Spoken Telugu Lesson 2

As in many foreign languages, in Telugu too, there are letters which have sounds that are not available in the English language. One of them is – ళ – which is often denoted by “L”. It is pronounced like the letter “L” but with the rolling of the tongue. For example, the word “KaLa” is transliterated as KaLa (starting with a “Ka” sound and ending with a tongue rolling of the letter “L”). Mind you, there are 2 other letters in Telugu – ల and ళ – which are pronounced very much like the normal “L” in English.

Another letter you are likely to come across is – ణ – which is often denoted by “N” and pronounced more like “aNa”. For example, this letter is used in KaNam, which is the Telugu translation of the word “Particle” and sounds similar too. The “Na” part of KaNam is what you will need when you see words beginning with “aNa”. It may be difficult initially, but with some practice, you will surely master it!

Spoken Telugu is often different from Formal/ Written Telugu, and in order to differentiate the two, we have used the purple color to indicate Spoken Telugu Transliteration (Telugu words written using the English alphabet) and Spoken Telugu Script.

Throughout the lesson plan, the following sequencing has been used:
a. Word/ Phrase/ Sentence in English
b. Spoken Telugu Transliteration in English
c. Spoken Telugu Script
d. Formal Telugu Transliteration in English
e. Formal Telugu Script

When we talk about a thing that is near to us, we use This. When we refer to something that is away from us, we use That and when we want to ask a question about something we say What. In Telugu, the word for This is Idhi ఇది, the word for That is Adhi అది and the word for What is Eamiti ఏమిటి.

What is this?
Idhi eamiti?
ఇది ఏమిటి?

This is a kite.
Idhu oka GaaliPatam.
ఇది ఒక గాలిపటం.

What is this?
Idhi eamiti?
ఇది ఏమిటి?

This is a key.
Idhi oka ThaaLam Chevi.
ఇది ఒక తాళం చెవి.

What is that?
Adhi eamiti?
అది ఏమిటి?

That is an elephant.
Adhi oka Eanugu.
అది ఒక ఏనుగు.

What is that?
Adhi eamiti?
అది ఏమిటి?

That is a lion.
Adhi oka simham
అది ఒక సింహం.

When learning a new language, it is helpful to know some rules or handy ways to remember new words. One way to help remember these and other words you will learn in the coming classes is that if a word is referring to something that is Here the corresponding Telugu word starts with the letter I.

If the word is referring to something that is There or away from you, it starts with the letter A and if it is a Question it starts with the letter E.

For example, the Telugu words for This and Here start with the letter I (Idhi, Ikkada). The Telugu words for That and There start with the letter A (Adhi, Akkada) and the Telugu words for What and Where start with the letter E (Eamiti, Ekkada).

PraSnalu: Idhi / Adhi – PraSnalu gaa elaa adagaali ?
ప్రశ్నలు: ఇది/అది-ప్రశ్నలు గా ఎలా అడగాలి?

To ask a question in Telugu, we add an ‘ah’ sound at the end of an object, denoted by aa.
For example: Idhi Gaali Patam ఇది గాలిపటం means It is a kite, but to make it a question you ask

Idhi Gaali patamaa? ఇది గాలిపటమా which means Is it a kite?

Adding the suffix aa to an object turns the statement into a question. You should always keep in mind that this suffix should not sound as a separate syllable – it should become one with the word. For example, Gaalipatam+aa = Gaalipatamaa (It should sound like Gaalipatamaa and not like Gaalipatam and an ‘ah’ sound after a pause).

The suffix that is added changes depending on the ending syllable of the object. Few examples are given below to understand this better.

* When a word ends in ‘m’,’n’,’r’, then the syllable ‘aa’ is added to it.
Gadiyaaram – Gadiyaaram+aa – Gadiyaaramaa
Pusthakam –Pusthakam+aa – Pusthakamaa
Pavan – Pavan+aa – Pavanaa
Caar– Caar+aa – Caaraa

* When a word ends in ‘ai’, ‘i’, then the syllable ‘yaa’ is added to it.
Ammaayi – Ammayi + yaa – Ammaayaa
Jodi – Jodi + yaa – Jodiyaa

* When a word ends in ‘u’, then the syllable ‘u’ is replaced with ‘aa’.
Illu – Illu+aa – Illaa
Aavu – Aavu+aa -Aavaa

* When a word ends in ‘aa’ , then the syllable ‘vaa’ is added to it.
Thaatha – thaatha+vaa – thaathavaa
Vastha – Vastha+vaa – Vasthavaa

When we have questions like – Is this a pen? or Is that a kite?, the answer is usually a Yes or No. Let us now learn to say Yes and No in Telugu.

Yes

Avunu
అవును
Avunandi
అవునండి

No

Kaadhu
కాదు
Kaadhandi
కాదండి

Is this (it) an elephant?
Idhi oka eanugaa?
ఇది ఒక ఏనుగా?

No, this (it) is a tree.
Kaadhu, idhi oka chettu.
కాదు, ఇది ఒక చెట్టు.
kaadhandi, idhi oka chettu.
కాదండి, ఇది ఒక చెట్టు.

Answer:

ఇది కాలా ?

Avunu/Kaadu

అవును/కాదు

KhaaLiilanu Puurinchandi mariyu Telugu loa ki anuvadhinchandi:
ఖాళీలను పూరించండి మరియు తెలుగు లో కి అనువదించండి:

Example – Udaharanam – ఉదాహరణం.

I am studying Telugu
Neanu Telugu chadhuvuthunnaanu .

1. My name is __________________.
2. I am living in __________________.
3. Seventy five ___________________.
4. My father’s name is __________________.
5. I like __________________ very much.
6. Hundred ____________________.
7. I am working in __________________.
8. My mother’s name is __________________.
9. Eighty ___________________.
10. My father is a __________________.
11. My school’s name is __________________.
12. My mother is a __________________.
13. I don’t like __________________.
14. Ten ____________________.
15. Stomach ___________________.
16. Thirty-eight ____________________.
17. Leg ________________________.
18. Fifty-nine _________________.
19. Hair _____________________.
20. Nose _______________________.

______________________________