Basic Kannada Phrases for Beginners: First Words for Bengaluru

If you have just moved to Bengaluru, a handful of basic Kannada phrases will change how the city treats you. Neighbours warm up, shopkeepers smile, and people are genuinely delighted that you tried. This list covers the spoken Kannada you will actually hear on the street, written in English letters, with the Kannada script alongside if you want it.

The five words to learn first

These are the words you will use every single day.

Namaskara works any time of day, with anyone. Putting your hands together as you say it is optional, but never wrong.

Dhanyavada is your everyday thank you. Add "-galu" (Dhanyavadagalu) when you want to sound a notch more formal.

Kshamisi does double duty. It is "sorry" when you bump into someone, and it is also how you get a stranger's attention before asking anything, much like "excuse me" in English.

Sari may be the single most useful word in this whole list. It means OK, fine, agreed. One caution: it means "OK" in the sense of agreement, not "I am fine". If someone asks how you are, you need a different answer (see below).

Yes, no and OK

Illa is worth knowing well because you will hear it constantly in shops. It does not only mean "no"; it also means "there isn't any" or "we don't have it". Ask for something that has sold out and "illa" is the answer you will get.

How are you, and how to answer

Hegiddira? is the polite form, and it is the one to use with almost everyone. There is a casual version, Hegiddiya?, but keep that for close friends, children and people much younger than you. Kannada puts its politeness in the verb ending rather than in a separate word, and being too polite is never a mistake. When in doubt, use the polite form.

Chennagiddini is a nice example of how Kannada works: chennagi (well) plus iddini (am-I). There is no separate word for "I" here because the ending already tells you who is speaking.

After answering, bounce the question back with Neevu? and just raise your tone. People expect it.

Names and introductions

Swap in your own name for Asha and the rest of the sentence never changes. Notice the pattern: nimma is "your" and nanna is "my". That one pair works in front of almost anything, so learning two words buys you a whole family of sentences.

Also notice that the question and the answer have the same shape. Kannada does not reorder a sentence to ask a question; the question word simply sits where the answer will go.

When you don't understand

These are your lifelines. Learn them early and use them without embarrassment.

The good news about Artha agalilla is that people usually respond by switching to slower Kannada, not to English, which is exactly what you want as a learner.

You might be looking for a word for "please". Kannada has one (dayavittu), but you will rarely hear it said. In Swalpa nidhanavagi heli, the politeness is carried by the ending of the verb and by the softening "swalpa" (a little).

"Do you know Kannada?"

You will be asked this constantly, usually with a hopeful look.

Saying a word twice softens it. Swalpa is "a little"; swalpa swalpa is "just a little, bit by bit". "Swalpa gottu" is fine too, but the doubled version is what everyone says.

If someone replies with Chennagi kalithiri!, that is encouragement, not a question. The right response is simply Dhanyavada.

Saying goodbye

Kannada has no flat "goodbye". You always promise to come back.

A few more words that come in handy

Once you are comfortable with the basics, these pop up the moment you step into an auto or a darshini.

Beku after a thing means you want it, and beda means you don't. Saaku is also the polite way to stop someone refilling your plate, and saying Chennagide about the food is a reliable way to make a friend.

A quick conversation

A first chat with a neighbour might go like this.

Common beginner mistakes

• Answering "how are you" with Sari. Sari means "OK" as in agreed. Reply with Chennagiddini.
• Using Hegiddiya with strangers. It is the casual form. Stick to Hegiddira? until you are sure.
• Saying Namaskara when someone is leaving. If they say Hogi barthini, say it back. Answering with Namaskara sounds like you are starting the conversation all over again.
• Saying Gottilla when asked if you know Kannada. If you have just spoken a few sentences, Swalpa swalpa gottu is both truer and friendlier.

Start with the five essentials, add a phrase a day, and try each one on a real person. That is how basic Kannada phrases turn into conversations.