You cannot understand Kerala without understanding the Gulf — and one Malayalam word that English cannot translate. For fifty years, Gulf migration has shaped Kerala's houses, marriages, food and family life. പ്രവാസി is not expatriate and not emigrant: it means someone who has gone away, still belongs here, and is expected back. Learn the vocabulary every Kerala family uses — and the sentences that open a real conversation with someone who has lived it. Words in this class: പ്രവാസി (pravaasi) – a person living away from home പ്രവാസം (pravaasam) – life away from the homeland ഗൾഫിൽ ആണ് (galfil aanu) – he is in the Gulf വിസ കിട്ടി (visa kitti) – the visa came through ലീവിന് വന്നു (leevinu vannu) – came home on leave നാട് (naadu) – native place, homeland നാട്ടിൽ എവിടെയാണ്? (naattil evideyaanu?) – where in Kerala are you from? നാട്ടിൽ പോകുന്നു (naattil pokunnu) – going home to Kerala പൈസ അയച്ചു (paisa ayachu) – sent the money എത്ര വർഷമായി അവിടെ? (ethra varshamaayi avide?) – how many years have you been there? എപ്പോൾ തിരിച്ചു പോകുന്നു? (eppol thirichu pokunnu?) – when are you going back? വർഷത്തിൽ ഒരിക്കൽ വരും (varshathil orikkal varum) – he comes once a year കുട്ടികൾ ഇവിടെയാണ് (kuttikal ivideyaanu) – the children are here In this class: • Why പ്രവാസി carries a longing that expatriate does not • The Gulf vocabulary — visa, leave, sponsor, agent, sending money • Real sentences you will hear from Gulf families • How fifty years of migration reshaped Kerala, from the nursing schools to the big empty houses Quizzes below. Dr. Reshmi R Nair — SpeakMalayalam.