Lesson 10 / 10 15 min

Handle three everyday conversations

Combine the course into short exchanges at a café, on the street, and in a shop.

By the end, you can

Order a simple item politely.
Ask for and follow a short direction.
Ask a price and respond to it.

Phrases that keep a conversation moving

Words

ದಯವಿಟ್ಟುdayavittuplease

ಬೇಕುbekuwant; need

ಬೇಡbedado not want; no, thank you

ಸ್ವಲ್ಪswalpaa little

ಸಾಕುsaakuenough

ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಿsahaaya maadiplease help

ನನಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲnanage gottillaI do not know

Pattern

Ask for what you need

ನನಗೆ + thing + ಬೇಕು

ನನಗೆ … ಬೇಕು is a practical pattern for “I want/need …” Add ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು to make a request explicitly polite. Use ಬೇಡ for “I do not want it” or “no, thank you,” with a courteous tone.

ನನಗೆ ಒಂದು ಕಾಫಿ ಬೇಕು.

Nanage ondu kaafi beku.

I would like one coffee.

ನನಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಬೇಕು.

Nanage sahaaya beku.

I need help.

ಸಕ್ಕರೆ ಬೇಡ, ಧನ್ಯವಾದ.

Sakkare beda, dhanyavaada.

No sugar, thank you.

Conversation

At a café

Customer

ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ. ನನಗೆ ಒಂದು ಕಾಫಿ ಬೇಕು, ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು.

Namaskaara. Nanage ondu kaafi beku, dayavittu.

Hello. I would like one coffee, please.

Server

ಸಕ್ಕರೆ ಬೇಕಾ?

Sakkare bekaa?

Would you like sugar?

Customer

ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸಾಕು. ಧನ್ಯವಾದ.

Swalpa saaku. Dhanyavaada.

A little is enough. Thank you.

Conversation

Asking for directions

Visitor

ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ, ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೆ?

Kshamisi, metro nildaana elli ide?

Excuse me, where is the metro station?

Local

ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಹೋಗಿ, ನಂತರ ಎಡಕ್ಕೆ ತಿರುಗಿ.

Neravaagi hogi, nantara edakke tirugi.

Go straight, then turn left.

Visitor

ಇಲ್ಲಿಂದ ದೂರವಾ?

Illinda dooravaa?

Is it far from here?

Local

ಇಲ್ಲ, ಹತ್ತಿರ ಇದೆ.

Illa, hattira ide.

No, it is nearby.

Conversation

In a shop

Customer

ಇದು ಎಷ್ಟು?

Idu eshtu?

How much is this?

Shopkeeper

ನೂರು ರೂಪಾಯಿ.

Nooru roopaayi.

One hundred rupees.

Customer

ಸರಿ, ಇದು ಬೇಕು.

Sari, idu beku.

Okay, I would like this.

tip

Politeness is more than one word

ನೀವು forms, ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು, and a calm tone make these exchanges respectful. Real conversations may mix Kannada with familiar English words such as “metro” or “coffee”; keep the Kannada request pattern even when the item name is borrowed.

Try it

Choose your response

Say a suitable Kannada line for each situation, then check the model.

01You want one coffee politely.›

ನನಗೆ ಒಂದು ಕಾಫಿ ಬೇಕು, ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು. — nanage ondu kaafi beku, dayavittu.

02You need to find the bus stop.›

ಬಸ್ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೆ? — bas nildaana elli ide?

03You want to know a price.›

ಇದು ಎಷ್ಟು? — idu eshtu?

04You did not understand and need help.›

ನನಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಿ, ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು. — nanage gottilla. sahaaya maadi, dayavittu.

Keep this

Your Kannada starter kit

Use ನನಗೆ … ಬೇಕು to ask for what you need.
Questions with ಎಲ್ಲಿ and ಎಷ್ಟು solve common practical problems.
A short polite sentence is better than waiting for a perfect long one.