Malayalam Sayings.

 25 Malayalam sayings that deliver wisdom with a generous dose of humour.

The one species from planet earth that can be found all over the world - and I mean all over the world - are Malayalees. Aka Mallus. The Gulf is our mini naadu and the world is our stage. If asked to name a few things that we have aplenty, it's Marxists, coconuts and idioms. So here are 25 funny, quirky sayings all the way from God's own country that hold a treasure chest of meaning.

So to all Malayalees out there, your mother would've said this to you at least once. And to the rest of you, you'll know just why we're a funny bunch.

* The first line will give the idiom in 'Roman Malayalam' and the second line will give its meaning.

 1. Ela nakki pattiyude kiri nakki patti aakaruthu. Don't be the dog who licks the face of the dog   that licks leaves.                                                                                                                                             

 2. Theetam thinnunna pattikku ariyaamo oochinde manam. The dog that eats shit cannot smell a   fart.                                                                                                                                                                 

 3. Uppu thinnunnavan vellam kudikkum. You always pay for your deeds.                                             

 4. Irunnitte kaalu neettaavu. Spread your legs only after you've sat down properly.                               

 5. Muttathe mullakku manamilla. The jasmine in your garden will have no fragrance.                           

 6. Adacha vaayil eecha kayarukayilla. A fly does not enter a closed mouth.                                           

 7. Moothavaru chollum mudunellikka, aadyam kayikkum pinneedu madhurikkum. The words of our elders are like Indian Gooseberry. It's sour at first but turns sweet later.                                               

 8. Paalam kadakkunnathuvare 'Narayana, Narayana', kadannu kazhiyumbol koorayana kooraayana. They are all good to you till they've crossed the bridge.                                                       

 9. Chottayile seelam chudala vare. Habit developed inside the womb stays for life.                            

10. Aadhi thanne vyaadhi. Your care is making you ill, but you still do it.                                              

11. Aana vaa polikkunnathukandu annaan vaa polikkaruthu. A squirrel should not open its mouth because an elephant did.                                                                                                                            

12. Velukkaan thechathu paandaayi. What was applied for whitening has now left scars.                    

13. Aana koduthaalum aasha kodukkaruthu. Give them an elephant but don't make people dream pointlessly.                                                                                                                                                  

14. Kaaka kulichaal kokku aakumo? Will bathing make a crow a white crane?                                      

15. Venamenkil chakka verilum kaaikkum. If need be, the jackfruit will grow at the roots too.            

16. Kaakkakku thankunju ponkunju. Even a crow thinks its baby is made of gold.                              

17. Angaadiyil thottathinu ammayodu. You failed in the market and now you blame your mother.      

18. Attaye pidichu methayil kidathiyaalum athu pokum kuppa kuzhiyil. No matter how lovingly you keep a centipede, it will always go back to the garbage.                                                                      

19. Adi thettiyaal aanayum veezhum. A misstep can make an elephant fall too.                                    

20. Mongaan irunna naayude thalayil thenga veenu. The dog sat to moan and had a coconut fall on its head.                                                                                                                                                        

21. Kokkethra kulam kandirikkunnu? Is there a dearth of ponds that a crane has seen?                      

22. Veynda, veynda ennu vichaarikkumbol thalayil keri chaadunnu. When you're trying to let it go, it's jumping on your head.                                                                                                                            

23. Vadi koduthu adi vaangi. Giving a stick to get beaten up.                                                                  

24. Thupparuthu, thaazhe nilkkunnavar anubhavikkum. Do not spit, the ones beneath you will suffer.                                                                                                                                                            

25. Veyliyil kidanna paambine eduthu tholil idaruthu. Don't carry the snake on the wall (In the olden days, the boundary wall used to be made of mud with thatched coconut leaves on top to protect it from the brunt of the rains ; it unwittingly provided shelter to snakes!) on your shoulder.

Courtesy. Spotlight.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Lekha, along with Suma, had gone to the PDS shop to collect the rations - PM's and CM's kits as they call them and I'm impressed with the quality of the grocery being provided! - and returned within 10'.

As I punch these lines, I'm transported to that ill fated evening, 4 years ago, when my Amma was going through her difficulties and was preparing to leave us, forever, 13 hours later.