English has one all-purpose "no". English speakers pick one Malayalam word, usually ഇല്ല (illa), and use it for everything. So when someone asks "Is this your bag?" they answer ഇല്ല (illa), which sounds like "there isn't any". In this episode: • Illa: there isn't, i didn't, i don't have • Alla: it is not that • Venda and mathi: no thanks and enough • Don't: -aruthu, paadilla and -alle • Soft refusals and smoothing things over • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: ചായ ഉണ്ടോ? (chaaya undo?) = is there tea? ഇല്ല (illa) = no, there isn't. കഴിച്ചോ? (kazhicho?) = did you eat? ഇല്ല, കഴിച്ചില്ല (illa, kazhichilla) = no, I didn't. എനിക്ക് സമയം ഇല്ല (enikku samayam illa) = I don't have time ഞാൻ വരുന്നില്ല (njaan varunnilla) = I'm not coming ഇത് നിന്റെ ബാഗ് ആണോ? (ithu ninte baagu aano?) = is this your bag? അല്ല, ഇത് എന്റെ ബാഗ് അല്ല (alla, ithu ente baagu alla) = no, this isn't my bag ഞാൻ ഡോക്ടർ അല്ല (njaan doktar alla) = I'm not a doctor വേണ്ട (venda) = I don't want it, no need. It is the polite "no thanks". ചായ വേണോ? (chaaya veno?) = do you want tea? വേണ്ട (venda) = no thanks. ഇപ്പോൾ വേണ്ട (ippol venda) = not right now മതി (mathi) = enough. This is the word for food. മതി, മതി (mathi, mathi) = enough, enough! കുറച്ച് മതി (kurachu mathi) = just a little, please വിഷമിക്കണ്ട (vishamikkanda) = don't worry ഇവിടെ ഓടാൻ പാടില്ല (ivide oodaan paadilla) = no running here അത് തൊടരുത് (athu thodaruthu) = don't touch that അവിടെ പോകരുത് (avide pokaruthu) = don't go there 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.