ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರೇನು?
nimma hesarēnu?
To ask "what is your name?" in Kannada, use ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರೇನು? (nimma hesarēnu?)
This phrase is a question used to ask someone for their name.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into nimma (your), hesaru (name) and the interrogative suffix -ēnu (what).
Which one should you use?
You may encounter the form ನಿನ್ನ ಹೆಸರೇನು? which is used to ask the same question but in an informal manner.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರೇನು? is a contraction of nimma hesaru ēnu? where the u at the end of hesaru merges with the question word ēnu.
How do you pronounce it?
nimma hesarēnu?
Did you know?
- In very formal or poetic Kannada, the word for name might be replaced by ನಾಮ, which is a loanword from Sanskrit and is often reserved for deities or official documents.
- In traditional Kannada culture, asking someone's name directly can be seen as abrupt. It is common to first ask ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ 'hello' or inquire about a person's wellbeing before asking ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರೇನು?
- The word hesaru (name) is used in Kannada to refer to not just a person's name, but also the 'reputation' or 'fame' one carries in a community.
Examples in context
- ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರೇನು?nimma hesarēnu?What is your name?
- ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರೇನು?kṣamisi, nimma hesarēnu?Excuse me, what is your name?
- ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಹೇಳಿ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರೇನು?dayaviṭṭu hēḷi, nimma hesarēnu?Please tell me, what is your name?
Example conversation
Kiran and Soumya meet for the first time at a social gathering.
- ಕಿರಣ್ Kiranನಮಸ್ಕಾರ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರೇನು?namaskāra, nimma hesarēnu?Hello, what is your name?
- ಸೌಮ್ಯ Soumyaನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರು ಸೌಮ್ಯ.nanna hesaru saumya.My name is Soumya.
- ಕಿರಣ್ Kiranನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂತೋಷ, ಸೌಮ್ಯ.nimmannu bhēṭiyāgiddakke santōṣa, saumya.Nice to meet you, Soumya.
- ಸೌಮ್ಯ Soumyaನನಗೂ ಕೂಡ ಸಂತೋಷ, ಕಿರಣ್.nanagū kūḍa santōṣa, kiraṇ.Nice to meet you too, Kiran.
