Language/Kannada/Grammar/Pronouns

Kannada Grammar - Pronouns

Hi Kannada learners! 😊

In this lesson, we will learn about pronouns in Kannada. Pronouns are words that are used in place of a noun.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns are used to refer to specific people or things.

Kannada	Pronunciation	English
ನಾನು (nānu)	[n̪aːnu]	I/me
ನೀವು (nīvu)	[niːvu]	You (singular or plural)
ಅವನು (avanu)	[əʋənu]	He/him
ಆಕೆ (āke)	[aːke]	She/her
ಅದು (adu)	[əd̪u]	It
ನಾವು (nāvu)	[n̪aːʋu]	We/us
ನೀವು (nīvu)	[niːvu]	You (plural)
ಅವರು (avaru)	[əʋəru]	They/them

Example dialogue:

• Person 1: ನಾನು ಲೇಖಕ (nānu lēkhaka) (I am a writer)
• Person 2: ನೀವು ಯಾರು? (nīvu yāru?) (Who are you?)

Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are used when the object of a sentence is the same person or thing as the subject of the sentence. In Kannada, reflexive pronouns are formed by adding the suffix "-ನು" (-nu).

Kannada	Pronunciation	English
ನನ್ನೀರು (nannīru)	[n̪aːniːru]	Myself
ನೀನೀರು (nīnīru)	[niːniːru]	Yourself
ತಾನೇ (tāne)	[t̪aːne̞]	Oneself
ನಮ್ಮೀರು (nammīru)	[n̪amːiːru]	Ourselves
ನೀವೀರು (nīvīru)	[niːviːru]	Yourselves (plural)
ತಾವೀರು (tāvīru)	[t̪aːviːru]	Themselves

Example dialogue:

• Person 1: ನನ್ನೀರು ನೋಡಿಕೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕು (nannīru nōḍikege hōgabēku) (I myself have to go to the appointment)
• Person 2: ಅದು ಹೇಗೆ ಸಾಧ್ಯ? (adu hēge sādhya?) (How is that possible?)

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used in questions to ask about specific people or things. In Kannada, interrogative pronouns have no special form and are the same as the personal pronouns.

Example dialogue:

• Person 1: ನಾನು ಯಾರಿಗೆ ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆದೆನು? (nānu yāriga patra baredeṇu?) (To whom did I write the letter?)
• Person 2: ನೀವು ಯಾರಿಗೆ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತೀರಿ? (nīvu yāriga bareyuttīri?) (To whom are you writing?)

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out specific people or things. In Kannada, the demonstrative pronouns are "ಈ" (ī), "ಅದು" (adu), "ಆ" (ā).

Kannada	Pronunciation	English
ಈ (ī)	[iː]	This
ಅದು (adu)	[əd̪u]	That
ಆ (ā)	[aː]	That (far away)

Example dialogue:

• Person 1: ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕವು ಖರೀದಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದೆ (ī pustakavu kharīdisalpaṭṭide) (This book has been purchased)
• Person 2: ಅದು ಯಾರದು? (adu yāradu?) (Whose is that?)

Don't forget, to improve your Kannada Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Kannada language
• Kannada grammar
• Pronouns

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