നീ എന്താണ് ചെയ്യുന്നത്?
nee enthaanu cheyyunnathu?
what are you doing? in Malayalam is നീ എന്താണ് ചെയ്യുന്നത്? (nee enthaanu cheyyunnathu?)
This phrase is used to ask someone about the activity they are currently performing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of നീ (you), എന്താണ് (what is) and ചെയ്യുന്നത് (doing).
Which one should you use?
The form ചെയ്യുന്നത് (cheyyunnathu) uses the continuous aspect to specifically ask about an action currently in progress.
How does it change in a sentence?
In casual conversation, the pronoun നീ (nee) is often omitted entirely, leaving just എന്താണ് ചെയ്യുന്നത്?
How do you pronounce it?
nee enthaanu cheyyunnathu?
Did you know?
- While നീ (nee) is the literal word for 'you' in this phrase, using it with a stranger or an elder would be considered very rude. In those cases, speakers replace it with നിങ്ങൾ (ningal) or omit the pronoun entirely to show respect.
- When asking 'what are you doing?' as a casual greeting, a common response is not to describe the action, but to say ഒന്നും ഇല്ല (onnum illa), which means 'nothing'.
- The pronoun നീ (nee) is a direct descendant of the Proto-Dravidian word *nīn, making it a linguistic cousin to the Tamil நீ (nī) and Kannada ನೀನು (nīnu).
Example conversation
Meera calls Arjun to see if he is busy.
- അർജുൻ Arjunഹലോ മീര, പറയൂ.hello meera, parayoo.Hello Meera, tell me.
- മീര Meeraനീ എന്താണ് ചെയ്യുന്നത്?nee enthaanu cheyyunnathu?What are you doing?
- അർജുൻ Arjunഞാൻ ഒരു പുസ്തകം വായിക്കുകയാണ്.njaan oru pusthakam vayikkukayaanu.I am reading a book.
- മീര Meeraശരി, പിന്നെ വിളിക്കാം.shari, pinne vilikkaam.Okay, I will call later.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries നീ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
