Learning Kannada can be a rewarding experience, especially if you are living in Karnataka or planning to visit. Kannada is one of the classical languages of India, spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka. At the B1 level, you should be able to handle everyday conversations, understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters, and manage most situations while traveling. To help you on this journey, here is a list of 50 essential words that you need to know for Kannada at the B1 level.
Basic Nouns
1. **ಮನೆ (Mane)** – House: Understanding the word for house is crucial for any conversation about living arrangements.
2. **ಜಲ (Jala)** – Water: Essential for asking for water or talking about hydration.
3. **ಅಡುಗೆ (Aduge)** – Cooking: Useful when discussing meals and recipes.
4. **ಶಾಲೆ (Shaale)** – School: Important for conversations about education.
5. **ಕಲಿಯುವುದು (Kaliyuvudu)** – Learning: Central to your language-learning journey.
People and Relationships
6. **ಮಗ (Maga)** – Son: Useful for talking about family.
7. **ಮಗಳು (MagaLu)** – Daughter: Another family-related term.
8. **ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ (SnehiTa)** – Friend: Important for social interactions.
9. **ಗುರು (Guru)** – Teacher: Useful in an educational context.
10. **ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿ (Vidyaarthi)** – Student: Essential for any educational setting.
Common Verbs
11. **ಮಾಡು (MaaDu)** – To do: A versatile verb used in various contexts.
12. **ಹೇಳು (HeLu)** – To say: Crucial for conversations and expressions.
13. **ಕೇಳು (KeLu)** – To ask/listen: Important for understanding and responding.
14. **ಬರು (Baru)** – To come: Useful in daily conversations.
15. **ಹೋಗು (Hoogu)** – To go: Another essential verb.
Daily Activities
16. **ಊಟ (Oota)** – Meal: Important for discussing food and eating habits.
17. **ಊಟ ಮಾಡು (Oota MaaDu)** – To eat: Essential for any meal-related conversation.
18. **ನೀರು ಕುಡಿ (Neeru KuDi)** – To drink water: Useful for staying hydrated.
19. **ಓದು (Odu)** – To read: Important for discussing reading materials.
20. **ಬರೆಯು (Bareyu)** – To write: Useful in educational contexts.
Adjectives
21. **ಹೆಚ್ಚು (Heccu)** – More: Useful for comparisons.
22. **ಕಡಿಮೆ (KadiMe)** – Less: Another term for comparisons.
23. **ಹೊಸ (Hosa)** – New: Useful for describing new objects or experiences.
24. **ಹಳೆಯ (HaLeya)** – Old: Useful for describing old objects or experiences.
25. **ತುಂಬಾ (Tumbaa)** – Very: An intensifier that is useful in many contexts.
Numbers and Quantifiers
26. **ಒಂದು (Ondu)** – One: The basic building block of numbers.
27. **ಎರಡು (EraDu)** – Two: Another fundamental number.
28. **ಮೂರು (Mooru)** – Three: Basic arithmetic.
29. **ನಾಲ್ಕು (Naalku)** – Four: Useful in counting.
30. **ಐದು (Aidu)** – Five: Another essential number.
Time-Related Words
31. **ಇಂದು (Indu)** – Today: Useful for setting plans.
32. **ನಾಳೆ (Naale)** – Tomorrow: Important for future plans.
33. **ನಿನ್ನೆ (Ninne)** – Yesterday: Useful for discussing past events.
34. **ಗಂಟೆ (Gante)** – Hour: Crucial for telling time.
35. **ನಿಮಿಷ (Nimisha)** – Minute: Another time-related term.
Places
36. **ಬಸ್ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ (Bus Nildaana)** – Bus stop: Essential for navigating public transport.
37. **ಮಾರುಕಟ್ಟೆ (MaarukaTTe)** – Market: Useful for shopping.
38. **ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆ (AaspaTale)** – Hospital: Important for emergencies.
39. **ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಠಾಣೆ (Police Thaane)** – Police station: Useful in case of emergencies.
40. **ರಸ್ತೆ (Raste)** – Road: Crucial for directions.
Expressions and Phrases
41. **ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು (Dhanyavaadagalu)** – Thank you: Essential for polite conversations.
42. **ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ (Kshamisi)** – Sorry: Useful for apologies.
43. **ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು (DayaviTTu)** – Please: Important for polite requests.
44. **ಬಯಸುತ್ತೇನೆ (BayasuttEne)** – I want: Useful for expressing desires.
45. **ಬೇಡ (Beda)** – Don’t want: Useful for declining.
Weather and Nature
46. **ಮಳೆ (Male)** – Rain: Useful for discussing weather.
47. **ಬಿಸಿಲು (BisiLu)** – Sun: Another weather-related term.
48. **ಹಸಿರು (Hasiru)** – Green: Useful for describing nature.
49. **ಗಾಳಿ (GaaLi)** – Wind: Important for weather conversations.
50. **ಬೇಸಿಗೆ (BesiGe)** – Summer: Useful for discussing seasons.
Conclusion
Incorporating these 50 essential Kannada words into your vocabulary will significantly improve your ability to communicate at the B1 level. These words cover a broad spectrum of daily activities, relationships, places, time, and common expressions. Mastering them will not only help you converse more fluently but also deepen your understanding of the Kannada culture and lifestyle.
Remember, language learning is a gradual process, and consistent practice is key. Try to use these words in your daily conversations, write them down in sentences, and listen to native speakers to grasp their pronunciation and usage better. Happy learning!