Learn these Kannada phrases to help you travel on Bengaluru roads

In the wake of uprising against the usage of Hindi on banners and metro stations, learning Kannada could be your sole lifeboat. While non-Kannadigas struggle to to 'fit' into the Silicon Valley of India as anti-Hindi squads strike the city blackening bill boards in Hindi, here's a list of phrases that will help you in everyday life. And if you think, the language is hard to pick up, think again!

Although learning the language for surviving a few awkward situations in the city should not be the sole purpose of your learning the language, it should be learnt to appreciate the richness of the language and its heritage. For a start, a simple 'Nanage Sahayya Madi' (Can you please help me?) could actually save the day in any given situation.

Asking for directions is the next step (that will help you evade any questions and the answering can be done with a nod or two). But for that, you have to learn these basic directions in Kannada. After asking for the address 'Dayavittu ee vilasa yellide yendu helutheera ?' (Please tell me how to find this address), remember to respond to the directions correctly.

Right - Balagade 
Left - Yedagade 
Front - Munde 
Back - Hinde 
Inside - Olage 
Outside - Horage 
East – Poorva
West - Pashchima 
North - Uttara 
South - Dakshina 

Hailing an auto is the second step:

'Nannna karedukondu Hogari' (can you please take me to?) and name the place. Once you get down, he would ask for money, so remember this:

One - Ondu
Two - Yeradu
Three - Mooru
Four - Nalakku
Five - Aidu
Six - Aaru
Seven - Yelu
Eight - Yentu
Nine - Ombathu
Ten - Hathu

It would be better if you knew the numerals till 100, but this could actually confirm the number by spelling out the units individually. Do not forget to end your conversation with 'Dhanyavadagalu'.

Now, some basic conversation phrases, if you attempt to converse with a native speaker:

How are you - Neevu heghiddhiya?
I am fine - Nanu chenaagiddeni
What is your name? - Nimma hesaru yenu?
My Name is - Nanna hesaru
Will you come with me? - Neenu nanna joteghe baaruthiya?
How are you?: Hegiddeera ?
Fine !: Chennagide!
Glad to meet you: Nimmannu bheti madi santhosha ayithu
What is your name?: Nimma hesaru yenu?
My name is Raju:Nanna hesaru Raju
Come in: Olage banni
Sit down: Kulithukoli
Stop: Nillisi
Go forward: Munde hogi
Go back: Hinde hogi
I want to get down here: Naanu illi illiyutheeni
Next stop: Mundina stop
Listen: Keli
Please: Dayavittu
Thank you: Dhanyavaadagalu
Good-bye: Hogibaruve
I want: Nanage beku
Please help me: Dayavittu sahaya maadi
agree!: Sari !
It's good!: Chennagide!
This is very good: Iddu thumba chennagide
I am sorry: Nannannu kshamisi !
Lets go !: Hogonva!
What does this cost ?: Idara bele yesthu ?
Is this water good for drinking ?: Ed neeru kudiyalu yogyave?
Can I make a phone call from here ?: Naanu illinda phone maada bahuda?
Where can I hire a taxi?: Taxi yelli siguthade?
Where does this road lead?: Ee rasthe yellige hoguthe?
What is the time ?: Samaya yesthu ?
Please would you tell me where I can find this address: 
Dayavittu ee vilasa yellide yendu helutheera ?
Have you eaten ?: Ooota aayitha ?

However, what seems to have saved the day most often than not, if you do not know any of the phrases is 'Please Anna'. All said and done, anti-Hindi squad or no squad, it is always beneficial to learn a language and Kannada is no exception, especially since it belongs to a script that dates back beyond India's oldest considered script Sanskrit. All the best!

• karnataka
• south