ನೀರು
nīru/n̪iːɾu/
The English word "water" is ನೀರು (nīru) in Kannada.
ನೀರು is the noun used to refer to the inorganic compound H₂O.
Meaning: inorganic compound H₂O (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is nīru.
Did you know?
- The phrase 'water' in Kannada can be modified into terms for tears or sweat, effectively treating these bodily fluids as forms of ನೀರು.
- While ನೀರು is the standard noun, in many formal or poetic contexts in Karnataka, the word ಜಲ (jala) is used, which is a Sanskrit loanword.
- The word ನೀರು shares a common ancestor with the word for 'water' in several other South Indian languages, such as Tamil and Telugu, because they all stem from the same Proto-Dravidian root.
Examples in context
- ಎಲ್ಲ ಜೀವಿಗಳಿಗೆ ನೀರು ಬೇಕು.All creatures need water.This sentence is useful for expressing that all creatures require the form ನೀರು.
- ಪಾತ್ರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೀರು ತುಂಬಿತ್ತು.The pot was filled with water.This sentence is useful for describing a container that was filled with the form ನೀರು.Tatoeba #12480030 by Lumi, translation #12480022 by Lumi
- ನನಗೆ ಒಂದು ಲೋಟ ನೀರು ಬೇಕು.nanage ondu lōṭa nīru bēku.I want a glass of water.
Example conversation
At home in the kitchen.
- ದಿವ್ಯಾ Divyaರಾಹುಲ್, ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ನೀರು ಕೊಡಿ.Rāhul, svalpa nīru koḍi.Rahul, please give me some water.
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulಖಂಡಿತ ದಿವ್ಯಾ, ಇಲ್ಲಿದೆ ನೋಡಿ.Khaṇḍita Divyā, illide nōḍi.Sure Divya, here it is.
- ದಿವ್ಯಾ Divyaಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು.Dhanyavādagalu.Thank you.
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulಪರವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ.Paravārilla.You're welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “water” translations and entries ನೀರು, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ನೀರು, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
