Renting a flat in Bengaluru often means talking directly to the owner, and a few Kannada phrases for house hunting make that conversation warmer and easier. You don't need long sentences: the language of a flat viewing is mostly English words like bedroom, parking and repair, with short Kannada endings on them. This guide covers asking about the rent and deposit, checking what comes with the flat, answering the landlord's questions and getting things fixed once you move in.
Two tricks that do most of the work
Add -a to ask
Ide means "there is". Add -a and it becomes a question: ideya, "is there?". The same trick works on almost anything. The answer is just Ide for yes, or Illa for no.
English words, Kannada endings
Bengaluru Kannada borrows freely: bedroom, parking, deposit, repair, current. Say the English word normally and keep the Kannada ending on it. Nobody expects a pure-Kannada word for "lift".
Is it for rent, and how much?
| Say it | ಕನ್ನಡ | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mane baadigege ideya? | ಮನೆ ಬಾಡಿಗೆಗೆ ಇದೆಯಾ? | Is the house for rent? (literally: house rent-for is-it?) |
| Baadige eshtu? | ಬಾಡಿಗೆ ಎಷ್ಟು? | How much is the rent? (literally: rent how-much) |
| Advance eshtu? | ಅಡ್ವಾನ್ಸ್ ಎಷ್ಟು? | How much is the deposit? |
| Maintenance bere | ಮೇಂಟೆನೆನ್ಸ್ ಬೇರೆ | Maintenance is extra (literally: maintenance separate) |
In Bengaluru the deposit is usually called the "advance", and it is often six to ten months' rent, so always ask. Listen out for Maintenance bere as well. It means the maintenance charge is separate from the rent, which matters when you compare flats.
Bedrooms and what comes with the flat
| Say it | ಕನ್ನಡ | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Eshtu bedroom? | ಎಷ್ಟು ಬೆಡ್ರೂಮ್? | How many bedrooms? |
| Eradu bedroom | ಎರಡು ಬೆಡ್ರೂಮ್ | Two bedrooms |
| Lift ideya? | ಲಿಫ್ಟ್ ಇದೆಯಾ? | Is there a lift? |
| Parking ideya? | ಪಾರ್ಕಿಂಗ್ ಇದೆಯಾ? | Is there parking? |
| Neeru barutta? | ನೀರು ಬರುತ್ತಾ? | Is there a water supply? (literally: water comes?) |
| Ide | ಇದೆ | Yes, there is (literally: is-there) |
Neeru barutta? is worth asking in every flat, because water supply varies a lot by area. It uses the same question trick: barutta is "does it come?".
A common mistake is to hear Ide and think it's a question. Without the -a on the end, it's the answer: yes, there is.
Arranging a viewing
Put -bahudu on a verb to say something is allowed or possible: nodbahudu, "may see". Add the question -a and you are asking permission: nodbahuda, "may I see?". You will use it constantly while flat hunting.
| Say it | ಕನ್ನಡ | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ivattu nodbahuda? | ಇವತ್ತು ನೋಡಬಹುದಾ? | Can I see it today? (literally: today see-may?) |
| Yaavaga nodbahudu? | ಯಾವಾಗ ನೋಡಬಹುದು? | When can I see it? (literally: when see-may) |
| Mane chennagide | ಮನೆ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ | The house is lovely (literally: house well-is) |
If the owner suggests Naale beligge (Tomorrow morning), a simple Sari (OK / Fine) settles it. And after the viewing, Mane chennagide is a kind thing to say to an owner who is proud of the place.
The landlord's questions
Many Bengaluru landlords ask two questions early on. The first is often whether you are a family or single. It is a filter, not small talk, so answer it directly.
| Say it | ಕನ್ನಡ | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Family-na, bachelor-a? | ಫ್ಯಾಮಿಲಿನಾ, ಬ್ಯಾಚುಲರಾ? | Family or single? |
| Naavu family | ನಾವು ಫ್ಯಾಮಿಲಿ | We're a family (literally: we family) |
| Naanu bachelor | ನಾನು ಬ್ಯಾಚುಲರ್ | I'm single (literally: I bachelor) |
The second is about food. Answer plainly either way.
| Say it | ಕನ್ನಡ | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Veg-a, non-veg-a? | ವೆಜ್ಜಾ, ನಾನ್ವೆಜ್ಜಾ? | Veg or non-veg? |
| Naanu veg | ನಾನು ವೆಜ್ | I'm vegetarian (literally: I veg) |
| Naanu non-veg thinthini | ನಾನು ನಾನ್ವೆಜ್ ತಿಂತೀನಿ | I eat non-veg (literally: I non-veg eat-will-I) |
Both questions simply offer two options side by side, so a two-word answer is all you need.
When something breaks
Once you've moved in, these are the lines you'll need for the owner.
| Say it | ಕನ್ನಡ | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tap leak aagthide | ಟ್ಯಾಪ್ ಲೀಕ್ ಆಗ್ತಿದೆ | The tap is leaking (literally: tap leak is-becoming) |
| Current illa | ಕರೆಂಟ್ ಇಲ್ಲ | There's no power (literally: current is-not) |
| Repair maadisi | ರಿಪೇರಿ ಮಾಡಿಸಿ | Please get it repaired (literally: repair get-done-please) |
Electricity is "current" in Bengaluru, and "Current hoytu" is how people say the power went. Repair maadisi asks the owner, politely, to get the job done.
A quick conversation
Gopal mama owns the flat downstairs, and it's up for rent. Before he shows you round, there's an interview.
- You: Namaskara — Hello / Greetings
- You: Mane baadigege ideya? — Is the house for rent?
- Gopal: Ide — Yes, there is
- You: Baadige eshtu? — How much is the rent?
- Gopal: Maintenance bere — Maintenance is extra
- You: Advance eshtu? — How much is the deposit?
- Gopal: Family-na, bachelor-a? — Family or single?
- You: Naanu bachelor — I'm single
- Gopal: Veg-a, non-veg-a? — Veg or non-veg?
- You: Naanu veg — I'm vegetarian
- Gopal: Sari — OK / Fine
- You: Ivattu nodbahuda? — Can I see it today?
- Gopal: Naale beligge — Tomorrow morning
- You: Sari — OK / Fine
Notice the order: ask your money questions, answer his questions honestly, then ask to see the place. Complaints about leaks and power cuts can wait until you've actually moved in.
Before your next viewing
Write the four money and facility questions on your phone: Baadige eshtu?, Advance eshtu?, Neeru barutta? and Parking ideya?. Ask them at every flat and you'll compare like with like. Making the effort in Kannada from the first visit also builds goodwill for the day you need to say Repair maadisi.