A1 Adjectifs 5 min read Facile

Décrire les tailles en kannada (dodda, sanna)

In Kannada, size adjectives are indeclinable and always precede the noun, making them incredibly easy to use.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In Kannada, size adjectives like 'doddadu' (big) or 'chikkadu' (small) usually come directly before the noun they describe.

  • Place the adjective before the noun: 'doddadu mane' (big house).
  • Adjectives in Kannada do not change based on gender or number.
  • Use 'is' (ide) at the end to complete the sentence: 'mane doddadu ide'.
Size Adjective + Noun + (ide)

Overview

Les adjectifs de taille en kannada sont les éléments de base de la survie quotidienne...

Size Adjective Patterns

Form Kannada English
Affirmative
Doddadu ide
It is big
Negative
Doddadu illa
It is not big
Question
Doddadu ideya?
Is it big?
Very Big
Tumba doddadu
Very big
Not very big
Tumba doddadu illa
Not very big
Is it very big?
Tumba doddadu ideya?
Is it very big?

Meanings

These adjectives are used to define the physical scale or dimension of an object, person, or place.

1

Physical Dimension

Describing the literal size of an object.

“Doddadu mara”

“Chikkadu koli”

Reference Table

Reference table for Décrire les tailles en kannada (dodda, sanna)
Kannada Word English Meaning Usage Example
`dodda`
Big / Large / Elder
`dodda parda` (Big screen)
`sanna` / `chikka`
Small / Thin / Little
`sanna thappu` (Small mistake)
`udda`
Long / Tall
`udda kūnidalu` (Long hair)
`gitta` / `potta`
Short (Height)
`gitta vyakti` (Short person)
`agala`
Wide / Broad
`agala kivi` (Wide ears)
`kitta`
Short (Length)
`kitta dāri` (Short path)

Spectre de formalité

Formel
Ee mane doddadu ide.

Ee mane doddadu ide. (Describing a house)

Neutre
Mane doddadu ide.

Mane doddadu ide. (Describing a house)

Informel
Mane doddadu.

Mane doddadu. (Describing a house)

Argot
Mane doddadu kano!

Mane doddadu kano! (Describing a house)

Core Size Adjectives

Size

Large

  • dodda Big
  • agala Wide

Small

  • sanna Small/Thin
  • chikka Little

Length

  • udda Long/Tall
  • kitta Short

Big vs Small Objects

Dodda (Big)
dodda mane Big house
dodda mara Big tree
Sanna (Small)
sanna hoovu Small flower
sanna pūstaka Small book

How to Use Size Adjectives

1

Are you putting it before the noun?

YES
Use base form (e.g., dodda)
NO
Go to next step
2

Are you saying 'the big one'?

YES
Use nominalized form (doddadu)
NO ↓

Size in Context

🛍️

Shopping

  • • dodda size
  • • sanna bag
  • • udda dress
👤

People

  • • udda huḍuga
  • • sanna pāpa
  • • dodda anna
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Exemples par niveau

1

Doddadu mane.

Big house.

2

Chikkadu koli.

Small chicken.

3

Mane doddadu ide.

The house is big.

4

Koli chikkadu ide.

The chicken is small.

1

Mane doddadu illa.

The house is not big.

2

Mane doddadu ideya?

Is the house big?

3

Ee mara chikkadu ide.

This tree is small.

4

Adu doddadu kelsa.

That is a big job.

1

Tumba doddadu mane idu.

This is a very big house.

2

Nanage chikkadu chaddi beku.

I need small shorts.

3

Idu bahala doddadu samasye.

This is a very big problem.

4

Avu chikkadu koli galu.

Those are small chickens.

1

Doddadu kelsa maduvudu kashta.

Doing a big job is difficult.

2

Chikkadu mane adaru, tumba chennagide.

Even though it is a small house, it is very nice.

3

Avana doddadu kanasu.

His big dream.

4

Doddadu prashne idu.

This is a big question.

1

Doddadu pramanada badalavane.

A change of large scale.

2

Chikkadu chikkadu vishayagalu.

Small, small details.

3

Adara doddadu prabhavavu ide.

It has a large influence.

4

Chikkadu enisidaru, idu mukhyavada.

Though considered small, this is important.

1

Doddadu samrajyada patana.

The fall of a great empire.

2

Chikkadu chikkadu hejjegalu.

Small, small steps.

3

Doddadu manassina vyakti.

A person of a big heart.

4

Chikkadu kshatravu illada.

Without a small area.

Facile à confondre

Describing Sizes in Kannada (dodda, sanna) vs Doddadu vs Tumba

Learners mix up 'big' (doddadu) and 'very' (tumba).

Describing Sizes in Kannada (dodda, sanna) vs Ide vs Ideya

Learners forget the question marker.

Describing Sizes in Kannada (dodda, sanna) vs Adjective vs Noun

Placing the adjective after the noun.

Erreurs courantes

✗

Mane doddadu

✓

Doddadu mane

Adjective must precede the noun.
✗

Doddadu-u mane

✓

Doddadu mane

Do not add extra suffixes to adjectives.
✗

Mane doddadu

✓

Mane doddadu ide

Need the verb 'ide' for a complete sentence.
✗

Doddadu-a mane

✓

Doddadu mane

Adjectives are invariant.
✗

Mane doddadu-illa

✓

Mane doddadu illa

Separate the negative particle.
✗

Mane doddadu-ya?

✓

Mane doddadu ideya?

Need the full verb for questions.
✗

Doddadu-galu mane

✓

Doddadu manegalu

Pluralize the noun, not the adjective.
✗

Tumba-doddadu mane

✓

Tumba doddadu mane

No hyphen needed.
✗

Doddadu-adaru mane

✓

Doddadu adaru mane

Correct spacing.
✗

Doddadu-ge mane

✓

Doddadu maneg

Case markers go on the noun.
✗

Doddadu-pramanada

✓

Doddadu pramanada

Maintain proper word spacing.

Structures de phrases

___ mane ide.

Idu ___ koli.

___ samasye ideya?

___ kanasu idu.

Real World Usage

Shopping constant

Doddadu size kodi.

Directions very common

Doddadu building alli ide.

Social Media common

Doddadu kanasu!

Texting common

Mane doddadu ide.

Food Delivery occasional

Doddadu pizza beku.

Job Interview occasional

Doddadu kelsa ide.

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🎯

The 'Elder' Nuance

Remember that dodda and chikka are also used for family relations. Dodda-ppa is your father's elder brother, and Chikka-ppa is his younger brother.
⚠️

Tall vs Long

While udda is used for both, if you want to sound more precise for height (like buildings), use ettara.
💬

Respect with Size

Referring to someone as doddavaru (the big people) is a common way to show high respect, regardless of their physical size.

Smart Tips

Always think 'Size + Object'.

Mane doddadu. → Doddadu mane.

Add -ya to the verb.

Mane doddadu ide? → Mane doddadu ideya?

Use 'illa' at the end.

Mane doddadu not. → Mane doddadu illa.

Put 'tumba' before the adjective.

Doddadu tumba mane. → Tumba doddadu mane.

Prononciation

doh-dah-doo

Vowel length

Ensure 'doddadu' has a clear 'o' sound.

Question intonation

ideya? (rising pitch)

Indicates a question.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Doddadu is 'Big' like a 'Dodd' (Dad) who is big. Chikkadu is 'Small' like a 'Chick' (baby bird).

Association visuelle

Imagine a giant Dad (Doddadu) standing next to a tiny baby bird (Chikkadu).

Rhyme

Doddadu is big, Chikkadu is small, use them before the noun, that is all.

Story

Once there was a big (doddadu) house. Inside, there was a small (chikkadu) mouse. The mouse looked at the big (doddadu) cheese.

Word Web

DoddaduChikkaduUddavadaTumbaIdeIlla

Défi

Look at 5 objects in your room and describe their size using 'doddadu' or 'chikkadu' in a sentence.

Notes culturelles

Size is often used to describe social standing or hospitality.

Size descriptors are often used for land and crops.

Used for apartments and commercial spaces.

Derived from Dravidian roots for dimension.

Amorces de conversation

“

Ee mane doddadu ideya?

“

Nimma ooru doddadu ideya?

“

Doddadu kelsa maduvudu kashtave?

“

Doddadu kanasu kano badalavane?

Sujets d'écriture

Describe your house using size adjectives.
Describe a big city you have visited.
Write about a big challenge you faced.
Reflect on the concept of 'big' in your life.

Erreurs courantes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choose the correct word for 'Big house'.

____ mane.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dodda
We use the base form 'dodda' when it directly precedes the noun 'mane'.
Fix the word order for 'Long queue'. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Queue udda.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Udda queue.
In Kannada, the adjective (udda) must come before the noun (queue).
Match the Kannada size words with their English meanings. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
These are the four basic size descriptors in Kannada.

Score: /3

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Mane ___ ide.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: doddadu
Adjective describes the house.
Choose the correct sentence. Choix multiple

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Doddadu mane
Adjective precedes noun.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Mane doddadu-u.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mane doddadu ide
Needs verb.
Make it negative. Sentence Transformation

Mane doddadu ide.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mane doddadu illa
Use illa for negative.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Mane doddadu ideya? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Haudu, doddadu ide
Full sentence response.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

doddadu / mane / ide

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Doddadu mane ide
Correct order.
Match the size. Match Pairs

Match:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Doddadu-Big
Correct meaning.
Choose the correct question. Choix multiple

How to ask if it is big?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mane doddadu ideya?
Use ideya for questions.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
I want a small coffee. Texte trous

Nanage ____ coffee bēku.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sanna
Reorder the words to say 'This is a big car'. Sentence Reorder

car / idu / dodda

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Idu dodda car
Translate 'Short distance' to Kannada. Traduction

Short distance

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kitta dūra
Which one means 'The big one'? Choix multiple

Select the correct form:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: doddadu
Correct the gender agreement error: 'Sanni huḍugi' (Small girl). Error Correction

Sanni huḍugi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sanna huḍugi.
Match the opposites. Match Pairs

Opposite pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Add 'very' to 'big house'. Texte trous

____ dodda mane.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tumba
Reorder: 'Long hair'. Sentence Reorder

kūndalu / udda

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Udda kūndalu
How do you say 'Tall man'? Choix multiple

Tall man:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Udda manushya
Translate 'Small mistake'. Traduction

Small mistake

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sanna thappu

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, Kannada adjectives are invariant.

Always before the noun.

It means 'is'.

Use 'illa' instead of 'ide'.

Yes, they are standard.

Yes, like 'uddavada' (long).

Check your word order.

Yes, it is standard Kannada.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Grande

Word order is reversed.

French partial

Grand

Gender agreement.

German partial

Groß

Declension.

Japanese high

Ookii

Particle usage.

Arabic low

Kabir

Word order and agreement.

Chinese high

Da

Lack of verb 'to be'.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Décrire les couleurs (Kempu, Nīli)
Next
Adjectifs en kannada : Accord facile (dodda, hosa)

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