ತಿಂಡಿ
tiṇḍi/t̪iɳɖi/
In Kannada, the English phrase 'breakfast' is expressed as ತಿಂಡಿ (tiṇḍi). Wiktionary also lists ನಾಷ್ಟಾ (nāṣṭā).
Meaning: first meal of the day (noun)
Ways to say it
| Kannada | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ತಿಂಡಿ | tiṇḍi | /t̪iɳɖi/ |
| ನಾಷ್ಟಾ | nāṣṭā | /n̪aːʂʈaː/ |
ತಿಂಡಿ is used to refer to breakfast, but its meaning is broad enough to cover a meal, a snack or light refreshments.
Which one should you use?
While ತಿಂಡಿ is the standard word for breakfast, it literally means 'snack' or 'small morsel' and can refer to any light snack throughout the day. In contrast, ನಾಷ್ಟಾ is a colloquial term for breakfast.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ನಾಷ್ಟಾ is a colloquial term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term ನಾಷ್ಟಾ is often used in urban areas or influenced by Hindi/Urdu-derived vocabulary.
How do you pronounce it?
tiṇḍi (/t̪iɳɖi/)
Did you know?
- The colloquial term ನಾಷ್ಟಾ actually travels through multiple languages, starting in Persian and moving through Marathi before reaching Kannada.
Examples in context
- ನಾನು ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಬೇಗ ತಿಂಡಿ ತಿಂದೆ.nānu beḷigge bēga tiṇḍi tinde.I ate breakfast early in the morning.
- ನಿಮಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟವಾದ ತಿಂಡಿ ಏನು?nimage iṣṭavāda tiṇḍi ēnu?What is your favorite breakfast?
- ಅಮ್ಮ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ತಿಂಡಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾಳೆ.amma oḷḷeya tiṇḍi māḍiddāḷe.Mother made a good breakfast.
Example conversation
Abhishek and Divya are in the kitchen in the morning.
- ದಿವ್ಯಾ Divyaಅಭಿಷೇಕ್, ತಿಂಡಿ ತಿನ್ನು.Abhishek, tindi tinnu.Abhishek, eat breakfast.
- ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್ Abhishekಇವತ್ತು ತಿಂಡಿಗೆ ಏನಿದೆ?ivattu tindige enide?What is for breakfast today?
- ದಿವ್ಯಾ Divyaಇವತ್ತು ದೋಸೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ.ivattu dose madiddene.I have made dosa today.
- ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್ Abhishekನನಗೆ ದೋಸೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಇಷ್ಟ.nanage dose tumba ishta.I like dosa very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breakfast” translations and entries ತಿಂಡಿ, ನಾಷ್ಟಾ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ತಿಂಡಿ, ನಾಷ್ಟಾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
