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Kannada phrasebook

From Wikitravel

Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ kannaḍa), a Dravidian language with some 50 million speakers, is an official language of India and the state language of Karnataka. It is also the language you are likely to encounter in Bangalore, a city you might have heard of quite a bit recently. It is also the language you will encounter if you visit the historically significant cities of Mysore and Hampi, so arming yourself with rudimentary knowledge of Kannada is a good idea if you wish to visit those places.

Kannada is a Dravidian language, which means that it belongs to the same family as the other South Indian languages Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Tulu. These languages share many words, sentence structures and even expressions, which means that if you pick up any one, your path to learning the others is considerably eased.

Also, because of Karnataka's proximity to Maharashtra, Kannada is more accepting of Sanskrit loanwords than Tamil or Malayalam. While it would be a stretch to say that learning Hindi will help you pick up Kannada better, it is true that if you are very good at chaste Sanskritised Hindi (or some other North Indian language) you will find it somewhat easy to communicate with a Kannadiga, as native speakers of Kannada are called.

[edit] Pronunciation guide

[edit] Vowels

a aa/A i ii/I u uu/U ru/Ru/Ri e ee/E ai o oo/O ow/ou um/aM aha/aH

Devanagari	Transliteration	Equivalent
ಅ	a
ಆ	A,aa
ಇ	i
ಈ	I,ee
ಉ	u
ಊ	U,oo
ಋ	Ru
ೠ	RU
ಎ	e
ಏ	E
ಐ	ai
ಒ	o
ಓ	O
ಔ	au,ou
ಂ	M
ಃ	H

[edit] Consonants

b: like 'b' in "bed"
c: like 's' in "supper", 'k' in "kid"
d: like 'd' in "dog"
f: like 'ph' in "phone"
g: like 'g' in "go", 'j' in "jello"
h: like 'h' in "help" (often silent in the UK and other Commonwealth countries)
j: like 'dg' in "edge"
k: like 'c' in "cat"
l: like 'l' in "love"
m: like 'm' in "mother"
n: like 'n' in "nice"
p: like 'p' in "pig"
q: like 'q' in "quest" (with "u", almost always)
r: like 'r' in "row", like 'r' in "feather" (often silent in the UK and other Commonwealth countries at end of word)
s: like 'ss' in "hiss", like 'z' in "haze"
t: like 't' in "top"
v: like 'v' in "victory"
w: like 'w' in "weight"
x: like 'cks' in "kicks", like 'z' in "haze" (at beginning of a word)
y: like 'y' in "yes", like 'ie' in "pie", like 'ee' in "flee"
z: like 'z' in "haze"

: ಕ್=k, ಖ್=K,kh, ಗ್=g, ಘ್=G,gh, ಙ್=~g
: ಚ್=c,ch, ಛ್=C,Ch, ಜ್=j, ಝ್=J,jh, ಞ್=~j
: ಟ್=T, ಠ್=Th, ಡ್=D, ಢ್=Dh, ಣ್=N
: ತ್=t, ಥ್=th, ದ್=d, ಧ್=dh, ನ್=n
: ಪ್=p, ಫ್=P,ph, ಬ್=b, ಭ್=B,bh, ಮ್=m
: ಯ್=y,Y, ರ್=r,R, ಱ್=rx, ಲ್=l, ವ್=v,w, ಶ್=S,sh, ಷ್=Sh, ಸ್=s, ಹ್=h,~h, ಳ್=L, ೞ್=Lx, ಕ್ಷ=kSha

[edit] Common diphthongs

ay: like 'ay' in "say"
ai: like 'ay' in "say"
au: like 'awe'

ee: like 'ee' in "see"
ei: like 'ay' in "say"
ey: like 'ay' in "say", like 'ee' in "see"

ie: like 'ee' in "see"

oi: like 'oy' in "boy"
oo: like 'oo' in "food", like 'oo' in "good"
ou: like 'ow' in "cow", like 'oo' in "food", like 'o' in "cot"
ow: like 'ow' in "cow"
oy: like 'oy' in "boy"

ch: like 'ch' in "touch"
sh: like 'sh' in "sheep"
th: like 'th' in "this", like 'th' in "those"
gh: like 'f' in "fish"
ph: like 'f' in "fish"

[edit] Phrase list

[edit] Basics

Hello.: Namaskara. (...)
Hello. (informal): (...)
How are you?: Chennaagidira?
How are you? (formal?): Neevu Chennaagidira?
I am fine. (formal?): Naanu chennagiddene.
Fine, thank you.: Chennagiddene. Dhanyavaada
Have you eaten?: Uta aithaa? (...)
Yes, I have.: Uta aithu (...)
What is your name?: Nimma hesarenu? (NIM ah HESS er AYNOO?)
My name is ______ .: Nanna hesaru ______ . (NUN ah HESS ah-ru _____ .)
Nice to meet you.: nimmannu nodi santhoshavaythu (...)
Please.: Dayavit.t.u. (DAI-yuh-WI-too)
Thank you.: VandenegaLu. (WAN-deh-neh-ga-loo)
You're welcome.: tamage suswagatha.
Yes.: Havdu. (HAW-du)
No.: Illa. (ILL ah)
Excuse me. (getting attention): illinoDi (...)
Excuse me. (begging pardon): K-shamisi (...)
I'm sorry.: nannindha thappaithu (...)
Goodbye: Hogibitt Barthene
Goodbye (informal): (...)
I can't speak Kannada [well].: Nanage Kannada barodilla. (...)
Do you speak English?: Nimage English baruththaa? (...)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Illi yaarigaadaru english baruththaa? (...)
Help!: sahaaya maadi(...)
Look out!: jopaana(...)
Good morning.: Shubha Munjane , shubhodhaya, shubha udhaya (...)
Good evening.: shubha sanje (...)
Good night.: Shubha Ratri (...)
Good night (to sleep): (...)
I don't understand.: nanage artha vaguthilla (...)
Where is the toilet?: Toilet ellidde? (TOY-leht ELL id EH?)

[edit] Problems

Leave me alone.: Nanna bittu bidi, Nanna vonti aagi biDu (...)
Don't touch me!: Mutta bEda nanna! (...)
I'll call the police.: nAnu Police-annu karethini (...)
Police!: Police! (...)
Stop! Thief!: Nillu! KaLLa! (...)
I need your help.: Nimma sahAya bEkkagidhe. (...)
It's an emergency.: thurthu samaya (THUR-THOO- SUM-IYA)
I'm lost.: Nanage daari thappide. (...)
I lost my bag.: Nanna cheela kaLedu hoyithu. (...)
I lost my wallet.: Nanna wallet(kai cheela) kaLedu hoyithu. (...)
I'm sick.: Nanage hushaarilla. (...)
I've been injured.: Nanage pettagide. (...)
I need a doctor.: Nanage doctor bku. (...)
Can I use your phone?: Nimma phone upayogisubahudha. (...)

[edit] Numbers

1: ondhu (...)
2: yeradu (...)
3: mooru (...)
4: naalku (...)
5: aidhu (...)
6: aaru (...)
7: yeLu (...)
8: yentu (...)
9: ombattu (...)
10: hathu (...)
11: hannondu (...)
12: hanneradu (...)
13: hadimooru (...)
14: hadinalku (...)
15: hadinaidhu (...)
16: hadinaru (...)
17: hadinelu (...)
18: hadinentu (...)
19: hathombathu (...)
20: ippathu (...)
21: ippatha ondu (...)
22: ippatha yeradu (...)
23: ippatha mooru (...)
30: muvathu (...)
40: nalavathu (...)
50: aivathu (...)
60: arvathu (...)
70: yapathu (...)
80: embathu (...)
90: tombathu (...)
100: nooru (...)
200: ennooru (...)
300: munooru (...)
1000: ondu savira (...)
2000: yeradu savira (...)
1,000,000: hathu laksha (...)
1,000,000,000: nooru koti
1,000,000,000,000: saavira koti
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): ankhi, ankhe (...)
half: ardha (...)
less: kammi (...)
more: jasthi (...)

[edit] Time

now: Iga (...)
later: AmEle (...)
before: modalu (...)
morning: beLigge (...)
afternoon: madhyAna (...)
evening: saMje (...)
night: rAtri (...)

[edit] Clock time

one o'clock AM: rAtri oMdu ghaMTe (...)
two o'clock AM: rAtri eraDu ghaMTe (...)
noon: madhyAna hanneraDu (...)
one o'clock PM: madhyAna oMdu ghaMTe (...)
two o'clock PM: madhyAna eraDu ghaMTe (...)
midnight: madhya rAtri (...)

[edit] Duration

_____ minute(s): _____ nimisha (...)
_____ hour(s): _____ gaMTe (...)
_____ day(s): _____ dina (...)
_____ week(s): _____ vAra (...)
_____ month(s): _____ tiMgaLu (...)
_____ year(s): _____ varsha (...)

[edit] Days

today: ivattu (...)
yesterday: ninne (...)
tomorrow: nALe (...)
this week: ee vAra (...)
last week: kadE vAra , hodha vAra (...)
next week: muMdina vAra (...)

Sunday: ravi-vAra, bhaanu-vAra (...)
Monday: sOma-vAra (...)
Tuesday: maMgaLa-vAra (...)
Wednesday: budha-vAra (...)
Thursday: guru-vAra (...)
Friday: shukra-vAra (...)
Saturday: shani-vAra (...)

[edit] Months

If speakers of the language commonly use a calendar other than the Gregorian, explain it here and list its months. See Hebrew phrasebook for an example.

January: January (...)
February: February (...)
March: March (...)
April: April (...)
May: May (...)
June: June (...)
July: July (...)
August: August (...)
September: September (...)
October: October (...)
November: November (...)
December: December (...)

It is a hindu calendar where we follow the moon phases to indicate month, like a full moon day is the start of the month and a no-moon day is the end of the month.

[edit] Writing time and date

Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

[edit] Colors

black: kari, kaage banna(colour of a crow/raven) (...)
white: bili (...)
gray: gray, bhoodi banna (colour of ashes) (...)
red: Kempu (...)
blue: Neeli (...)
yellow: HaLadi (...)
green: Hasiru (...)
orange: chandra (kiththaaLe(fruit)) (...)
purple: purple (...)
brown: brown (...)

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: ___ge ticket eshtu? (...)
One ticket to _____, please.: ___ge ondu ticket kodi. (...)
Where does this train/bus go?: Ee train/bus ellige hoguththade? (...)
Where is the train/bus to _____?: _____ge train/bus ellide? (...)
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Ee train/bus ____ alli nilluththaa? (...)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: Yaavaaga ee train/bus _____ ge horaduththade? (...)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: Yaavaaga ee bus baruththe? (...)

[edit] Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: How do I get to _____ ? : _____ge hogo dhaari heege(...)
...the train station?: ...the train station? (...)railway stationge hege hoguvudhu?
...the bus station?: ...the bus station? (...)
...the airport?: ...the airport? (...)
...downtown?: ...downtown? : pete(...)
...the youth hostel?: ...the youth hostel? (...)
...the _____ hotel?: ...the _____ hotel? (...)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (...)
Where are there a lot of...: Where are there a lot of... : ....yelli siguvudhu (...)
...hotels?: ...hotels? (...)
...restaurants?: ...restaurants? (...)
...bars?: ...bars? (...)
...sites to see?: ...sites to see? (...)
Can you show me on the map?: Can you show me on the map? (...)
street: street (...)
Turn left.: Edakke thirugu. (...)
Turn right.: Balakke thirugu. (...)
left: Eda (...)
right: Bala (...)
straight ahead: Edurugade , mundhe hogi(...)
towards the _____: towards the _____ (...)
past the _____: _____ aada nanthara (...)
before the _____: _____ gintha modalu (...)
Watch for the _____.: Watch for the _____. (...)
intersection: intersection (...)
north: uththara (...)
south: dhakshiNa (...)
east: Poorva (...)
west: Pashchima (...)
uphill: uphill (...)
downhill: downhill (...)

[edit] Taxi

Taxi!: Taxi! (...)
Take me to _____, please.: Take me to _____, please. (...)dayavittu,nannanu _____ karadukondi hogi
How much does it cost to get to _____?: How much does it cost to

get to _____? (...)_______ge aesthu charge madthidhra?

Take me there, please.: Take me there, please. (...)

[edit] Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: Do you have any rooms available? (...)
How much is a room for one person/two people?: How much is a room for one person/two people? (...)
Does the room come with...: Does the room come with... (...)
...bedsheets?: ...bedsheets? (...)
...a bathroom?: ...a bathroom? (...)
...a telephone?: ...a telephone? (...)
...a TV?: ...a TV? (...)
May I see the room first?: May I see the room first? (...)
Do you have anything quieter?: Do you have anything quieter? (...)
...bigger?: ...bigger? (...)
...cleaner?: ...cleaner? (...)
...cheaper?: ...cheaper? (...)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (...)
I will stay for _____ night(s).: I will stay for _____ night(s). (...)
Can you suggest another hotel?: Can you suggest another hotel? (...)
Do you have a safe?: Do you have a safe? (...)
...lockers?: ...lockers? (...)
Is breakfast/supper included?: Is breakfast/supper included? (...)
What time is breakfast/supper?: What time is breakfast/supper? (...)
Please clean my room.: Please clean my room. (...)
Can you wake me at _____? | Can you wake me at _____? (...)
I want to check out.: I want to check out. (...)

[edit] Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (...)
Do you accept British pounds?: Do you accept British pounds? (...)
Do you accept credit cards?: Do you accept credit cards? (...)
Can you change money for me?: Can you change money for me? (...)
Where can I get money changed?: Where can I get money changed? (...)
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: Can you change a traveler's check for me? (...)
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (...)
What is the exchange rate?: What is the exchange rate? (...)
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (...)

[edit] Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: A table for one person/two people, please. (...)
Can I look at the menu, please?: Can I look at the menu, please? (...)
Can I look in the kitchen?: Can I look in the kitchen? (...)
Is there a house specialty?: Is there a house specialty? (...)
Is there a local specialty?: Is there a local specialty? (...)
I'm a vegetarian.: I'm a vegetarian. (...)
I don't eat pork.: I don't eat pork. (...)
I don't eat beef.: I don't eat beef. (...)
I only eat kosher food.: I only eat kosher food. (...)
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): Can you make it "lite", please? (...)
fixed-price meal: fixed-price meal (...)
à la carte: à la carte (...)
breakfast: thindi
lunch: oota
tea (meal): tea (...)
supper: supper (...)
I want _____.: _____ nanage beku
I want a dish containing _____.: I want a dish containing _____. (...)
chicken: chicken (...)
beef: beef (...)
fish: fish (...)
ham: ham (...)
sausage: sausage (...)
cheese: cheese (...)
eggs: moTTe (...)
salad: salad (...)
(fresh) vegetables: (fresh) vegetables (thaja tarakarigalu...)
(fresh) fruit: (fresh) hannu (...)
bread: bread (...)
toast: toast (...)
noodles: noodles (...)
rice: anna (...)
beans: beans (...)
May I have a glass of _____?: May I have a glass of _____? (...)
May I have a cup of _____?: May I have a cup of _____? (...)
May I have a bottle of _____?: May I have a bottle of _____? (...)
coffee: kaapi
tea (drink): tea (...)
juice: juice (...)
(bubbly) water: water (...)
water: neeru (...)
beer: beer (...)
red/white wine: red/white wine (...)
May I have some _____?: May I have some _____? (...)
salt: uppu (...)
black pepper: kari menasu (...)
butter: beNNE
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Excuse me, waiter? (...)
I'm finished.: I'm finished. (...)
It was delicious.: It was delicious. (...)
Please clear the plates.: Please clear the plates. (...)
The check, please.: The check, please. (...)

[edit] Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: Do you serve alcohol? (Neevu Yenne maarthira)
Is there table service?: Is there table service? (...)
A beer/two beers, please.: A beer/two beers, please. (...)
A glass of red/white wine, please.: A glass of red/white wine, please. (...)
A pint, please.: A pint, please. (...)
A bottle, please.: A bottle, please. (...)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: _____ and _____, please. (...)
whiskey: whiskey (...)
vodka: vodka (...)
rum: rum (...)
water: water (Neeru)
club soda: club soda (...)
tonic water: tonic water (...)
orange juice: orange juice (...)
Coke (soda): Coke (...)
Do you have any bar snacks?: Do you have any bar snacks? (...)
One more, please.: One more, please. (...)
Another round, please.: Another round, please. (...)
When is closing time?: When is closing time? (...)

[edit] Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Nanna aLathe yalli idhiya?? (...)
How much is this?: idhakke yeshtu (...)
That's too expensive.: thumba dhubhaari (...)
Would you take _____?: Would you take _____? (...)
expensive: dhubaari (...)
cheap: cheap (...)
I can't afford it.: I can't afford it. (...)
I don't want it.: nanige beDa (...)
You're cheating me.: mosa maDthidhira.(formal) (...)
I'm not interested.: nanige asakthi illa (..)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (...)
Can I have a bag?: Can I have a bag? (...)
Do you ship (overseas)?: Do you ship (overseas)? (...)
I need...: I need... (...)
...toothpaste.: ...toothpaste. (...)
...a toothbrush.: ...a toothbrush. (...)
...tampons.: ...tampons. (...)
...soap.: ...soap. (...)
...shampoo.: ...shampoo. (...)
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): noVu nivaraka (...)
...cold medicine.: negaDi ge oushadhi (...)
...stomach medicine.: hotte ge oushadhi (...)
...a razor.: ...a razor. (...)
...an umbrella.: koDe, chathri (...)
...sunblock lotion.: ...sunblock lotion. (...)
...a postcard.: anche card (...)
...postage stamps.: anche cheeTi (...)
...batteries.: ...batteries. (...)
...writing paper.: ...writing paper. (...)
...a pen.: ...a pen. (...)
...English-language books.: ...English-language books. (...)
...English-language magazines.: ...English-language magazines. (...)
...an English-language newspaper.: ...an English-language newspaper. (...)
...an English-English dictionary.: ...an English-English dictionary. (...)

[edit] Driving

I want to rent a car.: Naanu ondu car baadigege padeyalichchisuthene.
Can I get insurance?: Naanu insurance padeyabahuda
stop (on a street sign): Nillu.
one way: Ekamukha sanchara
yield: yield (...)
no parking: Nilugadeyalla
speed limit: vega mithi
gas (petrol) station: Indhana ThaaNa
petrol: petrolu. Indhana
diesel: dieselu. Indhana

[edit] Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: Naan yenu thapp maadilla. (...)
It was a misunderstanding.: It was a misunderstanding. (...)thappu thilidukoLLuvudu
Where are you taking me?: nannannu yelli karedhoyuththidhira? (...)nannanu yelli karkundu hoguthidhira?
Am I under arrest?: Am I under arrest? (...)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (...)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (...)
I want to talk to a lawyer.: nanage lawyer hatra maathaad beku (...)
Can I just pay a fine now?: Can I just pay a fine now? (...)

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