Tulu phrasebook
Phrasebook
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.
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.
Vowels
Consonants
Common diphthongs
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/
Adapted from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)