English-Kannada

I Nanu
He Avanu
She Avalu
You Neenu
It Adu
This Idu
That Adu
A vandhu
Mother Thaayi/amma
Father Appa/thandhe.
Come(You come) Baa
Came Baandha(male) /Banhalu(female)
Will come Baaruthare
Open Bhichu
Opened Bhichidhe
Will open Bhichabeku
Sit Kuthko/ Kulithuko
Walk Nadee
Eat Thinnu
Drink Kudee
Win Gellu
Go Hogu/Horadu
Run Odu
I go Nanu hoguthene
He goes Avanu hoguthane
He eats an apple Avanu sebu(apple) thinuthane
He is eating an apple Avanu sebu thinnuthidhane
He ate an apple Avanu sebu thindhanu
I saw the film last week Nanu hodha wara picture/ chalanachitra nodidhanu
She came by bus yesterday Avalu ninne businalli bandhalu
They went to the mosque Avaru masidhi/darga ge hodharu
He slept the whole night Avanu eedi raatri malaghidhanu
He wrote well in the examination Avanu pariksheyalli chennaghi madidhanu/
Avanu pariksheyalli chennaghi baredhanu
He has eaten Avanu thindhidhane
He will eat Avanu thinnuthane
He will go Avanu hoguthane
He will come Avanu baruthane
What is your name? Ninna hesarenu?/ Ninna hesaru yenu?
What
Your
Name
What did you do?
What should I do?
What can I do?
What are the questions?
What were the questions?
What is the last question?
What is written in the letter?
What you had been told?
What will be the answer?
Why did you come?
Why did you sleep?
Why did you tell him to go?
Why did he bring the bag?
Why did she pay the money?
Why did they sit there?
Why do you drive the car?
Why are they late for the meeting?
How did you come?
How did you sleep?
How did you drive?
How did you write?
How many apples are there in my hand?
How many did you take?
How much did he pay you?
How much distance to go?
How was the journey yesterday?
Which way did you come?
Which is your favourite colour?
In which room did you sleep?
Which story did you tell?
Which is the sweetest fruit?
Which is the best newspaper in Hindi?
Which Indian state has the largest
population?
Where did you come from?
Where did you sleep?
Yenu?
Ninna
Hesaru
Neenu yenu maduthiya?
Nanu yenu madabeku?
Nanu yenu madabhahudhu?/ nanu yenu madaballe
Yenu prashnegalu?
Yenu prashnegaliddhavu?
Koneya prashne yenu?
Pattradhalli/Kaagadhadalli yenu baredhidhe?
Ninege yenu hellalaghithu?
Uttara yenirabhahudhu?
Neenu yaake bandhe?
Neenu yaake malaghidhe?
Neenu avanige yakee hoghalikke hellidhe?
Avanu yaake cheela thandhanu?
Avalu yakee dhuddu kottalu?
Avaru alli yakee kootharu?
Neenu gaadi yakee biduthiya?/
Neenu yakee gaadi chalayisuthiya?
Avaru meetingige yaake thadavadharu?
Neenu hege bandhe?
Neenu hege malaghidhe?
Neenu hege gaadi chalayisidhe?.
Neenu hege baredhe?
Nanna kaiyalli yestu sebu idde?
Neenu yestu thagedhukonde?
Avanu ninage yestu hana kottanu?
Yestu doora hoghabheku?
Ninneya prayana heghithu?
Neenu yaava daariyalli bandhe?
Ninna istavadha banna yavudhu?/
ninege yava banna ista?
Neenu yava koneyalli malaghidhe?
Neenu yava khathe helidhe?
Yallakintha saviyatha hannu yavudhu?
Hindiya yava patrike sarvashresta?
Bharatha deshada yava rajyadalli jasti janasankye?
Neenu yellindha bandhe?/ ninna ooru yavadhu?
Neenu yelli malaghidhe?
Where is the manager’s cabin? Managerina kone yavudhu?
Where should I go? Nanu yellige hogabeku?
Whom should I contact? Nanu yaranna samparkisabeku?
Is it a book? Idu pustakava?/ idu pustaka naa?
It is a book Ide pustaka/ ide pustaka
Is it the answer? Idu uttarana?
It is the answer Ide uttara
Will you come with me? Neenu nanna joteghe baaruthiya?
I shall come with you. Naanu ninna jotege barythene
Will you give me your pen? Ninna pennu/ kalam nanage koduthiya?
Yes, of course. Avashyavaghi koduthene
Do you love me? Neenu nannannu preethisuthiya?
Yes, I love you. Hovadhu naanu ninna preethisuthene
Can you give me your pen? Nanege ninna penana kodabhahudha?/
Ninna kalam nanaghe koduthiya?
Can you lift the box? Neenu dabbiyanna yethe balliya?/
Ninindha dabbi yathellu sadhyava?
Can you write the exam? Ninindha parikshe bariyalu sadyana?
Did you have your lunch? Oota madhidheya?/ oota aayitha?
How are you? Hegiddhiya?/ Neenu heghiddhiya?
I am fine Nanu chenagiddene.

[English] Tell me about something you've achieved.

[Kannada] Nimma saadhaneya bagge maathaadi

[English] Tell me about yourself.

[Kannada] Nimma bagge maathaadi

[English] Tell me about an accident you've seen.

[Kannada] Neevu nodiruva accident bagge maathaadi

[English] Tell me about chocolate.

[Kannada] Chocolate bagge maathaadi

[English] Tell me about a dream you've had.

[Kannada] Nimma kanasina bagge maathaadi

[English] Tell me about your education.

[Kannada] Nimma vidyaabyaasada bagge maathadi

[English] Tell me about your work.

[Kannada] Nimma kelasada bagge maathaadi

[English] Tell me about your favorite book.

[Kannada] Nimma ishtavaada pusthakada bagge maathadi

[English] Tell me about rainy days.

[Kannada] Maley dinagala bagge maathaadi

[English] Tell me about something you hate.

[Kannada] Nimma dweshada bagge maathaadi

[English] Tell me about someone you dislike.

[Kannada] Nimage yaaru ishta illavO avara bagge maathaadi

[English] Tell me about a country or place you would like to visit and why.
[Kannada]Neevu yaava desha athava sthalavannu nodabeku antha iddeera ?
Yaakey?

[English] Tell me about a goal you have.

[Kannada] Nimma jeevanada guriya bagge maathaadi

Some of the important words to be observed from the above conversation are:
tell me = maathaadi
achieve / achievement = saadhaney
seen = nodiruva
rainy days = maley dinagalu
hate = dwesha
dream = kanasu
education = vidyaabyaasa
work = kelasa
favorite = ishta
book = pusthaka
country = desha
place = sthala
why = yaakey
goal = guri or jeevanada guri

[English] Are you busy?

[Kannada] Thumbaa kelsa idya? or busy idya?
(a)[English] Yes
[Kannada] howdu
(b)[English] No
[Kannada] illa

[English] Do you like Bangalore?

[Kannada] Bengaluru nimage ishta aytha?
(a)[English] Yes
[Kannada] ishta aythu
(b)[English] No
[Kannada] illa / ishta aaglilla
[English] Do you ride a bike?
[Kannada] Nimage bike Odsokkey barutha ?
(a)[English] Yes
[Kannada] baruthey / Odustheeni
(b)[English] No
[Kannada] illa / barolla

[English] Can you speak Kannada ?

[Kannada] Kannada maathadokkey nimage barutha?
(a)[English] Yes
[Kannada] baruthey
(b)[English] No
[Kannada] illa / barolla

[English] Do you and your friends play cricket on every Sunday?

[Kannada] neevu mathu nimma friends prathee bhanuvaara cricket aadtheera ?
(a)[English] Yes
[Kannada] howdu / aadtheevi
(b)[English] No
[Kannada] illa / aadalla

Some of the words used and its equivalent word in kannada are as follows:
busy (english) = thumba kelsa(kannada)
like = ishta
speak = maathaadu / maathaadokkey
play = aata / aadu / aadtheera / adtheevi / aadalla
every sunday = prathee bhanuvaara
you = neenu / nimagey / neevu
ride = Odisu / Odsokkey / Odsalla / Odustheeni
and = mathu

Order food in self-service hotel

[English] - You : I'd like one Dosa please.
[Kannada] - You : ondhu Dosa kodi

[English] - Cashier : What kind of Dosa would you like ?

[Kannada] - Cashier : Yaava Dosa beku ?

[English] - You : What are the options available ?

[Kannada] - You : yaava yaava Dosa idhey?

[English] - Cashier : plain dosa, set dosa, masala dosa, rava dosa, onion dosa
[Kannada] - Cashier : plain dosa, set dosa, masala dosa, rava dosa, onion dosa idey
?

[English] - You : Hmmm! Masala Dosa, please.

[Kannada] - You : Hmmm! Masala Dosa kodi.

[English] - Cashier : For here or for parcel?

[Kannada] - Cashier : illey naa athava parcella ?

[English] - You : For here.

[Kannada] - You : illey

[English] - Cashier : Alright. That's gonna be 15 rupees.

[Kannada] - Cashier : aythu. 15 rupees aaguthey.

[English] - You (pay Rs.15) : take it

[Kannada] - You (pay Rs.15) : thagOlli

[English] - Cashier : Thank you. please handover this token to get the food.
[Kannada] - Cashier : Thank you. eee token kotrey Dosa kodtharey.

[English] - You : Alright.

[Kannada] - You : Aythu.

[English] - You (handover the token) : Give me one Masala Dosa

[Kannada] - You (handover the token) : Ondhu Masala Dosa kodi

[English] - Token Collector : Wait for a minute.

[Kannada] - Token Collector : ondhu nimisha wait maadee

[English] - You : Okay but Make it fast.

[Kannada] - You : okay aadrey swalpa bega maadee
[English] - Token Collector : hello sir, you've ordered masala dosa right! take it.
[Kannada] - Token Collector : hello saar, neevu Masala Dosa order maadidralla
thagolli.

[English] - You : Thank You. Slrrrrp

[Kannada] - You : Thank You. Slrrrrp

English Phrase Equiv. Tulu Phrase Equiv. Kannada Phrase Equiv. Konkani Phrase
Are you married ? Eereg madme aathunda? Nimige madhuve Tugeli vardik jalya ve?
aagideya?
Beautiful girl Porlu ponnu Chandada hudugi Chandi chelli
Come in , be seated Bale, kullule Banni, kulithukolli bital yo, bais.
Did you have your food? Vanas aanda ? Oota Aayitha? javan jalle ve?
Do you have children ? Eereg jokulu unda ? Nimige makkalu iddara? Charduva Asa ve tukka ?
Do you know? Goththa? Goththe? Gotasa ve tukka?
Do you speak English ? Eareg English barpunda? Nimige English gotha? Tukka English yei ve?
Don't mention it. Thondare ijji. Paravaagilla. Audna.
He is very good. Baaree yedd jana. Bahala olleya manushya. Tho manishu chang asa.
His name is ... Aarena pudar ... Avara hesaru ... Tagele naav.
How are you ? Yencha Ullar? Hege idhira? Tu kashi asa?
How do you say this in tulu Undena tulutu yencha Idhannu tuluvalli hege Ye tulu bashetu kashi
? panpuna? helodu? ulloche?
How much does this cost? Nek yeth bele ? Idhake yestu bele? Hakka mol kitle?
I am a bachelor. Yank madme aathijji. Nanide maduve aagilla. Megeli vardik jahini
I am doing well. Yaan Sowkhya. Naanu Sowkhya. Aav husar asa.
I am married. Yank madme aathund. Nanige maduve aagide. Megeli vardhik jalya.
I don't know tulu. Yank tulu barpujji. Nanige tulu barudhilla. Maka tulu yana
I have three Yank mooji aaan (ponnu) Nanige mooru gandu
sons( daughters). jokulu undu. (hennu) makkalu idhare.
I know. Yank Goththu. Nanage Goththu.
I know little tulu. Yank onthe tulu barpundu. Nanige swalpa tulu
barthadhe.
I know Mangalore well. Yank Mangalore Nanige Mangalore Makka mangalore gotasa
gotthundu. gotthuntu.
I like Mangalore. Yank mangalore yedde Nanige Mangalore ista Makka mangalore
aapundu. aayitu. avadatha
I will come back. Yaan pera barpe. Naanu vapasu baruthene. Aav opasa yetta
I will wait. Yaan kapuve. Naanu kayuthene. Aav wait karta.
Is there a Telephone Mulpa kaithaal telephone Hathiradhalli telephone Anga kahin telephone asa
nearby ? unda? unta? ve?
May I use your telephone? Yaan onji phone malpolia? Naanu ondu phone
madale?
My name is ... Yanna pudar ... Nanna hesaru ... Megele naav ..
No Thanks. Bodchi solmelu. Beda dhanyavaadagalu. Thanks nak/ Audna
( means ok)
Please come here. Dayamalthu moolu bale. Dayamadi illi banni. Chikke anga yo.
Please give the bill. Daya malthdu bill korle. Dayamaadi bill kodi. Chikke Bill Di.
Please help yourself. Aaramad Balesonle. Aaramavagi Balesukolli. Swata madat karun ge.
Please wait for a moment. Onji nimisha unthule. Dayamadi ondu nimisha Chikke rabata ve.
nilli.
Thank you very much. Mast Upakara. Thumba danyavaadagalu. Mast Thanks,
This is my house. Avu yenna ell. Adu nanna mane. Ye megele ghar.
Today is Sunday. Eni Ithaara. Evaththu bhaanuvaara. Aagi Sunday/ Aagi ravivar.
What do you need? Eereg daada bodu? Nimage yenu beku? Tukka kasele zahi?
What is his name? Aarena pudar daada? Avara hesarenu? Tagele naav kasale?
What is that? Avu daada? Adu Yenu? Te kasale?
What is your name ? Irna pudar enchina? Nimma hesaru yenu? Tugele naav kasale?
What time is it now ? Porthu yeth aand? Gante yeshtu aayithu? Ata gante kitle jalle?
When will he come ? Aar yepa barper ? Avaru yavaga baruthare? Tho kedana yetta?
Where is the restaurant? Vanasag hotel olpa undu? ootakke hotel yellide? Restaurant kaisa?
Which book is this? Undhu vaa booku? Idu yaava pusthaka? Ye kanche book?
Who is he? Aar Yer? Avaru Yaaru? Tho kon?

Common One liners

English Phrase Equiv. Tulu Phrase Equiv. Kannada Phrase Equiv. Konkani Phrase
Bathe Snana Snana Natta
Clothe Kuntu Batte Avagale
Come Balle Banni Yo
Cook Adige malpule Beyisu Randapa
Doctor Daakdaar Vydya doctor
Enter Bala Praveshisu Pravesha kari/ Bitari yo
Give Koru Kodu Di
Good Yedd Olleyadu Layak zalle
Hello Namaskara Namaskara Namaskaru
How Yencha Hege Kashi
How many Yethu undu Yeshtu untu Kitle
How much Yeth Yeshtu Kitle
I Yaan Naanu Aav
It Avu Adu Te
Leave Pola Horadu Sodi
Mine Yenna/Yena Nanna mege;e
Money Duddu Hana/Duddu Duddu
No Athth Alla/Illa Nakka
Place Ooru Ooru Gaav
Read Odhu Odhu Vaji
Run Balpu Odu Dhav
Shop Angadi Angadi Angadi/ Dukaan
Take Dhethonu Thegeduko Ge
Their's Aarena Avara Tangele
They Akulu Avaru Tanni
Walk Nadi Nadi Chamakuchak
We Enkulu Naavu Ami
What Yenchina Yenu Kasele
When Yepa Yavaga kedana
Where Olu Yelli Kahin
Which Oltha Yavadu Kanche
Who Yer Yaaru Kon
Why? Dayegu? Yake? Kasalek?
Write Bari Bari Barai
Yes Andh Howdu Haan
Your's Eerena Nimma Tugele.

• Adda haku - Place to hang out

• Area - For a controlling space of a Rowdy.
• Aykollodu - Literally means picking up. Used as a slang for dead/died. Eg : ivnu
ivattu aykontaane maga.
• Awaaz haaku - To shout at.
• Bachaav - To save
• chachu haaku - Actually mean hit well, used to refer when somebody has done
really well in exams.
• Chakka - Impotent
• Chowra/Bolisu - nicely shave a person of his money.
• Dabba - A empty can - for an insensible/useless person.
• Dhingchak - Used for vibrant and fluorescent colour dressed characters.
• Dow - Meaning a Girl friend or Boy friend
 • Figurru - Pretty girl
• Pantar/Panta - From Pandit for someone who is a master. Also used for
betters/match fixers.
• Kaage harsu - Literally to fly away a crow. Tofool
• Kachchko - (literally to bite) used to mean to linger on may be in a traffic / protect
wicket in cricket (after Rahul Dravid).
• Kalachiko/Kataysko/Apase - To fled out of the scene.
• Karaab - Hindi word meaning worse. Usually used by Engineering Students. Eg:
Paper sakat karaab aagittu maga.
• Karga - Karaga - Literally a dance formTo show off
• Kichayisu - To trigger a fight.
• Konga - Literally means oblique, mostly used for a Tamil who is intelligent and
political.
• Loose - Brain lose - A insensible person.
• Ganchali - To indicate someone who is behaving out of the way and in a irritating
manner. Eg: Sakkat ganchali maadtavne guru.
• Gandhi - To indicate a person who is very innocent or behaves like innocent.
• Gubold - Alias for Guldu or Guldu khan.
• Guldu - An Idiot
• Guru - For someone who is learned.
• Hava iDu - To keep scared of ones.
• Hoge/Kenda - Dead/caught in grave danger
• Katthi - Literally a sword means Super.
• Kolte/Kwashtu - Waste person
• Koole - Means have fun. Eg : Sikkapatte Koole maadidvi maga.
• Konga - Konga or Konga's are generally referred to tamil peoples who are living
in Bangalore.
• Kwaatle/Kirik - Person who always induce problems
• Maga - literally means son/one who is young,If you go to some remote village in
south karnataka (around mandya) Older people usually use the word

"Maga ba elli" means "son come here",to be specific someone uses 'Maga'
to address someone who is younger than him/her, but now a days the
meanging has
changed especially in bangalore, where it used to speak to some one
who we know well like a friend, it closely maps to the English word
Dude.

• Meter - Measure of bravery by asking crudely Meter estide or How much Meter
do you have. often compared to Auto Rickshaw meters of

Bangalore which jump at road humps and are notoriously dear even for a
short distance

• Maaruva Katte - Meaning a katte (elevated space) for maarata(selling).

• Mannu Hodkondu malko - Dead/Buried inside the sand
• Minchinguu - To show-off. Minchu -meaning lightening streak. Normally used to
denote Muslim Burkha clad women who put chamki - shining apparels. Used
for someone wearing gaudy coloured dress.

• Mundayisu - means to nicely shave a person of his money.

• Oost - Gone Case
• Paachko - have a sound sleep
• Paaketuu- country liquor.
• Pataysu -To make girl fall in love
• Penga - Monkey (Fool)
• Piteel - Actually means Violin, So, used to indicate lies or words of no use.
• Punda/Pokiri/Chappar - equalling a Loafer.
• Qwarteruu- A quarter of country liquor.
• Rowdy - A Rowdy.
• Saabi - A Muslim.
• Sakkath - similar saying - Too much.
• Shishya/Sisya/Maga - For a friend - considering as a disciple.
• Sikkapatte - very much
• Soda - One wearing spectacles, usually with high power or thick glasses
• TagDu - A person who is dumb.
• Topi haaku - To make a person wear a cap(topi) - symbolic of making him a fool.
• Yedda/Yabuda - Fool/Brainless
• Yescape / Sink aagu - Derived from 'Escape'. Introduced by Jaggesh. Means to
Run away from trouble.

GREETINGS

HELLO NAMASKARA
THANK YOU VERY MUCH THUMBA DHANYAVADAGALU

GOODBYE HOGI BARUTHEENE

HOW ARE YOU ? NEEVU HEGIDHEERA?
FINE THANK YOU CHENNAGIDHENE DHANYAVADAGALU
WELCOME SUSVAGATHA
I LOVE BANGALORE NAANU BENGALOORANNU PREETHISUTHENE

BANGALORE IS BEAUTIFUL BENGALOORU SUNDARAVAGIDHE

HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS HRUDHAYAPURVAKA SHUBHASHAYAGALU

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! NEEVU SUNDARAVAGIDHIRI

INTRODUCTION
MY NAME IS.... NANNA HESARU...

I AM A...(PROFESSION) NANNA UDYOGA...

I AM FROM....(PLACE OF ORIGIN) NAANU...OORINAVANU

HAPPY TO MEET YOU NIMMANNU BETI MADI SANTOSHAVAYITHU

YES HOWDHU

NO ILLA

SORRY, I'M LATE KSHAMISI THADA AAYITHU

 ENQUIRY
WHAT IS YOUR NAME ? NIMMA HESARU YENU?

HOW DO I GO THERE? ALLIGE NAANU HEGE HOGUVUDHU?

HOW MUCH IS THIS? IDHU YESHTU?

WHERE IS YOUR HOUSE? NIMMA MANE ELLI IDHE?

WHERE IS THE NEAREST POLICE
HATHIRADHA POLICE STATION YELLI IDHE?
STATION ?
WHERE CAN I GO SHOPPING ? NAANU SHOPPING MADALU YELLI HOGA BEKU

CAN YOU HELP ME ? NANAGE SAHAYA MADUTHEERA?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ? NEEVU YENU MADUTHIDHEERA?

WOULD YOU JOIN ME FOR LUNCH TODAY
EEVATHU NANNA JOTHE OOTA MADUVIRA?
?
NAANU VIMANANILDHANA KE HEGE
HOW DO I GO TO THE AIRPORT ?
HOGUVUDHU?
WHAT ARE THE TOURISTS SPOTS SUTHHA MUTHHALINA TOURIST SPOTUGALU
AROUND ? YAVUDHU?
WHERE SHALL WE MEET ? NAAVU YELLI BETI AAGONA?
NANAGE YARAADHARU DURAVANI KARE
WAS THERE A CALL FOR ME?
MADIDHARA?
WHERE CAN I MAKE A PHONE CALL? DURAVANI KARE YELLI MADA BAHDHU?

DIRECTIONS
I WANT TO GO TO... NAANU....HOGABEKU

I HAVE LOST MY WAY NAANU DHARI THAPPIDHINI

STRAIGHT AHEAD NERAVAGI MUNDHE

GO TO THE LEFT EDAGADE HOGI

GO TO THE RIGHT BALAGADE HOGI

OPPOSITE YEDHURUGADE
 GENERAL
PLEASE DAYAVITTU

SORRY KSHAMISI

I WILL COME BACK NAANU VAPAS BARUTHENE

I WANT IT IDHU NANEGE BEKU

I DON'T WANT IT IDHU NANEGE BEDA

THIS IS GOOD IDHU CHENNAGIDHE

LET US GO HOGONA

COME TOMORROW NAALE BANNI

GET ME A GLASS OF WATER NANAGE ONDHU LOTA NEERU KODI

I WANT TO TRY AGAIN NAANU MATTHE PRAYATHNISUVE

I'II MEET YOU AT IN THE EVENING NAANU SANJE BETI MADUVE

PLEASE WAIT UNTILL I AM BACK NAANU BARUVAVAREGE KAADHIRI

THE WEATHER IS PLEASANT HERE ILLINA HAVAMAANA CHENNAGHIDHE

DRIVE SLOWLY NIDHAANAVAGI VAHANA CHALAYISI

PACK THESE THINGS EE SAAMAANUGALANNU PACK MAADI