Pronoun	സർവ്വനാമം	Sarvvanaamam	Comments
I	ഞാൻ	njaa + n = njaan / nyaan	Used to refer to self.  Often avoided in conversation because obvious talking about self.
You (singular)	നീ	nee	Used when talking to younger people or friends.  Usage is very informal.  Also used to show intimacy.
You (plural)	നിങ്ങൾ	ni + nga + l = ningal	Used when talking to a group of people or one person in a polite way.  Used more commonly.
You	താങ്കൾ	thaa + nka + l = thaankal	Used to show respect to much elder person or a person in authority.
You	അങ്ങ്	a + ngu = angu	Used when talking to a person in very high authority, like God or a king or queen.
He	അവൻ / ഇവൻ	a + va + n = avan / i + va + n = ivan	Used when talking about younger male or male friends.  Usage is very informal.  Can also be used to show intimacy.
She	അവൾ / ഇവൾ	a + va + l = aval / i + va + l = ival	Used when talking about younger female or female friends.  Usage is very informal.  Can also be used to show intimacy.
He / She	അയാൾ / ഇയാൾ	a + yaa + l = ayaal i + yaa + l = iyaal	Used when talking about someone respectfully.  Can be used when talking about anyone generally.
He	അദ്ദേഹം / ഇദ്ദേഹം	a+dde+ha+m=addeham i+dde+ha+m=iddeham	Used to show respect when talking about a male elder or male person in authority.
He	അങ്ങേര് / ഇങ്ങേര്	a + nge + ru = angeru i + nge + ru = ingeru	Used to show respect when talking about a male elder or male person in authority.
She	അവർ / ഇവർ	a + va + r = avar i + va + r = ivar	Used to show respect when talking about a female elder or female person in authority.
He / She	അവിടുത്തെ / ഇവിടുത്തെ	a+vi+du+ththe=aviduththe i+vi+du+ththe=ividuththe	Used when talking about a person in very high authority, like God or a king or queen.
We (inclusive)	നമ്മൾ	na + mma + l = nammal	Used when talking about self and a group of people including the person being spoken to.
We (exclusive)	ഞങ്ങൾ	nja + nga + l = njangal / nyangal	Used when talking about self and a group of people not including the person being spoken to.
They	അവർ / ഇവർ	a + va + r = avar i + va + r = ivar	Used when talking about a group of people, not including self.

There are some other pronouns that can be learnt at a more advanced level.  For example താൻ (thaan) and തങ്ങൾ (thangal) which are a little bit more complicated because the meaning of the word depends on the context.

In some situations Malayalees avoid using pronouns. 
E.g. when asking Grandmother if she watched the news.  Ningal is not polite enough.  Thaankal is too formal.  So we just use the relationship name.  Also for elder family members we naturally use the relationship name, instead of the word 'you', as it is considered more respectful and intimate.  അമ്മൂമ്മ വാർത്ത കണ്ടോ ?  (ammoomma vaarththa kando?).
Another example is asking the Headmaster if he watched the news.  Most people would just say സാർ വാർത്ത കണ്ടോ ? ( saar (=sir) vaarththa kando?).

In the above and below sentences വാർത്ത = vaarththa = news.  കാണുക = kaanuka = the infinitive of the verb 'to see', കണ്ടു / kandu is the simple past tense (saw) and കണ്ടോ / kando is the simple past tense in question form (saw?).

Also if it is obvious who is being spoken about or the situation is less formal or we are talking to someone our age or younger, we can avoid using Pronouns.
                         E.g.  Person 1: വാർത്ത കണ്ടോ ? = vaarththa kando? = saw the news?
                                 Person 2: ങാ കണ്ടു = ngaa kandu = yes, saw.

Note: ങാ (ngaa) is a sound that Malayalees make that means yes - as you listen to more Malayalam conversations you will pick it up.


I hope the lesson was useful and gave you a good introduction to Malayalam Pronouns.  As you listen and read more as well as take part in more conversations, you will get an idea about which Pronouns to use, when to use them and when you can avoid using the Pronouns, in some situations using another word instead.

If you actually did cry about the Malayalam grammar you need to toughen up.  This is nothing.  It gets worse.  But after the struggle you will feel more satisfied with what you have achieved.  Did you notice any patterns?  Do any of the Pronouns with different meaning use the same word?  If you pay attention and notice these little things it will help make learning more meaningful and efficient.  I would not recommend memorising everything at once.  Do a little bit at a time.  For each word you could write a few simple sentences using words you know.  Again this would make what you are learning more meaningful and therefore more likely to stick in your mind.  (This was the second 'practical advice' part of the lesson.)

When you feel ready you could try the Lesson / Quiz I have published on this website called "Malayalam Pronouns Quiz".

I wish you all the success with your challenging, but rewarding journey through the land of മലയാളം.

പുള്ളിക്കാരൻ മാഷ്‌  (Pullikkaaran Maash)