25 Kannada Phrases Every Traveler Needs
Survival Kannada for travelers to Bangalore, Mysore, and Karnataka: greetings, bargaining, directions, emergencies, and the polite extras locals notice.
You're at KR Market on a Saturday morning. The flower vendor holds up a bundle of marigolds. You have no idea what he said, and your Google Translate is spinning. The vendor smiles, slightly amused, waits. This is the moment twenty minutes of Kannada prep would have paid for itself completely.
Karnataka rewards preparation. Bangalore and Mysore both have enough English signage to survive on, but the moment you step into a market, an auto-rickshaw, or a smaller town like Hampi or Hassan, Kannada is what gets you there and back without drama. These 25 phrases cover the situations that actually come up.
Greetings and Farewells
Start right and the rest of the conversation goes better. Kannada has a formal all-purpose greeting and a warm departure phrase — learn both and use them.
| Kannada Script | Romanization | IPA | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ | Namaskara | /nʌmʌsˈkaːɾʌ/ | Hello / Greetings |
| ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ? | Hegiddira? | /heːˈɡɪdːɪɾaː/ | How are you? (formal) |
| ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ | Chennaagiddene | /tɕʰennaːɡɪdːeːne/ | I'm fine |
| ಧನ್ಯವಾದ | Dhanyavaada | /d̪ʱɐnjɐˈvaːd̪ɐ/ | Thank you |
| ಹೋಗಿ ಬನ್ನಿ | Hogi banni | /ˈhoːɡɪ ˈbʌnnɪ/ | Goodbye (lit. "go and come back") |
| ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ ಮಾಡಿ ಹೋಗ್ತೀನಿ | Namaskara maadi hootini | /nʌmʌskaːɾʌ maːɖɪ hoːʈiːnɪ/ | I'll take my leave now |
ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ (Namaskara) is the single most useful word on this list. It works at dawn, at night, with strangers, shopkeepers, temple priests, and hotel staff. No time-of-day restriction. If you add the formal honorific plural ending — ನಮಸ್ಕಾರಗಳು (Namaskaaragalu) — you are being especially respectful to an elder or dignitary.
ಹೋಗಿ ಬನ್ನಿ (Hogi banni) is said by the person staying to the person leaving — it assumes you'll return. It is warmer than a flat goodbye. When someone says it to you, smile and say ಬರ್ತೀನಿ (Barteeni, /bɐɾˈtiːnɪ/) — "I'll come."
For a deeper breakdown of formal versus casual Kannada greetings — and the -ri suffix that marks respect — the essential Kannada greetings guide covers the full set.
Transactions: Prices, Bargaining, Buying
KR Market. Commercial Street. Mysore's Devaraja Market. These are the places where a little Kannada changes what you pay.
| Kannada Script | Romanization | IPA | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ಎಷ್ಟು? | Eshtu? | /eʂʈu/ | How much? |
| ತುಂಬಾ ದುಬಾರಿ | Tumba dubaari | /ˈtumbɑː duˈbaːɾɪ/ | Too expensive |
| ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಕಮ್ಮಿ ಮಾಡಿ | Svalpa kammi maadi | /ˈsvɐɭpɐ ˈkɐmmɪ ˈmaːɖɪ/ | Please reduce a little |
| ಇದನ್ನು ತಗೊತ್ತೀನಿ | Idannu tagotteeni | /ɪˈd̪ɐnnu t̪ɐˈɡoʈːiːnɪ/ | I'll take this |
| ಚಿಲ್ಲರೆ ಇದೆಯಾ? | Chillare ideya? | /ˈtɕɪlːɐɾe ɪˈd̪ejaː/ | Do you have change? |
| ರಸೀದಿ ಕೊಡಿ | Raseedi kodi | /ɾɐˈsiːd̪ɪ ˈkoɖɪ/ | Give me a receipt |
ಎಷ್ಟು? (Eshtu?) is the question that opens every transaction. Say it with a slight upward intonation and point at what you want. The vendor will tell you a price in Kannada numerals or hold up fingers — either way you'll understand.
A word on where bargaining applies: at KR Market, at fabric shops in Chickpete, at curio stalls along Mysore's Sayyaji Rao Road, bargaining is expected. At Fabindia on Commercial Street or in a supermarket, it is not. ತುಂಬಾ ದುಬಾರಿ (Tumba dubaari) said with a shake of the head and followed immediately by ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಕಮ್ಮಿ ಮಾಡಿ (Svalpa kammi maadi) is the standard opening of a negotiation. Vendors hear it many times a day. The combination signals you know the game.
Directions
Getting somewhere without a data connection is still a reality in parts of Karnataka. These work.
| Kannada Script | Romanization | IPA | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ___ಗೆ ಹೇಗೆ ಹೋಗ್ಬೇಕು? | ___ ge hege hogbeku? | /ˈheːɡe ˈhoːɡbeːku/ | How do I get to ___? |
| ಎಡಕ್ಕೆ ತಿರುಗಿ | Edakke tirugi | /ˈeɖɐkːe ˈtɪɾuɡɪ/ | Turn left |
| ಬಲಕ್ಕೆ ತಿರುಗಿ | Balakke tirugi | /ˈbɐɭɐkːe ˈtɪɾuɡɪ/ | Turn right |
| ನೇರ ಹೋಗಿ | Nera hogi | /ˈneːɾɐ ˈhoːɡɪ/ | Go straight |
| ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿ | Illi nillisi | /ˈɪlːɪ ˈnɪlːɪsɪ/ | Stop here |
| ಎಷ್ಟು ದೂರ? | Eshtu doora? | /eʂʈu ˈd̪uːɾɐ/ | How far? |
| ಹತ್ತಿರ ಇದೆಯಾ? | Hattira ideya? | /ˈhɐtːɪɾɐ ɪˈd̪ejaː/ | Is it nearby? |
The template "[destination] ge hege hogbeku?" is the single most versatile direction phrase in the language. Drop in any place name: "Mysore Palace ge hege hogbeku?" and point with mild confusion on your face — the person you're asking will either give you directions or find someone who can.
In auto-rickshaws, these phrases are essential. Bangalore auto drivers do not always know the GPS pin you dropped. "Koramangala 5th Block ge hogbeku, meter haaki" (I need to go to Koramangala 5th Block, turn on the meter) is a complete, functional sentence that saves arguments.
Emergencies
Nobody plans to need these. Learn them anyway.
| Kannada Script | Romanization | IPA | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ಸಹಾಯ! | Sahaaya! | /sɐˈhaːjɐ/ | Help! |
| ನಿಲ್ಲಿ! | Nilli! | /ˈnɪlːɪ/ | Stop! |
| ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಕರೀ | Polis kari | /poˈliːs ˈkɐɾiː/ | Call the police |
| ಆಂಬ್ಯುಲೆನ್ಸ್ ಕರೀ | Ambulens kari | /ˈæmbjuːlɛns ˈkɐɾiː/ | Call an ambulance |
| ನನ್ನ ಬ್ಯಾಗ್ ಕಳೆದುಹೋಯ್ತು | Nanna bag kaleduhoytu | /ˈnɐnnɐ bæɡ kɐɭeˈd̪uhoːjt̪u/ | My bag is lost / stolen |
| ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ? | Aaspatre ellide? | /ˈaːspɐt̪ɾe elˈlɪd̪e/ | Where is the hospital? |
| ನನಗೆ ಹುಷಾರಿಲ್ಲ | Nanage husharilla | /ˈnɐnɐɡe ˈhuʂaːɾɪlːɐ/ | I'm not feeling well |
| ಅಪಘಾತ ಆಗಿದೆ | Apaghata aagide | /ɐpɐˈɡʱaːt̪ɐ ˈaːɡɪd̪e/ | There's been an accident |
ಸಹಾಯ! (Sahaaya!) is the word. It's direct, universally understood, and loud enough to work on a crowded street. In Bangalore, the emergency number is 112 (unified), and operators speak Kannada and English. 108 connects to ambulance services.
The word ಕಳೆದುಹೋಯ್ತು (kaleduhoytu, "was lost/went missing") applies to both lost and stolen items. If you need to be specific about theft, say ಕದ್ದಿದ್ದಾರೆ (kaddiddaare, /ˈkɐddɪdːaːɾe/, "they have stolen"). This matters at a police report.
Bangalore's Victoria Hospital (near Majestic) has a 24-hour emergency ward and is government-run. Manipal Hospitals on Old Airport Road handles most tourist emergencies in central Bangalore.
Polite Extras That Locals Notice
These phrases are not survival-critical. They are what separates a tourist who gets by from one who gets invited for tea.
| Kannada Script | Romanization | IPA | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ | Kshamisi | /ˈkʂɐmɪsɪ/ | Excuse me / I'm sorry |
| ದಯಮಾಡಿ | Dayamaadi | /d̪ɐjɐˈmaːɖɪ/ | Please |
| ನಾನು ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಲಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ | Naanu Kannada kaliyuttiddene | /naːnu ˈkɐnːɐɖɐ kɐlɪˈjuttɪd̪d̪eːne/ | I'm learning Kannada |
| ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಮಾತಾಡಿ | Nidhaanavaagi maataadi | /nɪˈd̪ʱaːnɐˌvaːɡɪ ˈmaːt̪aːɖɪ/ | Please speak slowly |
| ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಹೇಳಿ | Mattomme heli | /ˈmɐtːɔmːe ˈheːɭɪ/ | Please say that again |
| ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ | Tumba chennaagide | /ˈtumbɑː ˈtɕʰennaːɡɪd̪e/ | Very good / Excellent |
ನಾನು ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಲಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ (Naanu Kannada kaliyuttiddene) is disproportionately effective. Say it and the entire temperature of an interaction changes. People laugh, nod, and often immediately switch to simpler, slower Kannada for your benefit. They teach you words. At Mavalli Tiffin Rooms on Lalbagh Road — where waiters have heard every kind of tourist Kannada for decades — this phrase still gets a reaction.
ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಮಾತಾಡಿ (Nidhaanavaagi maataadi) is the phrase you need when someone responds to your careful Kannada with fast, colloquial Bangalore Kannada at full speed. It is not rude. It is practical. Use it.
Beyond Bangalore: Phrases for Mysore and Smaller Towns
Bangalore is forgiving. The city's large non-Kannada population means people are used to language gaps, and English covers most tourist situations. Outside Bangalore, the dynamic shifts.
In Mysore — the cultural capital, home of the Wodiyar palace, the Devaraja Market, and some of the best silk and sandalwood in South India — Kannada is the default for all transactions. The Devaraja Market on Sayyaji Rao Road is the right place to use your bargaining phrases: marigold garlands, silk fabric, spices, and incense all have flexible prices, and vendors there respect the effort more than the actual fluency level.
At Hampi — the UNESCO-listed ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire, which ruled most of South India from the 14th to 16th centuries — you're in a small Karnataka town where English is patchy outside the guesthouse strip near Virupapura Gadde. The phrases that carry weight in Hampi:
| Kannada Script | Romanization | IPA | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ಟಿಕೆಟ್ ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗುತ್ತೆ? | Ticket elli sigatte? | /ˈtɪkɪʈ ˈelːɪ ˈsɪɡɐtːe/ | Where do I get a ticket? |
| ದಾರಿ ತೋರಿಸಿ | Daari torisi | /ˈd̪aːɾɪ ˈt̪oːɾɪsɪ/ | Show me the way |
| ಹತ್ತಿರ ಇರೋ ಊಟದ ಜಾಗ? | Hattira iro ootada jaaga? | /ˈhɐtːɪɾɐ ˈɪɾoː ˈuːʈɐd̪ɐ ˈdʒaːɡɐ/ | Nearest place to eat? |
Coorg (Kodagu district) has its own Kodava language, but Kannada is widely understood there for practical purposes. The same phrases work at coffee estate guesthouses and the market town of Madikeri.
One consistent rule across all of Karnataka: if you start in Kannada, even rough Kannada, people will meet you there. The assumption outside Bangalore is not that you speak Kannada — it is that if you're trying, you deserve the same patience and help they'd give a local.
A Note on Register
Karnataka is particular about formality. The verbs and pronouns here are in the polite register — appropriate for strangers, elders, shopkeepers, and service staff. With people your age who have signaled casual friendliness, some of these phrases can be shortened. But starting formal and relaxing is always safer than starting casual and having to claw back formality.
The formal/informal split in Kannada runs through verb endings, pronouns, and even the -ri suffix. If you want to understand how it works structurally — especially before visiting a more traditional part of Karnataka like Mysore or a smaller town — the Kannada pronouns and formality guide is worth fifteen minutes of your time before you leave.
What Kannadigas Actually Notice
Three things that visitors get wrong most often, and that locals remember:
Skipping the greeting. Walking up to a vendor and launching straight into your question without a Namaskara reads as abrupt. Two seconds. Do it.
Saying "Hindi mein boliye." Karnataka has a complicated relationship with Hindi. Asking someone to switch to Hindi — when Kannada is available — is a social stumble. If you don't know Kannada, English is the better fallback here, not Hindi.
Mispronouncing retroflex consonants. The ಟ (ta) in words like ಎಷ್ಟು (Eshtu) is retroflex — tongue curled back toward the roof of the mouth — not the dental t of English. Getting it wrong does not prevent understanding, but getting it right gets noticed.
You don't need to master Kannada phonology before visiting. You need twenty phrases, the intention to use them, and willingness to look slightly incompetent in the process. Kannadigas are generous with learners. The effort is what counts.
If you want structured audio practice before your trip — native Bangalore speakers, real-context scenarios, the formal/informal distinction built into exercises from the start — the Learn Kannada app covers all of these phrases in Unit 1 and 2 with pronunciation drilling built in.
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