Essential Kannada phrases

The words that make your first weeks in Bengaluru smoother — with pronunciation you can actually say.

Greetings

ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ
Namaskāra
Hello / greetings (respectful). English works everywhere in Bengaluru, but Kannada is warmly received.
ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ?
Hēgiddīrā?
How are you?
ಧನ್ಯವಾದ
Dhanyavāda
Thank you.
ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು
Dayaviṭṭu
Please.

Daily life

ಎಷ್ಟು?
Eṣṭu?
How much? (also 'eṣṭāyitu?' = how much was it?).
ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಶೌಚಾಲಯ?
Elli śaucālaya?
Where's the toilet?

Food

ಬಿಲ್ ಕೊಡಿ
Bil koḍi
The bill, please.
ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ
Tumbā chennāgide
It's very good / delicious.

Social

ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಅಡ್ಜಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡಿ
Svalpa adjust māḍi
'Please adjust a little' — the famous Bengaluru phrase for go easy / make room.
ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ
Gottilla
I don't know.
ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಬರುತ್ತಾ?
Iṅgliṣ baruttā?
Do you speak English? (almost everyone does).

Emergency

ಸಹಾಯ!
Sahāya!
Help! — for emergencies.

Actually learn to speak Bengaluru’s language

Globe Quest drills these with spaced repetition and a patient AI tutor you can practice with by voice — a few minutes a day. Free to start.