നല്ല ദിവസം
nalla divasam
The English phrase "have a nice day" is translated into Malayalam as നല്ല ദിവസം (nalla divasam).
നല്ല ദിവസം is a literal translation of "good day". While it is a direct equivalent to "have a nice day", it is rarely used as a standalone parting phrase in natural Malayalam conversation.
Meaning: goodbye (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of two parts: നല്ല which means "good" and divasam which means "day".
How do you pronounce it?
nalla divasam
Did you know?
- The word ദിവസം for 'day' is a loanword from Sanskrit, whereas the word നല്ല for 'good' is an indigenous word from the Proto-Dravidian language family.
- In traditional Kerala culture, parting greetings were often tied to the action of leaving, and the concept of wishing someone a 'nice day' as a standard social script is a relatively recent influence from Western customs.
- Malayalam has several words for 'day', and while ദിവസം is used in നല്ല ദിവസം, the word പകൽ is used specifically to refer to the daylight hours of a day.
Examples in context
- നല്ല ദിവസം ആശംസിക്കുന്നു.nalla divasam aashamsikkunnu.I wish you a nice day.
- നല്ല ദിവസം ഉണ്ടാകട്ടെ.nalla divasam undaakatte.Have a nice day.
Example conversation
Sridevi and Rahul are saying goodbye after a meeting.
- ശ്രീദേവി Srideviശരി രാഹുൽ, ഞാൻ ഇറങ്ങുന്നു.shari rahul, njaan irangunnu.Okay Rahul, I am leaving.
- രാഹുൽ Rahulശരി ശ്രീദേവി, നല്ല ദിവസം ആശംസിക്കുന്നു!shari sridevi, nalla divasam aashamsikkunnu!Okay Sridevi, have a nice day!
- ശ്രീദേവി Srideviനന്ദി, നിങ്ങൾക്കും നല്ലൊരു ദിവസം ആശംസിക്കുന്നു.nandi, ningalkkum nalloru divasam aashamsikkunnu.Thank you, I wish you a nice day too.
- രാഹുൽ Rahulശരി, പിന്നീട് കാണാം.shari, pinnidu kaanaam.Okay, see you later.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ദിവസം, നല്ല, CC BY-SA 4.0.
