10 Kannada words to make life easy in Bangalore

1. Kannada Gothilla

Imagine you are new in Bangalore and a Kannadiga comes to you and starts a conversation. In this situation, the first thing you should say is ‘Kannada gothilla’. kannada gothilla means ‘I don’t know Kannada. Kannada is a widely spoken language in Bangalore, if you don’t know Kannada then a Kannada person may speak to you in the language which you know. So, knowing how to say ‘Kannada gothilla’ is crucial.

2. Nimage Hindi/English Barutha

As a non-Kannadiga, you are traveling in Bangalore and you want to go to a location, but you realize that you don’t know Kannada and you happen to see a local person. In this situation, you should use the Kannada phrase ‘Nimage Hindi/ English barutha?’. This means that can you speak English or Hindi.

3. Channagide

This means cool in English. The word cool is often used to show agreement or acceptance of what someone says. ‘Channagide’ is a popular slang used in Bangalore.

4. Yen Samachara

This means ‘what’s up’ in English. Saying ‘Yen Samachara’ is a popular way of greeting a person in Bangalore. In Bangalore, you might make many friends who are Kannadiga and to please them you should know to greet them in their way by saying ‘Yen Samachara.’

5. Yenu

When you mishear what someone says or don’t understand. That time we say what; in Kannada, it is ‘Yenu’, which will make others repeat what they said.

6. Anna

This means brother in English. As Indians whenever we go to any shops, we have almost the custom to call the shopkeeper brother or bhaiya. Here in Bangalore, it is the anna that has to be used to call the shopkeeper.

7. Estu

Once you live in Bangalore you will go to many places to buy many things. In order to keep a check on your spending, first you will ask the shopkeeper ‘how much does it cost’. In Kannada to say that it is ‘estu’ means how much?

8. Dhanyavada

This means thank you. To please the locals, if you speak in their language, they will frame you as a good tourist. When the local helps you should say ‘Dhanyavadagalu’.

9. Naana Hesaru

Suppose today in Bangalore you met a new person who is a Kannadiga. You will probably introduce yourself to him. So first you will tell your name, but make sure to make a good impression you introducing yourself in Kannada by saying ‘ Nanna Haseru.’

10. Yen Madthidiya

This means ‘what are you doing’ in Kannada. You will hear this phrase very often in Bangalore. Suppose you are engaged in some kind of activity and someone finds you suspicious of that. So, he will ask you in Kannada ‘Yen Madthidiya’. For this, you should know that it means what are you doing.