ಮತ್ತು ನೀವು
mattu neevu/mɐt̪t̪u n̪iːʋu/word by word
The phrase "and you" in Kannada is ಮತ್ತು ನೀವು (mattu neevu).
This phrase is used to ask the same question back to the person who just asked it.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ಮತ್ತು (mattu) meaning 'and' and ನೀವು (neevu) meaning 'you' (formal/plural).
How does it change in a sentence?
In natural spoken Kannada, the word ಮತ್ತು (and) is often dropped and people simply repeat the subject or use a rising intonation to ask the question back, such as by saying ನೀವು? (you?).
How do you pronounce it?
mattu neevu (IPA: /mɐt̪t̪u n̪iːʋu/)
Did you know?
- If you want to be extremely polite, you might skip 'and you' and instead use a phrase that translates to 'how about your side?'
- Kannada speakers may use the phrase ನೀವು ಹೇಳಿ (you tell), which literally means 'you speak', as a more natural way to ask 'and you?' during a conversation.
- The word ನೀವು (neevu) shares the same linguistic roots as the word for 'you' in Tamil and Malayalam, following the ancient Proto-Dravidian structure.
Example conversation
Divya and Kiran are greeting each other.
- ದಿವ್ಯಾ Divyaನಮಸ್ಕಾರ ಕಿರಣ್, ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಿ?Namas kāra Kiran, hēgiddīri?Hello Kiran, how are you?
- ಕಿರಣ್ Kiranನಾನು ಆರಾಮಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ ದಿವ್ಯಾ, ಮತ್ತು ನೀವು?Nānu ārāmāgidēne Divyā, mattu nīvu?I am comfortable Divya, and you?
- ದಿವ್ಯಾ Divyaನಾನು ಕೂಡ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ.Nānu kūḍa chennāgidēne.I am also doing well.
- ಕಿರಣ್ Kiranಸಂತೋಷವಾಯಿತು.Santōṣavāyitu.That is good to hear.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ಮತ್ತು, ನೀವು) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ನೀವು, ಮತ್ತು, CC BY-SA 4.0.
