Why learn Kannada as a beginner
Kannada is the official language of Karnataka, spoken by tens of millions across Bengaluru, Mysuru, and beyond. If you’re an English speaker, you can start fast with familiar daily phrases before diving into the script.
For beginners, aim for clarity over perfection: learn a few greetings, practice short requests, and build from there. As your learning grows, add the alphabet and common patterns so you can read signs, menus, and messages.
- Make travel and daily life in Karnataka smoother
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- Build a new skill free with apps, PDFs, and open resources
First phrases and sounds
Kannada is phonetic, so once you know the sounds, reading gets easier. For a gentle start, use English-friendly romanization, then shift to the Kannada script as you get comfortable.
Try these everyday phrases. Speak slowly, keep vowels pure (a, e, i, o, u), and soften retroflex sounds like ṭ/ḍ (tongue curled slightly back).
- Hello — Namaskāra (ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ)
- Thank you — Dhanyavāda (ಧನ್ಯವಾದ)
- Yes / No — Howdu (ಹೌದು) / Illa (ಇಲ್ಲ)
- Please — Dayaviṭṭu (ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು)
- Sorry / Pardon — Kṣamisi (ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ)
- My name is ... — Nanna hesaru ... (ನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರು ...)
- Where is ...? — ... elli ide? (... ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೆ?)
- How much is this? — Idakke eṣṭu? (ಇದಕ್ಕೆಷ್ಟು?)
- I am learning Kannada — Nānu Kannada kaliyuttiddēne (ನಾನು ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಲಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ)
Days and numbers you’ll use daily
Days of the week pop up on tickets, timetables, and store hours. Numbers help with prices, addresses, and phone digits.
Memorize a few today; add more as you practice listening on the street or in videos.
- Monday — Sōmavāra (ಸೋಮವಾರ)
- Tuesday — Maṅgaḷavāra (ಮಂಗಳವಾರ)
- Wednesday — Budhavāra (ಬುಧವಾರ)
- Thursday — Guruvāra (ಗುರುವಾರ)
- Friday — Śukravāra (ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ)
- Saturday — Śanivāra (ಶನಿವಾರ)
- Sunday — Bhānuvāra (ಭಾನುವಾರ)
- 1 — Ondu (ಒಂದು)
- 2 — Eraḍu (ಎರಡು)
- 3 — Mūru (ಮೂರು)
- 4 — Nālku (ನಾಲ್ಕು)
- 5 — Aidu (ಐದು)
Free apps, sites, and a printable PDF
You don’t need a paid book to begin. Start with open resources, short videos, and spaced-repetition flashcards. When you see a phrase list you like, print or export it as a PDF so you can review offline.
Search for beginner-friendly channels and decks that include audio. Keep materials simple and consistent so your brain recognizes patterns faster.
- Wikibooks: Kannada — read online and export chapters to PDF
- YouTube: short A1/A2 lessons focused on greetings, days, numbers
- Anki/Flashcards: free decks for script, core words, and phrases
- Internet Archive: public‑domain beginner Kannada grammar book
- Government or university portals: alphabet charts and writing practice
7-day beginner study plan
Use this compact plan for one focused week. Repeat the cycle or extend each day as needed. Keep it free, short, and consistent—10–20 minutes beats long, rare sessions.
- Day 1: Learn 8 greetings; make flashcards; save as a personal PDF.
- Day 2: Numbers 1–10 and price phrases; practice with receipts.
- Day 3: Days of the week; say your schedule aloud in Kannada.
- Day 4: Please/thank you/sorry; role‑play ordering tea or tickets.
- Day 5: Learn 10 food words; read a menu picture and repeat.
- Day 6: Script basics—first 10 letters; trace and say the sounds.
- Day 7: Review everything; record yourself and fix 3 mistakes.
FAQ
- Can an English speaker learn Kannada basics in 30 days?
- Yes—A1 basics are realistic in 30 days with daily 15–20 minute sessions.
- Do I need the Kannada script to start?
- No, begin with romanization; add the script soon for signs, menus, and names.
- Is there a free beginner PDF or book?
- Yes—export Wikibooks Kannada to PDF or compile a custom phrase PDF from lessons.
- Is Kannada hard for beginners compared to Hindi?
- Different, not harder; focus on clear vowels and consistent practice for steady progress.
- What’s the best daily learning routine?
- Mix 10 new items, 10 minutes of review, and 2 minutes of speaking out loud.