Use numbers and tell time
Count from one to ten, ask the time, and say when something happens.
By the end, you can
- Count from one to ten in Kannada.
- Ask the time and give an hour or appointment time.
Numbers one to ten
WordsTime now and time of an event
ಗಂಟೆ (gante) means “hour” or “o’clock.” Add -ಗೆ (-ge) to say “at” a particular time. The current time can be stated with ಈಗ (eega, “now”).
ಈಗ ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ.
Eega mooru gante.
It is three o’clock now.
ತರಗತಿ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ.
Taragati naalku gantege.
The class is at four o’clock.
ಈಗ ಮೂರೂವರೆ.
Eega mooruvare.
It is half past three now.
Numbers in everyday phrases
ExamplesChecking a meeting time
ಈಗ ಗಂಟೆ ಎಷ್ಟು?
Eega gante eshtu?
What time is it now?
ಈಗ ಎರಡು ಗಂಟೆ.
Eega eradu gante.
It is two o’clock now.
ಸಭೆ ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ, ಅಲ್ಲವಾ?
Sabhe mooru gantege, allavaa?
The meeting is at three, right?
tip
Expect connected speech
Number words may sound slightly different when spoken quickly or joined to another word. Keep the written forms here as your anchor and confirm important times by repeating the full hour.
Count and schedule
Answer first in Kannada script or aloud, then check the model.
01Count 3, 4, 5.›
ಮೂರು, ನಾಲ್ಕು, ಐದು — mooru, naalku, aidu
02Ask, “What time is it now?”›
ಈಗ ಗಂಟೆ ಎಷ್ಟು? — eega gante eshtu?
03Say, “The class is at six o’clock.”›
ತರಗತಿ ಆರು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ. — taragati aaru gantege.
What you can keep
- You can count from ಒಂದು to ಹತ್ತು.
- ಗಂಟೆ names the hour; ಗಂಟೆಗೆ means “at … o’clock.”
- ಈಗ ಗಂಟೆ ಎಷ್ಟು? asks the current time.