A1 Pronouns 5 min read Easy

Kannada Personal Pronouns: I, You, He, She (naanu, neevu)

Mastering the shift between informal and formal pronouns is the secret to sounding natural and respectful in Kannada.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Kannada personal pronouns replace names to identify who is speaking, being spoken to, or being discussed.

  • Use 'Naanu' (I) for first person singular: Naanu vidyarthi (I am a student).
  • Use 'Neevu' (You - formal/plural) or 'Neenu' (You - informal) for second person.
  • Use 'Avanu' (He), 'Avalu' (She), or 'Adu' (It) for third person singular.
Subject (Pronoun) + Object/Complement + Verb (optional)

Overview

Ever walked into a Bengaluru cafe and realized you can't even say 'I'?
You want a coffee.
You know the word for coffee.
But pointing at yourself feels awkward.
Personal pronouns are your first real superpower in Kannada.
They are the 'who' of every single conversation.
Without them, you are just a person making sounds.
In Kannada, these words do more than just point.
They show respect.
They show distance.
They even show if you are being a bit rude.
Think of them as the social GPS of Karnataka.
They tell everyone exactly where you stand.
Using the wrong one is like wearing flip-flops to a wedding.
You'll be understood, but people will definitely notice.
Let's get you speaking like a local pro.

How This Grammar Works

Kannada pronouns are grouped by person and respect.
First person is 'I' and 'we'.
Second person is 'you'.
Third person is 'he', 'she', 'it', and 'they'.
Gender matters for humans in the third person.
Respect is the most important part of the system.
It is not just about being polite.
It is about acknowledging someone's age or status.
You have different words for your younger brother and your boss.
Verbs in Kannada actually change based on these pronouns.
If you change the pronoun, you must change the verb ending.
It is a package deal.
Don't worry, the patterns are very logical.
They follow a rhythm you will catch quickly.
It is like learning the controls of a new game.
Once you know the buttons, the rest is easy.

Formation Pattern

1
Start with the First Person.
2
naanu means 'I'.
3
naavu means 'we'.
4
Move to the Second Person.
5
neenu is 'you' (singular/informal).
6
neevu is 'you' (plural/formal).
7
Look at the Third Person (Proximate - someone close by).
8
ivanu is 'he' (informal).
9
ivalu is 'she' (informal).
10
ivaru is 'he/she' (polite) or 'they'.
11
idu is 'it'.
12
Look at the Third Person (Remote - someone far away).
13
avanu is 'he' (informal).
14
avalu is 'she' (informal).
15
avaru is 'he/she' (polite) or 'they'.
16
adu is 'it'.
17
Notice the 'i' vs 'a' pattern.
18
Words starting with 'i' are for people right here.
19
Words starting with 'a' are for people over there.
20
It is like 'this' versus 'that'.
21
Remember the 'Respect Rule'.
22
When in doubt, use the plural form for one person.
23
neevu and avaru are your safest bets.

When To Use It

Use naanu for your Instagram captions about yourself.
Use naavu when you and your friends are at a pub.
Use neenu only with close friends or younger kids.
Using neenu with a stranger is a major vibe-killer.
Use neevu for your Uber driver or your professor.
It shows you have 'culture' (or *samskara* as locals say).
Use avanu or avalu for friends your own age.
Use avaru for anyone older than you.
Yes, even if they are only two years older.
Use adu for the stray cat or your phone.
Never use adu for a person unless you are joking.
Or unless you want to start a fight.
It is very useful for Netflix subtitles.
You will see these words constantly in movie dialogues.
They help you track who is talking to whom.

Common Mistakes

Mixing up neenu and neevu is the biggest rookie error.
It's like calling your CEO 'dude' in a Zoom meeting.
Another mistake is using adu for people.
Calling your roommate adu (it) is quite insulting.
Unless they actually act like a robot, maybe?
Don't forget the proximate vs remote distinction.
Saying avanu when the guy is standing next to you is weird.
It's like talking about someone while they are right there.
Use ivanu if you can touch them.
Use avanu if they are across the street.
Many learners forget that avaru is both 'they' and 'he/she (polite)'.
Don't get confused if one person is called 'they'.
It is just the Kannada way of being extra respectful.
Also, don't use these pronouns without matching the verb.
naanu baruttene (I come) is correct.
naanu baruttare (I they-come) sounds like a glitch in the matrix.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Compare naanu with the possessive nanna (my).
naanu is the subject; nanna is the owner.
Compare neevu (you-formal) with naavu (we).
They sound similar but change the whole meaning.
One is about the other person; one is about your squad.
Think about the difference between adu and idu.
adu is 'that thing' far away.
idu is 'this thing' in your hand.
It's exactly like 'that' and 'this' in English.
Notice how avaru covers both genders.
Unlike English 'he' and 'she', the polite avaru is gender-neutral.
It is actually more progressive than many European languages!
No need to worry about 'he/she' when being polite.
Just use avaru and you are safe.
It is the ultimate 'cheat code' for Kannada social life.

Quick FAQ

Q

Can I drop the pronoun entirely?

Yes! Kannada is a 'pro-drop' language.

Q

Is there a 'middle' level of respect?

Not really in the pronouns themselves.

Q

How do I say 'they' for objects?

Use avu.

Q

Do people actually use neenu?

All the time! With besties and siblings.

Q

Is naavu used for 'I'?

Sometimes royalty or politicians do this.

Q

What if I don't know someone's age?

Always default to neevu and avaru.

Personal Pronouns Overview

Person Singular Plural
1st Person
Naanu (I)
Naavu (We)
2nd Person (Inf)
Neenu (You)
Neevu (You all)
2nd Person (Formal)
Neevu (You)
Neevu (You all)
3rd Person (M)
Avanu (He)
Avaru (They/He-formal)
3rd Person (F)
Avalu (She)
Avaru (They/She-formal)
3rd Person (N)
Adu (It)
Avugalu (They-things)

Meanings

Personal pronouns in Kannada function as substitutes for nouns, identifying the speaker, the listener, or the person/thing being discussed.

1

First Person

Referring to the speaker.

“Naanu hoguttene.”

“Naavu baruttheve.”

2

Second Person

Referring to the listener.

“Neenu yaaru?”

“Neevu hegiddiri?”

3

Third Person

Referring to someone else.

“Avanu barutthane.”

“Avalu odutthaale.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Kannada Personal Pronouns: I, You, He, She (naanu, neevu)
Person Kannada English Politeness/Note
1st Singular
naanu
I
Neutral
1st Plural
naavu
We
Neutral/Inclusive
2nd Singular
neenu
You
Informal (friends/kids)
2nd Plural/Formal
neevu
You
Formal/Respectful
3rd Masc (Remote)
avanu
He
Informal/Younger
3rd Fem (Remote)
avalu
She
Informal/Younger
3rd Polite (Remote)
avaru
He/She/They
Formal/Respectful
3rd Neuter (Remote)
adu
It
Objects/Animals

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Neevu hegiddiri?

Neevu hegiddiri? (Greeting)

Neutral
Hegiddira?

Hegiddira? (Greeting)

Informal
Hegiddeya?

Hegiddeya? (Greeting)

Slang
Hegidya?

Hegidya? (Greeting)

The Kannada Pronoun Universe

Pronouns

1st Person

  • naanu I
  • naavu We

2nd Person

  • neenu You (Casual)
  • neevu You (Respectful)

Distance: This vs. That

Proximate (Near)
idu This (it)
ivanu He (here)
Remote (Far)
adu That (it)
avanu He (there)

Which 'You' should I use?

1

Are they older than you?

YES
Use 'neevu'
NO
Next question
2

Are they a close friend?

YES
Use 'neenu'
NO ↓

Third Person Breakdown

👨

Male

  • • avanu
  • • ivanu
👩

Female

  • • avalu
  • • ivalu
👥

Polite/Plural

  • • avaru
  • • ivaru
🐱

Non-human

  • • adu
  • • idu
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Examples by Level

1

Naanu vidyarthi.

I am a student.

2

Neenu yaaru?

Who are you?

3

Avanu nan thamma.

He is my younger brother.

4

Avalu nanna snehite.

She is my friend.

1

Naavu Bengaluru-ge hoguttheve.

We are going to Bengaluru.

2

Neevu elli iddira?

Where are you?

3

Avaru nanna shikshakaru.

He/They is/are my teacher.

4

Adu nanna pustaka.

That is my book.

1

Avaru nanna jothege baruthiddaru.

He was coming with me.

2

Nimma hesaru enu?

What is your name?

3

Nanna mane alli ide.

My house is there.

4

Namma desha bharatha.

Our country is India.

1

Naanu hoguvudilla.

I will not go.

2

Neevu heliddu sari.

What you said is correct.

3

Avaru baruvudilla endu helidaru.

They said they would not come.

4

Adu nanage ishta.

I like that.

1

Avaru bareda pustaka idu.

This is the book he wrote.

2

Naavu ellaru ondagi irabeku.

We must all be together.

3

Nimma abhipraya enu?

What is your opinion?

4

Avalu bareda kavana channagide.

The poem she wrote is good.

1

Avaru kanda kanasu nannadagide.

The dream he saw has become mine.

2

Naanu nanna karthavyavannu maduttene.

I will perform my duty.

3

Neevu namma jothege iruvudu namage santosha.

It is our pleasure that you are with us.

4

Adu namma samskrutiya pratheeka.

That is a symbol of our culture.

Easily Confused

Kannada Personal Pronouns: I, You, He, She (naanu, neevu) vs Neenu vs Neevu

Learners mix up informal and formal.

Kannada Personal Pronouns: I, You, He, She (naanu, neevu) vs Avanu vs Avaru

Avaru is plural or honorific.

Kannada Personal Pronouns: I, You, He, She (naanu, neevu) vs Naanu vs Nanna

Subject vs Possessive.

Common Mistakes

✗

Naanu barutthi.

✓

Naanu baruttene.

Verb ending must match pronoun.
✗

Neenu hogiri.

✓

Neenu hogu.

Mixing formal/informal.
✗

Avanu barutthaale.

✓

Avanu barutthane.

Gender mismatch.
✗

Adu nanna.

✓

Adu nannadu.

Missing possessive suffix.
✗

Naavu hoguttene.

✓

Naavu hoguttheve.

Plural pronoun needs plural verb.
✗

Avaru barutthane.

✓

Avaru barutthaare.

Honorific needs plural verb.
✗

Neevu baruthiya.

✓

Neevu barutheera.

Formal verb ending.
✗

Avaru nanna jothe barutthane.

✓

Avaru nanna jothe barutthaare.

Honorific consistency.
✗

Nanna mane alli.

✓

Nanna mane alli ide.

Missing copula.
✗

Naanu nanna kelsa maduttene.

✓

Naanu nanna kelasa maduttene.

Spelling.
✗

Avaru bareda pustaka nannadu.

✓

Avaru bareda pustaka nannadu.

Actually correct, but context matters.
✗

Naanu hoguvudilla anta helidaru.

✓

Naanu hoguvudilla endu helidaru.

Reported speech particle.

Sentence Patterns

Naanu ___ iddene.

Neenu ___ hoguthiya?

Avaru ___ barutthaare.

Naavu ___ maduttheve.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Naanu photo hakiddene.

Texting constant

Neenu elli?

Job Interview very common

Neevu nanna anubhava kelabahudu.

Travel common

Naavu bus-ge hoguttheve.

Food Delivery common

Naanu order madiddene.

Classroom very common

Avaru shikshakaru.

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🎯

The Avaru Safety Net

When in doubt about gender or respect, just use avaru. It is the most versatile and safest pronoun for adults.
⚠️

The 'Adu' Insult

Never refer to a person as adu. It implies they are an object or an animal and is considered very offensive.
💬

Plurality equals Respect

In Kannada culture, addressing someone in the plural (neevu, avaru) is the primary way to show respect, even for a single person.

Smart Tips

Always use 'Neevu'.

Neenu hegiddiya? → Neevu hegiddiri?

Use 'Avaru'.

Avanu barutthane. → Avaru barutthaare.

Use 'Neenu'.

Neevu barutheera? → Neenu baruthiya?

Include the pronoun.

Baruttene. → Naanu baruttene.

Pronunciation

Naanu (Naa-nu)

Vowel length

Long vowels are held twice as long.

Question

Neenu baruthiya? ↑

Rising pitch at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Naanu is 'I' (sounds like 'now'), Neenu is 'you' (sounds like 'knee').

Visual Association

Imagine pointing at yourself saying 'Naanu', then pointing at a friend saying 'Neenu'.

Rhyme

Naanu is I, Neenu is you, Avanu is he, that is true.

Story

Naanu went to the market. I saw Neenu there. Avanu was also there with Avalu. We all bought apples.

Word Web

NaanuNaavuNeenuNeevuAvanuAvaluAvaruAdu

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your family using these pronouns.

Cultural Notes

Respect for elders is paramount. Always use 'Neevu'.

Kannada pronouns evolve from Proto-Dravidian roots.

Conversation Starters

“

Nimma hesaru enu?

“

Neevu elli iddira?

“

Neevu enu maduttheera?

“

Nimma abhipraya enu?

Journal Prompts

Introduce yourself.
Describe your best friend.
Describe your daily routine.
Write about a person you admire.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct respectful 'You'.

___ (You - formal) coffee kudiyuttheera?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: neevu
neevu is the respectful form of 'you' used with elders or strangers.
Which pronoun should you use for your boss? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct pronoun for a superior:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: avaru
avaru is the honorific third-person pronoun used for both men and women in formal contexts.
Find and fix the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Adu nanna tande (He is my father).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Avaru nanna tande
You should never use adu (it) for your father. Use avaru to show respect.

Score: /3

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Naanu ___ iddene.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vidyarthi
Need a noun.
Choose the correct pronoun. Multiple Choice

___ barutthaare (He-formal).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Avaru
Avaru is honorific.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Neenu hogiri.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: All of the above
Fixing formality.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

iddene / Naanu / vidyarthi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Naanu vidyarthi iddene
Subject-Object-Verb.
Translate to Kannada. Translation

I am a teacher.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Naanu shikshaka iddene
Full sentence.
Match. Match Pairs

Naanu - I, Neenu - You, Avanu - He

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Correct
Basic mapping.
Conjugate. Conjugation Drill

Naanu (hogu) -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: hoguttene
1st person singular.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'Naavu' and 'hogu'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Naavu hoguttheve
1st person plural.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank for 'I'. Fill in the Blank

___ (I) Bengaluru nalli iddeene.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: naanu
Translate 'We are friends' to Kannada. Translation

We are friends.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: naavu snehitaru
Reorder the words to say 'This is a book'. Sentence Reorder

pustaka / idu / ondu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: idu ondu pustaka
Match the English pronoun to the Kannada equivalent. Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I: naanu, You (formal): neevu, He (informal): avanu, It: adu
Choose the 'near' pronoun for 'She'. Multiple Choice

Which word means 'She' (informal, standing right here)?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ivalu
Correct the pronoun for a group of people. Error Correction

Adu baruttiddare (They are coming).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Avaru baruttiddare
Fill in the blank for 'That thing'. Fill in the Blank

___ (That) nanna mane.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: adu
How do you address a child? Multiple Choice

Which 'You' is appropriate for a 5-year-old?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: neenu
Translate 'He (polite) is a doctor'. Translation

He (polite) is a doctor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: avaru doctor
Reorder: 'You (formal) where?' Sentence Reorder

elli / neevu / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: neevu elli?

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Kannada distinguishes between informal 'Neenu' and formal 'Neevu'.

Use it for plural 'they' or singular honorific 'he/she'.

Yes, native speakers often drop them when the verb is clear.

No, 'Adu' is for things or animals.

Use 'Nanna'.

It is plural, but also used for singular formal.

Kannada verbs agree with the pronoun's person and number.

Use 'Avaru' as a neutral/respectful form.

Scaffolded Practice

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1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Yo, Tú, Él/Ella

Kannada is agglutinative.

French moderate

Je, Tu, Il/Elle

Kannada verb endings are more complex.

German moderate

Ich, Du, Er/Sie/Es

Kannada is not Indo-European.

Japanese partial

Watashi, Anata, Kare/Kanojo

Kannada uses verb suffixes for honorifics.

Arabic moderate

Ana, Anta/Anti, Huwa/Hiya

Arabic is Semitic.

Chinese low

Wo, Ni, Ta

Chinese is isolating.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Possessive Pronouns

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