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Learn Tulu language

Bale Nama Tulu kalpuga ( Mangalore ಕುಡ್ಲ)

Numbers :
English : One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten
Kannada : ondu, eraDu, mooru, naalku, aidu, aaru, ELu, enTu, ombattu, hattu
Tulu : onji, raDD, mooji, naal, ain, aaji, EL, enma, ormba, patth

Sentence formation in Tulu : 
Pronouns:


English: I, You, He, She, We, They, This, That
Tulu : yaan, ee, aaye, aal, nama, akl, undu, avu
Kannada : naanu, neenu, avanu, avaLu, naavu, avaru, idu, adu

Apart from the pronouns listed above, one important and common pronoun to use in any Indian languge is the plural form of 'you', to address the person you are talking to.
In Tulu, you use eer.
In Kannada, you can use neevu or taavu.

Verbs:
Some of the common verbs used in day-to-day life
English: go, come, sit, laugh, stop, call, tell, do, write, read
Tulu: pola, bala, kullu, telipu, unt, leppu, pan, manpu, barela, odla
Kannada: hogu, baa, koothko, nagu, nillu, kare, heLu, maaDu, bare, odu

Some more verbs
English: give, take, eat, drink, run, get up, dance, watch/look, wait, talk
Tulu: koru, detonu, tin, par, balipu, lakk, nalipu, toola, kaapu, paater
Kannada: kodu, tegeduko, tinnu, kuDi, oDu, ELu, kuNi, noDu, kaayi, maatanaaDu

Objects:
English: lunch/dinner, water, tea, home, work, place
Tulu: vaNas, neer, chaaya, ill, bEle, oor
Kannada: ooTa, neeru, chahaa, mane, kelasa, ooru

======================Part 1============================

English : Hello, How are you?
Kannada : namaskaara, hEgideera?
Tulu : namaskaara, encha ullar?

English : Had your lunch?
Kannada : oota aayta?
Tulu : vaNas aanDa?

English : Where are you working?
Kannada : neevelli kelasa maadtideera?
Tulu : eer olu bEle maltondullar?

English : All are welcome.
Kannada : nimagellarigu swaagata.
Tulu : maatergla swaagata.

English : Come
Kannada : banni
Tulu : bale

English : We will go to Mangalore.
Kannada : naavu mangaloorige hogoNa.
Tulu : nama Kudlag poyi. [Mangalore is called Kudla in Tulu]

English: How were the rains this year?
Kannada : ee sala male hegittu?
Tulu : ee sarthi barsa encha ittnd?

English : When did you come?
Kannada : neevu yaavaga bandri?
Tulu : eer Epa battini?

English : I am fine.
Kannada : naanu chennagideeni.
Tulu : yaan usaar ulle.

English : Will this bus go to Udupi?
Kannada : ee bussu Udupi ge hogottadeye?
Tulu : ee bus Udupi g popunda?

English : Where is this address located?
Kannada : ee address elli barutte?
Tulu : ee address olu barpundu?

English : Ok, see you next time.
Kannada : sari, matte sigona.
Tulu : aavu, buka tikga.

English : I will come.
Kannada : naanu barteeni.
Tulu : yaan barpe.

======================Part 2=============================

In a restaurant :

English : What and all are there?
Kannada : enella ide?
Tulu : daada maatha undu?

English : Will that take some time?
Kannada : adakke tumbaa hottu aagutta?
Tulu : avek jinja portu aapunDaa?

English : Give me one masala dosa.
Kannada : nanage ondu masale dose koDi.
Tulu : enk onji masale dose korle.

English : Bring it fast.
Kannada : idannu bega tanni.
Tulu : nEn bEka kanale.

English : I dont want that.
Kannada : nanage adu bEDa.
Tulu : enk avu boDchi.

English : I dont want that much.
Kannada : nanage asTondu bEDa.
Tulu : enka aat boDchi.

English : Give that one.
Kannada : adannu koDi.
Tulu : aven korle.

English : Give some water.
Kannada : neeru koDi.
Tulu : neer korle.

English : You have given a good service!
Kannada : oLLe service koTTri!
Tulu : eDDe service koriyar!

========================Part 3==============================

Conversing with a Vendor :

English : How much does this cost?
Kannada : Idakkestu?
Tulu : nEk Et?

English : The price is too high.
Kannada : rate tumbaa jaasti aaytu.
Tulu : rate mast jaasti aand.

English : Please lower the cost.
Kannada : rate swalpa kammi maadi.
Tulu : rate onchooru kammi malpule.

English : Show me the new designs.
Kannada : nanage hosa designs tOrisi.
Tulu : enk posa designs tOjaale.

English : I will pay by cash.
Kannada : naanu cash pay maadteeni.
Tulu : yaan cash pay malpuve.

English : Please pack all the goods, I will come soon.
Kannada : ella saamaanu pack maaDidi, naaneega bartEne.
Tulu : maata saamaan pack malt deele, yaan itte barpe.

English : When will the ordered goods arrive?
Kannada : order maaDida goods yaavaga barutte?
Tulu : order maltina goods Epa barpundu?

English : Yes, its been sometime now, since I had come here.
Kannada : howdu, naanillige bandu swalpa hottaytu.
Tulu : and, yaan iDe battd chooru portaanD.

English : Whats the time now?
Kannada : eega estu hottaayitu?
Tulu : itte Et portaand?

English : We will come again at 1 'o clock.
Kannada : naavu 1 gantege matte bartEve.
Tulu : enkla 1 ganteg pira barpa.

English : Good work!
Kannada : oLLe kelasa!
Tulu : eDDe bEle!

English : Thanks.
Kannada : dhanyavaada.
Tulu : solmelu.

======================= Part 4 ===============================

We are looking for a house.
Enkl oni ill naadOndhulla.

Are you going to purchase it or for rent?
Ghethonrenaa athth baadigegaa?

To purchase.
Ghethonre.

In which area do u want?
Eereg vaa aread bOdu?

It would be better if we get one somewhere round about this area.
MulpanE suththumuthth (kaithald) thikknda edde.

How many rooms are to be there in the house?
Eereg Eth roomudha ill bOdu?

We want a house with 3 bedrooms and a car shed.
Enkleg mooji bed roomlaa car shed ippuna ill bOdu.

Okay… Let us look for one.
Aavad.... Naadga.

Today I will show you 2-3 houses.
Yaan eereg ini radd-mooji ill thOjaabe.

At what time you will be free in the evening?
Baiyyag eer Eth gantedha bokka pursoththud ippuvaar?

After 6 I will be at home only.
Aaji gantedha bokka yaan illaadenE ippuve.

I know your home…. I will come there.
Enk eerena ill goththundu... Yaan adegE barpe.

Okay.
Aavad.
What is your commission?
Eerena commission Eth?

You are a known person to me. So you decide yourself.
Eer enklena (enna) gurthadhaar athE. EerE Ethndh korle.

Okay… I am very glad. Let us meet in the evening.
Aavad... Enk bhaari khushi aand. Baiyyag thikkga.

========================= Part 5 ==========================

English : Hello, how are you?
Kannada : namaskaara, hegideeya?
Tulu : namaskaara, enchulla?

English : I am fine.
Kannada : naanu chennagideeni.
Tulu : yaan usaarulle.

English : Are all well at home?
Kannada : manEli ella chennagidaara?
Tulu : illad maatha usaarullera?

English : Everyone is fine.
Kannada : ellru chennagidaare.
Tulu : maaterla usaaruller.

English : How is your work going on?
Kannada : ninna kelsa hege nadeetha ide?
Tulu : ninna bele encha nadattondunDu?

English : What did you have for tiffin today?
Kannada : ivattu tiffin ge enittu?
Tulu : ini tiffin g dada ittnD?

English : Anything else?
Kannada : mattenu vishya?
Tulu : buka daada vishaya?

English : How was the coffee?
Kannada : coffee hegittu?
Tulu : coffee encha ittnD?

English : Coffee was good.
Kannada : coffee chenngittu.
Tulu : coffee eDDe ittnd.

English : Where did you go on weekend?
Kannada : weekend ell hogidde?
Tulu : weekend oDe poditta?

English : This time I had gone to Bangalore.
Kannada : ee sali bengaloorige hogidde.
Tulu : ee sarti bangalore poditte.

English : How was your weekend?
Kannada : Weekend hegittu?
Tulu : weekend encha ittnD?

English : It was superb.
Kannada : tumba chennagittu.
Tulu : mast eDDe ittnD.

English : When did you come?
Kannada : yavaag bande?
Tulu : yepa battini?

English : I came yesterday.
Kannada : naanu ninne bande.
Tulu : yaan kODe battini.

English : Can you wait for me?
Kannada : nange kaayteeya?
Tulu : yenk kaapuvana?

English : Ok, I will wait.
Kannada : Ok, naanu kaayteeni.
Tulu : Ok, yaan kaapuve.

English : Can we meet today?
Kannada : ivattu naavu sigoNava?
Tulu : ini nama tikgana?

English : We will meet today at 4'o clock.
Kannada : naavu ivattu 4 gantege meet aagoNa.
Tulu : nama ini 4 ganteg meet aaka.
English : Can you come there?
Kannada : ninage alli barlikkagatta?
Tulu : nikk aDe barre aapunDa?

English : Yes, I can come there.
Kannada : sari, nange allige barakkagutte.
Tulu : sari, enk aDe baroli.

English : Is it so?
Kannada : idu heego?
Tulu : undu inchana?

English : Yes, man.
Kannada : howdu maaraya.
Tulu : and marre.

English : Did't you know?
Kannada : ninge gottirlillva?
Tulu : nikk gottijjaanDa?

English : Glad to meet you.
Kannada : ninnannu noDi tumba khushiyaaytu.
Tulu : ninan tood mast kusiyaanD.

English : This watch is beautiful.
Kannada : ee watchu tumba chennagide.
Tulu : ee watch bhaari sookunDu.

English : What to do now?
Kannada : eega yenu maaDodu?
Tulu : itte daada malpuni?

English : Can we talk now?
Kannada : naaveega maataaDoNava?
Tulu : nama itte paatergana?

English : Ok, see you next time.
Kannada : Ok, matte sigONa.
Tulu : Ok, bukka tikga.

======================== Part 6 ============================

English : Come, let's have tea.
Kannada : banni, chahaa kuDiyONa.
Tulu : balE, chaa parka.

*The above phrase 'balE, chaa parka' is commonly used in friendly conversations, when you invite someone for tea. In fact, there is Tulu drama named 'balE, chaa parka', which made the phrase famous in Tulu speaking community.*

English : Come, sit.
Kannada : banni, kootkoLLi.
Tulu : balE, kulle.

English : Can you bring a cup of water?
Kannada : nanage ondu loTa neeru tarteeya?
Tulu : yenk onji loTa neer kanapana?

English : I will also come with you.
Kannada : naanu kooDa ninna jote bartheeni.
Tulu : yaan laa ninnottugu barpe.

English : Whom should I ask?
Kannada : naanu yaaranna kELbEku?
Tulu : yaan yEren kEnoDu?

English : Which is your favourite color?
Kannada : ninge ishTavaada baNNa yaavudu?
Tulu : nikk ishTavaayina baNNa vovu?

English : Whats the time now?
Kannada : samaya esTaaytu?
Tulu : gante etaanD?

English : You should definitely come to our house during the festival.
Kannada : neevu habbakke namma manege khanDita barbEku.
Tulu : eer parbogu enklena illaDe nighaanT baroDu.

English : I have to wake up early in the morning tomorrow.
Kannada : nange naaLe beLigge bega yELbEku.
Tulu : yenk elle polyakaanDe lakkoDu.

English : I have some other work today.
Kannada : nanage ivattu bEre kelasa ide.
Tulu : enk ini bEte bEle unDu.

English : Ramesha, your phone is ringing.
Kannada : Ramesha, ninna phone ring aagta ide.
Tulu : Ramesha, ninna phone ring aavondunDu.

English : Where are you man? I am waiting for you near Town hall.
Kannada : elliddi maaraya? naanu Town hall hatra kaayta ideeni.
Tulu : olulla maaraya? yaan Town hall da kaital kaatondulle.

English : Ice-cream at Ideal's is too good.
Kannada : Ideal's nalli ice-cream tumba chennagirutte.
Tulu : Ideal's D ice-cream bhaari laayk uppunDuya.

English : Today's treat is mine.
Kannada : ivattina treat nandu.
Tulu : inita treat enna lekkada.

English : Shall we go to '3 Idiots' today?
Kannada : ivattu '3 Idiots' noDoke hOgONva?
Tulu : ini '3 idiots' tooyere pOya?

English : I liked it very much.
Kannada : nangantu bahaLa ishTa aaytu.
Tulu : enk maatra bhaari isTa aanD.

English : Read 'Five point Someone'. It is really nice.
Kannada : 'Five point Someone' Odu. tumbaa chennagide.
Tulu : 'Five point someone' Od. bhaari laaykunDu.

English : No problem, I will meet you in the evening.
Kannada : thondre illa, naanu ninna sanje meet maaDteeni.
Tulu : malle ijji, yaan ninan bayyag meet aape.

English : Mangalore is a beautiful city.
Kannada : MangaLuru sundara nagara.
Tulu : kuDla porluda pEnTe.

English : Thank you all.
Kannada : nimagella dhanyavaadagaLu.
Tulu : nikleg maaterglaa solmelu.

Happy Learning
=========================================================


Tulu language is one of the five Dravidian languages of South India (Pancha- Bhasha, others are Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam). The four major languages spoken today are dominantly spoken in their respective states (Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala), whereas Tulu is spoken in a small niche, mainly in coastal Karnataka and Northern Kerala (Kasaragod district).
About 2.5 million people speak Tulu and call it their mother tongue. Tulu nadu is a region where many languages are spoken. While Kannada is the official state language, different ethnic communities in Tulu Nadu speak different languages.
Tulu, derived from proto-Dravidian is the predominant language spoken by Hindus of various castes and by the Jains of Tulu Nadu.
Konkanasthas and Catholics speak two variants of Konkani. Muslims speak a language of their own that is derived from Tulu as well as Malayalam.
There are about 24 Dravidian languages recognized by linguists. Of these the five languages in the South developed into major languages. Tulu is the only developed language that has not received the recognition it is due.
However, Tulu language with its near extinct script has been generating much enthusiasm amongst the linguists, as it is now believed to be one of the oldest Dravidian languages.