Kerala Malayalam vocabulary guide
Fish Names in Malayalam and English: Tuna, Kingfish, Mackerel, Sardine and Regional Names
Learn fish names in Malayalam with English meanings, Malayalam script, easy pronunciation and the regional names used in Kerala’s markets. This guide covers familiar favourites such as tuna, kingfish, mackerel, sardine, anchovy, pearl spot and pomfret.
Originally published: 30 May 2024 · Updated: 22 August 2026 · Reading time: approximately 12 minutes
What is “fish” called in Malayalam?
The everyday Malayalam word for fish is മീൻ (meen). The formal word is മത്സ്യം (matsyam), and the plural “fish names” can be expressed as മത്സ്യങ്ങളുടെ പേരുകൾ (matsyangalude perukal).
Quick answers: four popular fish names
Tuna
ചൂരChoora
Kingfish / Seer fish
നെയ്മീൻ / അയക്കൂറNeymeen / Ayakkoora
Mackerel
അയലAyala
Sardine
മത്തി / ചാളMathi / Chaala
Why Malayalam fish names differ by region
A fish may have different names in Kasaragod, Kannur, Kochi, Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram. Fish sellers may also use one market name for several closely related species. That is why this guide includes regional alternatives and, where useful, a scientific species or family. Use the scientific name—not only a market name—when exact identification matters.
Most-searched Kerala fish
| # | English name | Malayalam name | Say it | Identification | Name usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuna | ചൂര / ചൂരമീൻ | choora / choora meenchoo-ra | Tuna group; several species | Widely used |
| 2 | Kingfish / Seer fish | നെയ്മീൻ / അയക്കൂറ / ഐക്കൂറ | neymeen / ayakkoora / aikooraney-meen / a-ya-kkoo-ra | Usually seer fishes (Scomberomorus spp.) | Regional |
| 3 | Indian mackerel | അയല | ayalaa-ya-la | Rastrelliger kanagurta | Widely used |
| 4 | Indian oil sardine | മത്തി / ചാള | mathi / chaalama-thi / chaa-la | Sardinella longiceps | Regional |
| 5 | Anchovy | നത്തോലി / നെത്തോലി / കൊഴുവ | natholi / netholi / kozhuvana-tho-li / ne-tho-li / ko-zhu-va | Anchovy group | Regional |
| 6 | Pearl spot | കരിമീൻ | karimeenka-ri-meen | Etroplus suratensis | Widely used |
| 7 | Pomfret | ആവോലി | aavoliaa-vo-li | Pomfret group | Widely used |
| 8 | Seabass / Barramundi | കാളാഞ്ചി / കളാഞ്ചി | kaalaanji / kalaanjikaa-laan-ji | Lates calcarifer | Regional spelling |
| 9 | Tilapia | തിലാപ്പിയ / പിലോപ്പി | thilaappiya / piloppithi-laa-ppi-ya | Oreochromis spp. | Regional |
| 10 | Mullet | തിരുത / കണമ്പ് | thirutha / kanambuthi-ru-tha / ka-nam-bu | Mullet group (Mugilidae) | Regional |
Popular sea fish
| # | English name | Malayalam name | Say it | Identification | Name usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Yellowfin tuna | കേര / കേരച്ചൂര | kera / kerachoorakay-ra / kay-ra-choo-ra | Thunnus albacares | Regional |
| 12 | Skipjack tuna | സ്കിപ്പ്ജാക്ക് ചൂര | skipjack chooraskip-jak choo-ra | Katsuwonus pelamis | Transliterated |
| 13 | Little tuna | ചെറിയ ചൂര | cheriya choorache-ri-ya choo-ra | Euthynnus affinis and related market usage | Descriptive |
| 14 | Black pomfret | കറുത്ത ആവോലി | karutha aavolika-ru-tha aa-vo-li | Parastromateus niger | Descriptive |
| 15 | Silver pomfret | വെള്ള ആവോലി | vella aavolivel-la aa-vo-li | Pampus spp. | Descriptive |
| 16 | Red snapper | ചെമ്പല്ലി | chempallichem-pal-li | Snapper market group; exact species varies | Regional/market |
| 17 | Barracuda | ശീലാവ് / ചീലാവ് | sheelavu / cheelavushee-laa-vu | Sphyraena spp. | Regional |
| 18 | Trevally | വറ്റ / വട്ട / പാര | vatta / vatta / paarava-tta / paa-ra | Carangidae market group | Regional |
| 19 | False trevally | പറവ | paravapa-ra-va | Lactarius lactarius | Regional |
| 20 | Bigeye scad | കണ്ണൻ കൊഴിയാള / പോത്തൻ പാര | kannan kozhiyala / pothan paarakan-nan ko-zhi-yaa-la | Selar crumenophthalmus; names vary | Regional |
| 21 | Yellowstripe scad | കോയിലാള / കൊയിലാള | koyilaala / koilaalako-yi-laa-la | Selaroides leptolepis | Regional |
| 22 | Cobia | മോത / മോദ | motha / modamo-tha | Rachycentron canadum | Regional |
| 23 | Milkfish | പൂമീൻ | poomeenpoo-meen | Chanos chanos | Widely used |
| 24 | Butterfish | പുന്നാരമീൻ | punnaarameenpun-naa-ra-meen | Market name; may cover different species | Regional/market |
| 25 | Emperor fish | വിലമീൻ / വില | vilameen / vilavi-la-meen | Lethrinus spp. | Regional |
| 26 | Croaker | കോര / കൂര | kora / koorako-ra | Sciaenidae market group | Regional |
| 27 | Threadfin bream / Pink perch | കിളിമീൻ | kilimeenki-li-meen | Nemipterus spp. | Widely used |
| 28 | Silver belly | മുള്ളൻ / കാരൽ | mullan / kaaralmul-lan / kaa-ral | Leiognathidae group | Regional |
| 29 | Ribbonfish | വാള / വാളമീൻ | vaala / vaalameenvaa-la | Trichiuridae group | Regional |
| 30 | Sole fish | മാന്തൾ / നങ്ക് | maanthal / nangumaan-thal / nang-u | Sole/flatfish market group | Regional |
Freshwater and backwater fish
| # | English name | Malayalam name | Say it | Identification | Name usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Snakehead murrel | വരാൽ / ബ്രാൽ | varaal / braalva-raal | Channa spp. | Regional |
| 32 | Climbing perch | കൈപ്പ / കറൂപ്പ് | kaippa / karooppukai-ppa | Anabas testudineus | Regional |
| 33 | Catfish | കാരി / മുഷി | kaari / mushikaa-ri / mu-shi | Catfish group; multiple species | Regional |
| 34 | Stinging catfish | മുഷി / കാരി | mushi / kaarimu-shi / kaa-ri | Heteropneustes fossilis | Regional |
| 35 | Sea catfish | കൂരി | koorikoo-ri | Ariidae group | Regional |
| 36 | Eel | ആരൽ / മലഞ്ഞിൽ | aaral / malanjilaa-ral / ma-lan-jil | Eel-like fishes; usage varies | Regional |
| 37 | Rohu | രോഹു | rohuro-hu | Labeo rohita | Borrowed/common market |
| 38 | Catla | കട്ല | katlakat-la | Labeo catla | Borrowed/common market |
| 39 | Common carp | കാർപ്പ് | carpkaarp | Cyprinus carpio | Transliterated |
| 40 | Grass carp | ഗ്രാസ് കാർപ്പ് | grass carpgraas kaarp | Ctenopharyngodon idella | Transliterated |
| 41 | Giant danio | പരൽ | paralpa-ral | Devario malabaricus and regional related usage | Regional |
| 42 | Orange chromide | പള്ളത്തി | pallathipal-la-thi | Etroplus maculatus | Regional |
| 43 | Striped panchax | മാനത്തുകണ്ണി | maanathukannimaa-na-thu-kan-ni | Aplocheilus lineatus | Regional |
| 44 | Wallago catfish | ആറ്റുവാള / വാള | aattuvaala / vaalaaa-ttu-vaa-la | Wallago attu | Regional |
| 45 | Freshwater garfish | കോലാൻ | kolaanko-laan | Needlefish/garfish market usage varies | Regional/market |
Sharks, rays and other fish
| # | English name | Malayalam name | Say it | Identification | Name usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Shark | സ്രാവ് | sraavusraa-vu | Shark group | Widely used |
| 47 | Hammerhead shark | ചുറ്റികത്തലയൻ സ്രാവ് | chuttikathalayan sraavuchu-tti-ka-tha-la-yan | Sphyrnidae | Descriptive |
| 48 | Stingray | തിരണ്ടി | thirandithi-ran-di | Stingray group | Widely used |
| 49 | Skate | തിരണ്ടി ഇനം | thirandi inamthi-ran-di i-nam | Skate group; local names overlap | Descriptive |
| 50 | Swordfish | വാൾമീൻ | vaalmeenvaal-meen | Xiphias gladius | Descriptive |
| 51 | Mahi-mahi | പുള്ളിമോത / മാഹി-മാഹി | pullimotha / mahi-mahipul-li-mo-tha | Coryphaena hippurus | Regional/transliterated |
| 52 | Grey mullet | തിരുത | thiruthathi-ru-tha | Mugil cephalus and related mullets | Regional |
| 53 | Indian halibut | ആയിരംപള്ളി | aayirampalliaa-yi-ram-pal-li | Psettodes erumei | Regional |
| 54 | Indian whiting | പൂഴൻ | poozhanpoo-zhan | Sillago spp. | Regional |
| 55 | Bombay duck | ബുമ്മലോ / ബോംബെ ഡക്ക് | bummalo / Bombay duckbum-ma-lo | Harpadon nehereus | Regional/transliterated |
Common seafood names that are not fish
People often include the following under “fish” in everyday shopping conversations, but they are not fish biologically.
| English | Malayalam | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prawn / Shrimp | ചെമ്മീൻ | chemmeen | Crustacean—not a fish |
| Large prawn / Lobster (market usage) | കൊഞ്ച് | konchu | Regional market name; identification varies |
| Crab | ഞണ്ട് | njandu | Crustacean—not a fish |
| Squid | കണവ / കൂന്തൽ | kanava / koonthal | Mollusc—not a fish |
| Cuttlefish | കണവ / കൂന്തൽ | kanava / koonthal | Mollusc; names may overlap with squid |
| Octopus | നീരാളി | neeraali | Mollusc—not a fish |
| Clam | കക്ക | kakka | Bivalve mollusc—not a fish |
| Oyster | മുത്തുച്ചിപ്പി / കക്ക | muthuchippi / kakka | Bivalve mollusc; regional usage varies |
Useful Malayalam sentences at a fish market
ഇത് ഏത് മീനാണ്?
Ithu ethu meenaanu?
Which fish is this?
ഇതിന് എത്രയാണ് വില?
Ithinu ethrayaanu vila?
How much does this cost?
ഒരു കിലോ അയല വേണം.
Oru kilo ayala venam.
I want one kilogram of mackerel.
മീൻ വൃത്തിയാക്കി തരാമോ?
Meen vrithiyaakki tharaamo?
Could you clean the fish?
ഇത് ഇന്നത്തെ മീനാണോ?
Ithu innathe meenaano?
Is this today’s fish?
ചൂര കറിയാക്കാൻ നല്ലതാണോ?
Choora kariyaakkaan nallathaano?
Is the tuna good for curry?
How to remember these Malayalam words
- Start with the four quick-answer words: choora, neymeen, ayala and mathi.
- Connect each word with a real fish-market image.
- Say the Malayalam word before reading its English meaning.
- Use one of the market sentences aloud.
- Review five names daily instead of memorising the entire table at once.
If you are new to the script, begin with Malayalam letters and Aksharamala, then continue with the Malayalam vocabulary guide.
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Continue building your Malayalam vocabulary
Frequently asked questions
What is fish called in Malayalam?
Fish is മീൻ (meen) in Malayalam. The more formal word മത്സ്യം (matsyam) is also used.
What is tuna called in Malayalam?
Tuna is commonly called ചൂര (choora) or ചൂരമീൻ (choora meen). Particular tuna species may have additional regional or market names.
What is kingfish called in Malayalam?
Kingfish or seer fish is commonly called നെയ്മീൻ (neymeen), അയക്കൂറ (ayakkoora) or ഐക്കൂറ (aikoora), depending on the region and market.
What is mackerel called in Malayalam?
Indian mackerel is called അയല (ayala) in Malayalam.
What is sardine called in Malayalam?
Indian oil sardine is commonly called മത്തി (mathi) or ചാള (chaala). The preferred name varies across Kerala.
What is anchovy called in Malayalam?
Anchovy is called നത്തോലി (natholi), നെത്തോലി (netholi) or കൊഴുവ (kozhuva), depending on the region.
Why does one fish have several Malayalam names?
Kerala has distinct coastal dialects and fish-market traditions. The same name may cover several related species, while one species may have different names in northern, central and southern Kerala.
Are prawns, crabs and squid fish?
No. They are seafood, but biologically they are not fish. Prawns and crabs are crustaceans; squid, cuttlefish and octopus are molluscs.
Editorial methodology and sources
Regional Malayalam names were compared with established Kerala fish-name references. Because market names can refer to more than one species, uncertain entries are identified as regional or market usage. This article is a language-learning resource, not a scientific identification guide.
