Malayalam 101

Doses of vocabulary/culture/trivia through media. Disclaimer: We're not Malayalam pundits.

[currylangs]

Malayalam Vocab: Academia

Here’s some vocabulary related to school and studying! The words without pronunciation guide are the same as english pronounced the same way

Verbs ക്രിയ kriya To study: പഠിക്കുക padikkuka To write: എഴുതുക ezhuthuka To erase: മായച്ചുകളയുക mayichukalayuka To throw away: കളയുക kalayuka To read: വായിക്കുക vayikkuka To do: ചെയ്യുക cheyyuka To sit: ഇരിക്കുക irikkuka To stand up: എഴുന്നേൽക്കുക ezhunnelkkuka To ask: ചോദിക്കുക chodikukka To answer: ഉത്തരം പറയുക utharam prayuka (very proper ver, to say the answer) or ഉത്തരം ചെയ്യുക utharam cheyyuka (to do the answer)

Nouns നാമം namam School: പള്ളിക്കൂടം pallikoodam (more common) or വിദാലയം (vidyalayam) School: സ്കൂൾ (more common) the older generation had a hard time saying schoo so what was said instead was ഉസ്കൂള് (uskool-uh) but you’ll hardly hear this now Classroom: ക്ലാസ്റൂം College: കോളേജ് Teacher: അദ്ധ്യാപകന്‍ (m) adhyapikan and അദ്ധ്യാപിക (f) adhyapika Student: വിദ്യാര്‍ത്ഥി vidyarthi (n,m) and വിദ്യാർത്ഥിനി (f) vidyarthini In a skill-set learning environment ex: dance ഗുരു, ഗുരുനാഥന്‍ guru, gurunadan or if male മാഷ് mashu Master ശിഷ്യന്‍ (m) shishan ശിഷ്യ (f) shisha or ശിഷു (n) shishu (also child) Classmate: സഹപാഠി sahapadi (formal) or just classmate ക്ലാസ്സ്‌മേറ്റ് Exam: പരീക്ഷ pariiksha Lesson: പാഠം padam (പാടം is farm field)

Subjects (topics) വിഷയങ്ങള്‍ vishayangal Art: കല kala (but the word is used to describe skill and study also) Language: ഭാഷ bhasha English: ആംഗലഭാഷ aamgalabhasha (old school ver) from anglo Science: ശാസ്‌ത്രം shasthram (can interpret as study of) Biology: ജീവശാസ്‌ത്രം jiva-shasthram Chemistry: രസതന്ത്രശാസ്ത്രം rasathanthra-shasthram Physics: ഭൗതികശാസ്ത്രം bouthika-shasthram Mathematics: കണക്ക് kanaku (very common) or ഗണിതശാസ്ത്രം guna-shasthram (more academic) Social Studies: സാമൂഹ്യശാസ്‌ത്രം samuhya-shasthram History: ചരിത്രം charithram

School Supplies സ്കൂൾ സാധങ്ങൾ school saadangal (had to improvise a little) Pencil: പെൻസിൽ pensil Eraser: റബ്ബര്‍ (most common, rubber same as british english) or തുകുമായ thukumaya (lit trans: rub-disappear, don’t know if this is used now, but I briefly used this word during a gap year (2004ish) I studied in kerala, mod taniya) Pen: പേന pena Ink: മഷി mashi Paper: കടലാസ് kadalaas or just paper പേപ്പർ Textbook: പാഠപുസ്തകം pada-pusthakam Book: പുസ്തകം pustakam

[malayalam101]

Hey! In your description, shouldn't it say "we are not malayali" instead of "we are not Malayalam".

Hi! Actually, we are Malayalis. :) The disclaimer says 'We're not Malayalam pundits.' Some phones may not show it.

[malayalam101]

What does ichiri mean?

It means ‘a little’.

For example, when we go to a wedding feast in Kerala, we often have this word prepared along with 'venda’ which of course means 'no’.

[malayalam101]

Hey!! I notice you post a lot about movies. What do you think about dileep 😂 it's all my family ever talks about since we met the guy and 2 Countries was filmed in Canada and a lot of shots were in my house. Dileep seemed like he was very soothrashaali - speaking of which, how would you translate this in English? Its one of those words only that are hard to translate but I use it all the time to describe secretive people

Sorry for the delay! It’s sometimes difficult to see messages on phones. We finally noticed this because we found a question on our feed and it led us to the inbox. Oops. 🙈

Thank you so much for your support! It’s you and others who follow us that inspires us to spread our language to those who wish to learn. We too are having a learning experience.

സൂത്രശാലി - Soothrashaali is used to describe a trickster, someone who is cunning or sly. It often has a negative connotation.

For your question about Dileep- Honestly, we have no idea. This isn’t the first time a prominent Malayali actor has been linked to a crime of this nature i.e. Jagathy Sreekumar and Vithura Case. Read: http://m.hindustantimes.com/india/kerala-actor-jagathy-acquitted-in-sex-scandal/story-qOUjIOWuc6q1JicwE7JdTI.html

He was out on bail and later acquitted and nowadays we don’t even hear a hint of what took place. Ask your parents about it. They might remember.

In any case, we stand with the brave actress.#Avalkkoppam We hope that justice is served, without any fabrications.

[malayalam101]

What movie is your chullan/kullan video from? I think I recognized it, but the name escapes my mind...

Om Shanthi Oshana.

[malayalam101]

ചുള്ളൻ - Chullan vs. കുള്ളൻ - Kullan If you want to describe a cute guy, you have a variety of choices in Malayalam. However, if you want to do it in the way the new generation does it, go with 'ചുള്ളൻ - Chullan'. കുള്ളൻ - Kullan, on the other hand, refers to a runt or a dwarf. We're not sure if it is a slur in Malayalam, but the word is definitely used disparagingly against short guys. Take a look at the proverb that Nivin uses in Oru Vadakkan Selfie: കള്ളനെ നമ്പിയാലും, കുള്ളനെ നമ്പരുത് - Kallane nambiyalum, kullane nambaruthu. This roughly translates to 'you can trust a thief, but never a dwarf.' It comes from the stereotype that short guys are narrow-minded and cannot be trusted. Also, check out Kullannte Bharya in the short film anthology 5 Sundarikal. It gives a detailed look at how this fraction of society is often treated. Side Note: This post was inspired by an adorable misunderstanding by a Tumblr sister and the ensuing chaos that followed. So special shout out to you Southvilla.

[malayalam101]

പരിഷ്ക്കാരി - parishkaari is used to refer to someone who is modern. Although more often than not, people tend to use this word in a mocking way. In the scene from Kottayam Kunjachan, the word is used sarcastically. The suitor is described to the girl’s family as a parishkaari before they come. When he finally arrives, the family is surprised to say the least. The younger sister describes it best when she says how his dressing and mannerisms might have been modern twenty years ago. Other usage: ഒരു പരിഷ്ക്കാരി വന്നേക്കണു! - Oru parishkaari vannekkannu! Look, a trendsetter has come!

[malayalam101]

i always thought kannada and kannadi were interchangable!!(?) like i wear glasses and my parents call them kannadi, and they call the mirror kannadi, and anything made of glass in general is kannadi for them. Is one term formally defined for mirror or glasses, or does this vary by region of Kerala?

Hi! So it took us a second, but we wanted to give you as much information as possible about this. So as far as we researched (dictionaries, friends, family, Google, Wikipedia, etc.), we have seen കണ്ണട - kannada as the official term for glasses and കണ്ണാടി - kannadi for mirror.

Now, we’ve talked to several people who say they tend to use കണ്ണാടി - kannadi for glasses despite knowing it’s not correct. They too picked it up from parents. From this, we inferred that using കണ്ണാടി - kannadi is almost like a colloquialism in certain parts? We’re not too sure about that, but perhaps we can get a discussion going here. We’d like to encourage everyone to talk with their Malayali friends and family (especially older members), poll them on usuage and post their findings here.

[malayalam101]

https://youtu.be/6vhA3Ljd7fg

So one of our friends recommended a listen of this famous poem by Murugan Kattakada. ‘He talks about how we have all become short-sighted and need specs. Figuratively speaking.’ She said it should help with the distinction.

[anuragam]

It’s actually just the diffrence that comes about between written and spoken languages. Because they’re such similar sounding words people tend to confuse them. So dictionary wise Kannada=Glasses and Kannadi=Mirror, but then in casual speech they tend to be used interchangably.

I hope that helps.

[iwearplaids-deactivated20211004]

Kannadi is specifically used for mirror in ‘proper malayalam’, and ‘proper malayalam’ is a myth. Down here, we do whatever the hell we please ! So, yes, kannada and kannadi can be used for spectacles, but, kannada cannot be used for mirrors. 

[strandedingodsowncountry]

I would always get corrected by my college mates in Kerala, but back home in Baltimore … Most of my relatives use it so I picked up on it. As for ‘proper Malayalam’ or as my Kottayam friends like to blast out 'Achadi bhasha’, people get almost patriotic about it. Every region tends to think theirs is correct. Kottayam kids have a lot of spirit when it comes to it. I think because they believe the press or written word started/comes from there?

[malayalam101]

തേച്ചു – thechu is a Malayalam word which means “ironed”. As slang, it has always been associated with someone who dumps their lover when they see a better prospect i.e. a marriage proposal. In the case of girls dumping boys, the ex-boyfriends, if invited to the wedding, often humorously and tragically present the bride (their old lover) with a തേപ്പു പെട്ടി - theppu petti or iron. In the film Role Models, we can see Fahad’s character, backed by his friends, singing a ‘soup-boy’ esque song to Namitha’s character. Other usage: തേപ്പു കിട്ടി - theppu kitti Got dumped. അവൻ/അവൾ എന്നെ തേച്ചു - Avan/aval enne thechu. She/he dumped/left me. അവൻ/അവൾ തേപ്പാണ് – Avan/aval theppannu. She’s/He’s a dumper.

[malayalam101]

മാപ്പ് - Maapu is ‘sorry’ in Malaylam. And what makes the scene from Manathe Kottaram so hilarious is that this Malayalam word is quite similar to the English word map. The chuckles start as soon as Philomena’s character misunderstands what the travelling salesmen is saying. His further explanations lead to more misunderstandings and it just goes downhill from there for the poor man! Other usage: മാപ്പാക്കണം – maapakanam Forgive me. ഒന്ന് ക്ഷെമിക്കു – onnu kshemikku Please forgive me./Please let it go.

[malayalam101]

“ഉറുമ്പ് ചത്താൽ തവള ചാവണ വരെ തവള ചത്താൽ പാമ്പ് ചാവണ വരെ പാമ്പ് ചത്താൽ കഴുകൻ ചാവണ വരെ - Urumbu chathaal thavala chaavana vare Thavala chathaal paambu chaavana vare Paambu chathaal kazhukan chaavana vare.” Roughly translated, it says “An ant’s death is news till a frog dies, a frog’s till a snake dies, a snake’s till a vulture dies…” It means the news value of something is relative. We’ll forget a story as soon as a new one emerges. This dialogue gained fame through the movie Left Right Left. In the video clip, we can see Joseph Annamkutty Jose use it to further illustrate his point about the news and how we just have ‘passing emotions’. In the rest of the original video, he questions whether what we need is passing emotions or permanent solutions. Here, he quotes Santhosh Pundit who in turn echoes Gandhiji a little: “The world won’t change easily. So the best thing you can do is, you can change for the better and through your example maybe two people you know may change. And with these small steps perhaps we can do some good.” Joseph is a writer, speaker and more recently an RJ. Through his viral videos on facebook (now Youtube as well), he attempts to send out positive messages and bring about social changes.

[malayalam101]

i always thought kannada and kannadi were interchangable!!(?) like i wear glasses and my parents call them kannadi, and they call the mirror kannadi, and anything made of glass in general is kannadi for them. Is one term formally defined for mirror or glasses, or does this vary by region of Kerala?

Hi! So it took us a second, but we wanted to give you as much information as possible about this. So as far as we researched (dictionaries, friends, family, Google, Wikipedia, etc.), we have seen കണ്ണട - kannada as the official term for glasses and കണ്ണാടി - kannadi for mirror.

Now, we’ve talked to several people who say they tend to use കണ്ണാടി - kannadi for glasses despite knowing it’s not correct. They too picked it up from parents. From this, we inferred that using കണ്ണാടി - kannadi is almost like a colloquialism in certain parts? We’re not too sure about that, but perhaps we can get a discussion going here. We’d like to encourage everyone to talk with their Malayali friends and family (especially older members), poll them on usuage and post their findings here.

[malayalam101]

https://youtu.be/6vhA3Ljd7fg

So one of our friends recommended a listen of this famous poem by Murugan Kattakada. 'He talks about how we have all become short-sighted and need specs. Figuratively speaking.' She said it should help with the distinction.

[malayalam101]

i always thought kannada and kannadi were interchangable!!(?) like i wear glasses and my parents call them kannadi, and they call the mirror kannadi, and anything made of glass in general is kannadi for them. Is one term formally defined for mirror or glasses, or does this vary by region of Kerala?

Hi! So it took us a second, but we wanted to give you as much information as possible about this. So as far as we researched (dictionaries, friends, family, Google, Wikipedia, etc.), we have seen കണ്ണട - kannada as the official term for glasses and കണ്ണാടി - kannadi for mirror. Now, we've talked to several people who say they tend to use കണ്ണാടി - kannadi for glasses despite knowing it's not correct. They too picked it up from parents. From this, we inferred that using കണ്ണാടി - kannadi is almost like a colloquialism in certain parts? We're not too sure about that, but perhaps we can get a discussion going here. We'd like to encourage everyone to talk with their Malayali friends and family (especially older members), poll them on usuage and post their findings here.

[malayalam101]

കണ്ണാടി - Kannadi vs കണ്ണട - kannada If you're like us, you probably mixed these two words up on more than one occasion. The former is mirror and the latter is glasses (or specs as some like to call it.) Pranayavarnangal is one of those movies that endeared Manju Warrier to the Malayali audience. Directed by Sibi Malayil, the film also stars Divya Unni, Suresh Gopi and Biju Menon in important roles. Although romantic and set in a campus background, this is not your typical college love story. We won't give too much away, but we'll leave you with: Suresh Gopi is not playing a college student! Thank goodness for small mercies! Ps. We don't usually post song clips but when we do it's definitely going to be a sweet one!

[malayalam101]

Hi! Do ya'll know where I can find translations to songs? I am a Telugu speaker, so I don't understand Malayalam, but I really love the songs in Solo and I'd love to be able to understand them. Thanks :)

So with some casual online sleuthing we found this site: https://paattinteparibhasha.com/ we can't guarantee accuracy though. Maybe some of our followers can help? If you know any good sites, do let us all know!

[malayalam101]

മരിച്ചു - marichu vs ചത്തു -chathu Both Malayalam words mean “died”. However, there’s a slight difference in terms of usage. The former is used only in relation with human beings while the latter is used for animals.

Talk with Archie is a special series hosted by Neelathamara fame Archana Kavi. It can be found on YouTube on her channel (there’s a range of interesting content such as travelogues, crafting, make-up tutorials, etc.). In the show, she talks with friends from various walks of life from comedy all the way to music. In this particular video, she talks with Kenny Sebastian and Naveen Richard, two hilarious stand-ups. If that wasn’t awesome enough, they attempt to do the whole episode in Malayalam.

[malayalam101]

കഴുത - Kazhutha is donkey in Malayalam and the meaning we figure is self explanatory. It's probably the same in every language. In the clip from the trailer of the highly anticipated Qarib Qarib Singlle, we see Parvathy's character tell Irrfan Khan's character to: 'irangu irangu irangu Kazhutha-ഇറങ്ങു ഇറങ്ങു ഇറങ്ങു കഴുത which means get off, get off, get off, donkey!' Here, we get a glimpse into Parvathy's character and we're delighted that she's playing a Malayali. We just hope it isn't stereotypical, but knowing Parvathy's track record for choosing roles, it should be memorable.