What are the most useful phrases in Kannada?

Being a Dravidian language, the Kannada language belongs to the same family as the other south Indian languages. There is a common belief that Kannada accepts more Sanskrit loan words, hence if you know conversational Hindi it will be easier for you to learn Kannada. But this is not true as conversational (colloquial) Kannada has very little influence from Sanskrit or any other Indo-European language. But there is nothing to worry about, the Kannada language is very simple and also easy to learn and it is even embraced by a lot of people who are not natives of the state Karnataka. The Kannada language has a rich literary, musical and cultural heritage and therefore it is a much-respected language in India. In this article, we have picked up some Kannada phrases and expressions that are very much helpful for daily use. So let us take a look at the most useful phrases in Kannada.

Phrases used for greetings and Introduction;

English	Kannada
Hi	ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ  [Namaskāra]
Welcome	ಸುಸ್ವಾಗತ (susvāgata)
How are you?	ನೀವು ಹೇಗೆ ಇದ್ದೀರಾ  [Nīvu hēge iddīrā]
What is your name?	ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರು ಏನು?  [Nimma hesaru enu?]
Good morning	ಶುಭೋದಯ [Shubhodaya]
Good afternoon	ಶುಭ ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ [Shubha madhyana]
Good evening	ಶುಭ ಸಂಜೆ [Shubha sanje]
Good night	ಶುಭ ರಾತ್ರಿ [Shubha raathri]
Have a good day	ನಿಮ್ಮ ದಿನ ಶುಭವಾಗಿರಲಿ [Nimma dina shubhavagirali]
Thank you	ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು [Dhanyavadagalu]
Meet you later	ಆಮೇಲೆ ಸಿಗೋಣ [Aamele sigona]
It was nice talking to you	ನಿಮ್ಮ ಜೊತೆ ಮಾತನಾಡಿ ಕುಶಿ ಆಯಿತು  [Nim’ma jote mātanāḍi kuśi āyitu]
I’m good, thanks	ನಾನು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಇದ್ದೇನೆ, ಧನ್ಯವಾಧಗಳು   [Nānu cennāgi iddēne, dhan’yavādhagaḷu]
Nice to meet you	ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ತುಂಬ ಸಂತೋಷ  [Nim’mannu nōḍi tumba santōṣa]

More personal questions, questions about age, address, origin, language, etc.

English	Kannada
Where do you live?	ನೀವು ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುತ್ತೀರಾ /ವಾಸಿಸುತ್ತೀರಾ ? [Neevu elli irutteera/vasisutteera?]
How old are you?	ನಿನ್ನ ವಯಸ್ಸು ಎಷ್ಟು? [Ninna vayassu eṣṭu?]
Do you speak (English/Kannada)?	ನೀವು ಕನ್ನಡ / ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಮಾತನಾಡುತಿರ [Nīvu kannaḍa/ iṅgliṣ mātanāḍutira]
Where are you from?	ನೀವು ಯಾವ ಊರಿನವರು   [Nīvu yāva ūrinavaru]

 

Phrases used to wish someone for different reasons and occasions in Kannada

English	Kannada
Happy Birthday	ಹುಟ್ಟು ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು [Huttu habbada shubhashayagalu]
Congratulations	ಅಭಿನಂದನೆಗಳು [Abhinandanegalu]
Happy new year	ಹೊಸ ವರ್ಷದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು   [Hosa varṣada śubhāśayagaḷu]
Merry Christmas	ಕ್ರಿಸ್ಮಸ್ನ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು   [Krismasna śubhāśayagaḷu]

Phrases used while buying something or travelling

English	Kannada
How much is this?	ಇದು ಎಷ್ಟು   [Idu eṣṭu]
What is this?	ಏನು ಇದು  [Ēnu idu]
Do you have rooms available?	ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಕೊಠಡಿ ಲಭ್ಯವಿದೆಯೇ   [Nim’ma hattira koṭhaḍi labhyavideyē]
I have a reservation	ನನ್ನ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಇದೆ   [Nanna hattira mīsalāti ide]

 

Phrases used during emergencies 

English	Kannada
Call the ambulance	ಸಹಾಯ  [Āmbulensannu kareyiri]
Call the police	ನಾನು ರೋಗಿ   [Polīsarannu kareyiri]
Are you okay?	ಹತ್ತಿರದ ಫಾರ್ಮಸಿ ಎಲ್ಲಿ?  [Nīvu hēge iddīrā]
I am sick	ನೀವು ಹೇಗೆ ಇದ್ದೀರಾ   [Nānu rōgi]
I need a doctor	ಆಂಬುಲೆನ್ಸನ್ನು ಕರೆಯಿರಿ   [Nanage vaidyara avaśyakate ide]

Phrases used if you are unable to understand anything

English	Kannada
I don’t understand	ನನಗೆ ಅರ್ಥ ಆಗಲಿಲ್ಲ  [Nanage artha āgalilla]
I don’t know	ನನಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ  [Nanage gottilla]
What is that called in Kannada?	ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಏನು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ  [Kannaḍadalli adakke ēnu kareyuttāre]
What does that word mean in English?	ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಏನು ಅನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ  [Adakke iṅglīṣinalli ēnu annuttāre]
What do you mean?	ಏನು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಅರ್ಥ  [Ēnu nim’ma artha]
Sorry	ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ  [Kṣamisi]
Please speak more slowly	ಸಲ್ಪ ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಮಾತಾಡಿ (salpa nidhāna’vāgi mātāḍi)
Please	ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು (dayaviṭṭu)

 

Phrases used to offer or ask for help in Kannada

English	Kannada
Can I help you?	ನಾನು ನಿಮಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಬಹುದೇ  [Nānu nimage sahāya māḍabahudē]
Can you help me?	ನೀವು ನಮಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡುವಿರ  [Nīvu namage sahāya māḍuvira]
Where is the airport?	ವಿಮಾನ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ಎಲ್ಲಿ  [Vimāna nildāṇa elli]

Phrases used to indicate directions

English	Kannada
Go straight	ನೇರಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಿ  [Nērakke hōgi]
Then	ಆಮೇಲೆ  [Āmēle]
Turn left	ಎಡಕ್ಕೆ ತಿರುಗಿ  [Eḍakke tirugi]
Turn right	ಬಲಕ್ಕೆ ತಿರುಗಿ  [Balakke tirugi]

These are some phrases that are commonly used in the Kannada language. There are many other phrases that you will learn once you go through the language or learn the language in details. To learn more phrases in details you can enrol on a class with Multibhashi to learn Kannada in a better way and explore the language. It is always beneficial to learn Kannada once you are willing to visit Bangalore or Karnataka for a job or study purpose or any other purposes.  All the best wishes!