Merry Christmas in Malayalam
ക്രിസ്തുമസ് ആശംസകൾ
Kristhumas aashamsakal
Say it like this: kris-THOO-mus aa-SHUM-sa-kul
Big letters show the part to say louder.
Quick answer
- In Malayalam, Merry Christmas is ക്രിസ്തുമസ് ആശംസകൾ (Kristhumas aashamsakal), said like kris-THOO-mus aa-SHUM-sa-kul.
- Happy New Year is പുതുവത്സര ആശംസകൾ (Puthuvalsara aashamsakal).
- People say it in India (Kerala), United Arab Emirates, Singapore, United States.
What Kristhumas aashamsakal means
'Kristhumas' (Christmas, from English) + 'aashamsakal' (wishes). Together it means Christmas wishes.
Malayalam is written in its own round script, with many curves and loops, and it is read from left to right.
Other ways to say it in Malayalam
Happy New Year
പുതുവത്സര ആശംസകൾ
Puthuvalsara aashamsakal
Say it like this: POO-thoo-VAHL-sa-ra aa-SHUM-sa-kul
new year wishes
Where people speak Malayalam
India (Kerala)United Arab EmiratesSingaporeUnited States
Malayalam (മലയാളം) belongs to the Dravidian language family.
Say it with Rally on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train to more than 100 places and teaches kids how to say Merry Christmas at every stop. Practice Malayalam today, then follow his trip.
Follow Rally on Christmas Eve →Christmas traditions where people speak Malayalam
- Paper stars on every house: Almost every home in Kerala hangs a lit paper star outside at Christmas. In Kottayam and Pala, whole streets glow with stars, so walking home on Christmas Eve feels like walking under a sky of colour.[2]
- Carolers going house to house: Groups of carolers walk from house to house at night, singing traditional Malayalam hymns. Families welcome them with cake, snacks and tea.[2]
- A feast after the fast: Many Syrian Christian families keep a 25 day fast before Christmas. It ends with a feast of appam and stew, kuzhalappam snacks, and a Kerala plum cake that is offered to every guest.[2]
🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Malayalam
Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.
Say Merry Christmas in more languages
- Kannadaಕ್ರಿಸ್ಮಸ್ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು
- Tamilகிறிஸ்துமஸ் வாழ்த்துக்கள்
- Teluguక్రిస్మస్ శుభాకాంక్షలు
- Urduکرسمس مبارک
- CebuanoMalipayong Pasko
- UzbekRojdestvo muborak
- Bengaliশুভ বড়দিন
- Burmeseပျော်ရွှင်ဖွယ်ရာ ခရစ္စမတ်ပွဲတော် ဖြစ်ပါစေ
Questions parents ask
How do you say Merry Christmas in Malayalam?
You can say "ക്രിസ്തുമസ് ആശംസകൾ" (Kristhumas aashamsakal). Aashamsakal means wishes, and Malayalam speakers add it to many greetings, from birthdays to festivals. This is the most common way to wish someone a happy Christmas in Malayalam, and it works well on a class card or in a message to a friend.[1]
How do you pronounce "Kristhumas aashamsakal"?
Say it like this: kris-THOO-mus aa-SHUM-sa-kul. The capital letters show the part to stress. Say aashamsakal in four beats: aa-sham-sa-kal. Malayalam also has a soft l sound at the end that English speakers can say as a simple l.
What does "Kristhumas aashamsakal" mean?
It means Christmas wishes. Kristhumas is the English word Christmas written in Malayalam script, and aashamsakal means wishes. The same pattern works for birthdays, weddings and New Year, so children can reuse what they learn by swapping the first word.[1]
How do you write Merry Christmas in Malayalam?
In Malayalam script it is ക്രിസ്തുമസ് ആശംസകൾ. You may also see ക്രിസ്മസ് ആശംസകൾ, a shorter spelling of Christmas that is also common. In English letters, write Kristhumas aashamsakal. For a printed poster or card, ask a Malayalam speaker to check the spelling first.[1]
How do you say Happy New Year in Malayalam?
Happy New Year is "പുതുവത്സര ആശംസകൾ" (Puthuvalsara aashamsakal), said like POO-thoo-VAHL-sa-ra aa-SHUM-sa-kul. It means new year wishes. Malayalam speakers also have their own new year, Vishu, in April, so this wording clearly points to January 1.[1]
Is there a formal and a casual way to say Merry Christmas in Malayalam?
Kristhumas aashamsakal is polite enough for everyone. With elders and teachers, say it with a smile and a respectful tone. With friends, many Keralites also say Merry Christmas in English. Either way, a warm greeting matters more than the exact words, and people appreciate the effort.[1]
When do people say Merry Christmas in Malayalam?
People say it on Christmas Eve, around the midnight mass, and on Christmas morning when they visit family. Carolers also say it at doorsteps. It is written on cards and sent in messages before December 25.[2]
Is the main Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for Malayalam speakers?
Christmas Eve matters a lot in Kerala because of the midnight Mass, and homes glow with paper stars. Christmas Day, December 25, then brings the big family feast and visits. The greeting is used on both days.[2]
What is a Christmas tradition for Malayalam speaking families?
Almost every home in Kerala hangs a lit paper star outside. Carolers walk from house to house singing Malayalam hymns, and families offer cake and tea. Many families end a 25 day fast with a feast of appam and stew.[2]
How can I teach Malayalam Christmas words to kids?
Teach Kristhumas first, then aashamsakal as aa-sham-sa-kal, tapping a finger for each beat. Children can make a paper star, a classic Kerala Christmas decoration, and write the greeting on it. Ask a Malayalam speaker to record the phrase so children can copy the real sound.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonSources
We check every greeting against dictionaries, language institutes and cultural sources.
- Useful Malayalam phrases, Omniglot
- Christmas 2025 in Kerala: Syrian Christian traditions, food and mass, Outlook India
- Cakes, carols, wine: Kerala all set to celebrate Christmas, The News Minute
