Learning a new language is an exciting journey, and Kannada, with its rich history and cultural significance, offers a fulfilling experience. As you progress to a B1 level in Kannada, you will find yourself needing a broader vocabulary to engage in more nuanced conversations and understand a wider range of topics. This article aims to provide you with essential Kannada words and phrases that are crucial for B1 level learners. These words will help you enhance your communication skills and gain a deeper understanding of the language.
Basic Verbs
At the B1 level, you will need a solid grasp of various verbs to describe actions and states. Here are some fundamental verbs you should know:
1. **ಮಾಡು** (māḍu) – to do/make
2. **ಕೇಳು** (kēḷu) – to ask/listen
3. **ನೋಡು** (nōḍu) – to see/look
4. **ಬರ್ತಿದೆ** (bartide) – to come
5. **ಹೋಗು** (hōgu) – to go
6. **ಇರು** (iru) – to be
7. **ಕೊಡು** (koḍu) – to give
8. **ತಿನ್ನು** (tinnu) – to eat
9. **ಕುಡಿ** (kuḍi) – to drink
10. **ಬರೆಯು** (bareyu) – to write
These verbs form the foundation of many sentences and are used frequently in daily conversations. Make sure to practice conjugating them in different tenses to enhance your fluency.
Common Nouns
Nouns are essential for identifying people, places, things, and concepts. Here are some common nouns that are useful at the B1 level:
1. **ಮನೆ** (mane) – house
2. **ಪಾಠಶಾಲೆ** (pāṭhaśāle) – school
3. **ಅಕ್ಕ** (akka) – elder sister
4. **ಅಣ್ಣ** (aṇṇa) – elder brother
5. **ಪತ್ರ** (patra) – letter
6. **ಹುಡುಗ** (huḍuga) – boy
7. **ಹುಡುಗಿ** (huḍugi) – girl
8. **ಕಾಗದ** (kāgada) – paper
9. **ಪುಸ್ತಕ** (pustaka) – book
10. **ಜಲ** (jala) – water
These nouns will help you build more complex sentences and engage in detailed conversations about various topics.
Adjectives
Adjectives are vital for describing nouns and adding detail to your sentences. Here are some useful adjectives for B1 level Kannada learners:
1. **ಹೆಚ್ಚು** (heccu) – more
2. **ಕಡಿಮೆ** (kaḍime) – less
3. **ಚಂದ** (canda) – beautiful
4. **ಹೆಮ್ಮೆ** (hemme) – proud
5. **ಉದಾಸೀನ** (udāsīna) – indifferent
6. **ಕಷ್ಟ** (kaṣṭa) – difficult
7. **ಸುಲಭ** (sulabha) – easy
8. **ತುಂಬಾ** (tumbā) – very
9. **ತುಂಬಿದ** (tumbida) – full
10. **ಬಹಳ** (baḷa) – much/many
Using these adjectives, you can describe experiences, objects, and people more vividly, making your conversations more engaging and precise.
Useful Phrases
Knowing individual words is important, but understanding how to use them in phrases and sentences is equally crucial. Here are some useful phrases for everyday conversations:
1. **ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರು ಏನು?** (nimma hesaru ēnu?) – What is your name?
2. **ನಾನು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ** (nānu cennāgiddēne) – I am fine.
3. **ನಿಮಗೆ ಹೇಗಿದೆ?** (nimage hēgide?) – How are you?
4. **ನಾನು ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಲಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ** (nānu kannaḍa kaliyuttiddēne) – I am learning Kannada.
5. **ಇದು ಎಷ್ಟು?** (idu eṣṭu?) – How much is this?
6. **ನಾನು ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಹಸಿವೆ** (nānu hoṭṭe hasive) – I am hungry.
7. **ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮನೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ?** (nimma mane ellide?) – Where is your house?
8. **ನಾನು ಹೋದರೆ ಸರಿ** (nānu hōdare sari) – I should go.
9. **ನಾನು ಹೇಗಿದೇನು?** (nānu hēgidēnu?) – How do I look?
10. **ನಾನು ನಿಮಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ** (nānu nimage sahāya māḍuttēne) – I will help you.
Practice these phrases to become more comfortable with conversational Kannada.
Numbers and Counting
Understanding numbers is crucial for everyday activities like shopping, telling time, and giving addresses. Here are the Kannada numbers from 1 to 20:
1. **ಒಂದು** (ondu) – One
2. **ಎರಡು** (eraḍu) – Two
3. **ಮೂರು** (mūru) – Three
4. **ನಾಲ್ಕು** (nālku) – Four
5. **ಐದು** (aidu) – Five
6. **ಆರು** (āru) – Six
7. **ಏಳು** (ēḷu) – Seven
8. **ಎಂಟು** (ēṇṭu) – Eight
9. **ಒಂಬತ್ತು** (ombattu) – Nine
10. **ಹತ್ತು** (hattu) – Ten
11. **ಹನ್ನೊಂದು** (hannondu) – Eleven
12. **ಹನ್ನೆರಡು** (hanneradu) – Twelve
13. **ಹದಿಮೂರು** (hadimūru) – Thirteen
14. **ಹದಿನಾಲ್ಕು** (hadinālku) – Fourteen
15. **ಹದಿನೈದು** (hadinaidu) – Fifteen
16. **ಹದಿನಾರು** (hadināru) – Sixteen
17. **ಹದಿನೇಳು** (hadinēḷu) – Seventeen
18. **ಹದಿನೆಂಟು** (hadinēṇṭu) – Eighteen
19. **ಹದಿನೊಂಬತ್ತು** (hadinombattu) – Nineteen
20. **ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತು** (ippattu) – Twenty
Knowing these numbers will help you navigate various scenarios in daily life.
Days of the Week
Familiarity with the days of the week is essential for scheduling and planning. Here are the Kannada names for the days of the week:
1. **ಭಾನುವಾರ** (bhānuvāra) – Sunday
2. **ಸೋಮವಾರ** (sōmavāra) – Monday
3. **ಮಂಗಳವಾರ** (maṅgaḷavāra) – Tuesday
4. **ಬುಧವಾರ** (budhavāra) – Wednesday
5. **ಗುರುವಾರ** (guruvāra) – Thursday
6. **ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ** (śukravāra) – Friday
7. **ಶನಿವಾರ** (śanivāra) – Saturday
Practice using these in sentences to improve your understanding of time-related conversations.
Colors
Knowing the names of colors is important for describing objects and expressing preferences. Here are some common colors in Kannada:
1. **ಕೆಂಪು** (kempu) – Red
2. **ನೀಲಿ** (nīli) – Blue
3. **ಹಸಿರು** (hasiru) – Green
4. **ಕಪ್ಪು** (kappu) – Black
5. **ಬಿಳಿ** (biḷi) – White
6. **ಹಳದಿ** (haḷadi) – Yellow
7. **ನೀಲಿ** (nīli) – Indigo
8. **ಬೂದು** (būdu) – Grey
9. **ಕಂದು** (kandu) – Brown
10. **ನಾರಿಂಜಿ** (nārinji) – Orange
Using these words will help you add more detail to your descriptions.
Time Expressions
Being able to talk about time is crucial for making plans and discussing events. Here are some useful time expressions in Kannada:
1. **ಈಗ** (īga) – Now
2. **ಈಗಲೇ** (īgalē) – Right now
3. **ಇಂದು** (indu) – Today
4. **ನಾಳೆ** (nāḷe) – Tomorrow
5. **ನಿನ್ನೆ** (ninne) – Yesterday
6. **ಮುಂದು** (mundu) – Before
7. **ಮೇಲೆ** (mēle) – After
8. **ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ** (madhyāhna) – Afternoon
9. **ಸಂಜೆ** (sanje) – Evening
10. **ರಾತ್ರಿ** (rātri) – Night
These expressions will help you discuss schedules and events more effectively.
Questions Words
Being able to ask questions is a fundamental part of conversation. Here are some important question words in Kannada:
1. **ಏನು** (ēnu) – What
2. **ಯಾರು** (yāru) – Who
3. **ಏಕೆ** (ēke) – Why
4. **ಎಲ್ಲಿ** (elli) – Where
5. **ಎಷ್ಟು** (eṣṭu) – How much/How many
6. **ಯಾವ** (yāva) – Which
7. **ಹೇಗೆ** (hēge) – How
8. **ಯಾವಾಗ** (yāvāga) – When
9. **ಎಂದಿಗೂ** (endigū) – Ever
10. **ಎಲ್ಲಾದರೂ** (ellādarū) – Anywhere
These question words are essential for gathering information and engaging in meaningful conversations.
Polite Expressions
Politeness is crucial in any language. Here are some polite expressions in Kannada:
1. **ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು** (dayaviṭṭu) – Please
2. **ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು** (dhanyavādagaḷu) – Thank you
3. **ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ** (kṣamisi) – Sorry
4. **ಸರಿ** (sari) – Okay
5. **ತುಂಬಾ ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು** (tumbā dhanyavādagaḷu) – Thank you very much
6. **ಸ್ವಾಗತ** (svāgata) – Welcome
7. **ನಿಮಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಬೇಕೆ?** (nimage sahāya bēke?) – Do you need help?
8. **ಮತ್ತೆ ಭೇಟಿ ಆಗೋಣ** (matte bhēṭi āgōṇa) – See you again
9. **ನಾನು ನಿಮಗೆ ಋಣಿ** (nānu nimage r̥ṇi) – I am grateful to you
10. **ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸಹಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು** (nimma sahakārakke dhanyavādagaḷu) – Thank you for your cooperation
Using these expressions will help you communicate more respectfully and effectively.
Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms add color to a language and help you sound more like a native speaker. Here are some common Kannada idioms:
1. **ಅಗ್ನಿ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆ** (agni parīkṣe) – A tough test (literal: fire test)
2. **ಕಾಗೆಗೌರಿಗೆಯಂತೆ** (kāgegourigeyaṅte) – Black and white (literal: like a crow and heron)
3. **ಎಲೆಗೆ ಹಣ್ಣುಹಾರಿಸಿದಂತೆ** (elege haṇṇu hārisidaṅte) – A fruit thrown on a leaf (used to describe a wasted effort)
4. **ಮಾತಿನ ಮಂಚು** (mātina manchu) – Sweet talk (literal: bed of words)
5. **ಮೀನು ಬೇಟೆ** (mīnu bēṭe) – Fishing (used to describe someone trying to get information)
Understanding and using these idiomatic expressions will help you connect better with native speakers and understand the cultural nuances.
Conclusion
Reaching the B1 level in Kannada is a significant milestone that opens up new opportunities for communication and cultural understanding. By expanding your vocabulary with these essential words and phrases, you will be well-equipped to engage in more complex conversations and express yourself more clearly. Remember, practice is key to mastering any language. Use these words in your daily conversations, write them down, and immerse yourself in the language as much as possible. Happy learning!
