Common Malayalam Verbs with Present, Past and Future Forms
Learn frequently used Malayalam action words and see how verbs change across present, past and future sentences.
Verbs carry the action in a sentence. Once you know the common forms of a few Malayalam verbs, you can talk about what you do, what you did and what you will do.
Notice the pattern rather than translating one word at a time. Practise each verb as a three-part family: do, did and will do.
What you need to know
Do
ചെയ്യുക (cheyyuka) means to do; ചെയ്തു (cheythu) means did; ചെയ്യും (cheyyum) means will do.
Say
പറയുക (parayuka) means to say; പറഞ്ഞു (paranju) means said; പറയും (parayum) means will say.
Go and come
പോകുക / പോയി / പോകും (pokuka / poyi / pokum) and വരിക / വന്നു / വരും (varika / vannu / varum).
Useful Malayalam examples
Read each sentence aloud. Use the pronunciation as a bridge, then return to the Malayalam script as you become familiar with it.
Make the lesson yours
- Choose five verbs and say their past and future forms.
- Describe three things you did yesterday.
- Say three things you will do tomorrow.
Common questions
Do Malayalam verbs change for he, she and they?
In many everyday tense forms, the verb does not change as much for grammatical person as it does in English. Context and the subject make the meaning clear.
What is the easiest way to remember Malayalam verbs?
Learn each verb with one real sentence in the present, past and future rather than memorising an isolated dictionary form.