01 — Survival Basics
The minimum viable vocabulary. Learn these 10 phrases and you can navigate most daily situations in Indiranagar.
Time to learn: 20 minutes
When you'll use it: Every single day, starting today
The Operating Language of Indiranagar
Before you learn phrases, understand the language you're actually speaking.
Nobody in Indiranagar speaks pure Kannada, pure Hindi, or pure English. The operating language is Kanglish — English sentence structure with Kannada verbs and modifiers dropped in mid-sentence. A typical local sentence:
"That shop-alli ond good quality shirt sigatte, but rate swalpa jasti." (In that shop you'll find a good shirt, but the price is a little high.)
You don't need to learn grammar. You need to learn the insertion points — the Kannada words that slot into English sentences and transform how people respond to you.
The 10 Non-Negotiable Phrases
| # | Kannada | Phonetic | English | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adjust maadi | ⟨uh-juhst maa-di⟩ | Please accommodate | The most Bangalore phrase in existence. Works on anyone. |
| 2 | Swalpa wait maadi | ⟨swul-puh wait maa-di⟩ | Please wait a moment | Every interaction. The delivery guy, the auto, the shopkeeper. |
| 3 | Yeshtu aagutte? | ⟨yesh-tu aa-gut-te⟩ | How much will it be? | Before every transaction. |
| 4 | Swalpa kammi maadi | ⟨swul-puh kum-mi maa-di⟩ | Reduce a little please | The polite counter-offer. Works ~60% of the time. |
| 5 | Jasti aagutte | ⟨jaas-ti aa-gut-te⟩ | That's too much | After hearing a high quote. |
| 6 | Sari, bidi | ⟨suh-ri, bi-di⟩ | Okay, let's go / never mind | Agreement or graceful exit. |
| 7 | Gottilla | ⟨got-til-luh⟩ | I don't know | When you don't know, or want to deflect. |
| 8 | Nodona, nodona | ⟨noh-doh-nuh, noh-doh-nuh⟩ | We'll see, we'll see | The Bangalore non-committal. |
| 9 | Beku | ⟨bay-ku⟩ | I want / I need | "Coffee beku" = I want coffee. |
| 10 | Beda | ⟨bay-duh⟩ | I don't want / No | "Sugar beda" = no sugar. "Bag beda" = don't need a bag. |
The Two Magic Words: Swalpa + Maadi
These two words will carry you through more situations than any others.
Swalpa ⟨swul-puh⟩ — a little / a bit
Swalpa before any request makes it polite and softer. Compare:
| Without | With |
|---|---|
| Kammi maadi (reduce it) | Swalpa kammi maadi (reduce it a little) |
| Wait maadi (wait) | Swalpa wait maadi (wait just a moment) |
| Help maadi (help) | Swalpa help maadi (a little help please) |
Maadi ⟨maa-di⟩ — please do / make it
Maadi is the all-purpose polite request suffix. Add it to almost anything:
- Parcel maadi = pack it please
- Bill maadi = get the bill please
- Adjust maadi = please accommodate
Addressing People
Two words replace "sir," "madam," and all formal titles in service contexts:
The Head Wobble
This deserves its own section because it will confuse you.
The South Indian head wobble — a side-to-side head tilt — is not yes and not no. It means: "I heard you. I acknowledge what you said."
Deploy the wobble when: - The auto driver quotes a price (wobble = "I heard the number") - The kirana uncle tells you the total (wobble = "okay, noted") - Someone gives you directions (wobble = "understood, thanks")
Do not interpret a wobble as agreement to your terms. It's just acknowledgment. The actual answer comes in the next sentence.
Your First Week Cheat Sheet
Print this. Put it in your phone notes. Use it.
Morning darshini run:
"Anna, ond masala dosa, ond filter coffee." (One masala dosa, one filter coffee)
Paying:
"Yeshtu aagutte?" (How much?) "Bill maadi" (Get the bill)
Auto to work:
"Anna, [office area] ge hogbeku. Meter hakri?" (I need to go to [office]. Use meter?)
Buying something at kirana:
"Yeshtu aagutte?" → Hear price → If too high: "Swalpa kammi maadi" → If fair: "Sari"
When someone speaks too fast:
"Swalpa nidhaana maathaadi" (Please speak slowly)
Universal exit from any awkward situation:
"Sari, bidi" — smile, move on.
Next: 02 — Getting Around →