Malayalam belongs to the Dravidian language family, and is mostly spoken in Southern India in the states of Kerala and Lakshadweep. Around 36 million people uses this language, which is one of the 22+ official languages of India.

Pronunciation guide

 

The basic difference in structure of sentences is that in English the pattern is Subject-Verb-Object, but it, in Malayalam, is Subject-Object-Verb

 

Hello.  (നമസ്കാരം) namaskaram. (very formal, so the below informal form is common)

Hello. (informal) Aay or "a'ye", You can use English "Hello" or "Hi".

How are you? (സുഖമാണോ?) sukhamaano? (Literal meaning: Are you fine/comfortable?) 
or, Enthokkeyundu / Enth okke undu? (Literally, What all are there?)

I am not fine Enikku sukham illa

Yes, thank you. (ശരി / അതെ, നന്ദി) Ssherri/Athe, Nanni.

I am fine. (എനിക്ക് സുഖമാണ് )Enikku sukhamaanu.

What is your name? (നിങ്ങളുടെ പേരെന്താണ്?) Ningalude peru enthaanu? / Peru entha? / Pay-ray-ntha? / Thangalude peru enthaanu? (with respect)

My name is ______ . Ente peru ______ .

Nice to meet you. Kandathil santhosham.
Parichayappettathil valare santhosham. (Literal meaning: Extremely delighted for you acquaintance)

Please. Dayavu cheythu / Dayavayi, or use English word "Please"

Thank you. Nanni (pronounced: nan-ní), or use English word "Thank you" or "Thanks"

Thank you very much orupaadu nanni or Valare upakaaram, or you can say in English, or repeat "Thank you" two times.

You're welcome (greeting). (formal) Swaagatham; (informal) varu varu / varanam varanam / varika varkia.

Yes. Athey/ Ssherri (Literal Meaning: Correct)

No. Illa

NotAlla

Excuse me. (getting attention) sradhikyu / kshamikkanam / or in English "Excuse me".

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

Kshamikkoo or in English "Sorry" / "I am sorry".

I'm sorry. Ennodu Kshamichaalum. (say this if it was your fault)

I'm sorry. Kashttamayi Pooyi / Kashttamundu (when you listen to bad news)

Don't mind Saaramilla, (say this if you are comforting sombody)

Goodbye Pinneedu kaananam (Vida) / Pinne kaanam / Veendum kaanaam (Literal meaning: I will see you again later),
or say in English "Goodbye" / "Bye" / "Bye Bye"/ "Tata" / "Tata Bye Bye".

Goodbye (informal) see above."

I can't speak Malayalam. Enikku 'Malayalam' samsaarikkan ariyilla / Malayalam ariyilla.

Do you speak English? Ningal English Samsaarikkumo ? / English ariyumo?

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

Ivide English samsaarikkan ariyunnavar aarenkilum undo ? / English ariyunnavar aarenkilum undo?

Help! Sahaayikkoo!

Help (Save) Rakshikoo

Look out! Nokkoo! / Sradhikku !

Good morning. Suprabhaatham (way formal), say in English "Good morning".

Good evening. Shubha Saayaahnam (not used), say in English "Good evening".

Good night (to sleep) Subha Raathiri (not used), say in English "Good night" / "Good night, sweet dreams".

I did not understand. Kshamikkanam Enikku manassilaayilla / manassilaayilla

I like sweets Eniku mittaay ishtamaanu 
(I like sweet stuff) Eniku madhuram ishtamaanu

Flower Poovu

Elephant Aana

Dog Naaya/Patti

CatPoocha(POO in poor)

Spicy (hot)Erivu('E' is pronounced as the first English alphabet'A')

Spicy food  Erivulla bhakshanam

Where are you going?  Ningal evideya pokunnathu?

Where is the toilet?  Kakkoos Evideyaanu? (Kakkoos means toilet)

Where is the Bathroom?  Kulimuri Evideyaanu? (Kuli = bath, muri = room)

Get lost  Dayavu cheythu Maari Pooku (polite / as a request), Maari Pooku (less polite / an an order), Podaa (very impolite)

Wake up   Eneekku (slang)(the first 'e' pronounced as 'A' in English) / Ezhunelku (informal)/ Dayavu cheythu Ezhunelku (as a request)

Do you like me?  Enne ishtamaano?

I love you  enniku ninne ishtam annu / enniku ninne ishtamaayi (I like you); I love you (as a lover): Njan ninne premikkunnu ( Njan means 'I'); I hate you : Enikku ninne ishtam alla. OR Njan ninne verukkunnu. OR enniku ninne verripu annu

Can you show me the way?  Enikku vazhi kaanichu tharaamo? ( vazhi means 'way')

How old are you?  Ningalkethra vayassayi?

I am hungry  Enikku vishakunnu

Where can I get some water?  Enikku alpam vellam evide kittum? (alpam corresponds to some, little etc) OR kurachu vellam tharumo? (literal: Can you give me a little water?)

Hospital  Aashupathri

Can we go for a movie?  Namukku oru cinemekku pokaamo?

Girl is looking good  Penkutty Kaanaan Kollaam / Pennu Adi poli (informal)

What is the matter? Entha karyam?

I forgot  Njan Marannu

I don't know Enikku ariyilla (r as in Rough)

Later  Pinneedu/Pinne

After Kazhinjittu/shesham

Before Mumbu /Munpu

Please Wait Onnu Nilku

One question Oru chodhyam

 

Time

now  =ഇപ്പോള് Ippol

later =പിന്നെ Pinne

before =മു൯പെ Munpey.

morning =പ്രഭാതം, രാവിലെ Prabhatham, Raavile.=

afternoon =(...) Uchha.

evening =സന്ധ്യ Sandhya.

night =രാത്രി, രാവ് Raathri.

 

today =ഇന്ന് (innu)

yesterday =ഇന്നലെ (innale)

tomorrow =naale

this week =eyazhcha

last week =kazhinhayazhcha

next week =adutha azhcha

 

Sunday =ഞായറാഴ്ച (njhayarazcha)

Monday =തിങ്കളാഴ്ച (thingalazhcha)

Tuesday =ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച (chovvazhcha)

Wednesday =ബുധനാഴ്ച (budhanazhcha)

Thursday =വ്യാഴാഴ്ച (vyazhazhcha)

Friday =വെള്ളിയാഴ്ച (velliyazhcha)

Saturday =ശനിയാഴ്ച (shaniyazhcha)

 

 

 

half =half (arai or paadhi or pakuthi)

less =less (kurachu or kuranja)

more  =more (kooduthal or koodiya)

 

Color-niram

black =Karuppu

white =Vella

gray =chara niram

red =chumappu

blue =neela

yellow =Manja

green =pacha

orange =orange

brown =kapi poddi niram

dark =kadum

light =ilam

 

 

Turn left. =Idatthekku/Idathottu thiriyuka

Turn right. =Valatthekku/Valathottu thiriyuka

left =Idathu

right =Valathu

straight ahead =Nere povuka

 

north =Vadakku

south =Thekku

east =Kizhakku

west =Padinjaru

uphill =Kayattathil

downhill=Erakkathil

 

Numbers

1 =one (onnu)

2 two (randu)

3 three (moonnu MOO in moon)

4 four (naalu)

5 five (anchu)

6 six (aaru)

7 seven (eezhu)

8 eight (ettu E of eight)

9 nine (onpathu)

10 ten (pathu)

11 eleven (pathinonnuh' )

12 twelve (panthranduh')

13 thirteen (pathimoonnuh)

14          fourteen (pathinaaluh)

15 fifteen (pathinanchuh)

16 sixteen (pathinaaruh)

17 seventeen (pathinezhuh)

18 eighteen (pathinettuh)

19 nineteen (pathombathuh)

20 twenty (irupathuh)

21 twenty one (irupathonnuh)

22 twenty two (irupathiranduh)

23 twenty three (irupathimoonuh)

30 thirty (muppathuh)

40 forty (nalpathuh)

50 fifty (anpathuh)

60 sixty (arupathuh)

70 seventy (ezhupathuh)

80 eighty (enpathuh)

90 ninety (thonnooru)

100 one hundred (nooru)

200 two hundred (Irunnooru)

300 three hundred (Munnooru)

1000 one thousand (aayiram)

2000 two thousand (randayiram)