കണ്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം
kandathil santhosham
The English phrase "nice to meet you" is translated into Malayalam as കണ്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം (kandathil santhosham).
കണ്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം is a polite expression used to convey that you are pleased to meet someone for the first time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of kandathil, which means "in seeing" or "in meeting" and santhosham, which means "happiness" or "joy".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This phrase is polite and suitable for both formal and semi-formal social introductions.
How does it change in a sentence?
കണ്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം is grammatically neutral and can be used regardless of the gender or number of the person you are meeting.
How do you pronounce it?
kandathil santhosham
Did you know?
- The word സന്തോഷം contains a linguistic fingerprint of ancient India, as it is a direct loanword from the Sanskrit word saṃtoṣa.
- In very formal settings, instead of saying they are 'happy' to meet, a speaker might instead use words that convey 'honor' or 'prestige' to show respect to the person they are meeting.
- Because Malayalam is an agglutinative language, the 'in' part of 'in meeting' is fused directly onto the verb to create the single word കണ്ടതിൽ, rather than being a separate preposition.
Example conversation
Lakshmi and Manoj meet for the first time at a social gathering.
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiനമസ്കാരം, ഞാൻ ലക്ഷ്മി.namaskaram, njan lakshmi.Hello, I am Lakshmi.
- മനോജ് Manojനമസ്കാരം, ഞാൻ മനോജ്. നിങ്ങളെ കണ്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം.namaskaram, njan manoj. ningale kandathil santhosham.Hello, I am Manoj. Nice to meet you.
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiഎനിക്കും സന്തോഷം.enikkum santhosham.I am happy too.
- മനോജ് Manojപിന്നെ കാണാം.pinne kaanam.See you later.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries സന്തോഷം, CC BY-SA 4.0.
