English links contrasting ideas with separate little words placed anywhere: although, even if, still, yet, anyway, just because. English speakers look for a stand-alone Malayalam word for "although" and put it at the start, as in English. Malayalam usually works the other way round. In this episode: • Ennu vechu: just because • Enkilum and -aalum: even though, even if • Ennaalum and ennittum: still, even so • Anyway and whatever happens • Pakshe and athukondu: but and so • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: എങ്കിൽ (enkil) = if. Add ഉം (um) = even, and you get എങ്കിലും (enkilum) = even though. വൈകിയെങ്കിലും വന്നല്ലോ (vaikiyenkilum vannallo) = you came, even though late മഴ പെയ്താലും ഞാൻ പോകും (mazha peythaalum njaan pokum) = even if it rains, I'll go എന്നാലും (ennaalum) = even so, all the same, still. എങ്ങനെ ആയാലും (engane aayaalum) = however it turns out, whatever happens. എന്തായാലും (enthaayaalum) = anyway, in any case. It closes a topic and moves on. പക്ഷേ (pakshe) = but. It does stand at the start of the second clause, just like English. അതുകൊണ്ട് (athukondu) = so, because of that. 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.