Learning pronouns in Kannada, a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka, India, is crucial for mastering both spoken and written communication. Kannada pronouns are characterized by their forms according to person, number, and, in some contexts, gender. This guide covers personal, possessive, demonstrative, reflexive, and interrogative pronouns, providing detailed explanations and examples for each, including transliterations for pronunciation help.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns in Kannada replace nouns referring to people or things and are used based on the person being referred to.

Subject Pronouns:

• ನಾನು (Nānu) – I: “ನಾನು ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ.” (Nānu hōguttiddēne) – I am going.
• ನೀನು (Nīnu) – You (singular, informal): “ನೀನು ಓದುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀಯ.” (Nīnu oduttiddīya) – You are reading.
• ಅವನು/ಅವಳು (Avanu/Avaḷu) – He/She: “ಅವನು ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾನೆ.” / “ಅವಳು ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಳೆ.” (Avanu baruttiddāne/ Avaḷu baruttiddāḷe) – He is coming/She is coming.
• ನಾವು (Nāvu) – We: “ನಾವು ಕಲಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ.” (Nāvu kaliyuttiddēve) – We are learning.
• ನೀವು (Nīvu) – You (plural or formal): “ನೀವು ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಿ?” (Nīvu hēgiddīri?) – How are you?
• ಅವರು (Avaru) – They: “ಅವರು ಆಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.” (Avaru āḍuttiddāre) – They are playing.

Object Pronouns:

Object pronouns often follow the verb and can change based on case.

• ನನ್ನ (Nanna) – Me: “ಅವನು ನನ್ನ ನೋಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾನೆ.” (Avanu nanna nōḍuttiddāne) – He is looking at me.
• ನಿನ್ನ (Ninna) – You: “ನಾನು ನಿನ್ನ ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ.” (Nānu ninna kareyuttiddēne) – I am calling you.
• ಅವನ/ಅವಳ (Avana/Avaḷa) – Him/Her: “ನಾನು ಅವನನ್ನು/ಅವಳನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ.” (Nānu avanannu/avaḷannu bhēṭiyāgiddēne) – I have met him/her.
• ನಮ್ಮ (Namma) – Us: “ಅವರು ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಕರೆದರು.” (Avaru nam’mannu karedaru) – They called us.
• ನಿಮ್ಮ (Nimma) – You (plural or formal): “ನಾನು ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನು ನೆನಪಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ.” (Nānu nim’mannu nenapisikoḷḷuttiddēne) – I am remembering you.
• ಅವರ (Avara) – Them: “ನಾನು ಅವರನ್ನು ಕಂಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ.” (Nānu avarannu kaṇḍiddēne) – I have seen them.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns in Kannada indicate ownership and are often formed by adding “ನ” (na) to the object pronouns.

• ನನ್ನದು (Nannadu) – Mine: “ಇದು ನನ್ನದು.” (Idu nannadu) – This is mine.
• ನಿನ್ನದು (Ninnadu) – Yours: “ಅದು ನಿನ್ನದು.” (Adu ninnadu) – That is yours.
• ಅವನದು/ಅವಳದು (Avanadu/Avaḷadu) – His/Hers: “ಅದು ಅವನದು/ಅವಳದು.” (Adu avanadu/avaḷadu) – That is his/hers.
• ನಮ್ಮದು (Nammadu) – Ours: “ಇದು ನಮ್ಮದು.” (Idu nammadu) – This is ours.
• ನಿಮ್ಮದು (Nimmadu) – Yours (plural or formal): “ಅದು ನಿಮ್ಮದು.” (Adu nimmadu) – That is yours.
• ಅವರದು (Avaradu) – Theirs: “ಅದು ಅವರದು.” (Adu avaradu) – That is theirs.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns in Kannada point to specific nouns and vary based on distance.

• ಇದು (Idu) – This: “ಇದು ಎಷ್ಟು?” (Idu eṣṭu?) – How much is this?
• ಅದು (Adu) – That: “ಅದು ಏನು?” (Adu ēnu?) – What is that?

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns in Kannada are used when the subject performs an action upon itself. The term “ತಾನು” (tānu) is commonly used.

• ತಾನು (Tānu) – Oneself: “ಅವನು ತಾನು ಓದಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾನೆ.” (Avanu tānu odikoṇḍiddāne) – He is reading by himself.

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions about people, places, or things.

• ಯಾರು (Yāru) – Who: “ಯಾರು ಬಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ?” (Yāru baṇḍiddāre?) – Who has come?
• ಏನು (Ēnu) – What: “ನೀವು ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀರಿ?” (Nīvu ēnu māḍuttiddīri?) – What are you doing?
• ಎಲ್ಲಿ (Elli) – Where: “ನೀವು ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀರಿ?” (Nīvu elli hōguttiddīri?) – Where are you going?
• ಯಾವಾಗ (Yāvāga) – When: “ನೀವು ಯಾವಾಗ ಬರುತ್ತೀರಿ?” (Nīvu yāvāga baruttīri?) – When will you come?

Understanding and correctly using Kannada pronouns is vital for effective communication. Practice forming sentences with each type of pronoun, and try to engage in conversations or writing exercises to apply these concepts actively. Remember, context and the nuances of Kannada grammar play a significant role in choosing the correct pronoun form.