తిను
tinu
To eat in Telugu is తిను (tinu).
The verb refers to the act of eating a meal.
Meaning: eat a meal (verb)
Which one should you use?
The base form తిను acts as an informal imperative, while the form తినండి is used as a polite imperative to say 'please eat' when addressing someone with respect. Additionally, the gerund తినడం is used to refer to the act of 'eating'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the first person singular, the present tense form తింటాను is used to express 'I eat' or 'I will eat', while the past tense form తిన్నాను is used to say 'I ate'.
How do you pronounce it?
tinu
Did you know?
- The way one uses తిన్నాను to say 'I ate' can also be used metaphorically in slang to mean 'I got cheated' or 'I was fooled' in certain modern contexts.
- While తిను means 'eat', it is common in Telugu culture to ask అన్నం తిన్నావా? ('Did you eat rice?') as a general greeting to ask if someone is doing well or has had their meal.
- While తిను is the verb for 'eat', if you are invited to a home, it is common to decline the first offer of food even if you are hungry, to avoid appearing greedy.
Examples in context
- దయచేసి ఈ ఆహారం తినండి.Please eat this food.
- నువ్వు అన్నం తిను.Nuvvu annam tinu.You eat rice/meal.
- వేడి వేడిగా తిను.Vēḍi vēḍigā tinu.Eat it while it is hot.
Example conversation
Kavya and Sai are at the dining table.
- కావ్య Kavyaసాయి, వచ్చి తిను.Sai, vacchi thinu.Sai, come and eat.
- సాయి Saiనాకు ఆకలిగా లేదు.naaku akaligaa ledu.I am not hungry.
- కావ్య Kavyaకాస్త తిను.kaasta thinu.Eat a little bit.
- సాయి Saiసరే, తింటాను.sare, thintaanu.Okay, I will eat.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry తిను, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
