Numbers, Time and Days in Kannada: A Bengaluru Starter Guide

Numbers, time and days in Kannada sound like a lot to learn, but in spoken Bengaluru Kannada a small set of words does most of the work. Learn one to ten, two little endings and a handful of day words, and you can read prices, find floors, fix a time with a neighbour and tell someone you are running late. Everything here is written in English letters, with the Kannada script alongside if you want it.

Counting from one to ten

These ten words are the foundation. Once you know them you can follow platform numbers, floors, prices and times.

A common mix-up for beginners is Aaru (six) and Aidu (five), and Elu (seven) and Entu (eight). Say them out loud in pairs until they feel different in your mouth.

Round numbers for prices

Bigger round numbers are their own words. The four you will hear most are these:

Don't worry about learning every number up to a thousand. In shops, most people say large amounts in English anyway. Knowing Aivattu and Nooru helps you catch the small, everyday amounts, like fifty or a hundred rupees.

Telling the time

The word for hour is gante, and you ask the time with it.

You will hear "Time eshtu?" just as often as Gante eshtu?, so recognise both. Notice that Ondu gante can mean one hour or one o'clock. The words are the same, and the context tells you which one is meant.

Half past: the -vare ending

Stick -vare on a number and it gains a half. Mooru is three, and Mooruvare is three and a half, or half past three on a clock. This is how Bengaluru tells the time out loud.

A typical mistake is to hear Mooruvare and think "thirty minutes" or "half past two". It is always the number you hear, plus a half.

"At" a time: the -ge ending

If you have learnt to say Majestic-ge barthira? (Will you come to Majestic?) to an auto driver, you already know the -ge ending. It also marks a time. Aidu gante is five o'clock; Aidu gantege is at five o'clock. One ending does two jobs: a destination or a moment.

Keep Gante eshtu? (what time is it now?) and Eshtu gantege? (at what time will something happen?) separate. The first is about the present; the second is about a plan.

How long?

The natural answer is a length of time, such as Ondu gante or Hattu nimisha, not a time of day.

Today, tomorrow, yesterday

Naale and Ninne are easy to swap by accident, and the result is confusing: you end up promising to do something yesterday. When someone asks Yaavaga?, a short answer like Naale beligge is all you need.

Days of the week

Start with the three days that come up most when you make plans around work and weekends.

When you're running late

Bengaluru traffic means you will need these two sooner rather than later.

Paravagilla is one of the kindest words you can learn. Use it freely, whenever someone apologises for being late or for a small slip.

A quick conversation

Your neighbour, Gopal mama, wants to take you for a walk in Cubbon Park and is fixing the details at your door.

• Gopal: Yaavaga? — When?
• You: Bhaanuvaara — Sunday
• Gopal: Eshtu gantege? — At what time?
• You: Aaru gantege — At six o'clock
• Gopal: Eshtu hottu? — How long?
• You: Ondu gante — One hour

On Sunday morning he turns up behind schedule.

• Gopal: Late aaytu — I'm late
• You: Paravagilla — No problem / It's okay
• Gopal: Gante eshtu? — What time is it?
• You: Aaruvare — Half past six
• Gopal: Mundina bhaanuvaara? — Next Sunday?
• You: Sari — OK / Fine

Practise it in real life

The quickest way to make these words stick is to use them on small, low-stakes moments. Count your change in Kannada in your head. When you glance at a clock, say the time to yourself with -vare or -gantege. When a friend is late, try Paravagilla instead of "no problem". You only need ten numbers and two endings to start.