Fish names in Malayalam and English
Fish names in Malayalam and English: mathi (sardine), ayala (mackerel), karimeen (pearl spot), neymeen (seer fish) and more Kerala fish and seafood.
Fish is part of daily life in Kerala, and the fish market is where Malayalam names matter most: sellers call out mathi, ayala and netholi, not sardine, mackerel and anchovy. English names are not always a help either, because one Malayalam name can cover several related species and the same English name is used for different fish in different countries.
This list gives the common market name in central Kerala, the Malayalam script and the usual English trade name. Where a fish has a well-known second name, such as chaala for sardine or aikoora for seer fish, we give it in the notes. Meen simply means fish, so karimeen is literally 'black fish' and neymeen 'ghee fish', after its rich flesh.
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| English | Malayalam | Say it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil sardine | മത്തി | mathi | Also chaala. Kerala's most-landed fish. |
| Indian mackerel | അയല | ayala | |
| Pearl spot (green chromide) | കരിമീൻ | karimeen | Kerala's state fish, from backwaters and brackish water. |
| Seer fish (king mackerel) | നെയ്മീൻ | neymeen | Also aikoora. |
| Tuna | ചൂര | choora | |
| Anchovy | നത്തോലി | netholi | Also kozhuva in some districts. |
| Pomfret | ആവോലി | aavoli | Black pomfret is karutha aavoli. |
| Trevally (jack) | പാര | paara | |
| Red snapper | ചെമ്പല്ലി | chemballi | |
| Pink perch (threadfin bream) | കിളിമീൻ | kilimeen | |
| Milkfish | പൂമീൻ | poomeen | |
| Mullet | കണമ്പ് | kanambu | |
| Ribbonfish | വാള | vaala | Long, silver, ribbon-like fish. |
| Sole fish | മാന്തൾ | maanthal | Flat fish with both eyes on one side. |
| Indian halibut | ആയിരംപല്ലി | aayiram palli | Literally 'thousand teeth'. |
| Pony fish (silverbelly) | മുള്ളൻ | mullan | Small, flat, silvery fish. |
| Snakehead (murrel) | വരാൽ | varaal | Freshwater fish. |
| Climbing perch | കരിപ്പിടി | karippidi | Freshwater fish from paddy fields and canals. |
| Shark | സ്രാവ് | sraavu | |
| Stingray | തിരണ്ടി | thirandi | |
| Prawns (shrimp) | ചെമ്മീൻ | chemmeen | Large freshwater prawns are konju. |
| Crab | ഞണ്ട് | njandu | |
| Squid | കണവ | kanava | Also koonthal. |
| Green mussels | കല്ലുമ്മക്കായ | kallummakkaya | |
| Clams | കക്ക | kakka | |
| Dried fish | ഉണക്കമീൻ | unakka meen | Literally 'dried fish'; also karuvadu. |
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Sea, backwater and freshwater fish
Most of the fish on this list come from the Arabian Sea: oil sardine and Indian mackerel are landed in huge numbers and are among the most common fish in Kerala homes. Pearl spot (karimeen), Kerala's state fish, comes from the backwaters and brackish lagoons. Snakehead (varaal) and climbing perch (karippidi) are freshwater fish from rivers, canals and paddy fields.
Seafood has its own vocabulary. Chemmeen covers prawns and shrimp in general, while konju usually means the large freshwater prawn. Squid is kanava or koonthal, crab is njandu, clams are kakka and green mussels are kallummakkaya.
Availability changes with the season: Kerala restricts mechanised trawling during the monsoon, usually in June and July, so some fish are scarce then (see the season calendar). Before you buy, read our guide on how to identify fresh fish.
References
Names were checked against these references and against everyday market usage in Ernakulam. Spellings in Malayalam script follow the dictionary form; transliterations are simple spellings to help you say the word, not a formal scheme.
- ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi
- Olam English–Malayalam dictionary
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Frequently asked questions
What is mathi fish in English?
Mathi (മത്തി), also called chaala, is the oil sardine.
What is ayala fish in English?
Ayala (അയല) is the Indian mackerel.
What is karimeen in English?
Karimeen (കരിമീൻ) is the pearl spot or green chromide, Kerala's state fish.
What is neymeen in English?
Neymeen (നെയ്മീൻ) is seer fish, also called king mackerel; another Malayalam name is aikoora.
What is netholi fish in English?
Netholi (നത്തോലി) is anchovy. In some districts it is called kozhuva.
