ಹಾಲು
hālu/haːlu/
The English word "milk" is translated into Kannada as ಹಾಲು (hālu).
Meaning: liquid (noun)
Which one should you use?
ಹಾಲು is the standard term, whereas Ksheer is a formal alternative.
How do you pronounce it?
hālu
Did you know?
- The Brahui language, spoken in parts of Pakistan, uses the word palle for milk, making it a distant relative of the Kannada ಹಾಲು.
- In Kannada, the word ಹಾಲು can sometimes be used in a compound to describe the white color of a flower or a garment, functioning as a color descriptor.
- In some Kannada idioms, ಹಾಲು is contrasted with ನೀರು ('water') to distinguish between something rich and nourishing and something plain or diluted.
Examples in context
- ನನಗೆ ಹಾಲು ಬೇಕು.nanage hālu bēku.I want milk.
- ಹಾಲು ತುಂಬಾ ಬಿಸಿಯಾಗಿದೆ.hālu tumbā bisiyāgide.The milk is very hot.
- ಮಗು ಹಾಲು ಕುಡಿಯುತ್ತಿದೆ.magu hālu kuḍiyuttide.The baby is drinking milk.
Example conversation
Pranav and Anvita are in the kitchen in the morning.
- ಪ್ರಣವ್ Pranavಅನ್ವಿತಾ, ಹಾಲು ಇದೆಯೇ?Anvitā, hālu ideyē?Anvita, is there any milk?
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaಹೌದು ಪ್ರಣವ್, ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೆ.Haudu Praṇav, illi ide.Yes Pranav, it is here.
- ಪ್ರಣವ್ Pranavನನಗೆ ಒಂದು ಕಪ್ ಹಾಲು ಕೊಡು.Nanage ondu kap hālu kodu.Give me a cup of milk.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaಈಗಲೇ ತರುತ್ತೇನೆ.Īgalē taruttēne.I will bring it right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “milk” translations and entries ಹಾಲು, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ಹಾಲು, CC BY-SA 4.0.
