English speakers reach for "good luck!", "well done!" and "you look beautiful!", and they translate them word by word. "Good luck" becomes "nalla bhaagyam", which no Malayali says. Kerala families have their own short, warm phrases for praising a child, cheering up someone who is nervous, sending someone off on a journey and wishing a happy birthday. In this episode: • Compliments • Praising children • Encouragement • Wishes for exams and journeys • Congratulations, birthdays and get well • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: നന്നായിട്ടുണ്ട് (nannaayittundu) = it's lovely, well done സുന്ദരമായിട്ടുണ്ട് (sundaramaayittundu) = it looks beautiful കൊള്ളാം (kollaam) = nice, good നല്ല രുചിയുണ്ട് (nalla ruchiyundu) = it's really tasty നീ നന്നായി പാടി (nee nannaayi paadi) = you sang well അടിപൊളി (adipoli) = awesome കിടു (kidu) = cool, great മിടുക്കൻ (midukkan) = clever boy, good boy മിടുക്കി (midukki) = clever girl, good girl നന്നായി ചെയ്തു (nannaayi cheythu) = well done, you did it well സാരമില്ല (saaramilla) = never mind, it doesn't matter പേടിക്കണ്ട (pedikkanda) = don't be afraid വിഷമിക്കണ്ട (vishamikkanda) = don't worry നിനക്ക് പറ്റും (ninakku pattum) = you can do it ഒന്നുകൂടി ശ്രമിച്ചുനോക്ക് (onnukoodi shramichunokku) = try once more പരീക്ഷയ്ക്ക് ഓൾ ദി ബെസ്റ്റ് (pareekshaykku ol di bestu) = all the best for the exam നന്നായി എഴുതണേ (nannaayi ezhuthane) = write well പോയിട്ട് വാ (poyittu vaa) = go and come back പോയിട്ട് വരാം (poyittu varaam) = I'll go and come back 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.