Getting started with Kannada
Kannada is a beautiful South Indian language with a clear logic to its sounds and a graceful script. If you’re a complete beginner, focus first on sound, then basic words, and finally short sentences. Fifteen focused minutes a day beats a long session once a week.
English speakers can learn fast by pairing audio with text. Use simple goals: greetings today, numbers tomorrow, and days of the week by the weekend. Keep everything in one place—a small notebook or a one-page PDF you can print and review anywhere.
- Set a 15–20 minute daily routine.
- Practice out loud: mimic, record, compare.
- Track 5 new words per day.
- Review on fixed days (e.g., Sun + Wed).
Pronunciation and script basics
Kannada has short and long vowels (a/aa, i/ii, u/uu) and a few new consonants for English speakers: retroflex sounds (ṭ/ḍ/ṇ/ḷ) made with the tongue curled back, and aspirated pairs (k/kh, t/th, p/ph) where “h” adds a small puff of air.
Learning the Kannada script early helps spelling, reading signs, and using any beginner book. Start with vowels (ಅ, ಆ, ಇ, ಈ, ಉ, ಊ) and a few key consonants (ಕ, ಗ, ಟ, ಡ, ತ, ದ, ಪ, ಬ, ಮ, ನ, ಲ, ವ, ಸ, ಹ). You can annotate with simple transliteration at first, then reduce it as listening improves.
- Record yourself saying: ta, ṭa, da, ḍa; compare the tongue position.
- Clap rhythm for long vowels: kaa, tii, suu.
- Link letters to words you use daily (e.g., ಕ for ಕಾಫಿ, “coffee”).
Essential A1 phrases to start speaking
Memorize a small core, then mix and match. Say each phrase three times: listen, repeat, and read. Below are practical everyday lines with English meaning.
- Namaskāra — ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ — Hello
- Dayaviṭṭu — ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು — Please
- Dhanyavādagaḷu — ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು — Thank you
- Haudu / Illa — ಹೌದು / ಇಲ್ಲ — Yes / No
- Nanna hesaru ___ — ನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರು ___ — My name is ___
- Nānu kannaḍa kaliyuttiddēne — ನಾನು ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಲಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ — I am learning Kannada
- Hēgiddīra? — ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಿ? — How are you? (polite)
- Idakke eṣṭu? — ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಎಷ್ಟು? — How much is this?
- Bas nildāṇa ellide? — ಬಸ್ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ? — Where is the bus stop?
Numbers and days of the week
Numbers and days come up constantly—prices, appointments, and practice schedules. Learn 1–10 first, then say today’s date or plan your study days out loud.
- 1 — ಒಂದು (ondu)
- 2 — ಎರಡು (eraḍu)
- 3 — ಮೂರು (mūru)
- 4 — ನಾಲ್ಕು (nālku)
- 5 — ಐದು (aidu)
- 6 — ಆರು (āru)
- 7 — ಏಳು (ēḷu)
- 8 — ಎಂಟು (eṇṭu)
- 9 — ಒಂಬತ್ತು (ombattu)
- 10 — ಹತ್ತು (hattu)
- Monday — ಸೋಮವಾರ (Sōmavāra)
- Tuesday — ಮಂಗಳವಾರ (Maṅgaḷavāra)
- Wednesday — ಬುಧವಾರ (Budhavāra)
- Thursday — ಗುರುವಾರ (Guruvāra)
- Friday — ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ (Śukravāra)
- Saturday — ಶನಿವಾರ (Śanivāra)
- Sunday — ಭಾನುವಾರ (Bhānuvāra)
A simple study plan + free resources
Build a tiny daily loop: listen, speak, read, write. Day 1: greetings; Day 2: numbers; Day 3: days and times; Day 4: simple questions; Day 5: review; Day 6: short dialogue; Day 7: rest + light listening. Repeat with new topics.
For resources, combine one beginner book with audio, a spaced-repetition app for vocab, and a printable cheat-sheet. Search for “Kannada beginner PDF free,” “A1 Kannada phrases PDF,” or “Kannada handwriting worksheet PDF” to find useful downloads. Keep one curated folder and avoid resource overload.
- Micro-goal: 10 words/day, 70 per week.
- Shadow 5 minutes of native audio daily.
- Make a one-page PDF with your top phrases.
- Weekly speaking challenge: 2-minute self-intro.
- Monthly milestone: order food or ask directions.
FAQ
- How long to reach A1 in Kannada for a beginner?
- With 20–30 minutes a day, most beginners can reach A1 basics in 6–8 weeks: greetings, numbers, days, simple questions, and short introductions with decent pronunciation.
- Is Kannada hard for English speakers?
- It’s different, but not impossible. The script and retroflex sounds are new, yet grammar is logical. Consistent listening and speaking practice make it manageable.
- Should I learn the Kannada script or use transliteration?
- Do both. Start with transliteration to speak quickly, then add script within your first two weeks. Reading boosts pronunciation and helps with signs and dictionaries.
- Where can I find a free PDF or beginner book?
- Search phrases like “Kannada beginner PDF free,” “A1 Kannada phrases PDF,” or “Kannada workbook PDF.” Pair a concise PDF with any beginner book that includes audio.
- How can I practice speaking if I’m learning alone?
- Shadow podcasts and short videos, record yourself, and do 2-minute monologues. Exchange voice notes with a partner or tutor and repeat high-frequency phrases daily.