Kannada alphabet

Vowels

Hear a recording of these letters by




(Chethan)

Consonants

A selection of conjunct consonants

Numerals

Sample text in Kannada

'Kannada' is one of the oldest Dravidian languages and is spoken in its various dialects by roughly 45 million people. Kannada is one of the official languages of India and is the state official language of the state of Karnataka.

Kannada language has been spoken for about 2000 years, with the Kannada writing system being in use for about the last 1500 years. There is also a sharp distinction between the spoken and written forms of Kannada. Spoken Kannada tends to vary from region to region. The written form is more or less constant throughout Karnataka, however. The ethnologue identifies about 20 dialects of Kannada. Geographic distribution Kannada is mainly spoken in Karnataka in India, and to a lesser extent in the neighboring states. There are significant Kannada speaking populations in the United States and the UK. Early History Perhaps being the oldest language next to Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Tamil, Kannada language has a rich heritage. 'Kavirajamarga' ( ) of king Nripatunga (9th century A.D.) is believed to be the earliest literary work in Kannada. It is a treatise on poetics or a guide to poets indicating that Kannada was a fully developed literary language when Kavirajamarga (cu-ve-raa-jamaarga) was composed. It refers to earlier linguists and poets whose works are not forthcoming. But from epigraphical evidence it can be surmised that the spoken Kannada language evolved much earlier than the Halmidi inscription (c. 450 A.D.). By the 10th century Kannada had its greatest ancient poets like Pampa (born 902 A.D.), Ranna ( born 949 A.D.) and special prose work like (Waddaa-raa-dhu-nae )(c. 930 A.D.) indicating that classical Kannada literature had fully evolved at least one or two centuries earlier, back to 'Kavirajamarga'. But since none of the earlier works have survived, we have to stick to the established norm that written Kannada came into vogue by the 5th century A.D.

Kannada Alphabet The language has 52 characters in its alphabet and is phonetic. The character set is almost identical to that of other Indian languages. The script itself is fairly complicated like most other languages of India owing to the occurrence of various combinations of "half-letters", or symbols that attach to various letters. The number of written symbols, however, is far more than the 52 characters in the alphabet, owing to the fact that different characters can be combined to form compound characters (ottaksharas). Each written symbol in the Kannada script corresponds with one syllable, as opposed to one phoneme in languages like English. Transliteration

Several transliteration schemes are used to type Kannada characters using a standard keyboard. These include ITRANS, Baraha and Nudi. The Government of Karnataka standard for Kannada transliteration is the Nudi transliteration scheme.

Basic Character Set

Kannada Kali Session-1, Handout (Simple Words)

KANNADA WORD Naanu Neenu Namma Nimma Yaaru Yaavaga Yelli Avaru ENGLISH WORD Me / I am You Ours Yours Who When Where He / She (with respect). Also they / those people He / She. This person / these people Place / hometown Name Know Dont know Like Door Window Chair Table House Come Come(with respect) How SIMPLE SENTENCE Naanu software engineer. (I am a software engineer) Neenu student. (You are a student) Namma desha Bharata. (Our country is Bharata). Nimma ooru Bangalore. (Your home town is Bangalore) Teacher yaaru? (Who is the teacher?) Class yaavaga? (When is the class?) Ramu yelli? (Where is Ramu?) Avaru teacher. (He / She is a teacher) Ivaru students. (These people are students) Nanna ooru Mysore. (My place is Mysore) Nanna hesaru Ramu. (My name is Ramu) Nanage English gottu. (I know English) Nanage C++ gottilla. (I dont know C++) Nanage tea ishta. (I like tea.) Idu baagilu. (This is the door). Adu kitaki. (That is the window) Idu kurchi. (This is chair) Adu meju. (This is table) Idu namma mane. (This is my house) Neenu illi baa. (you come here) Neevu illi banni. (you come here) Neenu illige hege bande? (How did you come here?)

Ivaru

Ooru Hesaru Gottu Gottilla Ishta Baagilu Kitaki Kurchi Meju Mane Baa Banni Hege

Kannada Kali Session-2, Handout (Simple Words)

KANNADA WORD Idu ENGLISH WORD This / It SIMPLE SENTENCE Idu pustaka. (this is book) Idu nanna pennu. (it is my pen) Adu nanna mane (that is my house) Neenu yaake allige hode? (why did you go there?) Idu yenu? (What is this?) Houdu, adu nanage beku. (Yes, I need it) Nanna hesaru Suresha alla. (My name is not Suresh) Nanage pencil beku. (I want pencil) Nanage idli beda. (I do not want Idli) Neenu hogu / Neevu hogi. (You go) Avanu hoda / Avaru hodaru. (He went) AvaLu hodaLu/ Avaru hodaru. (She went) Avanu banda / Avaru bandaru. (He came) Avalu bandalu / Avaru bandaru. (She came) Alli pustaka ide. (Book is there) Illi nodu (See here) Bega baa. (Come fast) Pen thago (Take the pen) Nanna maathu kelu (Listen to me) Nanage kathe helu (Tell me a story) Olage yenu ide? (What is inside?) Horage maLe ide. (It is raining outside) Alli nilli. (Stop there) Eega neenu baa. (Come now) Aaga maLe banthu. (It rained then)

Adu Yaake Yenu Houdu Alla Beku Beda Hogu / Hogi Hoda / Hodaru HodaLu / Hodaru Banda / Bandaru BandaLu / Bandaru Alli Illi Baa / Banni Thago / Thagolli KeLu / keLi HeLu / HeLi OLage Horage Nilli Eega Aaga

That Why What Yes Not Want Do not want Go / wrp (he) Went / wrp (she) Went / wrp (he) Came / wrp (she) Came / wrp There Here Come / wrp Take / wrp Listen / wrp Tell / wrp Inside Outside Stop Now Then

Kannada Kali Session-3, Handout (Relations & Wishes)

Relations KANNADA WORD amma appa maga magalu aNNa tamma akka tangi ajja ajji ganda hendathi maava atte aLiya sose chikkappa chikkamma doddappa doddamma ENGLISH WORD Mother Father Son Daughter Elder brother Younger brother Elder sister Younger sister Grandfather Grandmother Husband Wife Uncle / Father in law Aunt / Mother in law Son in law Daughter in law Fathers younger brother or mothers younger sisters husband Mothers younger sister or fathers younger brothers wife Fathers elder brother or mothers elder sisters husband Mothers elder sister or fathers elder brothers wife

Wishes KANNADA WORD Namaskaara Shubhadina Shubharaatri Hogi barutheeni Dayavittu Dhanyavada Hege Iddira? Chennagi Iddini Susvaagatha ShubashayagaLu Kshamisi, thada ayitu. ENGLISH WORD Good day. Good morning. Good night. Goodbye. Please. Thank you. How do you do? Very well, thank you. Welcome. Congratulations. Sorry, I'm late.

Kannada Kali Session-4, Handout (Numbers, Fruits, Vegetables, Colors)

Numbers

1 - ondhu 2 - eradu 3 - mooru 4 - naalku 5 - aidhu 6 - aaru 7 - ELu 8 - entu 9 - ombhatthu 10 - hatthu

11 - hannondhu 12 - hanneradu 13 - hadhimooru 14 - hadhinaalku 15 - hadhinaidhu 16 - hadhinaaru 17 - hadhinELu 18 - hadhinentu 19 - hatthombatthu 20 - ippatthu

30 - moovatthu 40 - nalvatthu 50 - aivatthu 60 - aravatthu 70 - eppatthu 80 - embhatthu 90 - thombatthu 100 - nooru 1000 - saavira 1,00,000 - laksha 1,00, 00, 000 - koti

Vegetables KANNADA WORD ENGLISH WORD

tharakaari eeruLLi beLLuLLi shunti aalu gadde badane kaayi huraLi kaayi benDe kaayi southe kaayi ele kosu hoo kosu kumbaLa kaayi donne menasinakaayi eeruLLi hoova karibevina soppu kotthambari soppu hasi menasinakaayi

Vegetable Onion Garlic Ginger Potato Brinjal Beans Ladies Finger Cucumber Cabbage Cauliflower Pumpkin Capsicum Spring Onion Bay leaves Coriander leaves Green Chillies

Fruits

KANNADA WORD

ENGLISH WORD

Sebu BaaLe haNNu kitthaLe haNNu maavina haNNu dhraakshi sapota halasina haNNu seetha phala seebe haNNu kallangadi haNNu daaLimbe haNNu nimbe haNNu Anaanas

Apple Banana Orange Mango Grapes Chikku Jack fruit Custard Apple Guava Water Melon Pomogranate Lemon Pine apple

Colors

KANNADA WORD

ENGLISH WORD

neeli Kempu biLi kappu hasiru haLadi / harishiNa kesari / kitthaLe nEraLe kaaki gulaabi

Blue Red White Black Green Yellow Orange Purple Brown Pink / Rose

Kannada Kali Session-5, Handout (Case Terminations) VIBHAKTI NAME Prathama VIBHAKTI FORM U, andhiru Appx. MEANING First Person Reference WORDS Avanu, raamanu, aNNandhiru SENTENCES Raamanu raavaNanaanu Konda Avanu officege hoda. Nannannu kaapaadi Raamanu raavaNanannu baaNadinda kondanu Naanu nenne bengaloorige hoagiddhe.

Dwitheeya

Annu

Second person reference Third person or through / from

Avanannu, raavaNanannu Avaninda baaNadinda Marakke, Avanige, Bengaloorige Ramanigoskara Seethegaagi Raamana dheseyindha Nanna,

Truteeya

Inda

Chaturti

kke, Ge, ige, igoOskara, igaagi

To

Panchami (naDu gannada) shashTi

deseyindha from

A, an

Mine / its

Nanna hesaru guru Maneyalli yaaroo ilva? Ramaa baa illi KrishnanE kooru illi maragaLiraa, nanna koogu keLi!!!

Sapthami Sambhodane

Alli E, aa, iraa

Avana Within, There Maneyalli ,avanalli Communicating Ramaa / Calling KrishnanE maragaLiraa

By adding a to the end, one can frame a question. Ex :- hauda? , Alva?, ilva?, neevu software engineera? Entha is a character probing question? Ex: idu entaa haNNU? (Answer could be oLLE haNNu or ketta haNNU).

Aadaroo (Even then) when combined with questioning works, the meaning changes drastically. Ex:- yaaru + aadaroo = yaaraadaroo (Any one) yelli + aadaroo = yellaadaroo hege + aadaroo = hegaadaroo.

Kannada Kali Session-6, Handout (Verbs)

Serial No 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kannada Word nODu Odhu kuDi ODu koDi niddhe English Word To See To Read To Drink To Run To Give To Sleep Past Tense nODdhe Odhidhe kuDdhe ODidhe kotte niddhe maaDdhe naDdhe haaDdhe kuNidhe iLidhe bardhe Kondhe konDe hatthide nakkde Ogidhe heLde keLde muTTdhe oDidhe ODisde Shuru maaDde atthe Maaride Sothe Present Tense nODtha-idhini Odhtha-idhini kuDitha-idhini ODtha-idhini koDtha-idhini niddhe maaDthaidhini naDitha-idhini haaDtha-idhini kuNitha-idhini iLitha-idhini Baritha-idhini kolltha-idhini koLLuthaidhini hath-tha-idhini nakktha-idhini Ogitha-idhini heltha-idhini keltha-idhini muTTta-idhini oDitha-idhini ODisithaidhini Shuru maaDthidhini aLtha-idhini Maartha-idhini Solutha-idhini Future Tense nODthini Odhthini kuDithini ODthini koDthini niddhe maadthini naDithini haaDthini kuNithini iLithini barithini kollthini koLLthini hath-thini nagthini Ogithini helthini Kelthini MuTTtini oDithini ODisthini Shuru maaDthini aLuthini Maarthini Soluthini

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

naDi haaDu kuNi iLi bari kollu koLLu hatthu nagu Ogi heLu keLu muTTu oDi ODisu Shuru aLu Maaru Solu

To Walk To Sing/ Song To Dance To get down To Write To Kill To Buy To Climb To Laugh To Wash To Say To Ask To Touch To break To Drive To Strart To Cry To Sell To loose

26

Gellu

To Win

Gedde

Geltha-idhini

gelthini

Kannada Kali Session-7, Handout (Workshop 1)

COMMUTING Important Verbs To go - Hogu naanu officige hoguthene naanu trekking baruthene naanu marathon ooduthene naanu dina yeradu km nadeyuthene naanu infosys bus hidiyuthene niinu bus stand alli ninthu kondiru

To come - Ba To run - Oodu

To walk - nade To catch - hidi To stand - ninthu Phrases

I. I want to Phrase" Most scenarios while commuting involve communicating our intention to the opposite person. Nanage < something> beku naanu <place>ge <action> beku Note: When referring to a living thing use theera. When referring to a non living thing use tha II. Replying Remember when replying use houdu to say yes. Houdu, infosys bus illi baruthe. (Yes, infosys bus comes here) Illa extra) to say no. illa naanu 10 rupayee extra kododilla (No, I shall not pay 10 Rs

Ayithu to say over. Naanu ticket padedu ayithu (I have taken the ticket) Agilla to say not over. Words Indicating direction bala - Right eDa - Left munde - Forward/ Ahead hinde - Backward/ Behind

SHOPPING Important Verbs Sl No Verb 1 Buy To <verb> Kondu kollu Tagedu kollu Past verb Kondu konde Tagedu konde Will buy Kindu kolluthene Tagedu kolluthene Am buying Kondu kollu tha idene Tagedu Kollu tha idene

Take

Words for shopping Beda - nanage ii pen beda. Bere kodi (I dont want this pen. Give me another) Beku - nanage aa dress beku. Pack maadi (I want that dress. Please pack it) Bere - ii tomato chennagilla. Bere kodi (This tomato is not nice. Give me another)

MONEY Important Words Chillare - change Duddu - money

Numbers - numbers that were discussed in previous class. Jyasthi - ishtu beda. idu thumba jyasthi ayithu. ( I dont need so much. This is more than I need) Kammi - innu solpa kodi. Idu thumba kammi ayithu (Give me some more this is too little)

Phrases Yeshtu usage Typicall usage will be Idu ( pointing at something) yeshtu how much is this. Note the differences between the following. Yeshtu how much Ishtu this much Ashtu that much

COMMUTING IN A LOCAL BUS Scenario 1: Searching the Bus Stand. Sl no 1 2 3 4 Kannada version Illi hattirada bus stand yelli ide? Munde ide Dhanya vaada Naanu majestic ge hoga beku. Majestic ge hoguva bussu illi barutha? Houdu. Illi baruthe Yaava bussu hoguthe? 171, 172 hogthe Mundina bussu yaavaga baruthe? Innu ardha ghante aguthe 171 bus Wilson garden mele/inda? Hogutha? Illa, bari 172 matra hoguthe English Translation Where is the nearest bus stand? Its straight ahead. Thank you I have to go to majestic. Will buses going to majestic come here? Yes. They come here Which buses will go? When will the next bus come? It will take half an hour more Will 171 go through Wilson garden? No 171 will

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Scenario 2: Inside the bus Sl no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kannada version Majestic ge ondu ticket kodi Aidu rupayi aguthe Majestic bandare dayavittu thilisi Majestic innu yeshtu doora ide? Innu nalakku stop Ide majestic stopa? Houdu. Ide majestic English Translation One ticket to majestic please It will be 5 rupees Please let me know when majestic comes How much further is majestic 4 more stops Is this majestic stop? Yes. This is majestic

Scenario 3: Asking an auto driver Sl no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kannada version Majestic ge hoga beku. Barutheera? 100 rupayee aguthe Illa meter ashte koduthene Ayithu kulithu kolli Wilson garden alli right thagoli Munde left thagoli Yenu meter ishtu agide alla! Naanu dina baruthene 40 rupees asthe aguvudu. Naanu ashte koduthene Ayithu 45 kodi ThagoLi SHOPPING Scenario 1: Shopping for groceries Sl no 1 2 3 4 5 Kannada version Tomato yeshtu Hadinaidu rupayi kilo 10 rupayi madi kolli Illa saar tomato season illa. Illa illa bere kade ella 10 rupaye.. adare nimma tomato chenaagide Ayithu 13 rupayi kodi Ayithu yeradu kg kodi English Translation How much are the tomatoes? 15 rupees a kilo Make it 10 rupees No sir this is not tomato season No no it is 10 rupees elsewhere.. but your tomatoes are good Ok give 13 rupees Ok give me 2 kgs English Translation I want to go to majectic will you come It will be 100 rupees I will pay as per the meter Ok. Please sit down Take a right at Wilson garden Take a left ahead. What the meter is showing so much! I come daily and I pay only 40 I shall pay the same Ok give me 45 Take

8 9

6 7

Scenario 2: Shopping for clothes Sl no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Kannada version Ii shirtu chenaagide. Idara bele yenu? Inoora aivathu rupaayi Illa thumba jyasthi ayithu. Kammi madi kolli. Illa sir fixed price Yenu riyayati illava? Illa sir onde price Beda bidi naanu bere angadi yalli nooduthene. Ayithu yeshtu kodutheera Naanu inooru rupaayi koduthene Ayithu thagoli Yenatharu defect iddare replace mada beku Yenu defect iddaru naave bere shirt kodutheve Dhanya vaada English Translation This shirt is nice. What is its price? 250 rupees. No it is too much. Reduce it. No sir fixed price No discount is it? No sire only one price. Then I dont need it. I shall shop for it in another shop. Allright how much will you give I will pay 200 All right take it If there are any defects then will you replace it? Yes if there are any defects then we will replace it. Thank you

Kannada Kali Session-8, Handout (Workshop 2)

Interaction with House owner / Neighbors Words Mane house / home Baadige rent Kutumba family Hesaru name Pakkada maneyavaru - Neighbours Maduve marriage MakkaLu - children Kelasa - work Tingalu - months Neeru water Mane kelasa domestic help Aduge - cook

Interacting with Domestic Help / Cook Important Verbs To wash clothes - ogi To sweep - gudisu To clean utensils - toLi To mop oresu

Come baa Go hogu Cut hetchu to break - odi to grind rubbu Fry - huri To cook aduge maadu / beyisu

Words Paathre utensil Batte clothes Nela floor Porake - Broom Neeru - water bisi hot tarakaari vegetable enne oil akki rice beLe dal

Interaction with House owner / Neighbor Sl no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Kannada version Nimma hesarenu. Maduve aagideya? MakkaLu iddaara? Nimma kutumbadalli estu janariddaare? Neevu elli kelasa maaduteeri? Manege estu baadige? Manege estu tingala advance kodabeku? Maneyalli estu roomgalu ive? Maneyalli bike / car parking ideya? Neeru supply hege idhe? Mane kelasa maaduvavaru sulabhavaagi siguttaara? Aduge maaduvavaru hattiradalli siguttaara? Hattiradalli hannu-tarakaari elli sigutthade? Pakkada maneyavara hesarenu? English Translation what is your name? Are you married? Do you have kids? How many people are there in your family? where do you work? what is the rent for the house? How many months advance should I deposit? how many rooms does the house have? do you have bike / car parking facility in the house? How is the water supply? Do we get domestic help easily? Do we get services of a cook in the vicinity? Where do we get fruits and vegetables in the vicinity ? What is the neighbours name?

Interaction with Domestic help / Cook Sl no 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kannada version naaLe entugantege baa naaLe estu hottige kelasakke baruteeya? Ivattu nela oresabeku Nela gudisi ayta? Yaavaga paathre tholiteeya? Chennaagi batte ogiya beku English Translation come tomorrow at 8. at what time are you coming tomorrow? you have to mop the floor today Have you swept the floor? when will you clean the utensils? wash the clothes properly.

Kannada Kali Session-9, Handout (Workshop 3)

Interaction in a restaurant Words Word oota thindi kahi khara uppu sakkare thannige bisi bega neeru bele soppu baath Chennagide chennagilla Badisu tholidu kollu Meaning Lunch/dinner Breakfast/snacks Bitter Hot/spicy Salt Sugar Cold Hot Fast Water Lentils (Daal) Greens Cooked Rice It is nice It is not nice Serve to wash Kai tholidu kollu (to wash the hands) Coffee chennagide Coffee chenagilla Usage Oota ayitha? Thindige jothe coffee kudide Coffee thumba kahiyagide Curry thumba khara Rasam nalli uppu jyasti yeardu spoon sakkare haaki Dese thannige agide Nannage bisi bisi coffee ishta Bega badisi ( serve fast ) Neeru yellide?

Important Verbs and interrogatives yenu ide? - What is there? This can prefixed to enquire menus. Examples are menu alli yenu ide (whats in the menu), kudiyokke yenu ide? (Whats there to drink?). In general a question of yenu ide is like asking for the entire menu. Ideya is there? This can be used when we want to ask for a specific item. Examples are coffee ideya [generic form < item > ideya?] Kodi give

Examples: yearadu coffee kodi. - give me 2 cups of coffee. Yeshtu how much Examples: Yeradu cup coffee yeshtu? - How much for two cups of coffee?

Interaction with waiter/manager Sl no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kannada version Thindi yenu ide? Idly, dose, vade Yeradu idly, ondu dose matte mooru cup coffee Yeshtu ? 40 rupaayi Thagoli Swalpa bega kodi Ii dose thannigagide bere kodi Illa saar iga madidu Illa nanage bere kodi English Translation Whats there for snacks? Idly, dose, and vadas Ok 2 idly, 1 dose and 3 cups of coffee How much? 40 rupees Take it. Interacting with the person serving Please give these fast. This dose is cold. Give me another one. No sir. This has just been prepared. No please give me another one.

Enquiring for lodging Sl no 1 2 3 4 Kannada version Nimma hotel nalli double bedroom room ideya? Ondu dinakke yeshtu chargu? Single bedroom ge yeshu? Room service ideya? English Translation Dou you have double bedroom rooms in your hotel? What is the charge for a day? Whats the charge for a single bedroom? Do you have room service?