Pocket Malayalam

Everything from the eight-week plan you'd actually want in your hand on a street in Fort Kochi — the twelve phrases, the numbers, and the one pattern that builds new sentences. Pronunciation is written for English speakers: say it exactly as it looks.

Designed to print on a single sheet, single-sided. Fold along the dashed line with the ink facing out, and each half becomes one side of a pocket card.

The Twelve

Side A · മലയാളം

Opening

നമസ്കാരംhellona-mas-KAA-ram
നന്ദിthank youNAN-dee

Calling someone — use these, not "sir"

ചേട്ടാto a man · "elder brother"CHAYT-taa
ചേച്ചിto a woman · "elder sister"CHAY-chee

Agreeing and refusing

ശരിok, fine, rightSHA-ree
ഇല്ലno · there isn'tIL-la
വേണ്ടno thanks · don't wantVAYN-da
മതിthat's enough — for foodMA-thee

Buying

ഒരു ചായone teao-ru CHAA-ya
എത്രയായി?how much is it?eth-ra-YAA-yee

Reacting, and getting unstuck

അടിപൊളി!fantastic! — perfect for fooda-di-PO-lee
പതുക്കെ പറയാമോ?say it slowly?pa-THUK-ke pa-ra-YAA-moh
Say Keralam, not Kerala. Shoes off · right hand only

Numbers & the Frame

Side B · backup
1ഒന്ന്ON-nu
2രണ്ട്RAN-du
3മൂന്ന്MOON-nu
4നാല്NAA-lu
5അഞ്ച്AN-chu
6ആറ്AA-ru
7ഏഴ്AY-zhu
8എട്ട്ET-tu
9ഒൻപത്ON-pa-thu
10പത്ത്PAT-thu
20ഇരുപത്i-ru-PA-thu
50അൻപത്AN-pa-thu
100നൂറ്NOO-ru
1000ആയിരംAA-yi-ram
rupeesരൂപROO-pa
എനിക്ക്   വേണം
e-NIK-ku ___ VAY-nam  ·  swap വേണം → വേണ്ട for "don't want"
"To me, ___ is wanted." Drop in any noun: CHAA-ya (tea), VEL-lam (water), o-ru MU-ri (a room).

Getting around

മീറ്റർ ഇട്ട് പോകാമോ?by the meter? — ask before boardingMEET-tar IT-tu poh-KAA-moh
___ ലേക്ക് എത്ര?how much to ___?___ LAYK-ku ETH-ra
ഇവിടെ നിർത്തൂstop herei-VI-de nir-THOO
ഇടത്ത് · വലത്ത് · നേരെleft · right · straighti-DAT-thu · va-LAT-thu · NAY-re

Eating

എരിവ് കുറച്ച്less spicyE-ri-vu KU-ra-chu
വെള്ളംwaterVEL-lam
വയറ് നിറഞ്ഞുI'm fullVA-ya-ru ni-RAN-nyu
മലയാളത്തിൽ ഇത് എന്ത്?what's this called in Malayalam?ma-la-YAA-lat-thil i-thu EN-thu

Say these right and everything else is forgiven

ഴḻaCurl the tongue back, touch nothing. As in AY-zhu, seven.
ളḷaCurled back, touching the palate. As in VEL-lam.
ലlTip on your teeth, softer than English L. As in VI-la, price.
CAPITALS = linger there, don't punch it · doubled vowels held two beats യാത്ര സുഖകരമാകട്ടെ