ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ?
Hegiddira?
In Kannada, 'how are you?' is expressed as ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ? (Hegiddira?)
ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ? is a common greeting used to ask someone about their current well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of hēge meaning 'how' and iddīrā, which is the second-person plural or honorific form of the verb 'to be'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ? uses the -ira suffix, which is the polite/honorific form used for elders or strangers. If you are speaking to friends or younger people, you should use the informal version ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀಯಾ?
How do you pronounce it?
Hegiddira?
When do people say it?
A common response to this question is ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ, which means 'I am doing well'.
Did you know?
- While ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ? asks about well-being, Kannada speakers often use the word ಊಟ ಆಯ್ತಾ? meaning 'did you have your meal?' as a functional equivalent to 'how are you?'
- The verb in hēgiddīrā? is actually a combination of 'to be' and a state of existence, making the literal meaning closer to 'in what way are you existing?'
- If you are greeting a very close friend, using the formal ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ? instead of ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀಯಾ? can actually be interpreted as a joke or a sign that you are annoyed with them.
Examples in context
- ನೀವು ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ?nīvu hēgiddīrā?How are you?
- ಸರ್, ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ?sir, hēgiddīrā?Sir, how are you?
- ಅಮ್ಮಾ, ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ?ammā, hēgiddīrā?Mom, how are you?
Example conversation
Rahul meets Kavya at a cafe.
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulಕಾವ್ಯ, ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ?kāvya, hēgiddīrā?Kavya, how are you?
- ಕಾವ್ಯ Kavyaನಾನು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ, ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು.nānu chennāgiddēne, dhanyavādagalu.I am fine, thank you.
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulನಿಮ್ಮ ಕೆಲಸ ಹೇಗಿದೆ?nimma kelasa hēgide?How is your work?
- ಕಾವ್ಯ Kavyaತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ.tumbā chennāgide.It is very good.
