Learning a new language is always an exciting journey, and if you’re venturing into the world of Kannada, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with various geographical terms and place names. These words not only enhance your vocabulary but also help you understand and communicate better when discussing locations or directions. Here is a compilation of some key geographical terms in Kannada, along with their definitions and examples.

ಪರ್ವತ (Parvata) – Mountain
A large natural elevation of the earth’s surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level; a large steep hill.
ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯಿಂದ ಪರ್ವತವು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಕಾಣುತ್ತದೆ.
(Our house has a good view of the mountain.)

ನದಿ (Nadi) – River
A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another river.
ಅವಳು ಪ್ರತಿ ದಿನ ನದಿಗೆ ನೀರು ತರಲು ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾಳೆ.
(She goes to the river to fetch water every day.)

ಸಮುದ್ರ (Samudra) – Sea
The expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth’s surface and surrounds its landmasses.
ನಾವು ಬೇಸಿಗೆ ರಜೆಗೆ ಸಮುದ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತೇವೆ.
(We will go to the sea for summer vacation.)

ಕೆರೆ (Kere) – Lake
A large body of water surrounded by land.
ಈ ಕೆರೆಯ ಸುತ್ತಲೂ ನಡೆಯುವುದು ತುಂಬಾ ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿದೆ.
(Walking around this lake is very beautiful.)

ಬೆಟ್ಟ (Betta) – Hill
A naturally raised area of land, not as high or craggy as a mountain.
ನಾವು ನಾಳೆ ಬೆಟ್ಟ ಹತ್ತಲಿದ್ದೇವೆ.
(We will climb the hill tomorrow.)

ಮೈದಾನ (Maidana) – Plain
A large area of flat land with few trees.
ನಮಗೆ ಆ ಮೈದಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ರಿಕೆಟ್ ಆಡುವುದು ಇಷ್ಟ.
(We like to play cricket in that plain.)

ಕಾಡು (Kaadu) – Forest
A large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth.
ಆ ಕಾಡು ಅನೇಕ ವನ್ಯಜೀವಿಗಳ ನಿವಾಸಸ್ಥಾನ.
(That forest is home to many wild animals.)

ದ್ವೀಪ (Dweepa) – Island
A piece of land surrounded by water.
ನಾವು ಆ ದ್ವೀಪಕ್ಕೆ ದೋಣಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೆವು.
(We went to that island by boat.)

ಪ್ರದೇಶ (Pradesha) – Region
An area or division, especially part of a country or the world having definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries.
ಈ ಪ್ರದೇಶವು ಹಣ್ಣುಗಳಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧಿಯಾಗಿದೆ.
(This region is famous for its fruits.)

ಪಟ್ಟಣ (Pattana) – Town
A built-up area with a name, defined boundaries, and local government, that is larger than a village but usually not as large as a city.
ನನ್ನ ಅಜ್ಜಿಯ ಮನೆ ಆ ಪಟ್ಟಣದಲ್ಲಿದೆ.
(My grandmother’s house is in that town.)

ನಗರ (Nagara) – City
A large town, typically one with a cathedral or a university and having metropolis status.
ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಒಂದು ಪ್ರಮುಖ ನಗರ.
(Bangalore is a major city in Karnataka.)

Kannada is rich in geographical vocabulary, and these terms are a great starting point for anyone interested in broadening their understanding of the language as it relates to the physical world. With persistence and practice, you’ll be discussing geography in Kannada like a native speaker!