Otherwise in Malayalam
അല്ലെങ്കില് (allenkil) is the everyday otherwise, meaning if not or or else. It opens the second half of warnings and offers alike, and you will hear it many times a day in Kerala.
Most common translation
If not, otherwise.
ചായ വേണോ, അല്ലെങ്കില് കാപ്പി?
chaaya veno, allenkil kaappi?
Do you want tea, or else coffee?
All Malayalam words for “otherwise”
- അല്ലെങ്കില് (allenkil) — If not, otherwise.
- അഥവാ (athava) — If not, or, otherwise, or rather, perhaps.
അഥവാ (athava) belongs to writing and means or, or rather, perhaps, so it is the bookish counterpart and sounds stiff in speech.
Common questions
How do you say otherwise in Malayalam?
അല്ലെങ്കില് (allenkil) in speech, with അഥവാ (athava) as the written alternative.
How do I say come now, otherwise we will be late?
Put അല്ലെങ്കില് (allenkil) in front of the second clause, exactly where otherwise goes in English.