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Essentials

Question words

Essentials · 12 phrases

0 of 12

Listen to each one, then say it back.

Yenu? What?

These nine words unlock more sentences than any phrase list. Learn them before any full sentence.

Yelli? Where?
Yaavaga When?
Yeshtu How much?
Eshtu How many?
Yaavadu Which one?
Yaaru Who?
Yaake Why?
Hege How?
Idhu yenu? What is this?

Point and ask. This is how you'll learn food names fastest.

Yellidhey? Where is it?
Yen aythu? What happened?

About this set

12 short Kannada phrases for question words, each with clear audio and easy Roman spelling. Learn them once and they turn up in every conversation.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “What?” in Kannada?

“Yenu?”. Tap the play button to hear it said clearly, then repeat it a few times out loud.

Will people in Bangalore understand these phrases?

Yes. These are everyday spoken phrases used across Bengaluru, written the way people actually say them. Even a little Kannada is appreciated and usually gets a warmer, more helpful response.

Do I need to read the Kannada script?

No. Every phrase is written in simple Roman letters so you can read it and say it right away — and each one has audio, slow and at normal speed.

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