ಅಕ್ಕ
akka/ɐkkɐ/
In Kannada, the English phrase sister is translated as either ಅಕ್ಕ (akka) or ತಂಗಿ.
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Kannada | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ಅಕ್ಕ | akka | /ɐkkɐ/ |
| ತಂಗಿ | taṅgi | /t̪ɐŋɡi/ |
The term is used to refer to a woman or girl who shares the same parents.
Which one should you use?
Use ಅಕ್ಕ specifically to refer to an elder sister and ತಂಗಿ specifically to refer to a younger sister.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ɐkkɐ/ (akka).
Did you know?
- The term ಅಕ್ಕ has traveled beyond Dravidian languages and is also found in Marathi and Sinhalese.
- Using ತಂಗಿ to address a woman who is clearly older than you can be perceived as condescending or an attempt to make her feel younger.
- The terms for elder sister, ಅಕ್ಕ, and younger sister, ತಂಗಿ, are not just for biological siblings but are widely used as respectful or affectionate terms for any woman of a similar age group.
Examples in context
- ಅವಳು ನನ್ನ ಅಕ್ಕ.avaḷu nanna akka.She is my elder sister.
- ನನ್ನ ಅಕ್ಕ ತುಂಬಾ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯವಳು.nanna akka tumbā oḷḷeyavaḷu.My elder sister is very kind.
- ನಿಮ್ಮ ಅಕ್ಕ ಎಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಾಳೆ?nimma akka elliddāḷe?Where is your elder sister?
Example conversation
Anvita and Kiran are discussing their siblings at home.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaಕಿರಣ್, ನಿನ್ನ ಅಕ್ಕ ಎಲ್ಲಿ?Kiṟan, ninna akka elli?Kiran, where is your elder sister?
- ಕಿರಣ್ Kiranಅಕ್ಕ ಹೊರಗೆ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದಾಳೆ.Akka horage hōgiddāḷe.My sister has gone outside.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaಅವಳು ಯಾವಾಗ ಬರುತ್ತಾಳೆ?Avaḷu yāvāga baruttāḷe?When will she come back?
- ಕಿರಣ್ Kiranಅಕ್ಕ ಸಂಜೆ ಬರುತ್ತಾಳೆ.Akka sañje baruttāḷe.My sister will come in the evening.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sister” translations and entries ಅಕ್ಕ, ತಂಗಿ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ಅಕ್ಕ, ತಂಗಿ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
