Must Know Kannada Words

A lot of people (mostly software professionals) move to Karnataka(mainly Bangalore) everyday for job or business related purpose. Although most of the people here understand and speak English, still there are times when you are out in the market or with some Kannadiga (hailing from the state of Karnataka) friends or trying to explain your watchman/electrician/maid etc about something and you wish if you knew a bit of Kannada. I have been in Karnataka for almost 2 years now and have found that life will be much easier if one knows a few Kannada words. Below is the list of Kannada words that one must know, with their English meanings.

Kannada    English   
One-du One
Erudu Two
Mooru Three
Naalakku Four
Aidu Five
Aaru Six
Yelu Seven
Yentu Eight
Ombattu Nine
hathu Ten
Naanu/Num I/Me
Ninu/Nim/Ni You
Gothilla Don’t know
illa No
oota(used only for lunch or dinner) Food
Khaali(In Hindi it is used for “empty”) Finished
Maadi Do It
Kelsa Work
Banni/Baraa/Barappa Come
Hogu/Horadu Go
Hoggalla Won’t go
Baralla Won’t come
Naale Tommorow
Nimsha Minute
Kodi Give
Kudi Drink
Beda [I]Don’t want
bekaa [Do you] want it
beku Want
Yenu What
Yeshtu How much
illi Here
yelli Where
Halli There
Jaasti More
Bega/begane Hurry

few frequently used statements:- 

1.) Kannada Gothilla —- I don’t know Kannada. First thing that any non-Kannadiga should know :).
2.) Electronics City(or any place) hogalla —– “won’t go to Electronic City”. Frequently used by local bus drivers/conductors.
3.) En beku —–What do you want?
4.) Naale banni —– Please come tommorow.
5.) Kelsa Maadi —– Do your work.
6.) One nimsha Banni illi —– Come here for a minute.
7.) Oota aaitha —- Had food?(normally replied in affirmation with “aaithu”)
8.) Krishna ni begane, baro —- Krishna come here soon. Not a frequently used line, but a song from album “Colonial Cousins”, which I used to sing a lot never knowing its meaning :D.