Personal pronouns help you talk about yourself, others, or groups. Learning them is one of the first steps in forming complete Kannada sentences.
In this lesson, you’ll learn:
- Pronouns for I, You, He, She, We, They
- Sentence examples
- How to use formal vs informal forms
What is a Pronoun?
In English, we say:
- I am going
- She is talking
- They are eating
In Kannada, these become:
- ನಾನು ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ – Nanu Hoguthidene
- ಅವಳು ಮಾತಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಳೆ – Avalu Matanadutidale
- ಅವರು ತಿನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ – Avaru Thinutidhare
Let’s break it down!
Personal Pronouns Table
| English | Kannada Word | Usage Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I | ನಾನು (Nānu) | Used by speaker |
| You | ನೀನು / ನೀವು(Ninu/Nivu) | ನೀನು (casual), ನೀವು (formal/plural) |
| He | ಅವನು (Avanu) | For males |
| She | ಅವಳು (Avaḷu) | For females |
| It / That | ಅದು (Adu) | For objects, animals |
| We | ನಾವು (Nāvu) | For groups including the speaker |
| They | ಅವರು (Avaru) | Plural/respectful |
| This person | ಈವನು / ಈವಳು(Ivanu/Ivalu) | For close proximity references |
Formal vs Informal
- Use ನೀವು ‘Nivu’ for strangers, elders, or to show respect
- Use ನೀನು ‘Ninu’ with friends, younger people, or kids
Examples:
- ನೀವು ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ? – Nivu Hegidira – How are you? (formal)
- ನೀನು ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀಯಾ? – Ninu Enu Maduthideya – What are you doing? (casual)
Sentence Examples
| Kannada Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ನಾನು ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಲಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ – Nanu Kannada Kaliyuthidene | I am learning Kannada |
| ನೀನು ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀಯ? – Ninu elli Hoguthidiya | Where are you going? |
| ಅವನು ನನ್ನ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ – Avanu Nana Snehitha | He is my friend |
| ಅವಳು ಹಾಡುತ್ತಾಳೆ – Avalu Haduthale | She is singing |
| ನಾವು ಆಟವಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ – Navu Atavaduthideve | We are playing |
| ಅವರು ಮನೆಗೆ ಬಂದರು – Avaru Manege Bandaru | They came home |
Practice ChallengeTry writing these:
- I am tired = _____________
- She is happy = ____________
- We are going = _____________
Summary
Pronouns are the backbone of everyday Kannada sentences. Once you master them, you’ll be ready to form real-life conversations with ease.
ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ ಮತ್ತು ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು!
Namaskara mattu Dhanyavaadagalu!
(Hello and Thank you!)