ചായ
cāya/t͡ʃaːjɐ/
The word for tea in Malayalam is ചായ (cāya).
ചായ refers to the drink made from the leaves of the tea plant.
Meaning: drink made from leaves of tea plant (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced cāya.
Did you know?
- In Kerala, ചായ is often served as 'meter tea', where the server pours the liquid between two cups held far apart to create foam and cool the drink.
- The word ചായ is also used in a completely different context to mean 'an image' or 'a sketch', a homonym that can confuse new learners.
- The word ചായ is a linguistic traveler that passed through Hindi and Persian before reaching Malayalam, connecting the Kerala coast to the ancient tea trade routes of China.
Examples in context
- ചായയിൽ പഞ്ചസാര കുറവാണോ?chayayil panjasara kuravaano?Is there less sugar in the tea?
- ചൂടുള്ള ചായ കുടിക്കൂ.choodulla chaya kudikkoo.Drink the hot tea.
Example conversation
Rahul and Anjali are sitting in a cafe.
- രാഹുൽ Rahulഅഞ്ജലിക്ക് ചായ വേണോ?anjalikku chaya veno?Does Anjali want tea?
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഅതെ, എനിക്ക് ചായ വേണം.athe, enikku chaya venam.Yes, I want tea.
- രാഹുൽ Rahulചായയിൽ പാൽ വേണോ?chayayil paal veno?Do you want milk in the tea?
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഅതെ, പാൽ ഉള്ള ചായ മതി.athe, paal ulla chaya madhi.Yes, tea with milk is fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tea” translations and entries ചായ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ചായ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
