A lot of people (mostly software professionals) move to Karnataka (mainly Bengaluru/Bangalore) every day for job or business-related purposes. Although most people here understand and speak English, there are still times when you are out in the market, with Kannadiga friends (hailing from Karnataka), or trying to explain something to your watchman, electrician, house help, etc., and you wish you knew a bit of Kannada. I have been in Karnataka for almost 2 years now and have found that life is much easier if one knows a few Kannada words. Below is the list of Kannada words that one must know, with their English meanings.
Note: Spellings below are phonetic/romanized and can vary by region.
| Kannada (Romanized) | English | Usage / context |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers | ||
| One-du | One | Counting |
| Erudu | Two | Counting |
| Mooru | Three | Counting |
| Naalakku | Four | Counting |
| Aidu | Five | Counting |
| Aaru | Six | Counting |
| Yelu | Seven | Counting |
| Yentu | Eight | Counting |
| Ombattu | Nine | Counting |
| Hathu | Ten | Counting |
| Basics | ||
| Naanu/Num | I/Me | Self-reference |
| Ninu/Nim/Ni | You | Addressing someone |
| Gothilla | Don't know | Very commonly used |
| illa | No | Negation/no |
| oota (used only for lunch or dinner) | Food | Meals |
| Khaali (in Hindi it is used for "empty") | Finished | Something is over/finished |
| Action words | ||
| Maadi | Do it | Used in requests/instructions |
| Kelsa | Work | General use |
| Banni / Baraa / Barappa | Come | Calling someone |
| Hogu / Horadu | Go | Direction/movement |
| Hoggalla | Won't go | Refusal/negative response |
| Baralla | Won't come | Refusal/negative response |
| Naale | Tomorrow | Time reference |
| Nimsha | Minute | Time reference |
| Kodi | Give | Requesting items/help |
| Kudi | Drink | Food/drink context |
| Beda | [I] don't want | Declining something |
| bekaa | [Do you] want it? | Offering/asking |
| beku | Want | Expressing need/want |
| Questions and place words | ||
| Yenu | What | Question word |
| Yeshtu | How much | Price/quantity |
| illi | Here | Location |
| yelli | Where | Location question |
| Halli | There | Location |
| Jaasti | More | Comparisons/quantity |
| Bega/begane | Hurry | Urgency |
A few frequently used statements
- Kannada gothilla - I don't know Kannada. First thing that any non-Kannadiga should know :)
- Electronics City (or any place) hogalla - "Won't go to Electronics City." Frequently used by local bus drivers/conductors.
- En beku - What do you want?
- Naale banni - Please come tomorrow.
- Kelsa maadi - Do your work.
- One nimsha banni illi - Come here for a minute.
- Oota aaitha - Had food? (normally replied in affirmation with "aaithu")
- 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.