ಮೇಕೆ
mēke/meːke/
The English word "goat" is translated into Kannada as ಮೇಕೆ (mēke).
ಮೇಕೆ refers to the animal (goat) as a noun.
Meaning: animal (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is mēke. The IPA is /meːke/.
Did you know?
- Rural Karnataka integrates the ಮೇಕೆ into folk traditions and rituals dedicated to village deities, moving the animal beyond a role as mere livestock.
- The term ಮೇಕೆ traces back to the Proto-Dravidian root *mēnkkV, a linguistic lineage that has survived for millennia.
- When browsing local markets in Karnataka, buyers often replace ಮೇಕೆ with descriptors of ear shape or horn type to specify a breed.
Examples in context
- ಮೇಕೆ ಹುಲ್ಲು ತಿನ್ನುತ್ತಿದೆ.mēke hullu tinnuttide.The goat is eating grass.
- ನನ್ನ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಒಂದು ಮೇಕೆ ಇದೆ.nanna hattira ondu mēke ide.I have a goat.
Example conversation
A girl and a boy are looking at a farm.
- ಸೌಮ್ಯ Soumyaಪ್ರಣವ್, ಆ ಮೇಕೆ ನೋಡು!Praṇav, ā mēke nōḍu!Pranav, look at that goat!
- ಪ್ರಣವ್ Pranavಹೌದು ಸೌಮ್ಯ, ಅದು ತುಂಬಾ ಮುದ್ದಾಗಿದೆ.Haudu Saumya, adu tumbā muddāgide.Yes Soumya, it is very cute.
- ಸೌಮ್ಯ Soumyaಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಹಸಿರು ಹುಲ್ಲು ಬೇಕೆ?Adakke hasiru hullu bēke?Does it need green grass?
- ಪ್ರಣವ್ Pranavಹೌದು, ಆ ಮೇಕೆ ಹಸಿರು ಹುಲ್ಲನ್ನು ಇಷ್ಟಪಡುತ್ತದೆ.Haudu, ā mēke hasiru hullannu iṣṭapaḍuttade.Yes, that goat likes green grass.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goat” translations and entries ಮೇಕೆ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ಮೇಕೆ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
