How to Talk to an Auto Driver in Kannada
The Bengaluru auto is a rite of passage. A few Kannada words signal that you know the city — and that usually means a fairer fare and far less haggling.
Open with the destination, not the fare
Start by stating where you want to go and ask the cost: “Eshtu?” means “how much?”. If the price sounds high, a calm “Jaasti” (too much) often brings it down. Hear the full exchange below.
You
Eshtu Majestic ge?
How much to Majestic?
You
Indiranagar ge ondu ticket kodi
Give one ticket for indiranagar
You
Eshtu Helidri?
How much did you say?
You
MG road ge yaav bus hoguthey?
Which bus goes to MG road?
You
Stop Heli
Tell me when the stop comes
You
Number Yaavadu neevu helidri
Which number did u say?
You
Mundina bus yaavagu barutte?
When is next bus coming?
You
Token Ellinda sigutte?
Where to get token from?
If you didn’t understand the fare
Drivers may answer fast. It’s completely fine to say you didn’t catch it and ask again — see all transport phrases for “say it again” and “where do I catch the bus?”.
Quick tips
- Prefer the meter: “meter haaki” means “put the meter on”.
- Know your numbers — most of the conversation is just a price.
- Stay friendly. A smile plus one Kannada word beats perfect grammar.
Heading out now? Grab the offline app so you have these ready without signal.