Nouns In Kannada: 9 Different Types To Master

Namaskara! Oh, wonder what is it? That’s hello in Kannada! Today’s blog is about one such topic that is responsible for the formation of a basic premise in any language: nouns.

The categorization of nouns in Kannada as per Kannada vocabulary is purely based on the nature of their existence. Hence, the categories are pretty ample. Dont worry! We have got you covered in this article as it will be your toolkit for understanding Kannada nouns in the best possible way!

Types Of Nouns In Kannada

The Kannada language is one of the prominent languages of South India and can be divided into three categories based on its history:

1. Halegannada (ಹಳೆಗನ್ನಡ): The oldest Kannada language.
2. Nadugannada (ನಡುಗನ್ನಡ): Kannada language used during the medieval period.
3. Hosagannada (ಹೊಸಗನ್ನಡ): The modern Kannada language.
   
   

Kavirajamarga, the earliest known work on the Kannada language, also talks about the reference grammar present in the language. Hence, Kannada was not just meant to be spoken; the spoken Kannada also had very strong fundamentals!

One such grammatical topic, nouns, as per Kanarese grammar, can be broadly categorized into nine types:

1. Vasthuvachaka (ವಸ್ತುವಾಚಕ)

Any word that specifies the name of anything is Vasthuvachaka. Vasthuvachaka can be further divided into three categories:

1. Roodhanama (ರೂಢನಾಮ): Common nouns in Kannada. These things have been generally called such from the past. For example, shaale (ಶಾಲೆ) in Kannada means school, pakshi (ಪಕ್ಷಿ) means bird, samudra (ಸಮುದ್ರ) means ocean, and many more.
   
   
2. Ankitanama (ಅಂಕಿತನಾಮ): Proper nouns in Kannada. Named by humans to identify anything based on its qualities or significance for ease of understanding. For example, Cauvery is the name of a river that flows in Karnataka, the Himalayas Mountain ranges border India and Nepal, etc.
   
   
3. Anvarthanaama (ಅನ್ವರ್ಥನಾಮ): Also known as abstract nouns in Kannada. Generally, these nouns are named as per their meaning. All kinds of abstract ideas also fall under this category. For example, raitha (ರೈತ) means farmer in Kannada. Similarly, vyapaari (ವ್ಯಾಪಾರಿ) means businessman.

2. Gunavachaka (ಗುಣವಾಚಕ)

Equivalent to adjectives. They generally describe a particular aspect of any noun. For example,

• Olleya angi (ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಅಂಗಿ) means “a nice shirt”. In this example, olleya (ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ) denotes what kind of shirt it is.
  
  
• Hale adhyaaya (ಹಳೆ ಅಧ್ಯಾಯ), “old chapter.” Hale (ಹಳೆ), which means old, conveys to us that the chapter is old.

3. Bhaavanama (ಭಾವನಾಮ)

Nouns in Kannada that express emotions are called Bhavanama (ಭಾವನಾಮ). Bhaava (ಭಾವ) in Kannada means emotion. Hence, these words can be blended into any sentence to enhance and make it even more expressive. Like,

• Wow! What a beautiful sight! – Arere! Enthaha sundara nota! (ಅರೆರೆ! ಎಂತಹ ಸುಂದರ ನೋಟ!) Here, the term arere (ಅರೆರೆ) is a Bhaavanama (ಭಾವನಾಮ) as it expresses how beautiful the scene is.
  
  
• Damn! What a scary scene! – Abbabba! Bhayankara Drishya! (ಅಬ್ಬಬ್ಬಾ! ಭಯಂಕರ ದೃಶ್ಯ!) Here, the term Abbabba (ಅಬ್ಬಬ್ಬಾ) makes the listener understand how scary the scene is.

4. Sankhyavachaka (ಸಂಖ್ಯಾವಾಚಕ)

Words that denote numbers are called Sankhyavachaka (ಸಂಖ್ಯಾವಾಚಕ) in Kannada. These are numbers and can be used as suffixes while conversing or writing. For example, ondu (ಒಂದು) means one, nooru (ನೂರು) means hundred, etc.

5. Sankhyeyavachaka (ಸಂಖ್ಯೇಯವಾಚಕ)

When numbers are blended with a word, it becomes Sankhyeyavachaka (ಸಂಖ್ಯೇಯವಾಚಕ). They function similarly to adverbs. In English, how the term ‘one’ is used as a pronoun, whereas ‘once’ takes the form of an adverb; very similarly, in nouns in Kannada, unlike English, there is no bifurcation as pronouns or adjectives. Hence, they all fall under different categories of nouns.

For example, Mooraneya (ಮೂರನೆಯ) in Kannada means ‘thrice’. But mooru (ಮೂರು) in Kannada means the number ‘three’.

As explained above, mooru (ಮೂರು) falls under the category of Sankhyavaachaka (ಸಂಖ್ಯಾವಾಚಕ) because it contains just a plain number whereas mooraneya (ಮೂರನೆಯ) which means ‘thrice’ or ‘the third’ becomes Sankhyeyavaachaka (ಸಂಖ್ಯೇಯವಾಚಕ) because it is used as an adverb.

6. Digvachaka (ದಿಗ್ವಾಚಕ)

Words that denote directions are called Digvaachaka (ದಿಗ್ವಾಚಕ). In Kannada, the term Utthara (ಉತ್ತರ) means ‘North’. Similarly, Dakshina (ದಕ್ಷಿಣ) means ‘South’. Poorva (ಪೂರ್ವ) means ‘East’. Paschima (ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ) means ‘West’.

7. Parimanavachaka (ಪರಿಮಾಣವಾಚಕ)

Words that signify the size or weight of anything. For example;

Kelavu (ಕೆಲವು) means ‘few,’ Halavu (ಹಲವು) means ‘a lot,’ Similarly, terms like Dodda (ದೊಡ್ಡ) and Sanna (ಸಣ್ಣ), which means ‘big’ and ‘small’ are used to denote the size or weight of an object.

8. Prakaravachaka (ಪ್ರಕಾರವಾಚಕ)

Specifies the situation of a particular thing. Example:

• Nothing of that sort has happened – Anthahaddu Enu aagilla. (ಅಂತಹದ್ದು ಏನು ಆಗಿಲ್ಲ)
  
  

In this particular sentence, the term Anthaha (ಅಂತಹ) simply specifies the reader or a listener regarding the seriousness or intensity of any situation.

9. Sarvanama (ಸರ್ವನಾಮ)

Pronouns. Used instead of nouns in Kannada. Just like English, they are classified into first, second, and third person.

How To Use Nouns In Kannada

Now that we have learned about all the categories of nouns in the Kannada language, let us shift the focus towards how such nouns can be put to use in a sentence by following the below steps:

Understand The Gender

Kannada nouns have classified the gender into three types:

• Pullinga (ಪುಲ್ಲಿಂಗ) meaning ‘masculine’- Avanu (ಅವನು)
• Streelinga (ಸ್ತ್ರೀಲಿಂಗ) meaning ‘feminine’- Avalu (ಅವಳು)
• Napumsakalinga (ನಪುಂಸಕ ಲಿಂಗ) meaning ‘neuter’- Adu (ಅದು)
  
  

Neuter nouns are neither feminine nor masculine. You need to address the person or a thing accordingly, based on gender.

Use Correct Singular And Plural Forms

Adding galu (ಗಳು) at the end of the nouns except gender-based pronouns. This is the plural marker in Kannada. Adding it wherever necessary can make any singular word into plural form – Declension.

Eg: Pusthaka (ಪುಸ್ತಕ) – Pusthakagalu (ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು), Pusthaka (ಪುಸ್ತಕ) means a ‘book’, and adding galu (ಗಳು) makes it as ‘books’.

Know The Case Endings

Kannada has case markers to modify nouns. Unlike prepositions, Kannada has post positions, which are generally used right after the noun, which also modifies the noun into verbs:

Be Mindful Of Formal And Informal Expression

Kannada uses formal and informal expressions when addressing a particular individual. Hence, that also denotes the respect level you give to the person while addressing.

Neenu (ನೀನು), which means ‘you,’ is used for informal purposes, whereas Neevu (ನೀವು), which means the same, is used in formal occasions.

Unlike English, Kannada neither has definite nor indefinite articles.

And that’s it! We have addressed all nouns in Kannada and learned to use them!

Vocabulary: Examples Of Nouns In Kannada

Now that we have learned how to use nouns in Kannada, let’s look at some examples for you to practice:

Vasthuvaachaka (ವಸ್ತುವಾಚಕ)

Gunavaachaka (ಗುಣವಾಚಕ)

Bhaavanama (ಭಾವನಾಮ)

Sankhyavaachaka (ಸಂಖ್ಯಾವಾಚಕ)

Sankhyeyavaachaka (ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯವಾಚಕ)

Digvaachaka (ದಿಗ್ವಾಚಕ)

Parimanavaachaka (ಪರಿಮಾಣವಾಚಕ)

Prakaravaachaka (ಪ್ರಕಾರವಾಚಕ)

Sarvanama (ಸರ್ವನಾಮ)

How Do You Say “Nouns” In Kannada?

In Kannada, nouns are called namapadagalu (ನಾಮಪದಗಳು).

Some Tips You Must Remember About Nouns In Kannada

1. A sentence can contain multiple nouns. They can form compound nouns as well as noun phrases. Unlike English, a Kannada sentence can be made just with nouns!
   
   
2. Focus on understanding the correct gender when you address someone, because Kannada has gender-specific pronouns and verb conjugations. For instance, when it comes to third-person singular nouns, avalu (ಅವಳು) is used for women and avanu (ಅವನು) for men.
   
   
3. It’s okay if you don’t get the sentence formation right. Kannada as a spoken language differs a lot from the written one. Hence, even if you mess up the placement of nouns or other words when making a sentence, it will still give the same meaning!
   
   
4. Be mindful of formal and informal expressions used to address any person in Kannada, as they play a key role in determining the respect you give to an individual.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nouns In Kannada

1. What Do We Call A Proper Noun In Kannada?

Proper nouns in Kannada are called Ankithanaama.

2. What Are Collective Nouns Called In Kannada?

Collective nouns in Kannada are called as Vasthuvachaka.

3. What Are Nouns And Pronouns Called In Kannada?

Nouns in Kannada are called Namapadagalu. Pronouns in Kannada are called Sarvanama. Sarvanama falls under one of the categories of nouns, as per Kannada.

Wrapping Up

Nouns in Kannada are broadly categorized into nine types based on the nature and state of a particular word. Instead of prepositions, relevant post positions are used after the noun as per the Kannada word order. The structure of the sentence must follow this sequence regardless of the nouns present in that particular sentence.

While framing a sentence, these postpositions (case endings) blend according to the gender of the person we are addressing. It is important to be mindful of the formal and informal expressions as well.

Learn More About The Kannada Language

Did learning about Kannada nouns interest you more about the Kannada language? Well, start your language-learning journey with Ling. The Ling app offers interactive lessons, quizzes, and exercises to make learning fun and interesting!

Don’t just learn Kannada; with Ling, you can explore any language of your choice, including less popular languages like South Asian languages, and master them!