Bengaluru runs perfectly fine in English. It is manageable and you can survive in this cosmopolitan city. You can order food, book a cab, close a business deal, and make friends from your native place without ever needing a word of Kannada. The average local Bangalorean is super accommodating - most speak 3 to 4 languages apart from Kannada and English. That's part of what makes the city so easy to move to. But there's a difference between surviving in Bengaluru and actually feeling at home in it. You don't need fluency in Kannada for this. You don't even need so much grammar that you can write poetry in the language. It is just about intentionally going the extra mile or even just an extra blog post to learn some basic phrases and have a positive mindset of understanding the real local culture a little more. You just need a few phrases at the right moments, and the city will give back in ways that you wouldn't even have imagined!
You don't need "proper" Kannada - Kanglish works perfectly fine!
This is the first thing to get out of your head: nobody expects you to speak textbook Kannada. Honestly, if you tried, you'd probably sound less like a local and more like you memorized a phrasebook. What works great in Bengaluru for beginners is Kanglish, i.e., Kannada and English mixed together, freely and casually. Let me explain...
- Unlock the “maadi” trick - Just one word, "Maadi," does most of the heavy lifting in a beginner’s Kannada vocabulary. Maadi means "do", and you can stick it onto almost any English verb to instantly make a Kannada sentence. "Discount maadi", "Call maadi", "Wait maadi". Simple, no? If you know the English word, you already know the Kannada sentence, sort of.
- Effort>>>>Fluency - Say "Namaskara" to your watchman or "Swalpa wait maadi" to an auto driver, and nobody's judging your pronunciation. What they notice is that you tried. That's usually all it takes to go from "outsider" to "one of us" in a shopkeeper's eyes.
- Aim for Practicality, not Poetry - The goal here isn't to sound like a poet. It's to get things done, like ordering your dosa, negotiating your auto fare, and asking for directions. Treat these words as tools, not as a language exam, and you'll be surprised how far they take you.
Kannada phrasebook for navigating Bengaluru better
1. Namaskara (ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ) – Hello
Pronounced Nam-skaa-raa, and said with a hands-closed “Namaste” gesture. Simple, friendly, and safe to use anywhere.
Example: “Namaskara uncle, Namaskara aunty!”
2. Oota aaytaa? (ಊಟ ಆಯ್ತಾ?) – Have you had lunch?
One of the most Bengaluru things you will hear in the city. This is often used in place of “Hello” or “Namaskara”. “Oota” means lunch, and “Aaytaa” means “Have you had?”
Example: “Namaskara sir! Oota aayittaa?”
3. Maadi (ಮಾಡಿ) – Do
The most powerful Kannada word for survival! Add Maadi to any English word to turn it into Kannada.
Example: “Discount maadi”, “Wait maadi”, “Bill maadi”, “Email maadi”, “Call maadi”, “Exchange maadi”, “Repair maadi”, “Adjust maadi”.
4. Eshtu? (ಎಷ್ಟು?) – How much?
Pronounced Yesh-tu. Perfect for shopping, autos, and buses.
Example: “Guru, Bisleri Water Bottle eshtu?”
5. Chennag-iddira? (ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ?) – How are you, or, Are you ok?
The standard way to say “How are you” in Kannada.
Example: “Namaskara uncle! Chennagiddira?”
6. Chennag-iddini (ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದೀನಿ) – I am fine
Standard reply to “How are you” in Kannada.
Example: “Chennagiddini, thank you.”
7. Nimma hesaru enu (ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರು ಏನು) – What is your name
Pronounced Nim-hesar-enu.
Example: “Nim-hesar-enu madam?”
8. Nanna hesaru Mukesh (ನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರು ಮುಕೇಶ್) – My name is Mukesh
Replace Mukesh with your own name. Pronounced Nan-hesaru.
Example: “Namaskara! Nan-hesaru Ritu. Nim-hesar-enu?”
9. Tagoli (ತಗೊ) – Take
Universal word for giving something, including giving directions.
Example:
- To an auto driver: “Left tagoli, right tagoli, next signal.”
- Or at a shop: “Aunty, 5 rupees change tagoli.”
10. Kodi (ಕೊಡಿ) – Give
Very useful while shopping or at a restaurant.
Example: “1 plate masala dose kodi”
11. Bartini (ಬರ್ತೀನಿ) – Bye, or I will come back
“Bartini” means “I’m coming back” because in Kannada, you don’t say that you’re going away. You’re always going to come back later.
Example: “Okay boss, Bartini!”
12. Enu (ಏನು) – What
Useful for clarifications.
Example: “Enu problem sir?”
13. Elli (ಎಲ್ಲಿ) – Where
Very useful for directions.
Example: “Anna, metro station elli?”
14. Banni (ಬನ್ನಿ) – Please Come in, or Welcome
Means “Please come”, but often used like “Welcome”.
Example: “Banni banni… Oota maadi!” (Come, come have lunch!)
15. Nilsi (ನಿಲ್ಸಿ) – Stop
To stop an auto or bus.
Example: “Anna, left side nilsi.”
16. Houdu (ಹೌದು) – Yes
Standard way to say “Yes” in Kannada.
Example: “Houdu, Gpay aaytu.” (“Yes, Gpay done”)
17. Illa (ಇಲ್ಲ) – No
Standard way to say “No” in Kannada.
Example: “Change illa, Google pay maadi.”
18. Beku (ಬೇಕು) – Want
Useful when talking to the waiter, or at a shop.
Example: “Extra sambhar beku”
19. Beda (ಬೇಡ) – Don’t want
Useful at a restaurant, or while shopping
Example: “1 coffee, Sugar beda.”
20. Saaku (ಸಾಕು) – Enough
Keep this word in mind when you order that unlimited rice South thali.
Example: “Anna, rice saaku!”
21. Gottilla (ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ) – I don’t know
When someone asks you directions to a place you are not familiar with, you can say “Gottilla”, or you will be told “Gottilla” if a person you are enquiring doesn’t know the information. Also used i nthe context of “Hindi gottilla”, “Kannada gottilla”, etc.
Example: “New to Bengaluru. Kannada gottilla.”
22. Kannada Kalita iddini (ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಲಿತಿದ್ದೀನಿ) – I’m learning Kannada
People love hearing this! Much better option than “Kananda Gottilla” - Bangaloreans really appreciate the gesture.
Example: “Naanu Kannada Kalita iddini.”
23. Nanna ooru Delhi (ನನ್ನ ಊರು ದೆಹಲಿ) – My hometown is Delhi
“Ooru” means hometown, just like in “Bengal-ooru”. Replace Delhi with your hometown.
Example: “Nanna ooru Kolkata.”
24. Kelsa (ಕೆಲಸ) – Work
Useful word that means “work” as a noun or verb.
Example: “Nanu IT kelsa maadtini” (“I work in IT”)
25. Swalpa (ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ) – A little
You’ll hear this everywhere. Very useful Kannada word in everyday situations.
Example: “Swalpa left”, “Swalpa wait maadi”, “Swalpa adjust maadi”, “Swalpa Swalpa Kannada barutte”.
26. Jaasti (ಜಾಸ್ತಿ) – More
Opposite of Swalpa.
Example: “Rice jaasti beku”, or “AC jaasti maadi.”
27. Neeru (ನೀರು) – Water
It is always useful to know the word for water in Kannada. Keep handy at messes, PGs, and restaurants.
Example: “Ondu(1) glass neeru”
28. Illi (ಇಲ್ಲಿ) – Here ; Alli (ಅಲ್ಲಿ) - There
Important for directions. “illi” and “alli” are siblings, just like here and there.
Example: “Auto anna, illi right, alli left.”
29. Hogona (ಹೋಗೋಣ) – Let’s go
You’ll hear this often around lunch break or at the end of office hours. The entire office usually buzzes with the sound of “Hogona” when it’s time to leave!
Example: “Banni, canteen hogona!” (Come let’s go to the canteen)
30. Dhanyavaada-galu (ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು) – Thank you
This word is long but its meaning is quite simple. It's just “Thank you”. North Indians may be familiar with “Dhanyavaad”. This is the same word but with “-galu” added which just makes it plural. So Dhanyavaadagalu is like saying “Many thanks”.
Frequently Asked Questions New Migrants Have About Kannada
Is Kannada hard to learn? No. The spoken Kannada used in Bangalore is very simple. You can manage most conversations with Kanglish.
Do I need to learn the script? Not at all. Romanized Kannada is enough for survival.
How long before I can understand people? Usually 1 to 2 months of intentional and thought out exposure, to understand the absolute basics necessary for city life. Fluency, however, is something that comes with a lot of practice over 1 to 2 years of listening and practicing, while following a guide like Bhashafy’s Bestseller Kannada Course that thousands of learners have used to learn to speak Kannada.
Will people judge me if I speak broken Kannada? Absolutely not. People appreciate effort. Even a little Kannada brings a smile to locals, and opens up your own cultural horizon.
Is Kannada different in other parts of Karnataka? Yes. But Bangalore Kannada is beginner friendly and widely used across cities and in pop culture like movies, TV shows and songs.
Where to go from here
These 30 words will carry you through most day-to-day situations in Bengaluru. But to progress further towards Kannada language fluency, you need the support of well made Kannada learning material to learn Kannada. If you want a structured, step-by-step beginner course designed especially for newcomers in Bangalore who are absolute beginners, continue your learning with the expertly designed Bhashafy Bestseller Kannada Course.