Learning Kannada, one of the major Dravidian languages spoken predominantly in the Indian state of Karnataka, can be a rewarding experience. As an intermediate learner, you may already be familiar with some basic vocabulary and grammar. However, expanding your knowledge to include more nuanced and commonly used words can significantly improve your fluency and comprehension. This article will introduce you to a range of Kannada words that are essential for intermediate learners.
Everyday Conversation
To engage in everyday conversations, it’s crucial to know words that help you express yourself clearly and understand others. Here are some essential words:
Greetings and Common Phrases
1. **Namaskāra** (ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ) – Hello
2. **Hegiddīra?** (ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರ?) – How are you?
3. **Channagiddīni** (ಚನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದೀನಿ) – I am fine
4. **Dhanyavāda** (ಧನ್ಯವಾದ) – Thank you
5. **Dayavittu** (ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು) – Please
6. **Kshamisi** (ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ) – Sorry
7. **Nanu** (ನಾನು) – I
8. **Nīvu** (ನೀವು) – You
9. **Yāke?** (ಯಾಕೆ?) – Why?
10. **Yāvadakke?** (ಯಾವದಕ್ಕೆ?) – For what?
Family and Relationships
Understanding words related to family and relationships is essential for social interactions:
1. **Tande** (ತಂದೆ) – Father
2. **Taayi** (ತಾಯಿ) – Mother
3. **Anna** (ಅಣ್ಣ) – Elder brother
4. **Tangi** (ತಂಗಿ) – Younger sister
5. **Maga** (ಮಗ) – Son
6. **Magalu** (ಮಗಳು) – Daughter
7. **Ganda** (ಗಂಡ) – Husband
8. **Hendathi** (ಹೆಂಡತಿ) – Wife
9. **Snehita** (ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ) – Friend (male)
10. **Snehite** (ಸ್ನೇಹಿತೆ) – Friend (female)
Time and Numbers
Being able to talk about time and numbers is vital for daily activities such as setting appointments, shopping, and traveling:
Days of the Week
1. **Bhanuvāra** (ಭಾನುವಾರ) – Sunday
2. **Somavāra** (ಸೋಮವಾರ) – Monday
3. **Mangalavāra** (ಮಂಗಳವಾರ) – Tuesday
4. **Budhavāra** (ಬುಧವಾರ) – Wednesday
5. **Guruvara** (ಗುರುವಾರ) – Thursday
6. **Shukravāra** (ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ) – Friday
7. **Shanivāra** (ಶನಿವಾರ) – Saturday
Months of the Year
1. **Janavari** (ಜನವರಿ) – January
2. **Phibruvari** (ಫೆಬ್ರವರಿ) – February
3. **Māchu** (ಮಾರ್ಚ್) – March
4. **Āpril** (ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್) – April
5. **Me** (ಮೇ) – May
6. **Jūn** (ಜೂನ್) – June
7. **Julayi** (ಜುಲೈ) – July
8. **Āgastu** (ಆಗಸ್ಟ್) – August
9. **Sēptēmbara** (ಸೆಪ್ಟೆಂಬರ್) – September
10. **Aktōbara** (ಅಕ್ಟೋಬರ್) – October
11. **Navēmbara** (ನವೆಂಬರ್) – November
12. **Disēmbara** (ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್) – December
Numbers
1. **Ondu** (ಒಂದು) – One
2. **Eraḍu** (ಎರಡು) – Two
3. **Mūru** (ಮೂರು) – Three
4. **Nālku** (ನಾಲ್ಕು) – Four
5. **Aidu** (ಐದು) – Five
6. **Āru** (ಆರು) – Six
7. **Ēḷu** (ಏಳು) – Seven
8. **Ēntu** (ಎಂಟು) – Eight
9. **Ombattu** (ಒಂಬತ್ತು) – Nine
10. **Hattu** (ಹತ್ತು) – Ten
Food and Dining
When it comes to food, knowing specific words can enhance your dining experience and help you understand menus better:
Common Foods
1. **Anna** (ಅನ್ನ) – Rice
2. **Sāmbār** (ಸಾಂಬಾರ್) – Sambar (lentil soup)
3. **Rotti** (ರೊಟ್ಟಿ) – Bread
4. **Huli** (ಹುಳಿ) – Curry
5. **Pālayam** (ಪಾಲ್ಯ) – Vegetable dish
6. **Mosaru** (ಮೊಸರು) – Yogurt
7. **Hannu** (ಹಣ್ಣು) – Fruit
8. **Hālu** (ಹಾಲು) – Milk
9. **Bisi** (ಬಿಸಿ) – Hot
10. **Thindi** (ತಿಂಡಿ) – Snack
Dining Etiquette
1. **Oota** (ಊಟ) – Meal
2. **Tindi** (ತಿಂಡಿ) – Breakfast
3. **Uttara** (ಉತ್ತರ) – Lunch
4. **Ratriya oota** (ರಾತ್ರಿಯ ಊಟ) – Dinner
5. **Vāngi** (ವಾಂಗಿ) – Spoon
6. **Sābīna** (ಸಾಬೀನಾ) – Knife
7. **Gīḷas** (ಗೀಳಸ್) – Glass
8. **Plēṭu** (ಪ್ಲೇಟ್) – Plate
9. **Kūḍi** (ಕುಡಿಯಿ) – Drink
10. **Thindi mādodu** (ತಿಂಡಿ ಮಾಡೋದು) – Cooking
Travel and Directions
Traveling around Karnataka or any Kannada-speaking region requires familiarity with certain words and phrases:
Common Directions
1. **Balagade** (ಬಲಗಡೆ) – Right
2. **Edagade** (ಎಡಗಡೆ) – Left
3. **Hinde** (ಹಿಂದೆ) – Back
4. **Munde** (ಮುಂದು) – Front
5. **Neravāgi** (ನೆರವಾಗಿ) – Straight
6. **Kone** (ಕೊನೆ) – End
7. **Avaru** (ಅವರು) – They
8. **Alli** (ಅಲ್ಲಿ) – There
9. **Illi** (ಇಲ್ಲಿ) – Here
10. **Yellī** (ಎಲ್ಲಿ) – Where
Transportation
1. **Vāhana** (ವಾಹನ) – Vehicle
2. **Basu** (ಬಸ್) – Bus
3. **Rēlu** (ರೈಲು) – Train
4. **Vimāna** (ವಿಮಾನ) – Airplane
5. **Tāksi** (ಟಾಕ್ಸಿ) – Taxi
6. **Autō** (ಆಟೋ) – Auto-rickshaw
7. **Nauka** (ನೌಕೆ) – Boat
8. **Nadeyalu** (ನಡೆಯಲು) – Walk
9. **Oḍisu** (ಒಡಿಸು) – Drive
10. **Savāri** (ಸವಾರಿ) – Ride
Work and Education
Understanding terms related to work and education can help you navigate professional and academic environments:
Workplace Vocabulary
1. **Karyālaya** (ಕಚೇರಿ) – Office
2. **Oudhyōgika** (ಔದ್ಯೋಗಿಕ) – Official
3. **Kelasagāra** (ಕೆಲಸಗಾರ) – Employee
4. **Nayaka** (ನಾಯಕ) – Leader
5. **Tamassu** (ತಾಮಸ) – Delay
6. **Saamagri** (ಸಾಮಾಗ್ರಿ) – Materials
7. **Yojane** (ಯೋಜನೆ) – Plan
8. **Sampattu** (ಸಂಪತ್ತು) – Resource
9. **Vēḷā** (ವೇಳಾ) – Time
10. **Mūlya** (ಮೂಲ್ಯ) – Value
Educational Terms
1. **Shāle** (ಶಾಲೆ) – School
2. **Vidyaarthi** (ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿ) – Student
3. **Adhyāpaka** (ಅಧ್ಯಾಪಕ) – Teacher (male)
4. **Adhyāpaki** (ಅಧ್ಯಾಪಕಿ) – Teacher (female)
5. **Pustaka** (ಪುಸ್ತಕ) – Book
6. **Shikshana** (ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ) – Education
7. **Parīksha** (ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆ) – Exam
8. **Vidyā** (ವಿದ್ಯಾ) – Knowledge
9. **Prashna** (ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ) – Question
10. **Uttara** (ಉತ್ತರ) – Answer
Health and Well-being
Knowing how to discuss health and well-being is essential, especially in case of emergencies:
Common Health Terms
1. **Ārogya** (ಆರೋಗ್ಯ) – Health
2. **Vaidya** (ವೈದ್ಯ) – Doctor
3. **Rogi** (ರೋಗಿ) – Patient
4. **Oushadha** (ಔಷಧ) – Medicine
5. **Arogya salla** (ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಸಲಹೆ) – Health advice
6. **Ayassu** (ಆಯಸ್ಸು) – Age
7. **Nidra** (ನಿದ್ರೆ) – Sleep
8. **Aahara** (ಆಹಾರ) – Diet
9. **Vyayama** (ವ್ಯಾಯಾಮ) – Exercise
10. **Arogya Samasya** (ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ) – Health problem
Emergency Terms
1. **Āpattu** (ಆಪತ್ತು) – Emergency
2. **Raksha** (ರಕ್ಷಣೆ) – Safety
3. **Sāhayaka** (ಸಹಾಯಕ) – Help
4. **Āmbulānsu** (ಆಂಬುಲಾನ್ಸ್) – Ambulance
5. **Polisu** (ಪೊಲೀಸ್) – Police
6. **Āpatkāleena** (ಆಪತ್ಕಾಲೀನ) – Urgent
7. **Sankata** (ಸಂಕಟ) – Crisis
8. **Vaidyashāla** (ವೈದ್ಯಶಾಲೆ) – Hospital
9. **Raktadāna** (ರಕ್ತದಾನ) – Blood donation
10. **Āpatti** (ಆಪತಿ) – Hazard
Culture and Entertainment
To fully immerse yourself in Kannada-speaking environments, understanding cultural and entertainment-related terms can be beneficial:
Cultural Terms
1. **Samskruti** (ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ) – Culture
2. **Habba** (ಹಬ್ಬ) – Festival
3. **Kalā** (ಕಲಾ) – Art
4. **Sāhitya** (ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ) – Literature
5. **Nritya** (ನೃತ್ಯ) – Dance
6. **Sangeetha** (ಸಂಗೀತ) – Music
7. **Nataka** (ನಾಟಕ) – Drama
8. **Kavi** (ಕವಿ) – Poet
9. **Chitra** (ಚಿತ್ರ) – Picture
10. **Pradarshana** (ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನ) – Exhibition
Entertainment Terms
1. **Chalanachitra** (ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ) – Movie
2. **Television** (ಟೆಲಿವಿಷನ್) – Television
3. **Nataka** (ನಾಟಕ) – Play
4. **Sanchāra** (ಸಂಚಾರ) – Travel
5. **Kreeda** (ಕ್ರೀಡಾ) – Sports
6. **Hādu** (ಹಾಡು) – Song
7. **Sanchārika** (ಸಂಚಾರಿಕಾ) – Tourism
8. **Vihāra** (ವಿಹಾರ) – Recreation
9. **Vismaya** (ವಿಸ್ಮಯ) – Wonder
10. **Mela** (ಮೇಳ) – Fair
Idiomatic Expressions and Phrases
Intermediate learners can benefit greatly from familiarizing themselves with idiomatic expressions and phrases that are commonly used in Kannada. These can help convey more complex ideas and emotions:
1. **Bāyige bandre bāyalli hāku** (ಬಾಯಿಗೆ ಬಂದ್ರೆ ಬಾಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಕು) – “Speak what’s on your mind.”
2. **Tāyige hāgida hālu** (ತಾಯಿಗೆ ಹಾಗಿದ ಹಾಲು) – “Spilt milk” (as in a lost opportunity or something that cannot be undone).
3. **Hesaru hēḷidare hōguttāne** (ಹೆಸರು ಹೇಳಿದರೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾನೆ) – “He will leave if you mention his name” (used to denote someone who avoids responsibility).
4. **Hottige hittilla** (ಹೊಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಹಿತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ) – “No food for the stomach” (used to describe a dire situation).
5. **Ninna kāige bāyana kāyi** (ನಿನ್ನ ಕೈಗೆ ಬಾಯನ ಕಾಯಿ) – “The fruit of your labor” (used to denote the results of one’s hard work).
Expanding your vocabulary to include these intermediate-level Kannada words will not only improve your language skills but also help you feel more confident in various social, professional, and personal contexts. Practice using these words in your daily conversations, and you will notice a significant improvement in your fluency and comprehension. Happy learning!
