Kannada Phrases to Know Before Traveling to Karnataka
Karnataka is a vibrant state in southern India, known for its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and warm hospitality. As the birthplace of Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, the city of Mysore is an especially popular destination for devoted yoga practitioners from around the world.
This is what brought me to Mysore, and while my Sanskrit classes were packed with foreigners, I was surprised to see how little interest many of my fellow travelers had in learning basic phrases in the local language. Kannada is the official language of Karnataka. It’s part of the Dravidian family of languages and is spoken by the majority of the population.
The Kannada people (Kannaḍigaru in Kannada: ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು or Kannadigas in English) are incredibly welcoming and polite, and a large percentage speak English in the larger cities although the levels of fluency vary dramatically. While it is possible to get around without knowing any Kannada at all, I think it's a shame and a huge disservice to both travelers and locals alike to pass on the opportunity to learn. Basic phrases like “How are you?” and “I’m sorry” will go a long way toward communicating your respect and appreciation for the local culture. And, let’s not forget how defaulting to English perpetuates Eurocentrism and the idea that Western civilizations are superior in a country that has endured a history of British colonialism. Most people I know wouldn’t travel to Spain without learning “hola” and “gracias” so let’s be good travelers and show that we’re open-minded and willing to learn!
If you’re planning a trip to Karnataka, it's helpful to familiarize yourself with the local language. You don’t need to be an expert. I certainly am not, and make plenty of mistakes! But knowing a few basics can go a long way in enhancing your travel experience and ability to make meaningful connections with locals. If you’re traveling to study ashtanga yoga like I was, remember that taking an interest in and respecting the current culture is just as important as learning about the ancient historical origins of yoga.
So without further ado, here are some essential Kannada words and phrases that I learned from my South Indian friends and found especially useful during my three month stay in Mysuru, Karnataka:
Hu (hnnn): Yes/agreement Ila (ee-la): No
Like I said, we’re starting with the basics here! Make sure to draw out the end of “hu.” It’s a subtle but longer sound, you don’t even need to open your mouth to make it. Almost like “hmmm” but with an N instead.
Namaste (Nam-uhh-steh) and Namaskara (nam-uhh-skaa-ra): Hello
Yoga practitioners have likely heard these phrases before. Namaste is often said at the end of yoga classes and is an old Sanskrit phrase that means “I bow to you” but it’s been adopted as a simple and polite way to acknowledge someone in most Indian languages including kannada. This is a versatile greeting used to say hello, hi, or welcome. While it is respectful, it’s not universally used as the super-spiritual gesture it may be portrayed as in Westernized yoga studios, so you can say it casually and without bowing. You might get a chuckle out of the locals if you’re extra formal about it, but they will likely appreciate your effort to greet them in their native language nonetheless. Namaskara has the same meaning but is just a tad more formal than namaste. You may recognize it from the term “surya namaskar” the sequence used to warm up for yoga asanas. In English, these are called “sun salutations.”
Chennagithiya? (Chen-aug-ee-dee-ya): Are you good?
After saying your greetings, this is a customary follow-up question similar to “How are you?” If you’re asked “Chennagithiya?” you can respond “Chenagiddini” (Chen-aug-ee-dee-nee) which means “I am good/well.” Additionally, if your meal is delicious you can say “Chennāgide.” (chen-aug-ee-dae) which means “It’s good” but is more like saying “It’s excellent/delicious.”
Nimma hesarēnu? (ni-ma hey-sar-yenu): What is your name? (Nimma(your) hesaru(name) enu(what))
Do you go to the same cafe or coconut stand each morning and want to get to know the people serving you nourishing food? Ask this question so you can greet them warmly by name in the future. If you are asked this use “Nanna hesaru ____” (na-na hey-sa-ru which means “my name is ____”
Tindi ayitha (tin-di aa-yi-tha): “Have you taken breakfast?”
Food is a huge part of the culture so it’s customary to ask acquaintances whether or not they’ve eaten yet. If you make it past the “Hi, how are you?” phase this is the next logical question to ask. Tindi refers to breakfast and oota (oo-taa) can be used to refer to both lunch and dinner. If you’re asked this question and you’ve already eaten, you can reply “tindi/oota aythu” (aa-yi-thu) if you have eaten, or tindi/oota agila (aug-eela) or simply ila (no) if you haven’t. After enjoying a delicious meal, you can say aaythu to express your satisfaction. It means "I had a good meal." It's a simple way to convey your appreciation to the chef or the person who served you.
Estu? (yesh-tu): How much?
This one will come in handy anytime you’re out shopping or paying for a meal. Take care to learn whether haggling is a customary practice in each location you visit before negotiating a price. While prices for auto-rickshaws and taxis are often negotiable, the prices at many fresh produce stands and jewelry stores are set and you’ll come off as rude if you try and haggle for a cheaper price tag.
Enu? (yenu): What?
I found this useful when I needed someone to repeat themselves, or to ask follow-up questions like “enu oota” - “what did you have for lunch?”
Yelli hogbeku? (Yell-ee hog-beh-koo?): Where do I need to go?
If you're lost or looking for directions, this phrase will come in handy. It means "Where should I go?" or "Where do I need to go?" Most of the friendly people of Karnataka will be happy to point you toward your destination.
Dhanyavadagalu (Dhaan-ya-vad-a-ga-loo): Thank you
It's always kind to show your gratitude when someone helps you or extends a kind gesture during your travels. I was told that most people in the cities just say thank you in English, but I think it’s still a good idea to know the Kannada variation. Especially for interacting with bus drivers, waiters, or street vendors further outside the city who may have little to no exposure to English.
Sari sari (Sa-ri Sa-ri): Okay okay
Another way to say yes, agree, or acknowledge something someone has said. It is often paired with the customary and good-natured Indian head waggle.
Barona (ba-ro-na): Bye
There is no word for goodbye in Kannada but this is a simple way to take your leave or imply a farewell. You can also say “hogi baruthene” (ho-gee baru-ten-nay) which means literally “I will go and come.”
Hōgōṇa (ho-ga-na): Let’s go
This is a fun way to signal it’s time to leave or to head to a destination together with someone.
Nannannu kshamisi (Naan-na-nu Shimee-see): “Please forgive me.”
This is a phrase to use in instances instead of I’m sorry when you may bump into or inconvenience someone in some way. Tappa aitu (tap-pa aa-yi-thu) may also be useful in these situations and means “I'm wrong.”
Arama? (ar-aa-maa): How are you?
Here’s another way to ask how someone is doing to diversify your phrase palette. The simple response is aramo (ar-aa-mo) - “I’m good.”
Nanage ____ ishta (nana-gay ____ ish-ta): “I like ____” (nanigay(for me) ishta (like))
I taught myself this phrase because it was a simple way to practice saying things in Kannada. I’d just insert the meal I had that day or a place I visited. I also used “Ninage ___ ishta? (nee-na-gay ___ ish-ta)” - “Do you like ___?” to ask simple questions to new local friends.
Samachara (sam-ma-char-ra): What's up
Here’s a more hip way to ask how someone is doing that may pleasantly surprise your cab driver or new kannadiga friend. Just like in English, the simple response to this question is often “nothing much” - “Enu illa.”
Niman nodi samtosha auitu (nee-man no-dee sam-toe-sha aa-yi-thu): I’m happy seeing you.
This is a sweet phrase I was grateful to learn and use with consistent acquaintances and friends in Mysuru. It brought so many bashful smiles to their faces, after I learned the correct pronunciation so they could easily understand me, that is.
Swalpa kshana (Swaal-pa kshaa-naa): Just a moment
If you need a moment or some time to think or decide, use this phrase. It can be handy when you need to pause and gather your thoughts or to recall a word in Kannada during a conversation.
Hotel idheya? (Hotel id-hey-ya?): Is there a hotel/restaurant nearby?
When you're on the lookout for a place to eat, this phrase will help. The word hotel is akin to a restaurant or cafe in India. Karnataka is renowned for its delectable cuisine, so be sure to explore the local eateries and savor the regional delicacies. Read this blog I wrote about the best places to eat in Mysuru to get a feel for South Indian cuisine.
Nīvu nanage sahāya māḍabahudē? (Nee-voo nah-na-gay sa-haya mada-buh-day?): "Can you help me?"
If you find yourself in a situation where you require assistance, ask for help using this sentence. It’s always good to have phrases like this prepared in advance in case of emergencies when traveling.
Embracing the local language while traveling to Karnataka can significantly enhance your cultural immersion and interactions with the warm-hearted people of the region. Kannada may seem daunting at first, but you’ll find that people are gracious and forgiving. A few basic expressions can go a long way towards showing your respect for the local culture.
From greetings to seeking directions and expressing gratitude, these essential Kannada phrases will help you navigate more easily and leave a lasting impression on those you meet. I received some of the most precious toothy smiles from locals who were expecting to hear English when I opened my mouth, and heard Kannada instead. So, take a little time to familiarize yourself with these phrases and open yourself up to a truly immersive and rewarding travel experience in Karnataka!
If you have advice on how I can improve this list feel free to comment below and let me know! I love to share what I learn during my travels in the hopes that it helps others, but I’m still a beginner and there’s always more to learn!
Devaraja Market in Mysuru, Karnataka
