Ask a Malayali over thirty what games they played as a child and watch their face change. Here is the vocabulary for that conversation. കളി means play, a game, a match — and it hides inside വള്ളംകളി and കഥകളി too. Learn the traditional children's games, the indoor and adult games, and the phrases you need to join in — useful for parents, and the warmest small talk you can have. Words in this class: കളി (kali) – play, a game, a match കളിക്കുക (kalikkuka) – to play കുട്ടികൾ കളിക്കുന്നു (kuttikal kalikkunnu) – the children are playing എന്ത് കളിക്കാം? (enthu kalikkaam?) – what shall we play? ഞാൻ കൂടെ കളിക്കട്ടെ? (njaan koode kalikkatte?) – may I play too? കിളിത്തട്ട് (kilithattu) – kilithattu, a team running game on a grid ഗോലി (goli) – marbles പമ്പരം (pambaram) – spinning top ഊഞ്ഞാൽ (oonjaal) – swing ഒളിച്ചുകളി (olichukali) – hide and seek തൊട്ടുകളി (thottukali) – tag ചീട്ടുകളി (cheettukali) – card games വള്ളംകളി (vallamkali) – the boat race In this class: • The many meanings of കളി, from children's play to the boat race • Traditional outdoor games — kilithattu, kabaddi, marbles, the spinning top, the Onam swing • Indoor and adult games — cards, chess, carrom, snakes and ladders • The phrases to ask, join in, and start a childhood conversation Quizzes below. Dr. Reshmi R Nair — SpeakMalayalam.