ಹೇಳು
hēḷu/heːɭu/
The Kannada verb for "say" is ಹೇಳು (hēḷu).
ಹೇಳು is used to communicate something verbally or in writing, functioning as the verb for "say" or "tell".
Meaning: to communicate verbally or in writing (verb)
Which one should you use?
While ಹೇಳು is used for "say" or "tell", be careful not to confuse it with kēḷu, which means "to ask" or "to listen". These two words are phonetically similar but have different meanings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ಹೇಳು is the most common informal way to say "say" and is used in casual speech when addressing someone of equal or lower status. For formal settings, or when speaking to elders and strangers, use ಹೇಳಿ.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes depending on the gender and tense of the subject. To express the past tense for a masculine subject, use ಹೇಳಿದನು (he said) and for a feminine subject, use ಹೇಳಿದಳು (she said).
How do you pronounce it?
hēḷu (/heːɭu/)
Did you know?
- In Kannada culture, using the informal ಹೇಳು with a stranger can be interpreted as a sign of aggression or extreme familiarity.
- The Kannada word ಹೇಳು is a linguistic relative of the Tamil word பேசு (pēcu) and the Telugu word పేలు (pēlu).
Examples in context
- ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರು ಅಂತರರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಸಮ್ಮೇಳನದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಷಣ ಮಾಡಿದರು.The president made a speech at the international conference.
- ನೀವು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗೆ ಉತ್ತರ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದೀರಿ.You have answered your question.
- ಅವರು ಅವನಿಗೆ ಏನು ಹೇಳಿದರು?What did they say to him?
- ನನ್ನ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ ಅದನ್ನು ಹೇಗೆ ನುಡಿದನು?How did my friend say it?
- ನನಗೆ ಒಂದು ಮಾತು ಹೇಳು.nanage ondu mātu hēḷu.Say one thing to me.
- ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಹೇಳು.sattyavannu hēḷu.Say the truth.
- ಅವನು ಏನೋ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾನೆ.avanu ēnō hēḷuttāne.He says something.
Example conversation
Abhishek and Anvitha are discussing a secret.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaಅಭಿಷೇಕ್, ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಹೇಳು.Abhishek, dayaviṭṭu hēḷu.Abhishek, please tell me.
- ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್ Abhishekನಾನು ಈಗ ಹೇಳಲಾರೆ.Nānu īga hēḷalāre.I cannot say it now.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaಯಾಕೆ ಹೇಳುವುದಿಲ್ಲ?Yāke hēḷuvudilla?Why won't you say it?
- ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್ Abhishekನಂತರ ಹೇಳುತ್ತೇನೆ.Nantara hēḷuttēne.I will tell you later.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ಹೇಳು, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ಹೇಳು, CC BY-SA 4.0.
