Language/Kannada/Vocabulary/Basic-Verbs

Kannada Vocabulary → Common Verbs and Actions → Basic Verbs

Welcome to our lesson on basic verbs in Kannada! As part of our "Complete 0 to A1 Kannada Course," this lesson aims to familiarize you with the most common verbs and actions in the Kannada language. By the end of this lesson, you'll know how to say essential verbs like 'to be,' 'to have,' 'to go,' and 'to do' in Kannada.

As a language teacher with 20 years of experience, I will also share some cultural information and interesting facts about Karnataka and the Kannada language as we go along. So let's get started!

Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Introductions & Languages (bhashegalu).

Common Basic Verbs

Here's a list of some common basic verbs in Kannada, their pronunciation, and their English translation.

Kannada	Pronunciation	English
ಇರು	iru	to be
ಹೊಂದಿರು	hondiru	to have
ಹೋಗು	hōgu	to go
ಮಾಡು	māḍu	to do
ನೋಡು	nōḍu	to see
ಕೇಳು	kēḷu	to hear
ತಿನ್ನು	tinnu	to eat
ಕುಡಿ	kuḍi	to drink
ಮಾತನಾಡು	mātanāḍu	to speak
ಓದು	ōḍu	to read

Using Basic Verbs in Sentences

Now let's see how to use some of these basic verbs in simple sentences.

• I am a teacher (ನಾನು ಶಿಕ್ಷಕರು) - Nānu śikṣakaru.
• I have a book (ನಾನು ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದೇನೆ) - Nānu pustakavannu hondiddēne.
• He goes to school (ಅವನು ಶಾಲೆಗೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾನೆ) - Avanu śālege hōguttāne.
• She does her homework (ಅವಳು ತನ್ನ ಮನೆಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾಳೆ) - Avaḷu tanna manekelas māḍuttāḷe.
• We see a movie (ನಮಗೆ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ನೋಡುತ್ತೇವೆ) - Namage sinimā nōḍuttēve.
• They hear the music (ಅವರು ಸಂಗೀತ ಕೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ) - Avaru sangīta kēḷuttāre.
• You eat breakfast (ನೀವು ಬೇಲೆಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟುತಿನ್ನುತ್ತೀರಿ) - Nīvu bēlege bittutinnuttīri.
• He drinks water (ಅವನು ನೀರು ಕುಡಿಯುತ್ತಾನೆ) - Avanu nīru kuḍiyuttāne.
• She speaks Kannada (ಅವಳು ಕನ್ನಡ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಾಳೆ) - Avaḷu Kannada mātanāḍuttāḷe.
• You read the newspaper (ನೀವು ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಓದುತ್ತೀರಿ) - Nīvu patrikeyannu ōḍuttīri.

Cultural Note: Karnataka and Kannada Language

Kannada is predominantly spoken in the Indian state of Karnataka, where it's the official and administrative language. It is also spoken in neighboring states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Kannada is one of the oldest languages of India, dating back over 2000 years, with a rich literary tradition and a vibrant cultural context. Karnataka is known for its diverse geography, tantalizing cuisines, and beautiful temples.

In this journey of learning Kannada, immerse yourself not only in the language but also in the fascinating culture and history of Karnataka. As you progress through our course, you'll naturally pick up interesting facts and information that will make your learning journey even more enjoyable.

Table of Contents - Kannada Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introductions

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Vowels
• Consonants
• Conjuncts

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers
• Days and Months
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Nouns
• Pronouns

  ---

Common Verbs and Actions

• Basic Verbs
• Everyday Actions

  ---

Verb Conjugation

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Describing People
• Describing Places
• Adverbs

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Food and Drink

• Meals and Ingredients
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Kannada Customs and Festivals

• Customs
• Festivals

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

  ---

Kannada Literature and Cinema

• Literature
• Cinema

Other Lessons

• Countries (deshagalu)
• Health
• Ordering at a Restaurant
• Idiomatic Expressions
• Days of the Week
• Introductions
• Fruits
• Adverbs
• How to say Good Bye?

Sources

• 25 Kannada Words To Kickstart Your Hostel Life In Bangalore
• Learn to speak Kannada | Brainscape
• 30 Basic Kannada Words You Should Know | Zolo Blog