Malayalam is primarily spoken in Kerala. It is part of the Dravidian language family. It shares deep roots with several neighboring tongues. According to the eLinguistics.net analysis using specific software modules to assess linguistic relationships, the five languages most similar to Malayalam are Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Gondi.
- Tamil (81.1)
Tamil is considered the closest major relative of Malayalam. Historically, Malayalam evolved from ancient Tamil around the 9th century AD. Because of this shared ancestry, both languages have a similar grammar structure and vocabulary. Even today, speakers of one can often recognize and understand parts of the other. - Telugu (69.9)
Telugu, predominantly spoken in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is the most widely spoken Dravidian language. Although its modern form has been significantly influenced by Sanskrit, Telugu shares many foundational grammatical principles with Malayalam. - Kannada (65.5)
Spoken in Karnataka, Kannada is another prominent Dravidian language with a history that intertwines closely with Malayalam. The two languages share common vocabulary. Certain Malayalam dialects, especially those near the Karnataka border, sound remarkably similar to Kannada. - Tulu (53.3)
Tulu is spoken mainly in the coastal districts of Karnataka and parts of Kerala. Although its speaker base is smaller compared to Malayalam, Tulu maintains a robust cultural identity within the Dravidian family. As a result, they have similar basic grammar and phonology. - Gondi (49.5)
Gondi is spoken by the Gond tribes primarily in central India. Gondi retains several grammatical and lexical features that are characteristic of the Dravidian family, linking it back to Malayalam and its sister languages. However, they have distinct vocabulary and regional variations.
(to be considered for the list, the language must be spoken by at least one million people)