Ways to say it
| Kannada | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ಅಣ್ಣ | aṇṇa | |
| ತಮ್ಮ | tamma | /t̪ɐmmɐ/ |
In Kannada, the term for brother depends on whether the sibling is older or younger than the speaker. ಅಣ್ಣ is used to refer to an elder brother. ತಮ್ಮ is used to refer to a younger brother. Beyond biological siblings, these terms are used socially to address other people. ಅಣ್ಣ is a polite way to address any man who is slightly older than you, while ತಮ್ಮ can be used to address a younger male in a friendly or affectionate manner.
Which one should you use?
The two forms are distinguished by the age of the brother relative to the speaker: ಅಣ್ಣ specifically refers to an elder brother, whereas ತಮ್ಮ specifically refers to a younger brother.
How do you pronounce it?
aṇṇa
When do people say it?
Kannada speakers use these terms as social markers. It is common to address men who are slightly older than yourself as ಅಣ್ಣ as a sign of respect, even if you are not biologically related to them.
Did you know?
- If you use ತಮ್ಮ to address an older man, it could be perceived as patronizing or even offensive. Unlike the English 'brother', which is relatively neutral, the age direction in Kannada carries significant social weight.
- In many South Indian cultures, including Kannada-speaking areas, calling a stranger ಅಣ್ಣ is a way to build instant rapport. It transforms a transaction with a stranger into a polite, pseudo-familial interaction.
- The terms ಅಣ್ಣ and ತಮ್ಮ are part of a vast family of related words across South India. They share the same ancient Proto-Dravidian roots as their counterparts in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.
Examples in context
- ನಾನು ನನ್ನ ಅಣ್ಣ ಇಬ್ರೂ ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಟೆನಿಸ್ ಆಟಗಾರರುMy brother and I are good tennis players.This sentence shows the use of ಅಣ್ಣ to describe a brother.Tatoeba #8901622 by satez416, translation #6607701 by MaryJ
- ನನ್ನ ತಂದೆ ಹಾಗು ನನ್ನ ಅಣ್ಣ ಈ ಕಾರ್ಖಾನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ.My father and my brother work in this factory.This sentence uses ಅಣ್ಣ to refer to a brother in a workplace context.Tatoeba #4776847 by legalghost, translation #251611 by CK
- ನಿನ್ನೆ ಬಂದ ಹುಡುಗ ನನ್ನ ತಮ್ಮ ಆಗಿದ್ದThe boy who came yesterday was my younger brother.This sentence demonstrates the use of ತಮ್ಮ for a younger brother.Tatoeba #2916062 by Manfredo, translation #4774182 by legalghost
Example conversation
Anvita is asking Pranav about his family.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaನಿಮಗೆ ಅಣ್ಣ ಇದ್ದಾರಾ?Nimage anna iddārā?Do you have an older brother?
- ಪ್ರಣವ್ Pranavಹೌದು, ನನಗೆ ಒಬ್ಬ ಅಣ್ಣ ಇದ್ದಾರೆ.Haudu, nanage obba anna iddāre.Yes, I have one older brother.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaಅವರು ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ?Avaru elli kelasa māḍuttāre?Where does he work?
- ಪ್ರಣವ್ Pranavನನ್ನ ಅಣ್ಣ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ.Nanna anna Beṅgalūrinalli kelasa māḍuttāre.My older brother works in Bengaluru.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries ಅಣ್ಣ, ತಮ್ಮ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ಅಣ್ಣ, ತಮ್ಮ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
