stage 2 · lesson 4 · 23 phrases
Colours, and the animals you will actually name
Nine colours and thirteen animals — the first words that let you describe something instead of just greeting someone.
Draft — these 23 phrases still need a native-speaker check before they count as correct.
by the end you can
- Name the nine everyday colours.
- Name thirteen animals, from naayi to aane.
- Use the two category words: baNNagaLu (colours) and praaNigaLu (animals).
say these out loud
ಬಣ್ಣಗಳು
baNNagaLu
colours
ಬಿಳಿ
biLi
white
ಕಪ್ಪು
kappu
black
ನೀಲಿ
niili
blue
ಹಸಿರು
hasiru
green
ಕೆಂಪು
kempu
red
ಗುಲಾಬಿ
gulaabii
pink
ಹಳದಿ
haLadi
yellow
ಕಿತ್ತಳೆ
kittaLe
orange
ಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳು
praaNigaLu
animals
ನಾಯಿ
naayi
dog
ಬೆಕ್ಕು
bekku
cat
ಹಸು
hasu
cow
ಗೂಳಿ
guuLi
bull
ಎಮ್ಮೆ
emme
buffalo
ಹಂದಿ
handi
pig
ಆನೆ
aane
elephant
ಸಿಂಹ
simha
lion
ಮೇಕೆ
meeke
goat
ಒಂಟೆ
onTe
camel
ಪಾರಿವಾಳ
paarivaaLa
pigeon
ಕಾಗೆ
kaage
crow
ಇಲಿ
ili
mouse
This lesson is built from the course outline, not from a grammar book: every phrase below is one the operator’s own syllabus teaches at this point.
The one pattern
Colour words are adjectives that sit before the noun, and they do not change for singular or plural: kempu huva = a red flower, kempu huvagaLu = red flowers. The -gaLu you see on baNNagaLu and praaNigaLu marks the noun as plural, not the colour.
How to practise
Say each card out loud in Kannada before you look at the meaning, then check yourself against the English. The practice deck for this lesson builds itself from these 23 cards.