ನಗು
nagu
The English verb "smile" is translated to Kannada as ನಗು (nagu).
ನಗು is the verb used to describe the act of having a smile on one's face.
Meaning: to have a smile on one's face (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe the continuous action of smiling, such as "smiling while talking", you can use the present participle form ನಗುತ್ತಾ. Additionally, the noun ನಗುಮುಖ is used to describe a person who is habitually smiling or has a cheerful countenance. This noun is a compound of ನಗು (smile) and ಮುಖ (face).
How do you pronounce it?
nagu
Did you know?
- In Kannada, the word for 'smile' is the same as the word for 'laugh', meaning you can use ನಗು to describe both a subtle grin and a hearty laugh.
- The term ನಗುಮುಖ is frequently used to describe a person's innate character or aura. Calling someone a ನಗುಮುಖ suggests they are a permanently cheerful person, not just that they are smiling right now.
- The word ನಗು is a direct descendant of the Proto-Dravidian root *nak-, making it a linguistic relative to similar words in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
Examples in context
- ಅವಳ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಸಣ್ಣ ನಗು ಇದೆ.avaḷa mukhadalli ondu saṇṇa nagu ide.There is a small smile on her face.
Example conversation
Anvita and Rahul are meeting at a cafe.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaರಾಹುಲ್, ಇಂದು ನೀನು ತುಂಬಾ ಸಂತೋಷದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದೀಯಾ, ನಿನ್ನ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ನಗು ಇದೆ!Rāhul, indu nīnu tumbā santōṣadalliddīyā, ninna mukhadalli nagu ide!Rahul, you are very happy today, there is a smile on your face!
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulಹೌದು ಅನ್ವಿತಾ, ಈ ಕಫೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ.Haudu Anvitā, ī cafe tumbā chennāgide.Yes Anvita, this cafe is very nice.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaನಿನ್ನ ನಗು ನೋಡಲು ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ.Ninna nagu nōḍalu tumbā chennāgide.Your smile looks very lovely.
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು.Dhanyavādagalu.Thank you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ನಗು, CC BY-SA 4.0.
