Teluguతెలుగు

namaskaram

Hello (Namaskaram)

The respectful Telugu greeting, said with palms joined.

ela unnaru

How are you?

The polite way to ask how someone is.

bagunnanu

I am fine

The standard reply to how are you.

subhodayam

Good morning

A morning greeting, literally auspicious dawn.

subharatri

Good night

Said before going to bed, literally auspicious night.

veedukolu

Goodbye; farewell

A farewell; everyday Telugu often says vellostanu — I'll go and come.

malli kaluddam

See you again

A warm farewell, literally let us meet again.

dhanyavadalu

Thank you

The standard expression of gratitude.

parvaledu

It's okay; no problem

The easy-going reply — it's fine, no worries, not bad.

kshaminchandi

Sorry; excuse me

A polite apology, also used to get someone's attention.

avunu

Yes

An affirmative answer.

kadu

No (it is not)

Negates identity — it is not that.

ledu

No (there is not)

Negates existence — there is none; Telugu has two kinds of no!

sare

Okay

The all-purpose Telugu word for okay, alright.

naa peru

My name is

Used to introduce yourself; naa peru ... .

kalavadam santosham

Nice to meet you

Said when meeting someone, literally meeting is joy.

swagatam

Welcome

Used to welcome guests or new arrivals.

subhakankshalu

Best wishes; congratulations

Wishes of blessing for birthdays, festivals, and success.

naku ardham kaledu

I don't understand

A useful phrase for learners when something is unclear.

okati

One

The number one.

rendu

Two

The number two.

moodu

Three

The number three.

nalugu

Four

The number four.

aidu

Five

The number five.

aaru

Six

The number six.

edu

Seven

The number seven.

enimidi

Eight

The number eight.

tommidi

Nine

The number nine.

padi

Ten

The number ten.

vanda

Hundred

The number one hundred.

veyyi

Thousand

The number one thousand.

ee roju

Today

The present day.

repu

Tomorrow

The day after today.

ninna

Yesterday

The day before today.

ippudu

Now

At the present moment.

ganta

Hour; bell

An hour; also means a bell.

nimisham

Minute

A period of sixty seconds.

vaaram

Week

A period of seven days.

samvatsaram

Year

A period of twelve months; the Telugu year begins with Ugadi.

kutumbam

Family

A group of people related by blood or marriage.

amma

Mother

Mother — the first and dearest Telugu word.

nanna

Father

Father.

anna

Older brother

An older brother; also a respectful address for older men.

akka

Older sister

An older sister; also a respectful address for older women.

tammudu

Younger brother

A younger male sibling.

chelli

Younger sister

A younger female sibling.

koduku

Son

A male child.

kuthuru

Daughter

A female child.

tatayya

Grandfather

The father of your parent.

ammamma

Grandmother (maternal)

Your mother's mother; the father's mother is nanamma.

bharta

Husband

The man a woman is married to.

bharya

Wife

The woman a man is married to.

pilladu

Child; boy

A young child; pillalu means children.

snehitudu

Friend

A person you know well and like; sneham is friendship itself.

manishi

Person; man

A human being.

stree

Woman

An adult female person.

upadhyayudu

Teacher

A person who teaches.

vidyarthi

Student

A person who studies at school or university.

neellu

Water

The liquid essential for life; always plural in Telugu.

tea

Tea

Tea — chai at every street corner.

kaafi

Coffee

Filter coffee, a South Indian morning ritual.

annam

Cooked rice

Cooked rice, the staple of every Telugu meal.

pappu

Lentils (dal)

Lentil curry, the everyday companion of rice.

rotte

Bread; roti

Flatbread or bread.

mamsam

Meat

The flesh of animals eaten as food.

kodi

Chicken

A chicken; kodi kura is the beloved chicken curry.

chepa

Fish

An animal that lives in water; chepala pulusu is a coastal classic.

guddu

Egg

An egg laid by a hen.

kooragayalu

Vegetables

Plants grown for food.

pandlu

Fruit

Sweet plant foods such as mangoes and bananas.

mamidi

Mango

The king of fruits; Banginapalli mangoes are Andhra pride.

paalu

Milk

A white drink; always plural in Telugu like water.

rasam

Juice; rasam

Fruit juice — and also the famous peppery South Indian soup!

panchadara

Sugar

A sweet substance added to food and drinks.

uppu

Salt

A white substance used to season food.

karam

Spice; chili heat

Spicy heat — Andhra food is famously the spiciest in India!

alpaharam

Breakfast

The morning meal — idli, dosa, upma, pesarattu!

bhojanam

Meal; lunch

A full meal, especially the midday rice meal.

ratri bhojanam

Dinner

The evening meal, literally night meal.

vimanasrayam

Airport

A place where airplanes take off and land.

vimanam

Airplane

A flying vehicle with wings and engines.

railu

Train

A connected line of carriages that runs on rails.

steshanu

Station

A place where trains stop for passengers.

bassu

Bus

A large road vehicle that carries many passengers.

aato

Auto-rickshaw

The yellow three-wheeler buzzing through every Telugu town.

taxi

Taxi

A car you pay to be driven somewhere in.

hotelu

Hotel; restaurant

A hotel — and in Telugu states, also a restaurant.

bhojanasala

Restaurant

A place where you pay to eat, literally meal hall.

nagaram

City

A large town where many people live and work.

palleturu

Village

A small settlement in the countryside.

daari

Road; way

A road or the way to a place.

passport

Passport

An official document needed for traveling abroad.

ticket

Ticket

A piece of paper that allows you to travel or enter a place.

patam

Map

A drawing showing streets, cities, or countries.

banku

Bank

A place where people keep and borrow money.

market

Market

A place where goods are sold.

prayanam

Journey; travel

The act of traveling to a place.

sooryudu

Sun

The star that gives Earth light and warmth.

chandrudu

Moon

The bright object in the night sky; chandamama of lullabies.

nakshatram

Star

A point of light in the night sky.

aakasam

Sky

The space above the earth where clouds and stars appear.

samudram

Sea

The large body of salt water; Vizag sits on the Bay of Bengal.

nadi

River

A large stream of water; the Godavari and Krishna feed the Telugu lands.

konda

Mountain; hill

A hill or mountain; the seven hills of Tirumala are sacred.

adavi

Forest

A large area covered with trees.

chettu

Tree

A tall plant with a trunk, branches, and leaves.

puvvu

Flower

The colorful blossom of a plant; jasmine garlands grace every celebration.

vana

Rain

Water that falls from clouds.

manchu

Snow; mist; dew

Snow, frost, or morning mist.

gaali

Wind; air

Moving air, or the air itself.

vathavaranam

Weather

The condition of the air, such as sun, rain, or wind.

jantuvu

Animal

A living creature such as a dog, bird, or fish.

puli

Tiger

The tiger, symbol of strength and courage.

sariram

Body

The whole physical structure of a person.

tala

Head

The top part of the body containing the brain and face.

kannu

Eye

The part of the body used for seeing.

chevi

Ear

The part of the body used for hearing.

mukku

Nose

The part of the face used for smelling and breathing.

noru

Mouth

The part of the face used for eating and speaking.

cheyyi

Hand; arm

The upper limb; Telugus traditionally eat with the right hand.

kaalu

Leg; foot

The lower limb used for walking.

gunde

Heart

The organ that pumps blood, also the seat of feeling.

juttu

Hair

The hair on a person's head.

kadupu

Stomach; belly

The front part of the body below the chest.

vaidyudu

Doctor

A person trained to treat sick people; everyday Telugu says doctor.

aasupatri

Hospital

A place where sick people are treated.

mandu

Medicine

Something you take to treat an illness.

aarogyam

Health

The condition of the body and mind.

jabbu

Illness; sickness

Sickness or disease.

pani

Work; job

A job, or the activity of working.

kampeni

Company

A business organization that sells goods or services.

aafeesu

Office

A room or building where people work at desks.

yajamani

Boss; owner

The owner or boss at work.

sahodyogi

Colleague

A person you work with.

sabha

Meeting; assembly

A meeting or assembly; everyday Telugu also says meeting.

dabbu

Money

Coins and banknotes used to buy things.

jeetham

Salary

The money you receive regularly for your work.

kampyutar

Computer

An electronic machine; Hyderabad is India's big tech hub.

phonu

Phone

A device used for calling and messaging people.

vritti

Profession

The type of work a person is trained to do.

pranalika

Project; plan

A planned piece of work with a clear goal.

viniyogadaru

Customer

A person who buys goods or services.

oppandam

Contract; agreement

A formal written agreement.

manager

Manager

The person who leads a company, shop, or team.

karmagaram

Factory

A building where goods are made with machines.

samskruti

Culture

The art, customs, and traditions of a society.

charitra

History

The study of past events; Kakatiya and Vijayanagara glories live in it.

bhasha

Language

A system of words; Telugu is called the Italian of the East for its vowels.

pustakam

Book

Written pages bound together for reading.

sangeetam

Music

Music — from Annamayya's songs to Tollywood hits.

sinima

Movie

A film; Tollywood makes the Telugu blockbusters the world now knows.

kala

Art

Creative work; Kuchipudi is the classical Telugu dance.

pradarsanasala

Museum

A building where important objects and art are shown.

panduga

Festival

A celebration; Sankranti is the great Telugu harvest festival.

ugadi

Ugadi (New Year)

The Telugu New Year, tasted in the six-flavored ugadi pachadi.

matham

Religion

Belief in and worship of a god or gods.

prabhutvam

Government

The group of people who rule a state or country.

vaarthalu

News

Reports about recent events; singular vaartha.

samajam

Society

People living together in an organized community.

undadam

To be; to stay

To exist or to be somewhere.

kavali

To want; need

Expresses want or need; naku kavali means I want.

vellatam

To go

To move from one place to another.

raavadam

To come

To move toward the speaker or a place.

tinadam

To eat

To eat; annam tinnava — have you eaten — is daily care.

tagadam

To drink

To take liquid into your mouth and swallow it.

choodadam

To see; to watch

To notice something with your eyes.

vinadam

To hear; to listen

To notice sounds with your ears.

matladadam

To speak

To say words, to talk.

chadavadam

To read; to study

To read or to study.

rayadam

To write

To form letters and words; Telugu script is round as pearls.

konadam

To buy

To get something by paying money.

ammadam

To sell

To give something in exchange for money.

cheyadam

To do; to make

To perform an action or create something.

pani cheyadam

To work

To do a job, literally to do work.

alochinchadam

To think

To use your mind to form ideas or opinions.

preminchadam

To love

To feel deep affection; nenu ninnu premistunnanu — I love you.

ishtam

To like; liking

Liking; naku ishtam means I like it.

nerchukodam

To learn

To gain knowledge or skill.

telusu

To know

To have knowledge; naku telusu means I know.

ivvadam

To give

To hand something to someone.

teesukodam

To take

To pick something up or accept it.

vetakadam

To look for

To try to find something.

sahayam cheyadam

To help

To make something easier for someone.

modalupettadam

To begin

To start doing something.

mugimchadam

To finish

To bring something to an end.

nidrapovadam

To sleep

To rest with your eyes closed at night.

manchidi

Good

Of high quality; manchi before a noun — manchi manishi, good person.

chedda

Bad

Of poor quality or morally bad.

pedda

Big; elder

Of great size; also means elder.

chinna

Small; young

Of little size, or young.

kotta

New

Recently made or bought.

patha

Old (things)

Having existed for a long time.

yuva

Young

Not old, in an early stage of life.

podugu

Tall; long

Of great height or length.

pottiga

Short

Of little height.

vedi

Hot

Having a high temperature.

challani

Cold; cool

Having a low temperature.

vegam

Fast; speed

Quick; vegamga means quickly.

nemmadiga

Slowly

Without speed; also means gently.

kharidaina

Expensive

Costing a lot of money.

chauka

Cheap

Costing little money.

andamaina

Beautiful

Very pleasing to look at; andam is beauty.

sulabham

Easy

Not difficult to do or understand.

kashtam

Difficult

Hard to do or understand.

mukhyam

Important

Having great value or significance.

subhram

Clean

Free from dirt.

teepi

Sweet

Sweet in taste — like Telugu itself, and like pootharekulu sweets.

emiti

What

Used to ask about things; spoken Telugu says enti.

evaru

Who

Used to ask about people.

ekkada

Where

Used to ask about places.

eppudu

When

Used to ask about time.

enduku

Why

Used to ask about reasons.

ela

How

Used to ask about manner; ela unnaru — how are you!

entha

How much

Used to ask about quantity or price.

edi

Which

Used to ask about a choice between things.

evari

Whose

Used to ask about ownership.

-aa

Question suffix

Added to a word to make a yes/no question — vastavaa, will you come?

illu

House; home

A building where people live, or your home.

gadi

Room

A space inside a building with its own walls.

vantagadi

Kitchen

The room where food is prepared.

snanala gadi

Bathroom

The room for bathing.

padaka gadi

Bedroom

The room where you sleep.

talupu

Door

The entrance to a room or building.

kitiki

Window

An opening in a wall with glass that lets in light.

balla

Table

A piece of furniture with a flat top.

kurchi

Chair

A seat with a back for one person.

mancham

Bed

A piece of furniture for sleeping.

battalu

Clothes

Things you wear; Pochampally and Gadwal saris are Telugu weaves.

cheppulu

Footwear; sandals

Sandals or shoes; left outside the home and temple.

thalam

Key; lock

A key or lock; thalam chevi is the key.

gadiyaram

Clock; watch

A device that shows the time.

TV

Television

A device for watching programmes and films.

deepam

Lamp

A lamp — the oil deepam lights every Telugu puja and Diwali.

sanchi

Bag

A container with handles for carrying things.

vanta cheyadam

To cook

To prepare food by heating it.

konugolu

Shopping; purchase

The activity of buying things.

vaarantham

Weekend

The end of the week, Saturday and Sunday.

santosham

Happiness; joy

The feeling of being happy.

badha

Sadness; pain

Sorrow or pain of heart.

kopam

Anger

The feeling of strong displeasure.

bhayam

Fear

The feeling of being afraid.

alasata

Tiredness

The state of needing rest.

aakali

Hunger

The need to eat; naku aakali means I am hungry.

daham

Thirst

The need to drink.

aandolana

Worry; anxiety

The feeling of being anxious.

visugu

Boredom; irritation

The feeling of being bored or fed up.

utsaham

Excitement; enthusiasm

The feeling of eager energy.

aascharyam

Surprise

The feeling of wonder at something unexpected.

prema

Love

Deep love — the heart of a thousand Telugu songs and films.

aasha

Hope

The feeling that something good will happen.