Small talk in Kannada is easier than it looks, because most of it is listening. A neighbour mentions the rain, you agree; they ask how long you've been in Bengaluru, you answer; they bring up cricket, you pick a side. This guide gives you the spoken Bengaluru Kannada for all of that, written in English letters, so you can hold a friendly five-minute chat at the gate or in the lift.
Weather and traffic: the safe openers
Two topics never fail in Bengaluru, and you can start or join a chat with either.
| Say it | ಕನ್ನಡ | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bisilu jaasti | ಬಿಸಿಲು ಜಾಸ್ತಿ | It's really hot today (literally: sunshine much) |
| Male barthide | ಮಳೆ ಬರ್ತಿದೆ | It's raining (literally: rain is-coming) |
| Traffic tumba ide | ಟ್ರಾಫಿಕ್ ತುಂಬಾ ಇದೆ | There's so much traffic (literally: traffic very is) |
Traffic is the safest topic in the city: everyone agrees. Note how Kannada pictures the rain: "male barthide" is literally "rain is coming".
Keeping a chat going: houda? haaga?
Most of small talk is listening. Houda?, really?, and haaga?, is that so?, show you are following and invite the other person to keep going. Agree with houdu, nija (yes, true) and you are half-way to a conversation without saying anything difficult.
| Say it | ಕನ್ನಡ | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Houda? | ಹೌದಾ? | Really? (literally: yes-?) |
| Haaga? | ಹಾಗಾ? | Is that so? (literally: like-that-?) |
| Houdu, nija | ಹೌದು, ನಿಜ | Yes, that's true |
"Houda?" is the all-purpose "oh, really?". Use it whenever someone tells you something and you want them to carry on. Be careful not to mix up houda? (a question, "really?") with houdu (a statement, "yes"). If someone says "Haaga?" to you, they're inviting agreement, so "Houdu, nija" is the natural reply, not a change of subject.
Questions about you
Expect these early on, from neighbours, colleagues and anyone else curious about the new face.
| Say it | ಕನ್ನಡ | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Yaava ooru? | ಯಾವ ಊರು? | Where's your hometown? (literally: which town) |
| Kelsa yelli? | ಕೆಲಸ ಎಲ್ಲಿ? | Where do you work? (literally: work where) |
| Office-alli kelsa maadthini | ಆಫೀಸಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡ್ತೀನಿ | I work in an office (literally: office-in work I-do) |
| Bandu eshtu dina aaytu? | ಬಂದು ಎಷ್ಟು ದಿನ ಆಯ್ತು? | How long have you been here? (literally: having-come how-many days became) |
| Ondu varsha aaytu | ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷ ಆಯ್ತು | It's been a year (literally: one year became) |
Aaytu for time that has passed
You may know aaytu as "done". With a length of time it means that much has gone by: ondu varsha aaytu, a year has passed. "Bandu eshtu dina aaytu?" (how many days since you came?) is a question you will hear a lot. Don't mistake it for "how long will you stay?"; it's about time already spent here.
Saying what you like
Liking works backwards
Like "have", liking is said the other way round: nanage dose ishta is literally "to me, dosa is liked". Drop nanage when it's obvious who you mean: tumba ishta, liked a lot.
| Say it | ಕನ್ನಡ | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru ishta aayta? | ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಇಷ್ಟ ಆಯ್ತಾ? | Do you like Bengaluru? (literally: Bengaluru liked became?) |
| Tumba ishta | ತುಂಬಾ ಇಷ್ಟ | I like it a lot (literally: very liked) |
| Nanage dose ishta | ನನಗೆ ದೋಸೆ ಇಷ್ಟ | I love dosa (literally: to-me dosa liked) |
A common slip for English speakers is to build the sentence as "I like dosa", starting with "naanu". Start with nanage, "to me", instead.
Cricket and RCB
Cricket comes up sooner or later, and in Bengaluru there's only one safe answer.
| Say it | ಕನ್ನಡ | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Cricket nodthira? | ಕ್ರಿಕೆಟ್ ನೋಡ್ತೀರಾ? | Do you watch cricket? (literally: cricket will-you-watch?) |
| Naanu RCB fan | ನಾನು ಆರ್ಸಿಬಿ ಫ್ಯಾನ್ | I'm an RCB fan |
"Naanu RCB fan" is the right answer in Bengaluru, whatever the season. Note the question is about watching, not playing.
Wrapping up
| Say it | ಕನ್ನಡ | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sari, sigona | ಸರಿ, ಸಿಗೋಣ | OK, see you (literally: OK, let's-meet) |
| Hogi barthini | ಹೋಗಿ ಬರ್ತೀನಿ | Goodbye (literally: having-gone I-will-come) |
A quick conversation
It's pouring, and you and Gopal mama, an older neighbour, are stuck under the building's porch waiting for it to ease off.
- Gopal: Male barthide — It's raining
- You: Houdu, nija — Yes, that's true
- Gopal: Traffic tumba ide — There's so much traffic
- You: Houda? — Really?
- Gopal: Bandu eshtu dina aaytu? — How long have you been here?
- You: Ondu varsha aaytu — It's been a year
- Gopal: Bengaluru ishta aayta? — Do you like Bengaluru?
- You: Tumba ishta — I like it a lot
- Gopal: Cricket nodthira? — Do you watch cricket?
- You: Naanu RCB fan — I'm an RCB fan
- Gopal: Haaga? — Is that so?
- You: Houdu, nija — Yes, that's true
- Gopal: Sari, sigona — OK, see you
- You: Hogi barthini — Goodbye
Quick tips
- Answer the question you're asked before asking your own. "Kelsa yelli?" can wait until you've said how long you've been here.
- You don't need long sentences. Houda?, haaga? and houdu, nija will carry a surprising share of any chat.
- Weather and traffic are always fair game, with anyone.