Sport is the fastest route into conversation with strangers anywhere in the world — and in Kerala the route is not the one the rest of India would suggest. Ask about football, not cricket. I am Dr. Reshmi R. Nair, an applied linguist from Kerala. I have taught hundreds of learners to speak Malayalam as it is actually spoken. THE WORDS കളി - kali - a game, and also play കളിക്കുക - kalikkuka - to play മത്സരം - mathsaram - a match, a competition കളിക്കാരൻ - kalikkaran - a player പരിശീലകൻ - parisheelakan - coach, though everyone says കോച്ച് മൈതാനം - maithanam - a ground, a field ജയിക്കുക - jayikkuka - to win തോൽക്കുക - tholkkuka - to lose സമനില - samanila - a draw ആരാധകൻ - aaradhakan - a fan — and note that it is the same word used for a religious devotee, which is entirely appropriate THE SENTENCES കളി എപ്പോഴാണ്? - kali eppozhanu? - when is the match? ആര് ജയിച്ചു? - aaru jayichu? - who won? സ്കോർ എത്രയാണ്? - score ethrayanu? - what is the score? എനിക്ക് ഫുട്ബോൾ ഇഷ്ടമാണ് - enikku football ishtamanu - I like football And notice the dative again: not "I like", but "to me there is liking". The same frame as every emotion in Malayalam. WHY FOOTBALL Kerala is one of the few places in India where football, not cricket, is the game people organise their evenings around — with village grounds, local clubs and a following for the European leagues that will surprise you. Ask a Malayali about football and you have a conversation. Ask about cricket and you may get a polite pause. Which team do you support? Say it in Malayalam below. #LearnMalayalam #Kerala #Malayalam