06. Adjectives & Descriptors

In Kannada, descriptive adjectives generally precede the noun they modify, maintaining the exact same syntactic order as English and Hindi (e.g., Dodda mane ⟨DOD-dah MUH-ney⟩ = Big house = Bada ghar).

This lesson covers high-frequency opposites and essential descriptors for size, quality, and taste.

1. Opposites and General Descriptors

These adjectives are crucial for evaluating objects, making purchases, or describing the environment.

Kannada	English Meaning	Context / Notes
Chennagide / Olleyadu ⟨chen-nah-GEE-dey / OLL-ley-ah-doo⟩	Good / Nice / Well	A universally useful adjective. Can describe food, weather, health, or objects.
Ketta ⟨KET-tah⟩	Bad	Used to describe poor quality or negative situations.
Dodda ⟨DOD-dah⟩	Big	Always precedes the noun (e.g., Dodda car).
Chikka / Sanna ⟨CHIK-kah / SUN-nah⟩	Small	Use Chikka for objects, Sanna can also mean thin/small.
Bisi ⟨BEE-see⟩	Hot	Used for climate, objects, and food (e.g., Bisi anna ⟨BEE-see UN-nah⟩ - Hot rice).
Thannige / Sheeta ⟨THUN-nee-gey / SHEE-tah⟩	Cold	Used for liquids or weather. (Sheeta = Sanskrit Sheet)
Hosa ⟨HOH-sah⟩	New	Used for new objects or places (e.g., Hosa books).
Hale ⟨HUH-ley⟩	Old	Used for old things. Note the proto-Dravidian 'p' to 'h' shift (from Pazhaya).
Bega ⟨BAY-gah⟩	Fast	Very useful to urge auto/cab drivers to speed up (Bega hogi ⟨BAY-gah HOH-gee⟩).
Nidhana / Mellage ⟨nee-DHAA-nah / MEL-luh-gey⟩	Slow / Softly	Extremely important when asking someone to drive carefully or speak slower.
Jaasthi / Thumba ⟨JAAS-tee / THOOM-bah⟩	More / Too much	Essential for bargaining (Thumba jaasthi aithu - It has become too much).
Kami ⟨KUH-mee⟩	Less	Used to negotiate prices (Swalpa kami maadi - Make it a little less).
Sari ⟨SUH-ree⟩	Correct / Okay	Used constantly as an agreement particle to confirm instructions or a price.
Thappu ⟨THUP-poo⟩	Wrong	Used to point out an error.
Swachha ⟨SWUCH-chah⟩	Clean	Sanskrit root (Swachh)
Galiju ⟨GUH-lee-joo⟩	Dirty	Used to complain about hygiene.
Hagura ⟨huh-GOO-rah⟩	Light (Weight)

2. Sensory Experiences (Taste)

The five primary tastes. These are simple adjectives that can be used directly with nouns or with the verb ide ⟨ee-DAY⟩ (it is).

Kannada	English Meaning	Example / Context
Sihi ⟨SEE-hee⟩	Sweet	"Coffee thumba ⟨THOOM-bah⟩ sihi ide." (Coffee is very sweet).
Khara ⟨KHUH-rah⟩	Spicy / Hot	"Oota ⟨OO-tah⟩ swalpa ⟨SWAL-pah⟩ khara beku ⟨BAY-koo⟩." (I want the food a little spicy).
Huli ⟨HOO-lee⟩	Sour	"Mosaru ⟨MOH-suh-roo⟩ huli aagide ⟨AAH-gee-dey⟩." (The curd has become sour).
Kahi ⟨KUH-hee⟩	Bitter	Used for bitter gourd or medicines.
Uppu ⟨OOP-poo⟩	Salt / Salty	(Also the noun for salt).
Ruchi ⟨ROO-chee⟩	Tasty / Delicious	"Oota thumba ruchi aagithu ⟨AAH-gee-too⟩." (Food was very tasty).

Note: Complex internal states and physical ailments (like hunger, pain, anger) are typically expressed using the "Experiencer Dative Paradigm" (e.g., 'Nanage ⟨nuh-nuh-GEY⟩ novu ⟨NOH-voo⟩ ide' - To me, there is pain).