Real Malayalam conversation is full of tiny words that carry feeling: agreement, surprise, a gentle nudge, a change of topic. Textbooks skip them, so learners sound like a news reader. The typical mistake is translating English glue words directly. In this episode: • Alle: the tag that invites agreement • Ketto and pinne: softening and moving on • Athe, sheri, aa, um: saying yes in different colours • Enthaa, ayyo, oh: reactions • Alla pinne and enthaayaalum • An invented scene: meera and leela chechi • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: അല്ലേ (alle) = isn't it? / right? / won't you? നീ നാളെ വരും, അല്ലേ? (nee naale varum, alle?) = You'll come tomorrow, won't you? ചായ നന്നായിട്ടുണ്ട്, അല്ലേ? (chaaya nannaayittundu, alle?) = The tea is good, isn't it? അവൻ വന്നില്ലല്ലോ (avan vannillallo) = He hasn't come, has he? / He didn't come, you see. കേട്ടോ (ketto) = okay? / you know / mind you. ശ്രദ്ധിക്കണം, കേട്ടോ (shraddhikkanam, ketto) = Be careful, okay? ഞാൻ ഇപ്പോൾ വരാം, കേട്ടോ (njaan ippol varaam, ketto) = I'll be right back, okay? പിന്നെ (pinne) = then / later / and also / so. പിന്നെ പറയാം (pinne parayaam) = I'll tell you later. പിന്നെ, വേറെ എന്തൊക്കെ? (pinne, vere enthokke?) = So, what else is new? അതേ (athe) = yes, exactly, that's right. It confirms a fact. അതേ, ഞാൻ തന്നെ (athe, njaan thanne) = Yes, it's me. ശരി (sheri) = okay, fine, agreed. It accepts a plan or an instruction. ശരി, ഞാൻ ചെയ്യാം (sheri, njaan cheyyaam) = Okay, I'll do it. 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.