നിങ്ങൾ എവിടെ പോകുന്നു?
ningal evide pokunnu?
In Malayalam, "where are you going?" is said as നിങ്ങൾ എവിടെ പോകുന്നു? (ningal evide pokunnu?)
This phrase is used to ask someone about their destination.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ningal (you), evide (where) and pokunnu (going).
Which one should you use?
While നിങ്ങൾ എവിടെ പോകുന്നു? is a standard way to ask the question, speakers in casual conversation often use the colloquial form എങ്ങോട്ടാണ് പോകുന്നത്? (where to are you going?).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal way to say "Where are you heading to?", you can use നിങ്ങൾ എവിടെ പോകുന്നത്? In casual conversation, the colloquial എങ്ങോട്ടാണ് പോകുന്നത്? is common.
How does it change in a sentence?
Replacing the formal ningal with the singular nee in നീ എവിടെ പോകുന്നു? makes the question informal, which is used when speaking with friends or younger people.
How do you pronounce it?
ningal evide pokunnu?
Did you know?
- In many parts of Kerala, asking 'where are you going?' is a standard social greeting rather than a literal inquiry into one's destination.
- The formal pronoun നിങ്ങൾ is created by adding the plural marker -കൾ to the singular നീ.
- When asking this phrase to an elder, speakers often omit the pronoun നിങ്ങൾ entirely because the verb ending already implies the subject.
Examples in context
- നിങ്ങൾ എവിടെ പോകുന്നു? ബസ് കാത്തുനിൽക്കുകയാണോ?niṅṅaḷ eviṭe pōkunnu? bas kāttunilkkukayāṇō?Where are you going? Are you waiting for the bus?
Example conversation
Two friends meet on the street.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliരാഹുൽ, നിങ്ങൾ എവിടെ പോകുന്നു?Rahul, ningal evide pokunnu?Rahul, where are you going?
- രാഹുൽ Rahulഞാൻ മാർക്കറ്റിലേക്ക് പോകുന്നു.njan marketilekku pokunnu.I am going to the market.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഎന്താണ് അവിടെ വാങ്ങുന്നത്?enthanu avide vangunnathu?What are you buying there?
- രാഹുൽ Rahulഞാൻ കുറച്ച് പഴങ്ങൾ വാങ്ങുന്നു.njan kurachu pazhangal vangunnu.I am buying some fruits.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries എവിടെ, നിങ്ങൾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
