Tulu (ತುಳು) is a regional language spoken in coastal districts of Karnataka, i.e. Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and some areas of Kasargod district . It is the 24th most populous Indian language according to the 2001 census of India. It is often mistakenly claimed as a dialect of Kannada, but it is actually an independently derived descendent of the proto-Dravidian language. Tulu does not have a widely used script, though efforts are on to discover or construct one. Most writing in the language is in the Kannada script. A lack of a script, however, has not prevented it from developing a vibrant literature of its own, most notably poems and plays.

One remarkable feature of Tulu is the number of dialects that you will find in the small geographical area. Not only are there regional differences, there are also caste-based dialects. Different sub-castes of Brahmins speak different dialects of Tulu, all of them different from the "standard" dialect described here.

Pronunciation guide

Most of the words that end with 'u', e.g., apundu, undu, andu, attu , maltudu, enku, bayyadu, gothu, and vondu, are pronounced in a different way than similar words that end with 'u' in Kannada.

Only half of the sound of 'u' is pronounced while speaking the words mentioned above that end with 'u'.

There are also many words in which the half sound of 'u' is in the mid part of word, e.g., thikkuga, gottuji, and korule.

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Hello.

NamaskAra. ( )

Hello. (informal)

Namaskara. ( )

How are you?

Encha ullar? (for elders or showing respect or to a stranger), Encha ulla? (for someone youger or a friend)( ?)

I am doing great

HushAr ulle. ( )

What is your name?

Eerena pudar daytha/eina/enchina/dada?( ?)

My name is ______ .

yenna pudar . ( <name>.)

Nice to meet you.

Thikene santosha aandu . ( )

Come here.

enchi(here) balle (come)

Go there.

anchi (there) polle (go)

Please.

daya maltudu. ( )

Thank you.

danya vaada . ( )

You're welcome.

Malle ijji (never mind) . ( )

Welcome (as in welcoming someone).

Swagatha. (" ")

Yes.

andu. ( )

No.

attu. (or ijji) ( )

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

. ( )

I'm sorry.

thapu aandu . ( )

Goodbye

thikkuga . (also means lets meet again )

Goodbye (informal)

Barpe . (also means I will be back )

I can't speak Tulu [well].

Enku TULU patere gottuji [ ]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English?

Eereg English pateriyera gottunda? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

English gottitthinaaglu yeranda ullera? ( ?)

Help!

saaya! ( !)

help me : saaya malpule ( ! )

Look out!

jaagrathe! ( !)

Early morning.

. (Pulya Kaande )

Evening.

. (Baiyyadu )

Night.

(Raathre )

Jeppunu (to sleep)

I don't understand.

enk gottu aapujji/ enku artha aapuji. ( )

Where is the toilet?

Thandaas or Sandaas or Kakkus Vondu ?/ Thandaas or Sandaas or Kakkus Volundu Ye? ( ?)

tender coconut

Bonda ( !)

tender coconut water

Bonda da neeru

coconut

thaarai ( !)

I am not feeling well

yenk soukya ijji.

I don't want

yenk boduchi.

Give Me

yenk korle.

God

Devere

She is not feeling well (While mentioning to someone younger than You)

Aleg soukya ijji.

He is not feeling well (While mentioning to someone younger than You)

Ayag soukya ijjji.

He/she is not feeling well (While mentioning to an elderly person both male/ female)

Areg soukya ijji.

Look there (as in "look at that thing")

Thoole/Thoola (for a younger person)

Looking here(for a he/she)

Thoope/Thoopal

I like him/she/it very much

Yenk muste laikape/laikaple/laikapundu.

He/She/It is gone

Pooye/Poyal/Poondu

Hurts

bene, for example, "my stomach hurts" would be yanna bungee benapundu

Very (can also mean "too much")

muste

Car

gaadi

Foot

khar

Confuse

Kanna K B

Living Room

Chavadi

Guest

Bin-ner

Bride

Madhmalu

Bridegroom

Madhmaye

Problem

thondareh

Numbers

1

onji (...)

2

radd (...)

3

mooji (...)

4

naal (...)

5

ain (...)

6

aaji (...)

7

yeL (...)

8

yenma (...)

9

ormba (...)

10

pat-t (...)

11

patt-onji (...)

12

pad-rad (yes in twelve '2 or radd' is pronounced as 'rad') (...)

13

padi-mooji (...)

14

padi-naal (...)

15

padi-nain (...)

16

padi-naaji (...)

17

padi-nel (...)

18

padi-nenma (...)

19

padi-noramba (...)

20

iruva (...)

21

iruvatha onji (...)

22

iruvatha radd (...)

23

iruvatha mooji (...)

30

muppa (...)

40

nalpa (...)

50

aiva (...)

60

ajippa (...)

70

yelpa (...)

80

enpa (...)

90

sonpa (...)

100

noodu (...)

200

irnoodu (...)

300

munnoodu (...)

1000

onji savira (...)

2000

radd savira (...)

1,000,000

patt laksha (...)

1,000,000,000

noodu koti

1,000,000,000,000

patt savira koti

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

number _____ , though the original word in Tulu is 'anke'(...)

full

eedi (...)

half

ardha (...)

1/4th

kaal

3/4th

mukkal

less

kammi (...)

more

jasthi (...)

Time

porthu

Clock time

What time it is? : gante yeth aand?

Duration

From how long duration - yeth portuddu inchi

Day

What day it is? : ini va dina?

Daily : Dinala

Month

tingolu

Colors

Red - kempu
Blue - neeli
Green - pacche
White - boldhu
Black - kappu
Yellow - manjal
Violet/Purple - nerale
Orange - Kesari
Pink - Gulaabi
Brown - Kaapi

Transportation

Bus and train

Bus bokka rail

Directions

mithu=up, thirthu=down, dumbu=front, pira=back, inchidu-from here, unchiddu-from there, kaithal -near, doora -far, paddai-west, moodai-east, badakai-north, tenkai-south, balatha kai - right hand, yedatha kai - left hand,

Lodging

badai da roomu or badigeda roomu

House for rent

badai/badige da ill

Money

duddu/kaas - money chillare - change

Eating

Thinre- to eat, parrre - to drink, atil - cooking, cheepe- sweet, khaara- spicy, uppu (salt) undu (has) - salty