ಕತ್ತೆ
katte/kɐt̪t̪e/
The English word "donkey" is ಕತ್ತೆ (katte) in Kannada.
ಕತ್ತೆ refers to a domestic animal, also known as an ass.
Meaning: a domestic animal (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /kɐt̪t̪e/. The romanization is katte.
Did you know?
- While ಕತ್ತೆ means 'donkey', a similar sounding word ಕಟ್ಟೆ refers to a stone platform or bench often found outside temples and homes.
- The word ಕತ್ತೆ is often used in the compound word ಕತ್ತೆಕಣ್ಣು meaning 'donkey eye' to describe someone who is blind to the obvious.
- The word ಕತ್ತೆ is inherited from the Old Kannada form ಕೞ್ತೆ, which utilized a retroflex lateral sound that has since evolved.
Examples in context
- ಆ ಕತ್ತೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಶಕ್ತಿಯುತವಾಗಿದೆ.ā katte tumbā śaktiyutavāgide.That donkey is very powerful.
- ನೋಡಿ, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಕತ್ತೆ ಇದೆ.nōḍi, alli ondu katte ide.Look, there is a donkey there.
Example conversation
Anvita and Abhishek are walking through a rural field.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaಅಭಿಷೇಕ್, ಆ ಕತ್ತೆಯನ್ನು ನೋಡು.Abhiṣēk, ā katteyannu nōḍu.Abhishek, look at that donkey.
- ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್ Abhishekಹೌದು, ಅದು ತುಂಬಾ ಚಿಕ್ಕದಾಗಿದೆ.Haudu, adu tumbā cikkadāgide.Yes, it is very small.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaಅದು ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಲು ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೆ.Adu kelasa māḍalu sahāya māḍutte.It helps with doing work.
- ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್ Abhishekನಿಜವಾಗಿಯೂ, ಅದು ತುಂಬಾ ಉಪಯುಕ್ತ.Nijavāgiyū, adu tumbā upayukta.Truly, it is very useful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “donkey” translations and entries ಕತ್ತೆ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ಕತ್ತೆ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
