ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀಯಾ?
ēnu māḍuttiddīyā?
The English phrase "what are you doing?" is translated into Kannada as ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀಯಾ? (ēnu māḍuttiddīyā?)
This phrase is a question used to ask someone about their current activity.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ēnu (what) and māḍuttiddīyā (are [you] doing).
Which one should you use?
The default form ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀಯಾ? is used for friends, peers or younger people, whereas ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀರಿ? is used for elders or strangers.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use a polite or formal register, change the ending from māḍuttiddīyā? to māḍuttiddīri?
How do you pronounce it?
ēnu māḍuttiddīyā?
Did you know?
- The word ಏನು (ēnu) is a cognate to the Tamil word என்ன (eṉṉa), the Malayalam എന്ത് (entŭ) and the Telugu ఏమిటి (ēmiṭi).
- In very intimate or affectionate settings, the formal ending ಇರಿ (iri) is strictly avoided as it creates a social distance that can feel cold or rude.
- The verb ಮಾಡು (māḍu), found in ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀಯಾ, is incredibly versatile and is used in Kannada to describe everything from 'working' to 'cooking' or 'creating'.
Examples in context
- ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್, ನೀನು ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀಯಾ?abhiṣēk, nīnu ēnu māḍuttiddīyā?Abhishek, what are you doing?
Example conversation
Abhishek calls Soumya on the phone to check on her.
- ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್ Abhishekಸೌಮ್ಯ, ನೀನು ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀಯಾ?saumya, nīnu ēnu māḍuttiddīyā?Soumya, what are you doing?
- ಸೌಮ್ಯ Soumyaನಾನು ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಓದುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ.nānu pustaka ōduttiddēne.I am reading a book.
- ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್ Abhishekಸರಿ, ತುಂಬಾ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದು.sari, tumbā oḷḷeyadu.Okay, that is very good.
- ಸೌಮ್ಯ Soumyaಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು, ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್.dhanyavādagalu, abhiṣēk.Thank you, Abhishek.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ಏನು, CC BY-SA 4.0.
