How to Speak in Kannada

Thứ bảy - 27/04/2024 01:11

Kannada is a Dravidian language spoken in the state of Karnataka in southern India. Kannadigas, or Kannada (also called Canarese) speakers, are estimated to number around 40,000,000 worldwide. In southern India, there are at least 20...

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Kannada is a Dravidian language spoken in the state of Karnataka in southern India. Kannadigas, or Kannada (also called Canarese) speakers, are estimated to number around 40,000,000 worldwide. In southern India, there are at least 20 distinct dialects of spoken Kannada. While it is a difficult language to master for English language speakers, it is possible to learn some basic phrases and words that can help you communicate your basic needs in Kannada.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Engaging in Basic Conversations

1
Start with the basic greetings. As is the case with most languages, it is useful to begin with greetings and pleasantries that are the most likely to come up in brief interactions with Kannada speakers. Here are some ways to greet, as well as replies to greetings, in Kannada^{[1] X Research source}:
- Hello - namaste or namaskāra
- Welcome - susvāgata
- Long time no see - tumba divasagalinda kānisalilla
- How are you? - hegiddērā?
- All is well? – athavā kshemanā?
- I am fine. How are you? - nā calō adīni, nīvu hyāngadīr'ri? or nān cennagiddēne, nīvu hēg'iddīra?
- Pleased to meet you - nimmannu bheti mādiddakke santosha

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In most languages, greetings and salutations change based on the time of day. Kannada is no different. Here are some useful phrases that take the time of the day into account.^{[2] X Research source}

Good morning - shubhodaya

Good afternoon- shubha madhyahna

Good evening- shubha sāyankāla

Good night – shubharātri

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Introducing yourself to strangers is a critical skill to acquire. People will be more willing to help you once you have explained who you are. Here are some ways to do that in Kannada. ^{[3] X Research source}

What is your name? (singular) - ninna hesarēnu?

What is your name? (plural) - nimma hesarēnu?

My name is … - nanna hesaru ...

Where are you from? (singular) - nimma ooru yāvudu?

Where are you from? (plural) - athavā nēvu yāva kadeyavaru?

I am from … - nā .... linda bandiddīni

We are from … - nā .... linda bandēni

Pleased to meet you - nimmannu bheti mādiddakke santosha

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Here are a few different ways to end a conversation in Kannada. ^{[4] X Research source}

Goodbye - hogi banni athavā hogi bartēra?

Good luck - olleyadāgali athavā shubhavāgali

Have a nice day - shubha dinavāgali

Bon voyage - prayana sukhakaravaagirali hogi banni

See you again - matte sigona

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When entering a new area with a different culture and language, it is wise to learn the basic pleasantries and phrases of gratitude so that you can show good manners to your hosts. Here are some Kannada phrases that can help you do just that. ^{[5] X Research source}

Excuse me – kshamisi

Sorry - kshamisi

Please - dayaviṭṭu

Thank you – dhanyavāda or dhanyavādagaḷu

Your welcome- yāke summane ṭhanksu? or parwagilla biḍi

I love you - naa ninna preetisteeni

Get well soon - bega gunamukharaagi anta haaraisuttene

Cheers or good health - tumba santosha athavā khushiyāytu

Enjoy your meal - shubha bhojana athavaa oota enjaay maadi

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Asking for Help

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If you are travelling in Karnataka for the first time, or find yourself lost somewhere in southern India, knowing how to ask where something is or where you are is of the utmost importance. Some common phrases include:

Where is the restroom? - śaucālaya ellide?

Where is the toilet? - ṭāyleṭ ellide?

How do i go to the airport? - naanu airport ge hege hoguvudhu?

Where is … - … ellide or … yelli

Go straight - neravagi hogi

Go back - hindhe hogi

Go right - balagade hogi

Go left - yedagade hogi

North - uttara

South - dhakshina

East - poorva

West - pashchima

Up - mele

Down - kelage

Opposite - viruddha

Step 2 Inquire about products or purchases.

When travelling in southern India, it is likely you will want to buy something at one point or another. Here are some phrases that will allow you do that.

How much is …? – … idhu yeshtu? or … bele eshtu
Where can I go shopping? – naanu shopping maadalu yelli hoga beku
What is this? - Ī ēnu?
Please weigh correctly - dayavittu sariyaagi tooka maadi
Sorry I do not have change - kshamisi nanna hattira change-illa
Give the change - Change-kodi
Please remove damaged / rotten ones - dayavittu damage-aagirodanu thegeyiri
I don't want cover - nanage cover-beda
I have a bag - nanna hathira bag-ide

In southern India, it is not uncommon to see domestic help in many homes and maids are a standard facet at hotels. As such, it is important to be able to speak with the domestic help and, when necessary, give them orders. Some phrases that should be helpful include:

How much do you charge? - neevu eshtu duddu thagothiraa?
You are expensive, I can’t afford it - neevu duddu jaasthi keluthira, naanu eshtu koduvudakke aagolla
Which other houses do you work in around here? - neevu illi bere yaava manegalalli kelsa maaduthiraa?
What is your mobile number? - nimma mobile number enu?
Take down my mobile number - nanna mobile number thagolli
What time can you come? - neevu yaava time-ge baruthiraa?
Come by … in the morning - neevu belagge … gantege barabeku
Please be on time - dayavittu time sariyaagi banni
For sweeping - kasa gudisoke
For moping - nela oresoke
For washing clothes - batte ogeyoke
For washing utensils - paatree tholeyoke
For cooking - aduge maadoke
How much would you charge for cooking? - neevu aduge maadoke eshtu duddu thagothiraa?
How much would you charge for sweeping, moping and washing utensils?- neevu kasa gudisoke, nela oresoke matte paatre tholeyoke eshtu duddu thagothiraa?

When travelling in southern India, you will most likely take a ride in a cab at some point. Some useful phrases for speaking with your cab driver are :

Please drive slowly - dayavittu (gaadiyannu) nidhaanavaagi chalaisi
Turn right - right thirugi
Turn left - left thirugi
Go straight - straight hogi
Stop - nillisi
Do not talk on phone while driving - drive-maaduvaaga phone maadabedi
Wear a seat belt - seat belt haakikolli
Do not jump signals - signal haarisabedi
Mind the road humps - road naliruva humps nodi (gaadi) chalaisi
Please wait for 5 minutes, I will come - dayavittu 5 minutes wait-maadi, naanu baruthene
Come on time tomorrow - naale time sariyaagi banni

Step 5 Learn some general questions and phrases.

There are common phrases and questions that are important to know in any language when you intend to travel to where that language is spoken. Here are some phrases and questions in Kannada that could be helpful to you.

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 go shopping? - naanu shopping maadalu yelli hoga beku
Can you help me? - nanage sahaaya maaduvira?
What are you doing? - neevu yenu maaduthidheera?
Would you join me for lunch today? - eedina nanna jothe oota maduvira?
How do I go to the airport? - naanu airport ge hege hoguvudhu?
Where shall we meet? - naavu yelli bheti aagoNa?
Was there a call for me? - nanage yaraadharu call maadidhara?
What did you do? - neenu yenu maadiruve ?
What will you do? - neenu yenu maaduthiya?
What should I do? - naanu yenu maadabeku?
What can I do? - naanu yenu madabhahudu?
Whom should I contact? - naanu yarannu samparkisabeku?
Will you come with me? - neenu nanna jothege baruveya?
I shall come with you - naanu ninna jothege baruve
Did you have your lunch? - oota maadideya?
Are you busy? - neenu busy idhiya?
I am busy now - naanu eega busy ideeni

Step 6 Get assistance with your use of Kannada.

While you have taken the time to learn some of the common phrases in Kannada that will help you get around, you will most likely need further assistance in saying or writing things in the language from native speakers. Some phrases and questions that can assist you with this are^{[6] X Research source}:

I don’t understand - tiḷī'lilla or nanag artha āg'lilla
Please speak more slowly - salpa mellage mātāḍi or salpa nidhāna'vāgi mātāḍi
Please say that again - innomme hēḷi or inn'ond'sala hēḷi
How do you … in Kannada? - kannadadalli … hege helodu?
Do you speak Kannada? - neevu kannada maataadteera?
Do you speak English? - neevu english maataadteera?
Yes, I speak a little - houdu, svalpa svalpa barutte
Please write that down - bared' koḷḷ'ri

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Understanding the Basics of Kannada

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Kannada's alphabet is derived from Kadamba and Cālukya scripts that, over centuries, morphed in Kannada and Telugu scripts. These scripts were formalized and translated into English script forms in the 19th century.^{[7] X Research source}

Here is a chart of Kannada vowels and their pronunciation.

ಅ a KANNADA LETTER A

ಆ ā KANNADA LETTER AA

ಇ e KANNADA LETTER E

ಈ e KANNADA LETTER EE

ಉ u KANNADA LETTER U

ಊ ū KANNADA LETTER UU

ಋ r̥ KANNADA LETTER VOCALIC Ru

ೠ r̥̄ KANNADA LETTER VOCALIC RR

ಎ i KANNADA LETTER e

ಏ ii KANNADA LETTER AE

ಐ ai KANNADA LETTER AI

ಒ o KANNADA LETTER O

ಓ ō KANNADA LETTER OO

ಔ au KANNADA LETTER AU

Canarese consonants come in two forms, structured and unstructured. Structured consonants are categorized by where the tongue touches the palate. These come in five categories. They are:

Velars ಕ (ka) ಖ (kha) ಗ (ga) ಘ (gha) ಙ (nga)

Palatals ಚ (cha) ಛ (chha) ಜ (ja) ಝ (jha) ಞ (nya)

Retroflex ಟ (tta) ಠ (ttha) ಡ (dda) ಢ (ddha) ಣ (nna)

Dentals ತ (ta) ಥ (tha) ದ (da) ಧ (dha) ನ (na)

Labials ಪ (pa) ಫ (pha) ಬ (ba) ಭ (bha) ಮ (ma)

The unstructured consonants are: ಯ (ya), ರ (ra), ಲ (la), ವ (va), ಶ (sha), ಷ (ssa), ಸ (sa), ಹ (ha), ಳ (lla)

Kannada also includes two letters which are part consonant and part vowel, called "yogavaahaka". They are the anusvara: ಅಂ (am) and the visarga: ಅಃ (ah)

The Kannada language has a numbering system that stretches from 0 to 1 million.^{[8] X Research source}

Below is a sample of Kannada numbers from 0 to 9.
೦ sonne 0 Zero
೧ ondu 1 One
೨ eraḍu 2 Two
೩ mūru 3 Three
೪ nālku 4 Four
೫ aidu 5 Five
೬ āru 6 Six
೭ ēḷu 7 Seven
೮ enṭu 8 Eight
೯ oṃbattu 9 Nine

The Kannada language is alphasyllabary, which means all the consonants have an inherent vowel sound in them. Just like English, Canarese moves from left to right horizontally. When consonants appear together without a vowel in between, the second consonant is written as a special conjunt symbol, usually below the first.^{[9] X Research source}

When Kannada is written using English language characters, you will sometimes find that vowels in the middle of words are capitalized to represent the long vowel sound. However, this convention is not uniformly practiced.

Understanding basic pronouns is essential to speaking or comprehending languages. Below is a list of Kannada pronouns.^{[10] X Research source}

I - naanu
you - neenu
he - avanu
she - avalu
we - naavu
they -avvaru
me - nanna, nannage
you - ninna, nimage
him - avana, avanige
her - avala,avalige
us - namma
them - avarige
my - namma
your - ninna
his - avana
her - avala
our - namma
their - avara
mine - nanna
yours - nimma
his - avana
hers - avala
ours - namma
theirs - avara

The pronunciation of certain Kannada words can be difficult for English speakers, as there are some sounds in Canarese for which English has no equivalent. Nevertheless, the pronunciation guide below should be useful in grasping the basics of pronouncing Kannada words.

Ane (here A is as in Ball). In contrast, in aDike a is short as in "aristocrat".
mEle (here E is as in Baby).
prIti (here I is as in Meeting)
hOda (here O is as in roam)
pUjari (here U is as in fool)
The consonants which are capitalized are:
aDike (the D is as in "Dog"); lower case d is soft).
koTru (here T is as in "Tom"); lower case is soft.
chELige (here L is a sound with no equivalence in English; lower case is as in "lamb")
kaNNu (here N is nasal; lower case is as in "no")

Step 6 Understand gendering conventions.

All Kannada nouns have genders. There are three categories of gender applied to nouns in Kannada. They are masculine, feminine, and neuter. This can be tricky for English speakers, as English nouns are not gendered, and elements of Kannada religion and cosmology play a role in the gendering of nouns.^{[11] X Research source}

Kannada, unlike western languages, does not have infinitive forms for its verbs. Rather, they take the form of "singular, nonpolite imperatives."^{[12] X Research source} In most cases, unconjugated verbs take the form of verb stems.^{[13] X Research source}

Because of this, when looking at a Kannada language dictionary, you will find verbs by their verb stem rather than in a constructed, infinitive form. For example, see the conjugation of "to walk" in Kanadda below.
to walk - naḍeyalu
I walk - nānu naḍeyuttēne
you walk - nīvu naḍeyalu
he walks - avaru paricayisuttade
she walks - avaḷu naḍedu
it walks - idu paricayisuttade
they walk - avaru naḍedu
we walk - nāvu naḍeyalu
Notice that all of the conjugated forms maintain the root "ade" somewhere in the word.