The kitchen is where Kerala families talk the most, and it moves fast: chop this, stir that, check the salt. English speakers usually translate word by word. They want to say "Can I help you?" and build a long, stiff sentence about being able to help. In this episode: • The kitchen and the key ingredients • The core cooking verbs • On the stove • Tasting and helping • An invented scene: meera learns the kitchen • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: അടുക്കള (adukkala) = kitchen തക്കാളി (thakkaali) = tomato തേങ്ങ (thenga) = coconut കറിവേപ്പില (kariveppila) = curry leaves പച്ചമുളക് (pachamulaku) = green chilli ഇഞ്ചി (inchi) = ginger വെളുത്തുള്ളി (veluthulli) = garlic. Notice it literally means "white onion". മഞ്ഞൾപ്പൊടി (manjalppodi) = turmeric powder മുളകുപൊടി (mulakupodi) = chilli powder ഉപ്പ് (uppu) = salt വെളിച്ചെണ്ണ (velichenna) = coconut oil കടുക് (kaduku) = mustard seeds അരിയ് (ariyu) = chop. അരിഞ്ഞു (arinju) = chopped. വറുക്ക് (varukku) = fry or roast. വറുത്തു (varuthu) = fried. ഇളക്ക് (ilakku) = stir. ഒന്ന് ഇളക്ക് (onnu ilakku) = give it a stir. കഴുക് (kazhuku) = wash. അരി കഴുകി (ari kazhuki) = I washed the rice. തേങ്ങ ചിരകി (thenga chiraki) = I grated the coconut. തേങ്ങ അരയ്ക്കണം (thenga araykkanam) = the coconut needs grinding. ഉപ്പ് ഇട് (uppu idu) = put in the salt. ചട്ടി (chatti) = shallow pan or clay pot ചൂടാക്ക് (choodaakku) = heat it up. എണ്ണ ചൂടാക്ക് (enna choodaakku) = heat the oil. തീ കുറയ്ക്ക് (thee kuraykku) = turn the flame down 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.