Language/Odia/Grammar/Pronouns

Odia Grammar - Pronouns

Hi Odia learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about pronouns in Odia. Pronouns are used to replace nouns, and they make our language more concise and efficient. Pronouns can also make our speech and writing more varied and interesting.

What are Pronouns?

Pronouns are words that replace nouns in a sentence. They can refer to people, things, animals, or ideas. In Odia, pronouns are important because they help us avoid repeating the same noun over and over again. Here are some common pronouns in Odia:

Odia	Pronunciation	English
ମୁ ମନେ	Mu mane	I, me
ତୁ ତୋକୁ	Tu toku	You (singular)
ସେ	Se	He, she, him, her
ତାଙ୍କ	Tanka	His, hers, its, their
ଆମେ	Ame	We, us
ତୁମେ	Tume	You (plural)
ସେମାନେ	Semane	They, them
ସେମାଙ୍କ	Semanku	Theirs

As you can see, Odia has different pronouns for singular and plural, as well as for different genders. It also has possessive pronouns, which show who owns something. In the following sections, we will learn more about these different types of pronouns.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns are the ones we use to refer to ourselves and to others. In Odia, personal pronouns change depending on the gender and number of the noun they replace. Here are some examples:

• ମୁ ପଡ଼ୁଥିଲେ। (Mu padhuthile.) - I was studying.
• ତୋକୁ କଣ ହୁଆ? (Toku kana hua?) - What happened to you?
• ସେ ପଢୁଛନ୍ତି। (Se padhuchanti.) - She is studying.
• ତାଙ୍କ କିତାବ ମୋର ନେଇଥିଲା। (Tanka kitab mora neithila.) - His book was with me.
• ଆମେ ଜାଜ୍ବାଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଜାଉଥିଲେ। (Ame jajbagudiku jauthile.) - We went to Jajpur.
• ତୁମେ କଣ ଖାଇଥାଉ? (Tume kana khauthau?) - What did you eat?
• ସେମାନେ ମାରିବା ପଡିବନି। (Semane mariba padi-bani.) - They will kill us.
• ସେମାଙ୍କ ଘର ବଡ଼ ଅଛି। (Semanku ghara bada achi.) - Their house is big.

In the examples above, you can see how personal pronouns are used to replace different nouns. Notice how the pronouns change depending on the gender of the person or thing they refer to, as well as whether the noun is singular or plural.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns are used to show ownership or possession. In Odia, they are formed by adding the suffix "-ଙ୍କ" (-anka) to the end of the personal pronoun. Here are some examples:

• ଆମେର ପେଟ୍ରୋଲ୍ ଖାଲି ହେଉଛି। (Amer petrol khali heuchhi.) - Our petrol is over.
• ତାଙ୍କ ସହାୟତା କରିବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁ। (Tanka sahajata karibaku chahunchi.) - I want to help him/her.
• ମୁଁ ପୋଷାକର ଫ୍ଲେକ୍ସ ଖରାବ ହୋଇଛି। (Mun poshakara fleksa kharaba hoichhi.) - My clothes' elastic is broken.
• ଆମେ ଛାତ୍ରଙ୍କୁ ପଢାଉଛୁ। (Ame chatranku padhauchi.) - We are teaching the students.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are used to point to something or someone. They can be used to indicate whether something is near or far, or whether it has been mentioned before. In Odia, there are three main demonstrative pronouns: ଏହି (ehi), ସେହି (sehi), and ତହି (tahi). Here are some examples:

• ଏହି ମଡୁ ମୋର ନେଇଥିଲା। (Ehi modu mora neithila.) - This apple was not mine.
• ସେହି ମୋ ପାଇଁ ଖରୀଦିଥିଲେ। (Sehi mo pai khareidithile.) - He bought this for me.
• ତହି ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ବଡ଼ ଅଛି। (Tahi sangit bada achi.) - That music is good.

Notice how demonstrative pronouns change depending on the distance or level of identification with the object they replace. In many cases, they are used to clarify which thing or person is being referred to.

Dialogue

Here is a short dialogue to help you practice using pronouns:

• Person 1: କଲେ ମୁ ଖେଳିବାକୁ ଯାଉଥିବି। (Kale mu kheliba ku jauthibi.) - I will go to play tomorrow.
• Person 2: ମୋ ସହ ଆସିବେ। (Mo saha asibe.) - I will come with you.
• Person 1: ସେ ମୋ ପୁସ୍ତକ ନିଆଇଥିଲା। (Se mo pustaka niaithila.) - He took my book.
• Person 2: ଆପଣ ତାଙ୍କର ପୁସ୍ତକ ନିଆଇଲେ? (Apana tankara pustaka niaile?) - Did you take his book?
• Person 1: ନା, ମୁ ନିଆଇନାହିଁ। (Na, mu nianai-nahi.) - No, I did not take it.

In this dialogue, you can see how different pronouns are used to replace different objects and people. Notice how they change depending on the gender and number of the thing they replace.

Practice Exercises

Here are some exercises to help you practice using pronouns:

1. Replace the underlined noun with a pronoun:

• ମୋ ବାଘ ବଡ଼ ଅଛି। (Mo bagha bada achi.) - ____________ is big.
• ଆପଣ ପାଇଁ ବିକ୍ରେତାଙ୍କୁ ଯୋଗାଯୋଗ କରିବେ। (Apana paifi bikreta-anku yogayoga karibe.) - You should contact ____________ for the product.

2. Fill in the blanks with the correct pronoun:

• ମୁ ଆମେର ବାଇକ ଲୋକାଇଁ ସେହି _______ ବନ୍ଦ କରୁଥିଲେ। (Mu amera baika lokai semane ___ bandha karuthile.)
• ତୁ ଆପଣ ଯେତେବେଳେ ମୋ ହାତ ପାଇଁ ଧୋଇ ଦେଲା, ମୁ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଖୁସି ଅନୁଭୂତ ହେଇଥିବି। (Tu apana yetebele mo hatha paifi dhui dela, mu tanku khushi anubhuta heithibi.)

3. Translate the following sentences into Odia:

• He gave me his phone.
• We are watching their movie.
• Did she tell you her name?
• They are eating our food.

Keep practicing your pronouns, and don't hesitate to use the Find native speakers and ask them any questions you may have!

To improve your Odia Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website.

Sources

• Odia Language
• Pronoun