Are you traveling to Kerala soon? Then you must have already mugged up some essential Malayalam words and phrases for daily use. However, if you plan to stay for an extended period, only greeting words would not help, and ultimately, you will fall slave to the translator again. So, how about you learn all the essential short Malayalam phrases by heart in this blog and have all the phrases handy?
From phrases to use during your homestay to short lines for a business meeting, this blog is filled with all the vital Malayalam phrases to help you live a peaceful time in Kerala. Knowing such phrases in Kerala’s official language will help you converse easily and comfortably in every circumstance and simultaneously help you get a deeper insight into the Malayalam language.
As one of the most comprehensive and complex languages, the Indian Nation has nurtured since time immemorial, learning short Malayalam sentences is the best way to seize the opportunity to become a part. So, want to learn more? Continue reading!
Malayalam: The Language Of Kerala
India is a vast and diverse country with no official language. However, each state has its regional language that is nurtured and practiced innately by the locals. Malayalam language, being the heart of the South Indian state Kerala, is one example of language supremacy. So, before we hop into the essential phrases, here is a quick peek into the language spoken by the people of Kerala.
- The Malayalam language is one of the Dravidian languages spoken in South India. It has many dialects, some of which are categorized regarding the difference in social and caste lines. In ancient times, it was considered to be a part of the Tamil language of Tamil Nadu. However, since AD 9th century, Malayalam has been a different language spoken by almost 38 million people now!
- Unlike Hindi, Malayalam is considered difficult to learn and write. It is one of the most complex languages of all time, and even North Indian people find it difficult to understand. Nevertheless, it is not impossible to grab hold of it. With an understanding of the differences in consonants and word order, one is hopeful of becoming a Malayalam speaker.
- Reading blogs like this also leads to one of the best forms of practice. Only grammar and words won’t help if you do not push yourself to learn complete phrases. And as beginners, short phrases in Malayalam are just the right choice to move forward. It will bring in fluency and the accent that is essential in the language dialects. So, make sure you read the lines below thoroughly and use them whenever there is a possible chance.

Short Malayalam Phrases: 6 Different Categories
Now we jump into the main section. Here different short phrases will be categorized under various departments to improve learning. It will help you remember when to use the phrases and not get baffled by multiple options. So, let’s begin without wasting any more time.
Basic Greeting Phrases
Without any doubt, we will first begin with some of the greeting phrases that you can use when you first arrive at your hotel. These are the basics that you will need to start a conversation or greet someone you have met for the first time.
English | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
Hello! How are you? | ഹലോ! എന്തൊക്കെയുണ്ട്? | halēā! enteākkeyuṇṭ? |
I am glad to meet you | നിങ്ങളെ കണാനായതിൽ ഞാൻ സന്തുഷ്ടനാണ് | niṅṅaḷe kaṇānāyatil ñān santuṣṭanāṇ |
Have a nice day | ഒരു നല്ല ദിനം ആശംസിക്കുന്നു | oru nalla dinaṁ āśansikkunnu |
Where are you from? | നീ എവിടെ നിന്ന് വരുന്നു? | nī eviṭe ninn varunnu? |
I am pleased to be here | ഞാൻ ഇവിടെ സന്തോഷവാനാണ് | ñān iviṭe santēāṣavānāṇ |
Nice to meet you | നിന്നെ കാണാനായതിൽ സന്തോഷം | ninne kāṇānāyatil santēāṣaṁ |
What is your name? | എന്താണ് നിന്റെ പേര്? | entāṇ ninṟe pēr? |
How are you doing today? | ഇന്ന് നിങ്ങൾക്കെങ്ങനെയുണ്ട്? | inn niṅṅaḷkkeṅṅaneyuṇṭ? |
Good morning to you! | നിനക്ക് സുപ്രഭാതം! | ninakk suprabhātaṁ! |
Have a great day! | ശുഭദിനാശംസകൾ! | śubhadināśansakaḷ! |
Short Socialising Phrases
This section will let us through some familiar sentences with English translations that you can use for conversing with strangers, and it will also help you socialize and make new friends. Moreover, as foreigners, the following phrases are a must-know in a place where the native language is held at an exalted position.
English | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
How was your day? | നിന്റെ ദിവസം എങ്ങനെയുണ്ടായിരുന്നു? | ninṟe divasaṁ eṅṅaneyuṇṭāyirunnu? |
Do you speak English? | നീ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് സംസാരിക്കുമോ? | nī iṅglīṣ sansārikkumēā? |
You look amazing today! | നിങ്ങൾ ഇന്ന് അത്ഭുതകരമായി തോന്നുന്നു! | niṅṅaḷ inn atbhutakaramāyi tēānnunnu! |
What are your hobbies? | നിങ്ങളുടെ ഹോബികൾ എന്തൊക്കെയാണ്? | niṅṅaḷuṭe hēābikaḷ enteākkeyāṇ? |
I really like your sense of humor | നിങ്ങളുടെ നർമ്മബോധം എനിക്ക് വളരെ ഇഷ്ടമാണ് | niṅṅaḷuṭe narm’mabēādhaṁ enikk vaḷare iṣṭamāṇ |
What do you do for a living? | എന്താണ് നിന്റെ ജോലി? | entāṇ ninṟe jēāli? |
Do you have any siblings? | നിങ്ങൾക്ക് സഹോദരങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടോ? | niṅṅaḷkk sahēādaraṅṅaḷ uṇṭēā? |
I would love to go on a date with you | നിങ്ങളോടൊപ്പം ഒരു ഡേറ്റിന് പോകാൻ ഞാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു | niṅṅaḷēāṭeāppaṁ oru ḍēṟṟin pēākān ñān āgrahikkunnu |
I love your personality | ഞാൻ നിങ്ങളുടെ വ്യക്തിത്വം ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നു | ñān niṅṅaḷuṭe vyaktitvaṁ iṣṭappeṭunnu |
Can I have your number? | നിങ്ങളുടെ നമ്പർ നൽകാൻ കഴിയുമോ? | niṅṅaḷuṭe nampar nalkān kaḻiyumēā? |
Let’s meet again! | നമുക്ക് വീണ്ടും കണ്ടുമുട്ടാം! | namukk vīṇṭuṁ kaṇṭumuṭṭāṁ! |
Phrases For Meal Time In The Malayalam Language
It is impossible to visit Kerala without exploring its excellent traditional cuisine. However, you can feel lost in restaurants by looking at the menu and giving orders. So, save these lines up your sleeve as they are going to be your savior at every mealtime.
English | Malayalam | Pronunication |
What is there on the menu? | മെനുവിൽ എന്താണ് ഉള്ളത്? | menuvil entāṇ uḷḷat? |
Do you have extra servings? | നിങ്ങൾക്ക് അധിക സേവനങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടോ? | niṅṅaḷkk adhika sēvanaṅṅaḷ uṇṭēā? |
I love the food | എനിക്ക് ഭക്ഷണം ഇഷ്ടമാണ് | enikk bhakṣaṇaṁ iṣṭamāṇ |
I don’t want too spicy | എനിക്ക് അധികം എരിവ് വേണ്ട | enikk adhikaṁ eriv vēṇṭa |
Can I have a glass of water? | എനിക്ക് ഒരു ഗ്ലാസ് വെള്ളം തരാമോ? | enikk oru glās veḷḷaṁ tarāmēā? |
What is your special dish? | നിങ്ങളുടെ പ്രത്യേക വിഭവം എന്താണ്? | niṅṅaḷuṭe pratyēka vibhavaṁ entāṇ? |
Can you suggest a dish? | നിങ്ങൾക്ക് ഒരു വിഭവം നിർദ്ദേശിക്കാമോ? | niṅṅaḷkk oru vibhavaṁ nirddēśikkāmēā? |
The food tastes good | ഭക്ഷണത്തിന് നല്ല രുചിയാണ് | bhakṣaṇattin nalla ruciyāṇ |
Can I have the bill please? | ബില്ല് തരുമോ? | bill tarumēā? |
Thank you for your service | നിങ്ങളുടെ സേവനത്തിന് നന്ദി | niṅṅaḷuṭe sēvanattin nandi |
Phrases For Business Meet
If you are traveling to Kerala for business purposes, these are the essential phrases for you. Using these will leave a unique expression of your personality and build up future possibilities of business opportunities with the locals.
English | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
I am happy to be here | ഞാൻ ഇവിടെ സന്തോഷവാനാണ് | ñān iviṭe santēāṣavānāṇ |
Here is my presentation | ഇതാ എന്റെ അവതരണം | itā enṟe avataraṇaṁ |
Let’s discuss our deal | നമുക്ക് നമ്മുടെ കരാർ ചർച്ച ചെയ്യാം | namukk nam’muṭe karār carcca ceyyāṁ |
I would like to work with you | നിങ്ങളോടൊപ്പം പ്രവർത്തിക്കാൻ ഞാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു | niṅṅaḷēāṭeāppaṁ pravarttikkān ñān āgrahikkunnu |
I’d like to welcome everyone | എല്ലാവരെയും സ്വാഗതം ചെയ്യാൻ ഞാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു | ellāvareyuṁ svāgataṁ ceyyān ñān āgrahikkunnu |
Excuse me for interrupting | തടസ്സപ്പെടുത്തിയതിന് ക്ഷമിക്കണം | taṭas’sappeṭuttiyatin kṣamikkaṇaṁ |
Let’s end the meeting | മീറ്റിംഗ് അവസാനിപ്പിക്കാം | mīṟṟiṅg avasānippikkāṁ |
Shopping Short Phrases In Malayalam
I am pretty sure multiple shopping sprees are marked up on your bucket list for your Kerala journey. So, to make bargaining easy with the local vendors, the following phrases are essential. Learn them and get yourself and your family the best gifts with utmost comfort and zero scams.
English | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
How much will it cost? | ഇതിന് എത്ര ചെലവാകും? | ithinu enthu vila varum? |
Can you lower the price | വില കുറയ്ക്കാമോ? | vila kuṟaykkāmēā? |
It is too expensive | ഇത് വളരെ ചെലവേറിയതാണ് | it vaḷare celavēṟiyatāṇ |
I don’t have money in cash | എനിക്ക് പണമായി പണമില്ല | enikk paṇamāyi paṇamilla |
Do you accept card? | നിങ്ങൾ കാർഡ് സ്വീകരിക്കുമോ? | niṅṅaḷ kārḍ svīkarikkumēā? |
Pack these items, please | ദയവായി ഈ ഇനങ്ങൾ പായ്ക്ക് ചെയ്യുക | dayavāyi ī inaṅṅaḷ pāykk ceyyuka |
Do you have more design? | നിങ്ങൾക്ക് കൂടുതൽ ഡിസൈൻ ഉണ്ടോ? | niṅṅaḷkk kūṭutal ḍisain uṇṭēā? |
Emergency Phrases
You never know when an emergency might follow you during your journey. It might concern your health or even technical glitches, for which you must know some phrases that will get you instant help. This section is fully invested in making your trip secure.
English | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
Can I make a phone call from here? | ഒന്നു ഫോൺ ചെയ്യാൻ പറ്റുമോ? | Onnu phone cheyyan pattumo? |
Where does this road go? | ഇ റോഡ് എവിടെക്ക് പോകും? | e road evidekku pokum? |
Where can I hire a taxi? | എനിക്ക് ഒരു ടാക്സി എവിടെ വാടകയ്ക്ക് എടുക്കാം? | evide taxi kittum? |
Please call the doctor | ഡോക്ടറെ വിളിക്കുക | ḍēākṭaṟe viḷikkuka |
Can anybody help | ആർക്കെങ്കിലും സഹായിക്കാമോ | ārkkeṅkiluṁ sahāyikkāmēā |
Call the ambulance | ആംബുലൻസിനെ വിളിക്കുക | āmbulansine viḷikkuka |
Where is the petrol pump? | പെട്രോൾ പമ്പ് എവിടെയാണ്? | peṭrēāḷ pamp eviṭeyāṇ? |

General Phrases You Need To Know
Apart from the specific phrases, here is a list of general short phrases in the Malayalam language that you can use whenever you find it convenient.
English | Malayalam | Pronunciation |
Let’s go | നമുക്ക് പോകാം | namukk pēākāṁ |
Have fun! | തമാശയുള്ള! | tamāśayuḷḷa! |
See you | കാണാം | kāṇāṁ |
What’s up? | എന്തുണ്ട് വിശേഷം? | entuṇṭ viśēṣaṁ? |
Hold on! | ഹോൾഡ് ഓൺ ചെയ്യുക! | hēāḷḍ ōṇ ceyyuka! |
Are you ok? | നീ ഓകെയാണോ? | nī ōkeyāṇēā? |
Thank you | നന്ദി | nandi |
I am sorry | എന്നോട് ക്ഷമിക്കൂ | ennēāṭ kṣamikkū |
Take care | ശ്രദ്ധപുലർത്തുക | śrad’dhapularttuka |
Wrapping Up!
Now that you know all the essential phrases that are short and easy to speak, nothing can stop you from having the most wonderful time in Kerala! While the aura and nature of Kerala are already alluring and heartwarming, these phrases will further reveal the beauty of the language and the people of Kerala. Moreover, practicing this will take your vocabulary and speaking skills to another height with proper precision and comprehensiveness.
If you want to explore more essential blog posts, you can head out to the Ling App. It is the most valuable source of language learning that has helped many beginner learners and first-time travelers like you. You can download the app for free from both App Store and Play Store and use it on any device you choose.

Learn Malayalam With Ling App
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Moreover, the app features an AI chatbot that provides interactive lessons to make Malayalam speaking more fluent. It will improve your communication aptitude and also help you retain all the tasks you have learned. If you want to discover other Dravidian languages, Ling App can make that possible too. It hires expert writers from all over the world that provide content on not just Malayalm but 60 other languages, including Tamil, Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, and many more that belong to the Indian state.
So, if you think Ling has all the necessary resources for you to become a pro speaker, do not waste time and download the app right away. With just a few months of dedicated practice, you can become an expert with Ling! For any queries, leave a comment below.