A few kannada words to help in a government office

Its the time to pay your property taxes, so here is a ready reckoner for a few kannada words to help you in your conquest of a Government office.

Swalpa sahaya bayku : I need some help
Property tax baggey maahithi bayku : I need information about property tax
Tax yelli katta bayku ? Where should I pay my taxes ?
Ondhu Manavi Idhey : I have a request to make
Idharindha yenu prayojana ? What is the use of this ? Of what help is this ?
Swamy illi swalpa bartheeera ? Sir, will you please come here.
Nanna mane yalli idhey : My house is in
Swalpa kadimay maadi : Please reduce the amount a little
Ee jaagadhalli yenu bariyabayku : What do I have to write in this space.
Ishtay naaa ? Is that all ?

And after you get your job done, dont forget to thank the person and leave :)
Happy taxing times

Inthi,
Manuswath

Slang Bang ... Return of the Bangalorean

The last time we had an session on Slang's. I had introduced you to a few slang's here is another session that might prove helpful.

Aa? : Commonly used When an auto driver asks you "Leftaa?" he means, does he have to take a left turn. To get a confirmation people tend to ask "Jayanagarakkaa ?"Bekitha : Typically this means did you want something, but in its slang version it means was this required? A sort of "I told you so". "Boss, idu bekitha antha." Bombat : Fantastic, excellent. "Aye hows your job?" "Bombattagide"
Chindi : Typically means a rag or shreds of cloth but in slang it can mean Fantastic, fabulous and Fantabulous Chitranna : A favourite amongst morning snacks its actually Lemon flavoured rice. It can also imply the following in slangistaan (1) Fantastic job (2)Broken to bits (3) Badly botched job.

Gumpal Govinda : Means to blend into the crowd. "Gumpal govindaaagi film nodoke hogidhey" Guru : Means teacher. Also used jokingly to call a friend. "Yen guru, aaraam aa?" Jai : A typical word used for oozing enthusiasm. "Naan jai antha hog alli koothkonde".
Kachko : A word used when you are stuck. "Sorry Boss naan traffic nal kachkondiddene"
Ooshtu : Is a slang-ized version for Exhausted. "4 ghante TT aadbittu naanu full ooshtaagbitte."
Hope you now can make sense from these seemingly innocuous words in Bangalore

Inthi,
Manuswath

Answers to all their questions

The last time, you had learnt how to converse with people, by asking them a few questions. Here is how you should respond if somebody asks you the same. They are answers to the questions in the same order, so in case you need the question to be translated, just hop back to my previous post.

Namaskara, Haygidheeraa ?
Naanu channagidheeni, neevu haygidheeraa? I'm doing fine, how are you?

Neevu yellindha bartha idheeraa ?
Naanu ""indha bartha idheene. I'm coming from ""

Neevu yelligay hogabayku/hogthaidheeraa ?
Naanu ""gay hogabayku. I want to go to ""

Neevu nanna jothey barutheera/bartheera ?
Hmm, bartheeni... Hmm ok will come
Bayda nimagay yaake thondhray. No please don't bother I shall try to manage

Naanu nimma jothey barrla ?
Beda, naanu bayre kade hogtha idheeni. Dont as I want to go some place else
Oh banni Banni, Oh pls do come

Nimma hesaru yenu ?
Nanna hesaru "" My name is ""

Neevu yava oorinavaru ?
Naanu "" navanu/navaLu, I'm from "" navanu is for guys, navaLu is for girls

Illigay bandhu thumbha divasa ayitha ?
Howdhu... for an yes
Illa .... for a no

Neevy yenu kelasa maadtha idheera ?
Naanu software engineer. This statement needs no translation

Inthi,
Manuswath

Conversations with a stranger...

How many times have you come across that stranger, either sitting opposite you in a train compartment or next to you in a Bus. Or you arrive at the back gates of BTP and you find it closed, and there is another person who is also stranded who works either at Dell or in Mphasis. Here is how you can break the ice and start up a conversation in Kannada. As conversation's typically start off with questions, here are a few....

Namaskara, Haygidheeraa ? Hello, how are you?
Neevu yellindha bartha idheeraa ? From where have you come?
Neevu yelligay hogabayku/hogthaidheeraa ? Where do you want to go/ where are you going ?
Neevu nanna jothey barutheera/bartheera ? Will you come with me?
Naanu nimma jothey barrla ? Shall I come with you?
Nimma hesaru yenu ? What's your name?
Eega ghantay/wayLay yeshtu ? What is the time?
Bunny ootakkay hogoNa. Come on lets go for lunch.
Neevu yava oorinavaru ? Which place are you from?
Illigay bandhu thumbha divasa ayitha ? Have you been here since long ?
Neevy yenu kelasa maadtha idheera ? What work do you do?

Answers to these questions, would typically be responded and if they ask you a question in return, I shall cover those answers in the next week. Till then...

Inthi,
Manuswath

A Compilation of words

In my last post, I had mentioned that I would compile a list of words that I had used for conversing with your servant at home or your driver, so here goes.
In case you need the sentence or the context that the word was used in, do refer to the previous posts.

Battey : clothes
Sariyage : correctly/properly
Vage/Vagaya : wash
Musaray patre : Dirty/used dishes
ThoLi : wash
Moolay : Corner
Gudisu : Sweep
Parike : Broom
Gudisu : Sweep
Kasa : dirt/rubbish
VaNagoke : to dry
Bachalamane : Bathroom
Jopaana : Careful
Saarsu/Varsu : Mopping
AngaLa : Portion in front of the main door
Jedara Bale : Cobweb
Sambhala : Salary
Kammi : less
Varsha : year
Nidhaana : slow
thumbskondu : fill/full
Barthini : will be back
Idabayku : Keep
VoLagaday : Inside
JagaLa : Fight
Gamana : Attention

Inthi,
Manuswath

Its driver time .... Gaadi Sariyagi vodisi....

After a section meant for dealing with house-wives, I now present the case of handling the rampant driver. Most of us would prefer a driver rather than drive our self in Bangalore's traffic, and yes the driver does not come cheap. I present before you a compilation of sentences that can be used with a driver in a few contexts. The next week I shall present a collation of all the words from the past 2 weeks for your referral.

DL idheyaa ? :: Do you have a Driving License ?

Yeshtu varsha Driving abhyasaa idhey ? :: How many years of driving experience do you have ?

Yeshtu SambhaLa bayku ? :: How much salary do you need ?

Yahoo ! (not the company) you've now got a driver, and he is driving you around, now the owner (back seat driver) would have the following lines to say quite frequently :)

Swalpa nidhaanavagi drive maadu... Drive a little slowly,
This sentence might prove useful if you are searching for a particular shop or parking place, or if you have a center mounted speedometer and you find the speed a little too uncomfortable

Hogi car-gay petrol thumbskondu baa :: Go and fill the car with petrol
Tip: Replace pertol with diesel if your car run on diesel

Ellay iru...naanu ondh nimishadhalli barthini :: Be here I will be back in a minute

Car clean aagi idabayku :: You have to keep the car clean
Clean is now a days an universal word, but in case you want the kannada word for clean here it is Swacchavagi

Ivathhu car VoLagaday clean maadu :: Clean the interiors of the car today

JagaLa maadbeda :: Don't fight

Swalpa gamana ittu gaadi vodisu :: Pay attention and drive.


Happy driving,
Inthi,
Manuswath

Its Mane kelasadhavaru time

The topic does say it all, I've had a feedback that said, you aren't helping people who have kannada speaking house-maids/servants at home, with your weekly article ...
So guess what !!! this week its time for a session on "Mane Kelasadhavaru" time... which translates to its "House servant" time. Here I have discussed a few common statements I would have made to my house-maid, So feel free to use them in the right context at home.

Battey sariyage vagaya beku :: You have to wash the clothes properly
This sentence is best used when you notice that the clothes that you have just put for washing, come out in the same dirty way it went in.

Musaray patre modalu thoLi :: Do the dishes first
This sentence is best used to assign priority of the jobs at hand,

Aa moolay sariyage gudisu :: Please sweep that portion\corner of the house properly
How many times have you noticed that your Hall is swept in an instant, By pointing to "that location" you can use "Aa moolay" and you can use "Ee moolay" to point to a location near you or "this location".

Parikeyannu adda maadi gudisu :: Use the broomstick horizontally
A phenomenon that every maid servant has mastered, using the broomstick at its tip, the end results a small portion is only cleaned, to prompt complete and efficient usage

Nidhaana vaagi kasa gudisu :: Do the sweeping a little slower
This one is to slow down the Rawalpindi Express

Battey yannu mele vaNagoke haaku :: Hang the clothes out to dry on the terrace
Where the sun can get to the clothes to dry them up

Washing machine indha battey thegi :: Take the washed clothes from the Washing Machine
Yes most servants know the English word Washing machine, its in vogue for them to know this.

Bachalamaneyannu thoLi :: Please clean the bathroom
No extra's on this one

Idhu glassina patre, swalpa jopaanadhindha thoLi :: This is a plate made of glass so do take care
Cos you don't want your expensive glass set broken into two or more pieces

Manay nelavannu Saarsu/Varsu :: Mop the floor of the house
For maintaining the sparkling elegance of your vitrified tiles

Manay angaLavannu neeru haaki sariyagi gudisu :: Please wash the area in front of your main door, with water
To be used whenever there is a major festival to be held, in case of other times please use this at your discretion

Manay munde Rangoli haaki baa :: Adorn the entrance to your house with Rangoli

NaaLe beLigge Bayga baa :: Come early tomorrow morning
How many times on a weekend have you had plans to go out early, and how many times have that been spoilt by the Maid coming in at her own preferred time, Use this to tell him/her to be there early the next morning

Yenu !!! Naale Barollvaa ??? What !!! you aren't coming in tomorrow ???
Do I need to explain this ???

Goday mele hididhiruva Jedara Bale thegi :: Please clear the cob-webs on the walls

Yeshtu Sambhala bayku ? How much salary do you need ?

Angadigay hogi thogondu barthiyaa? :: Go to the shop and get the

Soapannu swalpa kammi haaku :: Do use a little less of soap/soap powder
Cos after all its the time where in all expenses are scrutinized a little carefully.

Last line, In case you have specific requests of a few lines that you need in specific circumstances, do let me know, It might feature in the next episode :)

Inthi,
Manuswath

A few famous monuments in Kannada

Its that time of the week, where in I think of what to put in. And presto a thought occurred, why not bring out a kannada translation of a few well known monuments/buildings out in kannada.

So here goes

White house : BiLiya manay
Taj Hotel : Taj bhojana mandira
Leaning tower of Pisa : Pisa'ina varkondu iruva sTupa
Forbidden city : niSheyddha/niShiddha nagari
The hanging gardens of Babylon : Babylonina netaDuthiruva udyana vanagaLu
Golden gate bridge : Chinnadha dwara sethuway
Great wall of China : Cheena deshadha mahath goday
Library of Celsus : Celsusina granthalaya
Temple of Philae : Philae'ina devasthana
Westminister's Palace : Paschima mantri'ina aramane


By the course of this translation, you have been introduced to a slew of kannada words, that would have increased your vocabulary, let me have a small recount of them, try finding out their meaning, as I have just put in the words
Manay, BiLi, Bhojana mandira, varkondu, sTupa, niSheyddha/niShiddha, nagari, netaDuthiruva, udyana vana, sethuway, mahath, goday, granthalaya, devasthana, aramane.

Inthi,
Manuswath

In bed with a book....

Hello All,
The last few days have been quite chilly in Bangalore, making me feel like curling up in bed, with a good book in hand and just munch away while eating away on a few munchies, And then this thought struck me, so here goes an attempt at translating a few good English novels that you would have read, and I have tried to take care to bring in a few titles that have words that you could gain/improve your kannada know-how, And some have really hilarious translations

Angels and Demons : yaksharu haagu rakshasharu
If tomorrow comes : NaaLe bundharay
Not a penny more, Not a penny less : Ondh naya paise jaasthi alla, Ondh naya paise kammi alla
Midnight's Children : Madhyaraathriya makkaLu
Gone with the wind : GaaLiya jothe hoyithu
Around the world in 80 days : Yembathu divasagaLLi bhoolokada suttha
Battlefield Earth : Bhoolokaway yuddhakhandha
A town like Alice : Alice antha ondhu ooru
Lord of the flies : NoNagala Adhipathi
All the kings men : Rajana yella manushyaru
As I lay Dying : Saitha biddhidhaaga
A handful of Dust : Ondhu kaithuma MaNNu
Journey to the Center of the earth : Bhoomiya madhyakke payana

In the words above, there are a lot of words that can be incorporated in bits and pieces, so happy word building

Inthi,
Manuswath

Before the chill sets in....

Hello all,
At the onset of the winter season, here are a few kannada words that aptly describe what one could express to their fellow kannadiga's to strike up a conversation based on the chilly weather that Bangalore is currently facing.... So here goes

ChaLigala : The word that means the winter season
Manju : Foggy weather, of Fog.
Baychagay : the kannada word for warm, (Baychagay Iri) can be used to say keep warm,
ChaLi GaaLi : Burst of cold wind that hit once you open the window of the Mazda you are commuting in especially in the early morning routes.
Tampu GaaLi : the cool wind, notice the difference for cool and cold
Sheetha : the common cold, be careful of the cold
Hima : the kannada word for snow
dakShiNaayaNa : the kannada word for winter solstice
KamBaLi : the heavy blanket that most people use while sleeping at night

And in case you need something piping hot, just pre-pend the words "Bisi Bisi" to what ever you want, It could be Bisi-Bisi coffee, Bisi-Bisi bajji, Bisi-Bisi jamoon, Bisi-Bisi pakoda :)

Happy chaLi ChaLi, keep Bisi-Bisi

Inthi,
Manuswath

Slang in Bang...alore Kannada slang words used in Bangalore

Hello,

If you have been in Bangalore for a considerable amount of time, as is the case with any language you are bound to have heard the following words, but sometime's the context of the word would be in Slang...

In this issue I bring to you a compilation of slang words, that are commonly used. In case you have a few slang words you would like to know the meaning of, you now know whom to get back too

Lets start of Slang in bang...alore !!!

Bombaat : means super/stupendous (A movie was released with the same name)
Sakath : means fantastic (Radio mirchi...sakath hot maga)
Maga : means son literally...but is used for anything that has to do with friends
Chindi : actually means shred to pieces, but is slang-fully used for letting you excitement be know with glee
Patti : is used when ever you find someone who boasts more than what he can chew
Katte : the kannada slang word for Adda.... typically a stone bench where in a set of friends team up often...(this is meant for my friends who don't know what Adda (a hindi word) would mean)
Topi : Actually means Cap, but is used in cases where some one rips your money off, or takes you for a ride
Chatri : This is "acch kannada" pure kannada means Umbrella, but is used for someone who is street smart, or a fraud too :)
Kiriku : This is the slang that depicts that you have managed to effect a brawl, or get yourself into a tight spot
Puntru : This is the slang word for the one who knows it all
Sisyaa : This is the slang word for the one who follows the Puntru
Chamak : the slang for Style.... if someone comes dressed to the hilt, its use is appropriate
Othlaa : the slang for the art of doing nothing, now this too is an art that has been perfected by many
Thooku / Dumki : A term used in college life more than that in actual grown up life, means Fail
Bathii : This is what the sage Narada of hindu mythology used to do, Yes the word is still in vogue
Buruday : The real meaning of this is the skull..... But also is a able synonym for Patti.. Actually means a bucket full of lies

Happy Slanging

Inthi,
Manuswath

Its Trans-lating time again

Just to spice up things, I have a new item today.
I will take up a few memorable hindi film dialogs and translate them into Kannada...Do let me know if you liked them

Lets zip off

Mogambo kush hua : Mogambogay Khushi ayithu
Kitne aadmi they : Yeshtu gandugalu idhaaru
Badi Badi Deshomein aisi Choti Choti baatein hoti hai : Dodda Dodda naadugallali, intha chikka chikka visheyagalu nadiyathey
Prem naam hai mera Prem Chopra : Prem nanna hesaru Prem Chopra
Naam Vijay Dheenanath Chauhan, Baap Ka Naam Dheenanath Chauhan : Hesaru Vijay Dheenanath Chauhan, Appana Hesaru Dheenanath Chauhan
Duniya mein Do tarahkke keede hothey hain : Ee jagathinalli, Yeardu tharahada krimigaLu iruthey
Saara Shehar mujhe LION ke naam se jaantha hai : Idi nagara nannannu LION anno hesarindha parichaisuthadhey
DON ko gyarah mulko ki police dund rahi hai : DON'na hannondhu deshadha police hudukuthidhaarey
DON ko pakdna mumkin hi nahi naamumkin hai : DON'na hidiyodhu sadhyave alla asadhyaa
Tumhare paas kya hai......??? Mere paas Maa hain : Nin hathra yen idhey......??? Nan hathra amma idhaaLey
Chal Dhanno....aaj teri Basanthi ki izzat ka sawaal hain : Nadi Dhanno....ivathu ninna Basanthi'ina maryadhey prashne
Rishtey mein hum tumhara baap lagtey hain....Naam hain Shahenshah : Sambhandhadhalli naavu ninna appa aagthivi.... Hesaru Shahenshah


Do let me know in case you need more translations, will be happy to answer

Inthi,
Manuswath

Baralla versus barathey

Namaskaragalu,

I will not start of by explaining what Namaskaragalu is, but will jump onto the 2 most common words that any person who has been in Bangalore for some amount of time, would have learnt. For those sort of people let this post be a refresher and for the really fresh/innocent its time you started using it.

Baralla : Lets start off with this.

You want to take an auto to Meenakshi temple in Bannerghata road and you ask an auto driver if he is willing to come Pat comes a reply Baralla.

Baralla can be used in the following context’s

I wont come : “Naanu Baralla”
Dont know kannada: “Kannada Baralla”
And as a reply to an interogative question: Do you know Driving :-> a simple “Baralla” with a shake of a head would do.

Barathey
Ask any person of the first category i mentioned above if they know kannada and they will reply “Kannada Swalpa Swalpa barathey”

barathey lietrally means “will come”
swalpa swalpa literally means “little little”

Barathey can be used in the following context’s

As a reply to a question for E.g Is the cab coming? “Barathey”

Inthi,
Manuswath

Ivatthu versus NaaLe

Namaskaragalu,

Ivatthu : You ask a kannadiga friend of yours when is the Bundh, and he replies Ivathu. Ivatthu means today, its used sometimes in length constructed sentences or as a short curt reply.
Ivatthu can be used in the following context’s

I will not come today : “Ivatthu Naanu Baralla”
It(referring to an inanimate object) will not come today: “Ivatthu Baralla”


NaaLe: A few years ago this “NaaLe” word was written on almost every door of Bangalore. There was this spooky rumor doing the rounds that there were ghosts running around and knocking on the doors of people and People used this very phrase “NaaLe Baa”.
NaaLe means “Tomorrow”
Baa means come.

Naale can be used in the following context’s

Question: When is the meeting? Answer: Naale
A plumber or a carpenter asking you when he could come over to your house you can say “NaaLe Baa”

Last line
NaaLe is actually pronounced like “Naa”+”Lay” the emphasis is on the “L”

Naanu v/s Neenu

Namaskaragalu,
Moving over from words referring to items, let’s move on to words that refer to people.

Naanu:
This is the word for “I”/ ”Me” in kannada.
It can be used in the following contexts

I did it :- Naanu MaaDdhey
I wont do it :- Naanu MaaDolla

There is this Kannada film which is titled “Naanu Naanay” (Incidentally a remake of Raja Hindustani) which means “I myself”

Neenu:
This is the word for “You” in kannada

It can be used in the following context
You do it :- Neenu MaaDu
You don’t do it :- Neenu MaaDabeda


Yeah!! now you would have also learnt a few word’s along with Naanu and Neenu lets recap MaaDu (means do) BeDa (dont want) Naanay (myself).
And In case you want to create a little bit of confusion, name somebody “Naanu” and then when ever they create any sort of trouble, guess who will be caught !!!…well the person who reports the complaint

Hindhey v/s Mundhey

Namaskaragalu,
Mundhey:
Mundhey Banni… swalpa Mundhey Banni, sang Kamal Hassan in a Kannada film, where in he was acting as a Bus Conductor.
A literal translation in english would be Front come… little front come

Mundhey ( not to be confused by the punjabi Munde….)
This means front, or forward as the context might be.
This word can be used in the following context

Mundhey Baa to a person who is way younger to you and you are motivating him
Mundhey Banni is “come front” to a group of people or when used with respect
Mundhey-naa ??? is a one word question to a suggestion

Hindhey is the Back, I reckon you would have guessed it by now

This word can be used in the following context (Will not give you the english translation this time)

Hindhey Baa or Banni
Hindhey-naa ???
Hindhey Guruve….. (these two words can be used when somebody is searching for you in dark/dimly lit room and you shout out to him/her saying that you are way behind )

Guruve (pronounced as Guru-way) literally means teacher/master, but
As
Macchha is in Tamil
Bawa is in Hyderabadi urdu
Mamu is in tapori style
Guru is unique to Bangalore.

Aase v/s Niraashe

Greetings…

If you are longing for Weekend to reach sooner.. then you are in a state of “Aase”.

and if you get to know that your long weekend plans have gone for a toss, and that you have to come over to office on these days, that “Aase” will soon turn into “Niraashe”

Time for some context setting now

Nanagey aase aagthaidhey …. “I am longing for something”…Typically said when you are looking at something

Niraashe maad beda … “Don’t let me down”…. said in a stern note.


Swalpa kannada learn maadi

Inthi,
Manuswath

Prashne v/s Uttara

Lets continue our series of words that typically are opposites of each other.

Prashne :
The kannada word that implies Question.
Pronounced as “Prash-nay”
Sometimes somebody who passes you by on the road asks you a question, and in case you want the question to be repeated you can say
Prashne yenu ?

Contexts that this word can be used in
Yenappa Prashne :- whats the question?:- typically used when you want to know what the question is regarding a quarrel and you arrive to mediate
Yenu prashnegalu -: What are the questions ? :- you arrive late for an oral exam and you ask the student sitting near by what the questions are.
Koneya prashne yenu :- Whats the last question? :- you got all the questions thrown at you except the last one.

Uttara :
You would have guessed that this means Answer/Reply

Contexts that this word can be applied to
Idhe Nanna Uttara : this is My reply :- (A kannada movie exists with this name)
Ishtu uttara saaka innu bekaa ? Are these replies enough or do you need more?
Uttara yenu irabahudhu? what might the answer to this question be?

Along with prashne and uttara you have now a few more words, let me summarize with respect to context
Koneya : Last
Yenu/Yenappa/Yenamma : What
Idhe/Idhu : this
Nanna : My
Ishtu : this much, (showing the quantity with your hands to depict big or small)
irabahudhu : might ಬಿ

Inthi,
Manuswath

You know Swalpa now its time for Thumbha & jaasthi

Yes,
Swalpa kannada learn maadi, means try and learn a little bit of kannada,
so how does one say try and learn a lot of kannada, its easy

Thumbha kannada learn maadi or kannada jaasthi jaasthi barathey/baruthey (for people conversing with Kannadiga’s from Mangalore)

Both these words are used to imply the concept of many/much/more/a lot.
Some popular contexts where they can be used.

Nanagay jaasthi beku ( I want a lot) :- Can be used when you want to get something in bulk
Oota thumbha channagidhey (Food is very good) :- Used in appreciating a good meal
Saakaa athava innu jaasthi beka ?(Is it enough or do you want more) :- after serving a little and asking if the recipient wants more

Before signing off Let me show of a small kannada word which could be used instead of Thanks & regards

Inthi,
Manuswath

Baagilu v/s Kitaki

Namaskaragalu,
Lets move on to describing some common items that are found in homes and offices

Baagilu
Means door.

Some instances where Baagilu could be used
1. Baagilanu theredhu volagey baa/bunny: Open the door and come in
2. Baagilu yelli?: where is the door or where is the exit
3. Baagilige beega haakidhey: The door’s locked.

Kitaki
Means window.

Some instances where Kitaki could be used

1. Adhu Kitaki : thats a window
2. Thombath aiydhu Kitakigalu : Windows 95
3. Kitakindha haari satta: he died by jumping through the window

I reckon that you now have a few more words in you kitty
volagey : inside
theredhu : open
baa : come
bunny : come with respect
yelli: where
beega: lock
Thombath aiydhu : 95
haari : jump
satta : died

Now as a last bit, what would you translate windows 98 into ?

Inthi,
Manuswath