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Malayalam for free
Why learn Malayalam?
Malayalam is one of the 67 languages you can learn on Lingocard with frequency-ranked flashcards, spaced repetition, and live speaking partners. Build vocabulary and pronunciation at your own pace, on web and mobile.
In the US Foreign Service Institute ranking, Malayalam is a Category III language - about 1100 class hours to professional working proficiency for English speakers. Malayalam belongs to the Dravidian family - if you enjoy it, a natural next step is Tamil or Kannada.
50 essential Malayalam words
Start with the words you will actually meet: learn these and you will recognize something in almost every Malayalam sentence.
| # | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ഞാൻ | nyahn | I |
| 2 | നീ | nee | you |
| 3 | അവൻ | ah-VAHN | he |
| 4 | അവൾ | ah-VAHL | she |
| 5 | നമ്മൾ | NAHM-mahl | we |
| 6 | അവർ | ah-VAR | they |
| 7 | ഇത് | ih-thuh | this |
| 8 | അത് | ah-thuh | that |
| 9 | എന്ത് | en-thuh | what |
| 10 | ആര് | ah-ruh | who |
| 11 | ഇല്ല | IL-lah | no |
| 12 | പിന്നെ | PIN-neh | then |
| 13 | അല്ലെങ്കിൽ | ahl-LENG-kil | or |
| 14 | പക്ഷേ | pahk-SHEH | but |
| 15 | ഉള്ളിൽ | OOL-lil | in |
| 16 | കൂടെ | KOO-deh | with |
| 17 | ഒന്ന് | ohn | one |
| 18 | രണ്ട് | rahnd | two |
| 19 | വലിയ | VAH-lee-yah | big |
| 20 | ചെറിയ | CHEH-ree-yah | small |
| 21 | നല്ല | NAHL-lah | good |
| 22 | പുതിയ | POO-thee-yah | new |
| 23 | മനുഷ്യൻ | mah-NOOSH-yahn | person |
| 24 | വെള്ളം | VEL-lahm | water |
| 25 | ദിവസം | DEE-vah-sahm | day |
| 26 | വർഷം | VAR-shahm | year |
| 27 | സമയം | SAH-mah-yahm | time |
| 28 | വീട് | veed | house |
| 29 | ജോലി | JOH-lee | work |
| 30 | ജീവിതം | JEE-vee-thahm | life |
| 31 | വാക്ക് | vahk | word |
| 32 | ആകുക | AH-koo-kah | be |
| 33 | ഉണ്ട് | oond | have |
| 34 | ചെയ്യുക | CHEY-yoo-kah | do |
| 35 | പറയുക | pah-RAH-yoo-kah | say |
| 36 | അറിയുക | ah-REE-yoo-kah | know |
| 37 | കാണുക | KAH-noo-kah | see |
| 38 | പോകുക | POH-koo-kah | go |
| 39 | വരിക | VAH-ree-kah | come |
| 40 | കൊടുക്കുക | koh-DOOK-koo-kah | give |
| 41 | എടുക്കുക | eh-DOOK-koo-kah | take |
| 42 | വേണം | VEH-nahm | want |
| 43 | കഴിക്കുക | kah-ZHIK-koo-kah | eat |
| 44 | കുടിക്കുക | koo-DIK-koo-kah | to drink |
| 45 | ഇപ്പോൾ | ip-POHL | now |
| 46 | ഇവിടെ | ee-VEE-deh | here |
| 47 | അവിടെ | ah-VEE-deh | there |
| 48 | എവിടെ | eh-VEE-deh | where |
| 49 | എന്തുകൊണ്ട് | en-thoo-KOHND | why |
| 50 | എല്ലാം | el-LAHM | all |
Useful phrases in Malayalam
- നമസ്കാരം · na-mas-KA-ram · Hello / Good day
- സുഖമാണോ? · su-kha-MA-no · How are you?
- നന്ദി · NAN-di · Thank you
- ദയവായി · da-ya-VA-yi · Please
- എന്റെ പേര്... · EN-te per · My name is...
- ... എവിടെയാണ്? · e-vi-de-YA-nu · Where is...?
- പോയി വരാം · PO-yi va-RAHM · Goodbye
- ക്ഷമിക്കണം · ksha-mik-ka-NAM · Excuse me
- എനിക്ക് മനസ്സിലാകുന്നില്ല · e-NIK-ku ma-nas-si-LAH-kun-nil-la · I don't understand
- നിങ്ങൾക്ക് എന്നെ സഹായിക്കാമോ? · NING-gal-ku EN-ne sa-HAH-yik-kah-mo · Can you help me?
- ഇതിന് എത്രയാണ്? · i-di-nu ET-ra-yah-nu · How much is it?
- നാളെ കാണാം! · NAH-le kah-NAHM · See you tomorrow!
Learn Malayalam with comprehensive language resources
- Pronunciation
- Numbers
- Verbs and adjectives
- Frequency dictionaries
- Basic sentences
- Thematic dictionaries
- Politeness
- Idioms
Learn Malayalam, wherever you are
- AI-powered spaced repetition learning system on the go
- Audio processing for pronunciation
- Creation of visual language flash cards with images
- Search for speaking practice partners
- Frequency and thematic dictionaries for any language
- Alert system with exercise reminders
- Live video and messaging to facilitate learning
Join our global Malayalam learning community
Collaborate with native Malayalam speakers and fellow learners: exchange messages, correct each other's cards, and practice real conversation.
Send friend requests to the speakers you click with and build your own friends list - many practice partners become real friends.
Are you an educator? Teach Malayalam online · Create an online Malayalam school · Build a Malayalam curriculum
Frequently asked questions about learning Malayalam
How difficult is it to learn Malayalam?
How difficult Malayalam is depends on your background, but every language becomes manageable with consistent daily practice. Focusing on the most frequent words first means you can understand and say a lot early on. In the US Foreign Service Institute ranking, Malayalam is a Category III language - about 1100 class hours to professional working proficiency for English speakers.
What should I learn first to reach a basic level in Malayalam?
Start with the 100-500 most frequent words (free in our apps) and the thematic dictionaries most relevant to your daily life. Set clear goals and practise a few minutes every day - consistency is what produces results. Then connect with other learners to build confidence at your new basic level.
How long does it take to learn Malayalam?
Most learners reach a comfortable conversational level in Malayalam within 8-18 months of consistent daily study. Practising vocabulary with spaced repetition and speaking regularly speeds this up considerably. About 37 million people across 1 countries speak Malayalam, so you will never run short of practice partners.
How do I improve my Malayalam vocabulary?
Use the spaced-repetition and flashcard systems in the app. You can set daily, weekly, or yearly goals in our mobile apps and steadily reach the vocabulary size you’re aiming for.
Is Malayalam pronunciation hard?
Every language has a few sounds that take practice, but Malayalam pronunciation becomes consistent with regular listening and speaking. Hearing the language often matters more than memorising rules.
How do I get Free Malayalam speaking practice?
Open the Practice or Friends page in the app, send practice requests, and start real conversations with other learners - don’t be shy! You can also mention that you want speaking practice when you create your account, and the platform will help match you with suitable partners.
Do I need to learn the Malayalam alphabet first?
If Malayalam uses a different script, learning it early unlocks reading - and it's usually faster than people expect. On Lingocard you'll find every alphabet, with example words, free.