The Kannada course
Learn Kannada ten words at a time
ಕನ್ನಡ
Ten games of ten words: the hundred most useful Kannada words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Kannada challenge
Do you know the essentials? 25 quick questions from across the course. Score high and you are ready for the trip.
Kannada · Lesson 1 of 10
Greetings and politeness
Hello, thanks, please: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- ನಮಸ್ಕಾರna-mas-KAA-ra
- Hello
- ಹಾಯ್HAI
- Hi
- ಶುಭೋದಯshu-BOH-da-ya
- Good morning
- ಶುಭ ರಾತ್ರಿSHOO-bha RAAT-ri
- Good night
- ತುಂಬಾ ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳುTUM-baa dhan-ya-VAA-da-ga-lu
- Thank you very much
- ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳುdhan-ya-VAA-da-ga-lu
- Thanks
- ಪರವಾಗಿಲ್ಲpa-ra-VAA-gil-la
- You're welcome
- ದಯವಿಟ್ಟುda-ya-VIT-tu
- Please
- ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿKSHA-mi-si
- Excuse me
- ವಿದಾಯvi-DAA-ya
- Goodbye
Kannada · Lesson 2 of 10
Order anything by pointing
One beer please, one of these please, the bill: survive any menu.
- ನನಗೆ ಇದು ಬೇಕುna-NA-ge I-du BEE-ku
- I want this
- ಒಂದು ಫಿಲ್ಟರ್ ಕಾಫಿ ಕೊಡಿON-du FIL-tar KAA-fi KO-di
- One filter coffee, please
- ಎಷ್ಟು?ESH-tu
- How much?
- ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಕೊಡಿin-NON-du KO-di
- Give me one more
- ಖಾರ ಬೇಡKHAA-ra BEE-da
- Not spicy
- ಇಲ್ಲೇ ತಿನ್ನಲುil-LEE TIN-na-lu
- To eat here
- ಪಾರ್ಸೆಲ್PAAR-sel
- Takeaway
- ಬಿಲ್ ಕೊಡಿBIL KO-di
- The bill, please
- ಚೀರ್ಸ್CHEERS
- Cheers!
- ಶತಾಯುಷಿsha-TAA-yu-shi
- Bless you
Kannada · Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials
The tiny words that carry half of every conversation.
- ಹೌದುHOW-du
- Yes
- ಇಲ್ಲIL-la
- No
- ಸರಿSA-ri
- Okay
- ಪರವಾಗಿಲ್ಲpa-ra-VAA-gil-la
- No problem
- ನನಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲna-NA-ge GOT-til-la
- I don't know
- ನನಗೆ ಅರ್ಥ ಆಗಲ್ಲna-NA-ge AR-tha AA-gal-la
- I don't understand
- ನಿಮಗೆ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಬರುತ್ತಾ?ni-MA-ge ING-glish ba-RUT-taa
- Do you speak English?
- ಸ್ವಲ್ಪSVAL-pa
- A little
- ಖಂಡಿತKHAN-di-ta
- Of course
- ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಸರಿ ಇದೆEL-laa SA-ri I-de
- Everything is fine
Kannada · Lesson 4 of 10
Numbers and money
Counting, prices, paying by card or cash.
- ಒಂದುON-du
- One
- ಎರಡುE-ra-du
- Two
- ಮೂರುMOO-ru
- Three
- ಐದುAI-du
- Five
- ಹತ್ತುHAT-tu
- Ten
- ನೂರುNOO-ru
- One hundred
- ಸಾವಿರSAA-vi-ra
- One thousand
- ರೂಪಾಯಿroo-PAA-yi
- Rupees
- ಯುಪಿಐ ಪೇಮೆಂಟ್YOO-pee-ai PEE-ment
- UPI payment
- ನಗದುna-GA-du
- Cash
Kannada · Lesson 5 of 10
At the supermarket
Bread, milk, a bag, nothing else thanks: the checkout routine.
- ... ಇದೆಯಾ?... I-de-yaa
- Do you have...?
- ... ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೆ?... EL-li I-de
- Where is...?
- ಇದುI-du
- This one
- ಅಕ್ಕಿAK-ki
- Rice
- ತೆಂಗಿನಕಾಯಿten-gi-na-KAA-yi
- Coconut
- ಹಾಲುHAA-lu
- Milk
- ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಮಾಡಿSVAL-pa ka-DI-me MAA-di
- Make it cheaper
- ಒಂದು ಚೀಲ ಕೊಡಿON-du CHEE-la KO-di
- A bag, please
- ಅಷ್ಟೇash-TEE
- That's all
- ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಎಷ್ಟಾಯ್ತು?EL-laa esh-TAAY-tu
- How much is all of this?
Kannada · Lesson 6 of 10
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, a compliment to the kitchen.
- ಎರಡು ಜನರಿಗೆ ಟೇಬಲ್E-ra-du ja-NA-ri-ge TEE-bal
- A table for two
- ಮೆನು ಕೊಡಿME-nu KO-di
- The menu, please
- ಒಂದು ಮಸಾಲೆ ದೋಸೆON-du ma-SAA-le DOH-se
- One masala dosa
- ಫಿಲ್ಟರ್ ಕಾಫಿFIL-tar KAA-fi
- Filter coffee
- ಖಾರ ಬೇಡKHAA-ra BEE-da
- Not spicy
- ಶಾಖಾಹಾರಿshaa-khaa-HAA-ri
- Vegetarian
- ತುಂಬಾ ರುಚಿ ಇದೆTUM-baa ROO-chi I-de
- It's delicious
- ಈರುಳ್ಳಿ ಬೇಡee-RUL-li BEE-da
- Without onion
- ಬಿಲ್ ಕೊಡಿBIL KO-di
- The bill
- ಊಟ ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿತ್ತುOO-ta TUM-baa chen-NAA-git-tu
- The food was great
Kannada · Lesson 7 of 10
Small talk and neighbors
How are you, nice day, see you soon: superficial and proud of it.
- ನೀವು ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಿ?NEE-vu HEE-gid-dee-ri
- How are you? (formal)
- ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀಯ?HEE-gid-dee-ya
- How are you? (casual)
- ನಾನು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆNAA-nu chen-NAA-gid-dee-ne
- I'm fine
- ನೀವು?NEE-vu
- And you?
- ಏನು ವಿಶೇಷ?EE-nu vi-SHEE-sha
- What's going on?
- ಇವತ್ತು ತುಂಬಾ ಬಿಸಿಲುi-VAT-tu TUM-baa BI-si-lu
- It's very hot today
- ಮತ್ತೆ ಸಿಗೋಣMAT-te si-GOH-na
- See you again
- ಮತ್ತೆ ಬನ್ನಿMAT-te BAN-ni
- Please come again
- ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದಾರಾ?ma-NE-yal-li EL-la-roo chen-NAA-gid-daa-raa
- How is the family?
- ಅಣ್ಣAN-na
- Older brother / respected man
Kannada · Lesson 8 of 10
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- ಶೌಚಾಲಯshow-CHAA-la-ya
- Toilet
- ಎಡE-da
- Left
- ಬಲBA-la
- Right
- ನೇರ ಹೋಗಿNEE-ra HOH-gi
- Straight ahead
- ಇಲ್ಲೇ ನಿಲ್ಲಿil-LEE NIL-li
- Stop here
- ಆಟೋAA-to
- Auto-rickshaw
- ಬಸ್ಸುBAS-su
- Bus
- ರೈಲು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣRAI-lu nil-DAA-na
- Train station
- ಒಂದು ಟಿಕೆಟ್ON-du TI-ket
- One ticket
- ಎಷ್ಟು ದೂರ?ESH-tu DOO-ra
- How far is it?
Kannada · Lesson 9 of 10
Time and days
Today, tomorrow, later, the weekend.
- ಇವತ್ತುi-VAT-tu
- Today
- ನಾಳೆNAA-le
- Tomorrow
- ನಿನ್ನೆNIN-ne
- Yesterday
- ಈಗEE-ga
- Now
- ಆಮೇಲೆaa-MEE-le
- Later
- ಎಷ್ಟು ಗಂಟೆ?ESH-tu GAN-te
- What time is it?
- ಸೋಮವಾರSOH-ma-vaa-ra
- Monday
- ಶನಿವಾರsha-ni-VAA-ra
- Saturday
- ಭಾನುವಾರBHAA-nu-vaa-ra
- Sunday
- ವಾರಾಂತ್ಯvaa-RAAN-tya
- The weekend
Kannada · Lesson 10 of 10
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಿ!sa-HAA-ya MAA-di
- Help!
- ಡಾಕ್ಟರನ್ನು ಕರೆಯಿರಿDAAK-ta-ran-nu ka-RE-yi-ri
- Call a doctor
- ಪೊಲೀಸ್po-LEES
- Police
- ಮೆಡಿಕಲ್ ಸ್ಟೋರ್ME-di-kal STOR
- Pharmacy
- ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆaas-PAT-re
- Hospital
- ನಾನು ದಾರಿ ತಪ್ಪಿದ್ದೇನೆNAA-nu DAA-ri tap-PID-dee-ne
- I'm lost
- ನನಗೆ ಹುಷಾರಿಲ್ಲna-NA-ge hu-SHAA-ril-la
- I don't feel well
- ನನ್ನ ಚೀಲ ಕಳ್ಳತನ ಆಯ್ತುNAN-na CHEE-la KAL-la-ta-na AAY-tu
- My bag was stolen
- ಅದನ್ನು ಯಾರೋ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡರುa-DAN-nu YAA-ro te-GE-du-kon-da-ru
- It was stolen
- ತುರ್ತು ಆಗಿದೆTUR-tu AA-gi-de
- It's urgent