English has one verb, give, whoever receives the thing. English speakers learn കൊടുക്കുക (kodukkuka) = to give, and use it for everything, so they ask for the salt with എനിക്ക് കൊടുക്ക് (enikku kodukku), which sounds as odd as "hand it over to me, as if I were someone else". Malayalam builds direction into the verb. In this episode: • Tharuka: give towards me or you • Kodukkuka: give to someone else • Come and go, bring and take • This way, that way, here, there • Do it for me: verb + tharaamo • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: താ (thaa) = give it (to me), casual ആ ഉപ്പ് ഒന്ന് താ (aa uppu onnu thaa) = pass me that salt തരൂ (tharoo) = please give, polite എനിക്ക് തരാമോ? (enikku tharaamo?) = could you give it to me? ഞാൻ നിനക്ക് തരാം (njaan ninakku tharaam) = I'll give it to you അച്ഛൻ നിനക്ക് തരും (achan ninakku tharum) = Achan will give it to you കൊടുക്കുക (kodukkuka) = to give, when the receiver is a third person. കൊടുക്ക് (kodukku) = give it (to him or her) ഇത് അനുവിന് കൊടുക്ക് (ithu anuvinu kodukku) = give this to Anu ഞാൻ അമ്മയ്ക്ക് കൊടുത്തു (njaan ammaykku koduthu) = I gave it to Amma പൂച്ചയ്ക്ക് പാൽ കൊടുത്തോ? (poochaykku paal kodutho?) = did you give the cat milk? വാ (vaa) = come, casual വരൂ (varoo) = please come, polite പോ (po) = go. On its own it can sound like "go away", so be careful. പൊയ്ക്കോ (poykko) = go ahead, you may go, gentle കൊണ്ടുവാ (konduvaa) = bring, literally take hold and come കൊണ്ടുപോ (kondupo) = take it away, literally take hold and go Learn Spoken Malayalam at Home: a complete course in everyday spoken Malayalam for English speakers. Native Malayalam pronunciation, every phrase in Malayalam script, Manglish and English, plus a language bridge comparing Malayalam with other world languages. Listen, repeat out loud, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair.