Learn Kannada: 59 everyday phrases
ಬನ್ನಿ, ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಲಿಯೋಣ!
Come, let's learn Kannada! These are the phrases taught in Kannada Kali, a free pixel game. Each one is in Kannada script, with how to say it in English letters, what it means, and a tip. They follow the everyday spoken Kannada of Bengaluru and Karnataka.
Namma Bengaluru · ನಮ್ಮ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು
Greetings & auto-rickshaw survival
| Kannada | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ | Namaskāra | Hello (respectful)Works any time of day, with anyone. |
| ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ? | Hēgiddīrā? | How are you?The -īrā ending is the polite "you". |
| ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದೀನಿ | Chennāgiddīni | I'm doing wellChennāgi = nicely. Reply to Hēgiddīrā? |
| ಧನ್ಯವಾದ | Dhanyavāda | Thank youFormal. Locals often just say "thanks", but this earns smiles. |
| ಮೀಟರ್ ಹಾಕಿ | Mīṭar hāki | Please put the meter onThe most powerful sentence in Bengaluru. |
| ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಲ್ಸಿ | Illi nilsi | Stop hereIlli = here. Nilsi = (please) stop. |
| ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಅಡ್ಜಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡಿ | Swalpa adjust māḍi | Please adjust a littleBengaluru's unofficial motto. Swalpa = a little. |
Royal Mysuru · ಮೈಸೂರು
Numbers & bargaining
| Kannada | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ಒಂದು | Ondu | One"Ondu kāphi" = one coffee. |
| ಎರಡು | Eraḍu | TwoThe ḍ is a retroflex d — tongue curled back. |
| ಮೂರು | Mūru | ThreeLong ū, like "moo-ru". |
| ಹತ್ತು | Hattu | TenCareful: hattira means "near". |
| ಎಷ್ಟು? | Eṣṭu? | How much?Point at anything + Eṣṭu? = instant shopping. |
| ಜಾಸ್ತಿ | Jāsti | Too much / more"Tumba jāsti!" = way too much! |
| ಕಡಿಮೆ ಮಾಡಿ | Kaḍime māḍi | Please reduce (the price)Kaḍime = less. Smile while saying it. |
Misty Kodagu · ಕೊಡಗು
Coffee, weather & yes/no
| Kannada | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ಕಾಫಿ | Kāphi | CoffeeIn Karnataka, coffee is filter coffee. Always. |
| ಒಂದು ಕಾಫಿ ಕೊಡಿ | Ondu kāphi koḍi | One coffee, pleaseKoḍi = please give. |
| ಹೌದು | Haudu | YesOften shortened to "hā". |
| ಇಲ್ಲ | Illa | No / not thereAlso means "there isn't any". |
| ಮಳೆ | Maḷe | RainThe ḷ is a curled-tongue L. Practise: maḷe, maḷe, maḷe. |
| ಚಳಿ | Chaḷi | Cold"Tumba chaḷi!" — every Kodagu morning. |
| ನೀರು | Nīru | WaterSame nīr as in neer dosa! |
Karavali Coast · ಕರಾವಳಿ
Food & eating out
| Kannada | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ಊಟ | Ūṭa | Meal / lunch"Ūṭa āytā?" (Had lunch?) is how people show they care. |
| ತಿಂಡಿ | Tiṇḍi | Breakfast / snackIdli, dosa, vada — all tiṇḍi. |
| ರುಚಿಯಾಗಿದೆ | Ruchiyāgide | It's tastySay it to the cook. Watch them glow. |
| ಖಾರ | Khāra | Spicy"Swalpa khāra kaḍime" = a bit less spicy. |
| ಸಿಹಿ | Sihi | SweetEvery celebration starts with sihi. |
| ಸಾಕು | Sāku | EnoughYou will need this at every Karnataka home. |
| ಇನ್ನೂ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ | Innū swalpa | A little moreThe opposite of sāku. Use wisely. |
Ancient Hampi · ಹಂಪಿ
Directions
| Kannada | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ಎಲ್ಲಿ? | Elli? | Where?"Bathroom elli?" will save your life. |
| ಎಡಕ್ಕೆ | Eḍakke | To the leftEḍa = left. -kke = towards. |
| ಬಲಕ್ಕೆ | Balakke | To the rightBala = right (also means strength!). |
| ನೇರವಾಗಿ | Nēravāgi | Straight aheadAuto drivers love this word. |
| ಹತ್ತಿರ | Hattira | NearNot hattu (ten)! |
| ದೂರ | Dūra | Far"Tumba dūra" = very far. |
| ಆಮೇಲೆ | Āmēle | Then / after thatChain directions: straight, āmēle left. |
Vijayapura & Badami · ವಿಜಯಪುರ
Question words & introductions
| Kannada | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ಏನು? | Ēnu? | What?"Ēnu samachāra?" = What's up? |
| ಯಾರು? | Yāru? | Who?Answer the phone with "Yāru?" like a local. |
| ಯಾಕೆ? | Yāke? | Why?The favourite word of every kid. |
| ಯಾವಾಗ? | Yāvāga? | When?"Bus yāvāga?" — useful at any stand. |
| ಹೇಗೆ? | Hēge? | How?Hēgiddīrā? = how are you? |
| ಹೆಸರು | Hesaru | NameAlso means green gram. Context! |
| ನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರು… | Nanna hesaru… | My name is…Nanna = my. Nimma = your (polite). |
Hubballi-Dharwad · ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿ-ಧಾರವಾಡ
North Karnataka food & dialect
| Kannada | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ಹೆಂಗದೀರಿ? | Hengadīri? | How are you? (North Karnataka)Bengaluru says "Hēgiddīra?". Up north it is "Hengadīri?" |
| ಛಲೋ ಅದೀನಿ | Chalō adīni | I am fine"Chalō" = good, nice. You will hear it in every sentence here. |
| ಬರ್ರಿ | Barri | Please come / welcomeSouth: "banni". North: "barri". The -ri ending adds respect. |
| ಕುಂದರ್ರಿ | Kundarri | Please sitIn Bengaluru you would hear "kutkoḷḷi". |
| ಜೋಳದ ರೊಟ್ಟಿ | Jōḷada roṭṭi | Jowar flatbreadPatted out by hand. The heart of a North Karnataka meal. |
| ಎಣ್ಣೆಗಾಯಿ | Eṇṇegāyi | Stuffed brinjal curryThe classic partner for jōḷada roṭṭi. |
| ಊಟ ಆತೇನ್ರಿ? | Ūṭa ātēnri? | Have you eaten?The warmest greeting. South: "Ūṭa āytā?" |
Namma Metro · ನಮ್ಮ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ
Travelling on the metro · secret level
| Kannada | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ಮುಂದಿನ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ | Mundina nildāṇa | Next stationYou'll hear it on every metro announcement. |
| ಬಾಗಿಲು | Bāgilu | Door"Bāgilu eḍakke tereyuttade" — doors open on the left. |
| ಇಳಿಯಿರಿ | Iḷiyiri | Please get down / offIḷi = descend. |
| ಹತ್ತಿರಿ | Hattiri | Please get on / climbSounds like hattira (near). Context saves you! |
| ನಿಲ್ಲಿ | Nilli | Please stand / waitNilsi = stop (something). Nilli = stand. |
Kolar Gold Fields · ಕೋಲಾರ ಚಿನ್ನದ ಗಣಿ
Deep in the mine · secret level
| Kannada | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ಚಿನ್ನ | Chinna | GoldAlso a term of endearment — "chinna" = darling. |
| ಕತ್ತಲೆ | Kattale | DarknessYou're in it right now. |
| ಬೆಳಕು | Beḷaku | LightAlso a beautiful girls' name. |
| ಹುಷಾರು | Hushāru | Careful!"Hushāru!" — what every Kannada parent says. |
| ಸಿಕ್ಕಿತು | Sikkitu | Found it!Shout it when you find your keys. |
How to say the letters
Long vowels carry a line: ā, ē, ī, ō, ū are held longer than a, e, i, o, u. A dot under a letter (ḍ, ṭ, ḷ, ṇ) means the tongue curls back. Polite forms end in -ri or -i: ಬನ್ನಿ (banni, please come).
Questions
Is Kannada Kali free?
Yes. Kannada Kali is free to play in any phone or computer browser. There is no app to install and no account needed. You can sign in with Google if you want to save progress and join the leaderboards.
What is the fastest fun way to learn basic Kannada?
Learn a handful of useful phrases at a time and use them the same day. Kannada Kali teaches 59 everyday phrases in short game levels of a few minutes each, with pronunciation and audio, and ends every level with a small real-life conversation to practise.
Who is Kannada Kali for?
People who have moved to Bengaluru or elsewhere in Karnataka for work or study, children growing up outside Karnataka, and Kannadigas who want to share their language with friends, colleagues and neighbours.
What Kannada will I learn?
Everyday spoken Kannada: greetings & auto-rickshaw survival; numbers & bargaining; coffee, weather & yes/no; food & eating out; directions; question words & introductions; north karnataka food & dialect. Every phrase is shown in Kannada script with English letters for pronunciation and its meaning.
Does it teach Kannada script?
Every word appears in Kannada script next to its pronunciation in English letters, so you start recognising the script while you learn to speak. Hidden letters ಕ, ನ್ನ and ಡ are collectibles in every world.
Can I learn other Indian languages this way?
Kannada Kali is the first game from BashaX. The same game format is planned for more Indian languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Bengali.