Basic Kannada for Travelers

This is a brief introduction to Kannada, a south Indian language spoken in the Karnataka
state of India. This introduction provides basic instruction about pronunciation and
important words and phrases. Kannada is one of the official languages of India,
predominantly spoken in the state of Karnataka, including the city of Bangalore. During
your stay in Karnataka, the ability to communicate in Kannada will greatly enhance your
experience. Even if you do not plan on studying the language in-dept, we strongly suggest
learning and using the basic greetings and phrases. The locals will greatly appreciate your
efforts and will be all the more welcoming to you during your stay.
Pronunciation
Kannada is written in the Kannada script, which is also used to write some of the other
native languages of Karnataka: Tulu, Kodava, Takk, and Konkani. The script has fortynine characters; however different characters can be combined to form compound
characters. In this guide we will not use the Kannada script, but a list of the Kannada
characters can be found at the end of this document.
Kannada has thirteen vowel sounds:
a
u as in bud
aa / A
a as in father
i
y as in happy
ee / I
ea as in bead
u
oo as in good
oo / U
oo as in food
Ru
r as in hurting
Kannada has 21 consonants:

a~
ea
ai
o
O
au /ou

a as in play
e as in hey
ai as in buy / high
o as in row
o as in row
au as in how / pout

b as in bed

p as in pig

c
d

s as in supper
k as in kid
d as in dog

q
r

ph as in phone

q as in quest
r as in row
r as in feather
ss as in hiss
z as in haze

g as in go
j as in jello
h as in help
dg as in edge
c as in cat

t
v
w
x

h
j
k

t as in top
v as in victory
w as in weight
cks as in kicks
z as in haze

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l as in love
ie as in pie
ee as in flee
m as in mother
n as in nice

m
n

y as in yes

z as in haze

There are also two characters that are called yogavaahac, which are part-vowel and partconsonant. They are the anusvara (am) and the visarga (ah).
Greetings
Hello
How are you?
I am fine.
Fine, thank you.
Goodbye

Namaskara
Neevu Chennaagidira
Naanu chennagiddene
Chennagiddene. Dhanyavaada
Hogibitt barthene
Introductions

What is your name?

My name is
Nice to meet you.

Nimma hessarenu?
Nanna hesaru
Nimmannu nodi santhoshavaythu.
Etiquette

Please
Thank you
Youre Welcome
Yes
No
Excuse me (getting attention)
Excuse me (begging pardon)
Im Sorry.
Good morning
Good evening
Good night

Dayavit.t.u.
Vandenegalo
Tamage suswagatha
Havdu
Illa
Illinodi
K-shamisi
Nannindha thappaihu
Shubha munjane
Shubha sanje
Shubha ratri
Relationships

Mother
Father
Son
Daughter
Elder Brother

Amma / taayi
Appa / tande
Maga
magaLu
aNNa

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Younger Brother
Elder Sister
Younger Sister
Grandfather
Grandmother
Husband
Wife
Children

Tamma
Akka
Tangi
Ajja / taata
Ajji
ganDa
henDathi
makkaLu
Food and Drinks

Breakfast
Lunch
Eggs
Rice
Coffee
Water
Beans
Potato
Apple

Thindi
Oota
Motte
Anna
Kaapi
Neeru
huraLikaayi
Aaloo geDDe
sEbu Orange
kittaLe
Tarakaarigalu
kOsaMbari
beNNe
Haalu
Sakkare
Chaa

Vegetables
Salad
Butter
Milk
Sugar
Tea

Cost
How much is this?
I dont want it.
Expensive

Idhakke yeshtu
Nanige beda.
Dhubaari
Time of Day

Now
Before
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Iga Later
Amele
Modalu
Beligge
Madhyana
Samje
Ratri

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Useful Words and Phrases

I cant speak Kannada

(well). Do you speak
English? Help!
Look out!
I dont understand
Where is the toilet?
Police!
I need your help.
Im lost.
I lost my bag.
I need a doctor
Who?
Where?
When?
Why?
What?
Which?
I dont know.

Nanage Kannada barodilla.

Nimage English baruththaa?
Sahaaya maadi
Jopaana
Nanage artha vaguthilla
Shouchalaya
Arakshaka
Nimma sahaya bekagidhe.
Nanage daari thappide.
Nanna cheela kaledu hoyithu.
Nanage doctor beku.
Yaaru Elli
Yaavaga
Yaake/Eke
Enu
Yaava/yavudu
Gottilla

Numbers

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Ondhu
Yeradu
Mooru
Naalku
Aidhu
Aaru
Yelu
Yentu
Ombattu
Hathu
Hannondu
Hanneradu
Hadimooru
Hadinalku
Hadinaidhu

16
17
18
19
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1,000
1,000,000

Hadinaru
Hadinelu
Hadinentu
Hathombathu
Ipathu
Muvathu
Nalavathu
Aivathu
Arvathu
Yapathu
Embathu
Tombathu
Nooru
Ondu savira
Hathu laksha

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The Kannada Alphabet

Vowels

Consonants

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