming a fluent speaker and learning more complex words but also goes deeper into the culture. Each saying is rooted deep in the Malayalam culture and will give you a grave insight into the Malayalam culture while simultaneously making you a pro-speaker!

Importance Of Malayalam Old Sayings

Malayalam people regularly use different phrases to advise and teach their generation a lifestyle of pure truth. From meanings that tell you to live a life of quality to bearing knowledge for success, each proverb holds its own weight that cannot be compared to others. In fact, they also have specific Onam proverbs to use during the occasion of Onam.

  • Most Malayalam proverbs reflect the people’s way of living, culture, and manners. They offer timeless knowledge that every household holds dear to themselves. Thus, getting acquainted with some of the commonly said Malayalam sayings will give you an understanding of the local people and how they think life ought to be.
  • Especially if you are traveling to Kerala for an extended period, you must definitely give proverbs a shot. Not just because it will help you converse easily, but also help you adapt to the culture of the people. Belonging to the southern part of India, the state is known for its persistent engagement and maintenance of its tradition. Thus, to flow well with the people, it is essential to realize their ways first.
  • Moreover, practicing proverbs is one of the best ways to keep your fluency intact. Malayalam is undeniably a complex language to learn, and to sound like a pro; it will take more than just words like Hi, Hello, and Thank You. So, make sure you read the sayings given below with utmost sincerity and make friends with your expert skills once you land in Kerala.

5+ Timeless Malayalam Proverbs

Malayalam Proverbs - Malayalam sayings

1. Practice Makes Perfect – പ്രാക്ടീസ് തികഞ്ഞതാക്കുന്നു

You will always hear the phrase പ്രാക്ടീസ് തികഞ്ഞതാക്കുന്നു- prākṭīs tikaññatākkunnu in every step of your life. Well, it is only a fact. Even Malayalam people use the proverb; prākṭīs tikaññatākkunnu every now and then to advise younger ones and make them understand the importance of practicing things to become an expert. Similar to your process of language learning.

2. Be Slow To Promise, But Quick To Perform – വാഗ്‌ദാനം ചെയ്യാൻ മന്ദഗതിയിലാവുക, എന്നാൽ വേഗത്തിൽ നിർവഹിക്കുക

One of the most important proverb that hardworking locals of Kerala relate to is വാഗ്‌ദാനം ചെയ്യാൻ മന്ദഗതിയിലാവുക, എന്നാൽ വേഗത്തിൽ നിർവഹിക്കുക- vāg‌dānaṁ ceyyān mandagatiyilāvuka, ennāl vēgattil nirvahikkuka. It talks about being wary of people who make a promise too quickly, as there may be chances of them backing out. Thus, one should always make a promise when they are ascertained to perform the activity promised. It teaches one to be true to their words and to never back out after delivering your commitment. So, promise slow but always work fast towards it.

3. Give Elephant, But Not Hope – ആനയെ കൊടുക്കൂ, പക്ഷേ പ്രതീക്ഷയില്ല

Another heart touching saying popular in the Malayali land is ആനയെ കൊടുക്കൂ, പക്ഷേ പ്രതീക്ഷയില്ല- ānaye keāṭukkū, pakṣē pratīkṣayilla. It expresses that a broken heart is too heavy to carry. That means one should never give false hope to people. You could provide them with an elephant, but broken hope can hurt people to their core. Thus, never give hope to someone if you are not planning to work through the plan. It talks about being trustworthy and truthful to others.

4. Look Before You Leap, For Snakes Among Sweet Flowers Do Creep – നിങ്ങൾ കുതിക്കും മുമ്പ് നോക്കൂ, മധുരമുള്ള പൂക്കൾക്കിടയിൽ പാമ്പുകൾ ഇഴയുന്നു

Common to worlwide, the famous saying നിങ്ങൾ കുതിക്കും മുമ്പ് നോക്കൂ, മധുരമുള്ള പൂക്കൾക്കിടയിൽ പാമ്പുകൾ ഇഴയുന്നു- niṅṅaḷ kutikkuṁ mump nēākkū, madhuramuḷḷa pūkkaḷkkiṭayil pāmpukaḷ iḻayunnu is quite important even for malayalam people. It says before you jump into something, you should always look. Sometimes, we are too careless to look at the effects and consequences before making a judgment or decision. But it is always safer and more manageable when we look into the matter and think before we act. So, look before you jump into something because even beautiful things can have unwanted foreigners that can harm you and your life.

5. A Bad Workman Always Blames His Tools – ഒരു മോശം ജോലിക്കാരൻ എപ്പോഴും തന്റെ ഉപകരണങ്ങളെ കുറ്റപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു

Malayali locals are hardworking people who believe in knowledge, persistence, and practice. Thus, the saying ഒരു മോശം ജോലിക്കാരൻ എപ്പോഴും തന്റെ ഉപകരണങ്ങളെ കുറ്റപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു- oru mēāśaṁ jēālikkāran eppēāḻuṁ tanṟe upakaraṇaṅṅaḷe kuṟṟappeṭuttunnu suits very well in the culture. It says only a lousy worker will blame their tools for any default. One should always be humble and accept and learn from their mistakes. Humbleness causes no harm, but a projection of errors will not lead anyone anywhere but misery.

6. After Victory, Tighten Your Helmet Chord – വിജയത്തിന് ശേഷം, നിങ്ങളുടെ ഹെൽമെറ്റ് കോർഡ് ശക്തമാക്കുക

We often choose to take a break once we reach victory. However, Malayali people believe in the never-ending search for success. Which means, the proverb വിജയത്തിന് ശേഷം, നിങ്ങളുടെ ഹെൽമെറ്റ് കോർഡ് ശക്തമാക്കുക- vijayattin śēṣaṁ, niṅṅaḷuṭe helmeṟṟ kēārḍ śaktamākkuka says that you should immedietely start working and continue working even if you have accomplished something.

7. Measure Is A Treasure – അളവ് ഒരു നിധിയാണ്

What will happen if you do not measure your work? You are sure to face uncertainties. Thus, the proverb അളവ് ഒരു നിധിയാണ്- aḷav oru nidhiyāṇ says that one must always make measuring a valuable part of their project. Without measurement, nothing will get done, and in the end, you will only face multiple obstacles that could have been solved quite easily. However, one should always be careful that measurement also takes time and resources. But to treat it properly is the right way to success.

More Proverbs To Practice Malayalam

Malayalam Proverbs - Malayalam phrases

Here is a list of more common and valuable proverbs to help you make conversations more sophisticated. Memorize and practice them to have a better time with the locals.

EnglishMalayalamPronunciation
A good listener is a silent flattererഒരു നല്ല ശ്രോതാവ് നിശബ്ദ മുഖസ്തുതിക്കാരനാണ്oru nalla śrēātāv niśabda mukhastutikkāranāṇ
A journey of thousand miles begins with a single stepആയിരം മൈലുകളുള്ള യാത്ര ആരംഭിക്കുന്നത് ഒരൊറ്റ ചുവടുവെപ്പിൽ നിന്നാണ്āyiraṁ mailukaḷuḷḷa yātra ārambhikkunnat oreāṟṟa cuvaṭuveppil ninnāṇ
Great ships require deep watersവലിയ കപ്പലുകൾക്ക് ആഴത്തിലുള്ള ജലം ആവശ്യമാണ്valiya kappalukaḷkk āḻattiluḷḷa jalaṁ āvaśyamāṇ
Many hands make light workപല കൈകളും ലഘുവായി പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്നുpala kaikaḷuṁ laghuvāyi pravarttikkunnu
Don’t bite the hand that feeds youനിങ്ങൾക്ക് ഭക്ഷണം നൽകുന്ന കൈ കടിക്കരുത്niṅṅaḷkk bhakṣaṇaṁ nalkunna kai kaṭikkarut
Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stonesഗ്ലാസ് ഹൗസിലുള്ളവർ കല്ലെറിയരുത്glās hasiluḷḷavar kalleṟiyarut
Every potter praises his own pot and more if it be brokenഓരോ കുശവനും സ്വന്തം കലം പൊട്ടിയാൽ അതിലേറെയും പ്രശംസിക്കുന്നുōrēā kuśavanuṁ svantaṁ kalaṁ peāṭṭiyāl atilēṟeyuṁ praśansikkunnu
Fear not the loss of the bell more than the loss of the steepleകുത്തനെയുള്ള നഷ്ടത്തേക്കാൾ മണിയുടെ നഷ്ടത്തെ ഭയപ്പെടരുത്kuttaneyuḷḷa naṣṭattēkkāḷ maṇiyuṭe naṣṭatte bhayappeṭarut
Absence makes the heart grow fonderവിരഹം ഹൃദയത്തിലെ സ്നേഹം കൂട്ടുംvirahaṁ hr̥dayattile snēhaṁ kūṭṭuṁ
A leopard doesn’t change its spotsപുള്ളിപ്പുലി അതിന്റെ പാടുകൾ മാറ്റില്ലpuḷḷippuli atinṟe pāṭukaḷ māṟṟilla
Content is more than a kingdomഒരു രാജ്യത്തേക്കാൾ കൂടുതലാണ് ഉള്ളടക്കംoru rājyattēkkāḷ kūṭutalāṇ uḷḷaṭakkaṁ
A happy heart is better than a full purseനിറഞ്ഞ സഞ്ചിയെക്കാൾ സന്തോഷമുള്ള ഹൃദയമാണ് നല്ലത്niṟañña sañciyekkāḷ santēāṣamuḷḷa hr̥dayamāṇ nallat

Wrapping Up!

So now you know all the essential sayings in the Malayalam language that will help you become a fluent speaker. Apart from your skills, general knowledge concerning the beliefs and culture of the locals has also increased, which is a bonus. Make sure to use them whenever you get a chance and show off your hard-earned language skills in front of the Malayali people.

If you found this article helpful, head out to Ling App. You can download it from the App Store or the Play Store for zero cost, and it will provide you with great content on speech improvement and vocabulary that is a must for you as a language learner.

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