Kannada is a Dravidian language family spoken in the state of Karnataka, in southern India. Kannada speakers (called Kannadiga) number 40 million people worldwide. In southern India, there are at least 20 different Kannada dialects. It is a difficult language, but you can learn some basic words and phrases to convey basic needs in Kannada.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Have a Basic Conversation
Step 1. Start with a basic greeting
As in any language, it's a good idea to start talking to a Kannada speaker by saying hello and making small talk. Here are some ways to say hello and answer greetings in Kannada::
- Hello - namaste or namaskāra
- Welcome - susvāgata
- Long time no see - tumba divasagalinda kānisalilla
- How are you? - hegiddērā?
- Everything is alright? – athava kshemana?
- I'm fine. How about you? - nā calō adīni, nvu hyāngadīr'ri? or nān cennagiddēne, nvu hēg'iddīra?
- Nice to meet you - nimmannu bheti mādiddakke santosha
Step 2. Use a time-honored greeting
In various languages, greetings and pleasantries change with time. It is the same in Kannada. The following are some time-appropriate greeting phrases.
- Good morning - shuhodaya
- Good afternoon - shubha madhyahna
- Good evening - shubha sāyankāla
- Good evening – shubharatri
Step 3. Introduce yourself
Introducing yourself to strangers is an important skill. People will be more willing to help if you explain who you are. Here are a few ways to do this in Kannada.
- What is your name? - ninna hesarēnu?
- What is your name? - nimma hesarēnu?
- My name… - nanna hesaru…
- Where do you come from? - nimma ooru yavudu?
- Where are you from? - athavā nēvu yāva kadeyavaru?
- I come from … - nā …. linda bandiddīni
- We are from … - nā …. linda bandēni
- Nice to meet you - nimmannu bheti mādiddakke santosha
Step 4. Use phrases to say goodbye
Here are some ways to end a conversation in Kannada.
- Bye - hogi banni athavā hogi bartēra?
- Good luck - olleyadāgali athavā shubhavāgali
- Have a good day - shubha dinavāgali
- Goodbye - prayana sukhakaravaagirali hogi banni
- Until we meet again - matte sigona
Step 5. Be polite
When entering a new area with a different culture and language, it's a good idea to recognize small talk and thank you so that you appear polite to the host. Here are some Kannada phrases you can use to demonstrate this.
- Excuse me – kshamisi
- Sorry - kshamisi
- Please - dayaviṭṭu
- Thank you – dhanyavāda or dhanyavādagaḷu
- You're welcome - yāke summane hanksu? or parwagilla biḍi
- I love you - naa ninna preetisteeni
- Get well soon - bega gunamukharaagi anta haaraisuttene
- Cheers! - tumba santosha athavā khushiyāytu
- Enjoy your meal! - shubha bhojana athavaa oota enjaay maadi
Method 2 of 3: Asking for Help
Step 1. Ask for directions
If you are traveling in Karnataka for the first time, or are lost in southern India, you need to know how to ask for directions or where you are now. Here are some phrases you can use::
- Where is the bathroom? - aucālaya elide?
- Where is the toilet? - āyleṭ elide?
- How to get to the airport? - naanu airport ge hege hoguvudhu?
- Where … - … elide or … yelli
- Straight - neravagi hogi
- Back off - hindhe hogi
- Turn right - hogi balagade
- Turn left - yedagade hogi
- North - uttara
- South - dhakshina
- East - poorva
- West - pashchima
- Top - mele
- Bottom - kelage
- Opposite - viruddha
Step 2. Inquire about the product or item
While traveling in south India, you may want to buy a certain item. Here are some phrases you can use to buy things.
- What is the price …? – … idhu yeshtu? or … bele eshtu
- Where can I shop? – naanu shopping maadalu yelli hoga frozen
- What's this? - nu?
- Please weigh properly - dayavittu sariyaagi tooka maadi
- Sorry, I don't have any small money - kshamisi nanna hattira change-illa
- Please give me change - Change-kodi
- Please get rid of the damaged or rotten - dayavittu damage-aagirodanu thegeyiri
- I don't want the wrapper - nanage cover-different
- I have a bag - nanna hathira bag-idea
Step 3. Give orders to the housemaid
In southern India, people are used to hiring the services of domestic helpers. Cleaners can also be found in various hotels. You need to talk to these helpers and give orders when necessary. Here are some phrases that can come in handy::
- What salary are you asking for? - neevu eshtu duddu thagothiraa?
- Your salary request is too high I can't afford it - neevu duddu jaasthi keluthira, naanu eshtu koduvudakke aagolla
- Which houses do you work in around here? - neevu ili bere yaava manegalalli kelsa maaduthiraa?
- May I have your cell phone number? - nimma mobile number enu?
- Record my mobile number - nanna mobile number thagolli
- When can you come?? - neevu yaava time-ge baruthiraa?
- Come in the morning at … - neevu belagge … gantege barabeku
- Please come on time - dayavittu time sariyaagi banni
- To sweep - gauze gudisoke
- To mop - nela oresoke
- For washing clothes - batte ogeyoke
- For washing dishes - paatree tholeyoke
- For cooking - aduge maadoke
- How much salary are you asking for cooking? - neevu aduge maadoke eshtu duddu thagothiraa?
- How much salary do you ask for sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes? - neevu kasa gudisoke, nela oresoke matte paatre tholeyoke eshtu duddu thagothiraa?
Step 4. Talk to the taxi driver
When traveling in southern India, you will most likely talk to taxi drivers. Here are some phrases you can use to communicate with a taxi driver.:
- Please take it slow - dayavittu (gaadiyannu) nidhaanavaagi chalaisi
- Turn right - right thirugi
- Turn left - left thirugi
- Just go straight - straight hogi
- Stop - nillisi
- Don't call while driving - drive-maaduvaaga phone maadabedi
- Wear a seat belt - seat belt haakikolli
- Don't break the red light - haarisabedi signal
- Watch for speed bumps - road naliruva humps nodi (gaadi) chalaisi
- Wait 5 more minutes, I'm coming - dayavittu 5 minutes wait-maadi, naanu baruthene
- Come on time tomorrow - naale time sariyaagi banni
Step 5. Know some generic questions and phrases
There are also phrases and questions you need to know in the language of the place you want to visit. Here are some phrases and questions in Kannada that you may find useful.
- How do I go there? - allige naanu hege hoguvudu?
- Where is your house? - nimma mane elli idhe?
- Where is the nearest police station? - hathiradha police station yelli idhe?
- Where can I shop? - naanu shopping maadalu yelli hoga frozen
- Can you help me? - nanage sahaya maaduvira?
- What are you doing? - neevu yenu maaduthidheera?
- Will you come with me to lunch? - eedina nanna jothe oota maduvira?
- How do I get to the airport? - naanu airport ge hege hoguvudhu?
- Where will we meet? - naavu yelli bheti aagoNa?
- Has anyone called me? - nanage yaraadharu call maadidhara?
- What have you done? - neenu yenu maadiruve ?
- What would you do? - neenu yenu maaduthiya?
- What do I have to do? - my naanu yenu maadabe?
- What can I do? - naanu yenu madabhahudu?
- Who should I contact? - naanu yarannu samparkisabeku?
- Will you come with me? - neenu nanna jothege baruveya?
- I will come with you - naanu ninna jothege baruve
- Had lunch? - oota maadideya?
- Are you busy? - neenu busy idhiya?
- Now I'm busy - naanu eega busy ideeni
Step 6. Ask for help with Kannada
Even if you already know some basic Kannada phrases, you may also need help saying or writing things from a native speaker. Here are some phrases and questions you can use to ask for help.:
- I don't understand - tiḷī'lilla or nanag artha āg'lilla
- Speak more quietly - salpa mellage mātāḍi or salpa nidhāna'vāgi mātāḍi
- Tell me again? - innomme hēḷi or inn'ond'sala hēḷi
- How to say … in Kannada? - kannadadalli … hege helodu?
- Can you speak Kannada? - neevu kannada maataadteera?
- Can you speak English? - neevu english maataadteera?
- Yes, I can a little - houdu, svalpa svalpa barutte
- Please write - bared' koḷḷ'ri
Method 3 of 3: Understanding Kannada Basics
Step 1. Learn the letters used
The Kannada alphabet is taken from the Kadamba and Cālukya scripts which have changed over the centuries into Kannada and Telugu scripts. This writing was later formalized and transcribed in Latin script in the 19th century.
- Here are the vowels in Kannada and their pronunciation.
- a CANNADA LETTER A
- ā CANNADA AA
- e CANNADA LETTER E
- e CANNADA LETTERS EE
- u CANNADA LETTER U
- CANNADA LETTERS
- r CANNADA VOCAL LETTERS Ru
- r CANNADA VOCAL LETTERS RR
- i CANNADA LETTERS e
- ii CANNADA AE
- ai CANNADA LETTERS AI
- o CANNADA LETTERS O
- CANNADA OO
- au CANADA LETTERS AU
- There are two types of consonants in Kannada, structured and unstructured. Structured consonants can be categorized based on where the tongue touches the roof of the mouth. There are five categories of structured consonants, namely:
- Velar (ka) (kha) (ga) (gha) (nga)
- Palatal (cha) (chha) (ja) (jha) (nya)
- Retroflex (tta) (ttha) (dda) (ddha) (nna)
- Dental (ta) (tha) (da) (dha) (na)
- Labial (pa) (pha) (ba) (bha) (ma)
- Unstructured consonants: (yes), (ra), (la), (va), (sha), (ssa), (sa), (ha), (lla)
- In Kannada there are also two letters that are half consonant and half vowel, called "yogavaahaka". The two letters are anusvara: (am) and visarga: (ah)
Step 2. Recognize Kannada numbers
Kannada has a number system that ranges from 0 to 1 million.
- Here is an example of Kannada numbers from 0 to 9.
- sonne 0 Zero
- ondu 1 One
- eraḍu 2 Two
- mūru 3 Three
- nālku 4 Four
- aidu 5 Lima
- āru 6 Six
- u 7 Seven
- enṭu 8 Eight
- oṃbattu 9 Nine
Step 3. Get to know the Kannada writing system
Kannada is an abugida (alfasilabis); all consonants have an inherent vowel sound. As in Indonesian, Kannada is read from left to right. When two consonants appear together without a vowel in between, the second consonant is written with a special connecting symbol which is usually placed under the first letter.
When Kannada is written in Latin, you'll sometimes find vowels in the middle of capitalized words to convey long vowels. However, not everyone writes like this
Step 4. Know common pronouns in Kannada
You need to recognize basic pronouns to speak or understand different languages. The following is a list of pronouns in Kannada.
- I - naanu
- you - neenu
- He (male) - avanu
- She (female) - avalu
- We - naavu
- They - avvaru
- I - nanna, nannage
- you - ninna, nimage
- He (male) - avana, avanige
- She (female) - avala, avalige
- We - namma
- They - avarige
- Mine - namma
- Yours - ninna
- Hers (male) - avana
- Hers (female) - avala
- Ours - namma
- Theirs - avara
- Mine - nanna
- Yours - nimma
- His (male) - avana
- Hers (girl) - avala
- Ours - namma
- Theirs - avara
Step 5. Learn pronunciation in Kannada
The following are examples of the basic sounds in Kannada:
- Ane (A is pronounced like the letter a in "ball" in English, or almost like the long "o" in "bola" in Indonesian). In comparison, the a in aDike is a short a, as in "root".
- mEle (E is referred to as the letter e in "workshop")
- prIti (I is referred to as the letter i in "canting")
- hOda (O is referred to as the letter o in "wheel")
- pUjari (U is referred to as the letter u in "correct")
- Consonants written in capital letters are:
- aDike (D is called like "shallow"; lowercase d is more subtle)
- koTru (T is called like "Tom"; lowercase t is smoother)
- chELige (the L here has no comparison in Indonesian; the lowercase l is like "glue")
- kanNNu (N here is nasal; n is lowercase like "nah")
Step 6. Know the word gender convention
All Kannada nouns have a gender. There are three gender categories that can be applied to nouns in Kannada: masculine, feminine, and neutral. This can be difficult for Indonesian speakers because Indonesian nouns are not gendered, and Kannada religion and cosmology play a role in determining the gender of nouns.
Step 7. Recognize Kannada verbs
Kannada does not have the infinitive form of the verb. Its form is "not very polite singular imperative". Usually, verbs that have not been conjugated are in the form of root words.
- Thus, in the Kannada dictionary you will find the root word instead of the conjugated word. For example, the following are the conjugations of the word "walk" in Kannada.
- walk - naḍeyalu
- i walk - nānu naḍeyuttēne
- You walk - nvu naḍeyalu
- he (lk) walks - avaru paricayisuttade
- he (pr) walks - avaḷu naḍedu
- it goes - idu paricayisuttade
- they walk - avaru naḍedu
- we walk - nāvu naḍeyalu
- Note that all of the conjugated forms still have the root "ade" in them.
Tips
- Since Kannada has a variety of dialects and idioms, you may come across variations of the above phrases that you may not seem to recognize. Try to figure out what was said in a nutshell, or take a single word to determine what was actually being said.
- Be careful when asking someone to write something down. The rate of mental retardation in India is still relatively high and you may offend someone who cannot read or write.
