Learning pronouns in Malayalam, a Dravidian language spoken mainly in the Indian state of Kerala, is crucial for mastering both spoken and written communication. Malayalam pronouns are characterized by their forms according to person, number, gender, and case. This guide covers personal, possessive, demonstrative, reflexive, and interrogative pronouns, providing detailed explanations and examples for each, including transliterations for pronunciation help.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns in Malayalam replace nouns referring to people or things and are used based on the person being referred to.

Subject Pronouns:

• ഞാൻ (ñān) – I: “ഞാൻ പോകുന്നു.” (ñān pōkunnu) – I am going.
• നീ (nī) – You (singular, informal): “നീ വരുന്നോ?” (nī varunnō?) – Are you coming?
• അവൻ/അവൾ (avan/avaḷ) – He/She: “അവൻ പഠിക്കുന്നു.” / “അവൾ പാടുന്നു.” (avan paṭikkunnu / avaḷ pāṭunnu) – He is studying. / She is singing.
• നാം (nām) – We (inclusive): “നാം യാത്ര ചെയ്യുന്നു.” (nām yātra cheyyunnu) – We are traveling.
• ഞങ്ങൾ (ñaṅṅaḷ) – We (exclusive): “ഞങ്ങൾ കളിക്കുന്നു.” (ñaṅṅaḷ kaḷikkunnu) – We are playing.
• നിങ്ങൾ (niṅṅaḷ) – You (plural or formal): “നിങ്ങൾ എവിടെയാണ്?” (niṅṅaḷ eviṭeyāṇ?) – Where are you?
• അവർ (avar) – They: “അവർ ചിരിക്കുന്നു.” (avar cirikkunnu) – They are laughing.

Object Pronouns:

• എന്നെ (enne) – Me: “അവൻ എന്നെ കണ്ടു.” (avan enne kaṇṭu) – He saw me.
• നിന്നെ (ninne) – You: “ഞാൻ നിന്നെ സ്നേഹിക്കുന്നു.” (ñān ninne snēhikkunnu) – I love you.
• അവനെ/അവളെ (avane/avaḷe) – Him/Her: “ഞാൻ അവനെ/അവളെ വിളിച്ചു.” (ñān avane/avaḷe viḷicchu) – I called him/her.
• നമ്മെ (namme) – Us: “അവർ നമ്മെ ക്ഷണിച്ചു.” (avar namme kṣaṇicchu) – They invited us.
• നിങ്ങളെ (niṅṅaḷe) – You (plural or formal): “ഞാൻ നിങ്ങളെ കണ്ടു.” (ñān niṅṅaḷe kaṇṭu) – I saw you.
• അവരെ (avare) – Them: “ഞാൻ അവരെ ഓർത്തു.” (ñān avare ōrttu) – I remembered them.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns in Malayalam indicate ownership and are often formed by adding “ഉടെ” (uṭe) to the personal pronouns.

• എന്റെ (enṭe) – My: “എന്റെ പുസ്തകം.” (enṭe pustakaṁ) – My book.
• നിന്റെ (ninṭe) – Your: “നിന്റെ വീട്.” (ninṭe vīṭ) – Your house.
• അവന്റെ/അവളുടെ (avanṭe/avaḷuṭe) – His/Hers: “അവന്റെ കാർ.” / “അവളുടെ സ്വപ്നം.” (avanṭe kār / avaḷuṭe svapnaṁ) – His car. / Her dream.
• നമ്മുടെ (nammuṭe) – Our: “നമ്മുടെ നാട്.” (nammuṭe nāṭ) – Our country.
• നിങ്ങളുടെ (niṅṅaḷuṭe) – Your (plural or formal): “നിങ്ങളുടെ കുടുംബം.” (niṅṅaḷuṭe kuṭumbaṁ) – Your family.
• അവരുടെ (avar uṭe) – Their: “അവരുടെ യാത്ര.” (avar uṭe yātra) – Their journey.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns in Malayalam point to specific nouns and vary based on distance.

• ഇത് (it) – This: “ഇത് കണ്ടോ?” (it kaṇḍō?) – Did you see this?
• അത് (at) – That: “അത് എന്താണ്?” (at entāṇ?) – What is that?

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns in Malayalam are used when the subject performs an action upon itself. Malayalam typically uses “സ്വയം” (svayaṁ) for reflexive meanings.

• സ്വയം (svayaṁ) – Oneself: “അവൻ സ്വയം പഠിച്ചു.” (avan svayaṁ paṭhicchu) – He studied by himself.

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions about people, places, or things.

• ആര് (ār) – Who: “ആര് വന്നു?” (ār vannu?) – Who came?
• എന്ത് (ent) – What: “എന്ത് വാങ്ങി?” (ent vāṅṅi?) – What did you buy?
• എവിടെ (eviṭe) – Where: “നീ എവിടെയാണ്?” (nī eviṭeyāṇ?) – Where are you?

Understanding and correctly using Malayalam pronouns is vital for navigating both simple and complex conversations. Practice forming sentences with each type of pronoun, and try to engage in conversations or writing exercises to apply these concepts actively. Remember, context and the nuances of Malayalam grammar play a significant role in choosing the correct pronoun form.