Kerala Fish Identification Guide: Malayalam, English, Scientific & Gulf Market Names

Fish names can become surprisingly confusing when you move from one part of Kerala to another—or from Kerala to the UAE and other Gulf countries. A fish called Mathi in one market may also be called Chaala, while Neymeen, Ayakkoora, Kingfish, Seer Fish, and the UAE market name Kanaad may appear when shoppers are looking for closely related market terminology.

The problem becomes even more complicated because local fish names do not always identify one exact scientific species. Regional pronunciation, market traditions and the use of one name for several related species can all cause confusion.

This Kerala fish identification guide brings together commonly used Malayalam fish names, English names, scientific names and Gulf market names to make buying and identifying seafood easier.

Important: Malayalam fish names can vary between districts and fishing communities. Scientific identification is therefore more reliable than using the local market name alone.

Popular Kerala Fish Names in Malayalam and English

Here are some of the most familiar fish found in Kerala homes and markets.

CMFRI references identify oil sardine as Mathi/Chala, Indian mackerel as Ayila, tuna as Choora, yellowfin tuna as Kera and king seer as Neimeen/Varimeen/Ayakora. Kerala Fisheries references also document names including Karimeen, Poomeen, Thirutha and Kalava.

Mathi or Chaala – Indian Oil Sardine

English: Indian Oil Sardine
Malayalam: Mathi / Chaala – മത്തി / ചാള
Scientific name: Sardinella longiceps

Mathi is one of the fish most strongly associated with Kerala cuisine. Depending on the region, people may also use names such as Chaala, Nalla Mathi or Nei Chaala.

CMFRI identifies Sardinella longiceps as Indian oil sardine and records Malayalam names including Mathi, Nalla Mathi and Nei Chala.

Mathi is widely used for curries, frying and traditional preparations with coconut and spices.

Ayala or Ayila – Indian Mackerel

English: Indian Mackerel
Malayalam: Ayala / Ayila – അയല / അയില
Scientific name: Rastrelliger kanagurta

Ayala is another extremely popular Kerala fish. The spelling differs when Malayalam pronunciation is written in English, so searches for Ayala fish, Ayila fish and Aila fish often refer to the same familiar Indian mackerel.

CMFRI records the Malayalam vernacular name as Ayila.

Choora – Tuna

English: Tuna
Malayalam: Choora – ചൂര

Choora is a broad Malayalam market name associated with tuna. However, tuna is not a single species.

Different varieties have their own local terminology.

For example:

• Yellowfin Tuna – Kera
• Skipjack Tuna – Choora
• Little Tuna – Choora/Sooda in some references
• Frigate Tuna – Elichoora

CMFRI specifically identifies yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) with the Kerala vernacular name Kera.

Is Kera Fish Salmon?

This is a common source of confusion online.

Kera should not automatically be translated as salmon.

CMFRI fisheries references identify Kera as Yellowfin Tuna, while imported salmon sold in Kerala and Gulf supermarkets is normally marketed simply as Salmon.

Salmon is not a traditional commercial fish of Kerala’s tropical marine fishery, so assigning a Kerala vernacular fish name to imported salmon can create inaccurate identifications.

Neymeen and Ayakkoora – Seer Fish

English: King Seer / Seer Fish / Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel
Malayalam: Neymeen / Ayakkoora / Varimeen
Scientific name: Scomberomorus commerson

Neymeen is one of Kerala’s premium table fish.

Depending on the region, names including Neymeen, Ayakkoora and Varimeen may be heard.

CMFRI lists these Kerala vernacular names for seerfish and identifies Scomberomorus commerson as King Seer.

One important distinction is that seer fish and queenfish are not the same fish. They belong to different groups and should not be combined under a single English name.

Natholi or Kozhuva – Anchovy

English: Anchovy
Malayalam: Natholi / Netholi / Kozhuva – നെത്തോലി / കൊഴുവ

Small anchovies are popular across Kerala, although the local name can change considerably by region.

CMFRI commercially traded fish references list anchovies under names including Kozhuva and Natholi.

Karimeen – Pearl Spot

English: Pearl Spot
Malayalam: Karimeen – കരിമീൻ
Scientific name: Etroplus suratensis

Karimeen is closely connected with Kerala’s backwaters and cuisine.

The Kerala Fisheries Department identifies Pearl Spot as Karimeen and gives its scientific name as Etroplus suratensis.

Popular preparations include Karimeen pollichathu, curry and fried Karimeen.

Poomeen – Milkfish

English: Milkfish
Malayalam: Poomeen – പൂമീൻ
Scientific name: Chanos chanos

Poomeen is another fish included in Kerala’s brackish-water aquaculture resources.

The Kerala Fisheries Department lists Milkfish as Poomeen.

Varal – Murrel or Snakehead Fish

English: Murrel / Snakehead
Malayalam: Varal – വരാൽ

Varal is a well-known freshwater fish in Kerala.

Kerala Fisheries documentation lists murrels under Malayalam vernacular names including Varal and Cheran.

Kalava – Grouper

English: Grouper
Malayalam: Kalava – കലവ

Grouper is a broad family of reef-associated fish rather than one single species. Kerala Fisheries documentation records Kalava as the vernacular name used for grouper.

This becomes particularly useful for Malayalees living in the Gulf because another name frequently encountered in UAE seafood markets is Hamour.

Seafood Names in Malayalam

Not everything sold in a fish market is technically a fish.

Prawns, crabs, squid, mussels and clams belong to other seafood groups, so separating them makes a fish-name guide more accurate.

Kerala Fisheries and CMFRI references separately classify shrimp, crab, squid, octopus, lobster, mussels and clams rather than treating them as finfish.

Fish Names Malayalees Commonly See in UAE Markets

Malayalees living in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and other Gulf cities often encounter Arabic or Gulf market names rather than Kerala names.

Here are several names worth knowing.

Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi identifies Kanaad as Scomberomorus commerson, the same species commonly associated with Kerala King Seer/Neymeen terminology. Abu Dhabi fisheries statistics also list commercial Arabic names including Hamour for grouper-family fish, Safi for rabbitfish-family fish, Shaari for emperor-family fish and Jesh for trevallies.

Neymeen vs Kanaad: Are They the Same?

This is particularly useful for Kerala residents in the UAE.

Kerala fisheries references identify King Seer/Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel as:

Neymeen / Ayakkoora / Varimeen

while UAE sources identify Scomberomorus commerson as:

Kanaad

So when shopping in a UAE fish market, Kanaad may be the name you encounter for the fish a Malayali shopper is looking for as Neymeen or Ayakkoora.

Kalava vs Hamour

A similar situation occurs with grouper.

Kerala Fisheries records:

Grouper – Kalava

while UAE fisheries terminology commonly uses:

Hamour

However, grouper contains many species, so Kalava and Hamour should be treated as broad market terms rather than assuming every fish sold under these names is one identical species.

Why Malayalam Fish Names Can Be Confusing

There are several reasons why two people may use different names for the same fish.

1. Regional Differences

Fish names used in Kannur may differ from names commonly heard in Kochi, Alappuzha or Thiruvananthapuram.

2. One Name May Cover Several Species

Local markets frequently group closely related fish together. A scientific name is therefore preferable when exact identification matters.

3. English Market Names Are Not Always Scientific Names

Names such as Kingfish, Seer Fish and Mackerel can be used differently around the world.

4. Gulf Markets Use Arabic Names

A Malayali asking for Neymeen in the UAE may see the same species marketed under the Gulf name Kanaad.

5. Imported Fish May Not Have Traditional Malayalam Names

Fish such as Atlantic salmon are imported products. Creating a Malayalam equivalent based only on internet usage can produce misleading information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mathi fish called in English?

Mathi or Chaala is commonly used for Indian Oil Sardine, particularly Sardinella longiceps.

What is Ayala fish in English?

Ayala or Ayila is Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta).

What is Choora fish in English?

Choora generally refers to tuna, although several different tuna species occur in Indian waters.

What is Kera fish in English?

Kera is identified by CMFRI as Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares).

Is Kera the Malayalam name for salmon?

It is better not to identify Kera as salmon. Authoritative Indian fisheries references use Kera for Yellowfin Tuna.

What is Neymeen in English?

Neymeen is commonly associated with Seer Fish or King Seer.

What is Ayakkoora in English?

Ayakkoora is another Kerala name used for seerfish.

What is Karimeen in English?

Karimeen is Pearl Spot (Etroplus suratensis).

What is Natholi in English?

Natholi or Kozhuva generally refers to anchovies.

What is Varal fish in English?

Varal is generally known as murrel or snakehead fish.

What is Kalava in English?

Kalava is a Kerala market name for grouper.

What is Njandu in English?

Njandu means crab.

What is Chemmeen in English?

Chemmeen means prawn or shrimp, depending on the species and context.

What is Kanaad fish in UAE?

Kanaad is a UAE/Gulf market name for Kingfish, with Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi identifying it as Scomberomorus commerson.

Final Thoughts

Learning fish names in Malayalam and English is not simply a matter of translating one word into another. Kerala has a rich fishing tradition with regional names that have evolved over generations, while scientific classifications and Gulf market terminology add another layer to fish identification.

For everyday shopping, familiar names such as Mathi, Ayala, Choora, Neymeen, Karimeen, Natholi and Varal are usually enough. But when accuracy matters, particularly when comparing Kerala and UAE fish markets, checking the scientific species name is the safest approach.

This is especially useful for Malayalees living in the Gulf, where familiar Kerala fish may appear under names such as Kanaad, Hamour, Safi, Shaari and Jesh.

Reference Sources

Fish identification and vernacular naming in this guide are based primarily on information published by:

• ICAR – Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)
• Kerala Department of Fisheries
• Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi
• Government fisheries and biodiversity references

Local names can vary, so readers should treat vernacular names as market terminology rather than universal taxonomic definitions.

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