What Are Common Mistakes Malayalees Make When Speaking Arabic?
What are common mistakes Malayalees make when speaking Arabic? You know that awkward moment when you try to say something in Arabic… and the other person just blinks? Or worse—laughs gently and corrects you? If you’re a Malayalee living in the Gulf, you’ve probably been there. You hear Arabic every day—in shops, hospitals, even in casual chats at work. You pick up bits and pieces. You try. But somehow, it doesn’t sound quite right. And you wonder—“Is it just me?” It’s not just you. Malayalees, despite being quick learners and great with languages, tend to make some very specific mistakes when speaking Arabic. Most of them come from habits we don’t even realise we have—like the way we form sentences or pronounce certain letters. The good news? Once you know these common mistakes, you can fix them. Let’s look at what most Malayalees get wrong—and how you can start getting it right. 1. Mixing Malayalam Sentence Structure with Arabic Malayalam and Arabic have very different word orders. A lot of Malayalees translate Malayalam directly into Arabic—and that often confuses native speakers. For example, saying “Ana doctor aanu” instead of simply “Ana doctor” (أنا دكتور). Why it matters: Arabic sentence structure is simpler than you think. Once you understand it, speaking becomes much easier. Pronouncing Arabic Letters Like Malayalam Sounds Arabic has many sounds that don’t exist in Malayalam—like ع (ain), ق (qaf), or ح (haa). Many learners replace them with the closest Malayalam sound, which changes the meaning entirely. For example: 🔸 Saying “galb” (heart) as “kalb” (dog). Oops. How to fix: Practice with a trainer who teaches Arabic through Malayalam so you know how to say it right—without guessing. Relying Only on Gulf Slang Without Learning the Basics A lot of Malayalees in the GCC pick up spoken slang from coworkers and try to manage with that. While it’s useful, it often leads to grammatical mistakes and limited vocabulary. Why this hurts you: You’ll struggle in professional or official situations—like interviews, banks, or hospitals. Learn the right basics once, and then the slang will start making sense too. Translating Word-by-Word Instead of Understanding Meaning Many Malayalee learners try to match each Malayalam word with an Arabic one. But Arabic is a contextual language—it’s not about translation, it’s about feeling the meaning. What helps: Courses that teach spoken Arabic through real-life situations and examples—not just vocabulary lists. Thinking “It’s Too Late to Learn” This one is emotional. So many people in their 30s, 40s, or 50s say: “I’ve been in the Gulf for 10 years… now what’s the use of learning Arabic?” Here’s the truth: It’s never too late. In fact, most of our students at Arabic Language Hub are working Malayalees who start from scratch and speak confidently within 60–90 days. Language is human. Mistakes are human. What matters is the intention to learn, to connect, and to grow. If you’ve been thinking about joining a spoken Arabic course that’s made just for Malayalees like you—with explanations in Malayalam, flexible timings, and practical speaking practice—then maybe now is the time. Correct your mistakes. Speak with confidence. And feel proud when someone says, “Masha Allah! You speak Arabic so well!”