സുപ്രഭാതം
suprabhātaṁ/suprɐb(ʱ)aːd̪ɐm/
The English phrase 'good morning' is translated into Malayalam as സുപ്രഭാതം (suprabhātaṁ).
സുപ്രഭാതം is used when seeing someone for the first time in the morning. In casual daily conversation, however, Malayalam speakers often use the English 'Good morning' or a general greeting like 'Namaskaram' instead of this specific term.
Meaning: when seeing someone for the first time in the morning (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word സുപ്രഭാതം is a compound consisting of su-, meaning 'good' or 'well' and prabhātam, meaning 'dawn' or 'morning'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
സുപ്രഭാതം is a formal way to say 'good morning' and is most commonly used in literature, broadcast media or formal greetings. To increase the level of respect and formality, you can combine it with a greeting to say Namaskaram Suprabhaatham.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is suprabhātaṁ and the IPA is /suprɐb(ʱ)aːd̪ɐm/.
Did you know?
- While സുപ്രഭാതം is the formal word for 'good morning', many Keralites simply greet each other by asking ചായ കുടിച്ചോ?, which means 'did you drink tea?'
- In traditional Kerala households, a morning greeting is often accompanied by a gesture of touching the feet of elders to show respect.
- The prefix സു- in സുപ്രഭാതം functions similarly to the English 'eu-' in 'euphony', denoting something that is 'good' or 'well'.
Examples in context
- സുപ്രഭാതം!Good morning!This sentence shows how to use സുപ്രഭാതം as a standalone greeting.Tatoeba #6402551 by Balamax, translation #329713 by YURY0608
- എല്ലാവർക്കും സുപ്രഭാതം.ellavarkkum suprabhatham.Good morning to everyone.
- സുപ്രഭാതം, സുഹൃത്തുക്കളെ!suprabhatham, suhruthukkale!Good morning, friends!
Example conversation
Arjun meets Lakshmi at a park in the early morning.
- അർജുൻ Arjunസുപ്രഭാതം, ലക്ഷ്മി!suprabhatham, lakshmi!Good morning, Lakshmi!
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiസുപ്രഭാതം, അർജുൻ. സുഖമാണോ?suprabhatham, arjun. sukhamano?Good morning, Arjun. Are you doing well?
- അർജുൻ Arjunഅതെ, എനിക്ക് സുഖമാണ്.athe, enikku sukhamanu.Yes, I am fine.
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiഅത് കേട്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം.athu kettathil santhosham.Glad to hear that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good morning” translations and entries സുപ്രഭാതം, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
