ನೀವು ಯಾರು?
nīvu yāru?
The English phrase "who are you" is translated into Kannada as ನೀವು ಯಾರು? (nīvu yāru?)
Meaning: who are you? (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ನೀವು (nīvu), which means "you" (used in plural or polite contexts) and ಯಾರು (yāru), which means "who".
Which one should you use?
ನೀವು ಯಾರು? is the polite or formal way to ask the question. In contrast, ನೀನು ಯಾರು? (nīnu yāru?) is the informal version used when speaking to peers or children.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the honorific or plural pronoun ನೀವು (nīvu), which is the standard way to address elders or strangers to demonstrate respect.
How do you pronounce it?
nīvu yāru?
Did you know?
- Kannada allows for the omission of the pronoun entirely in certain contexts. If the context is clear, a speaker might simply say ಯಾರು? ('who?') to mean 'who are you?'
- Using the informal ನೀನು ಯಾರು? with a stranger or an elder is not just seen as casual but can be perceived as a deliberate insult or a sign of aggression.
- While ನೀವು ಯಾರು? is the literal translation of 'who are you', a Kannada speaker might instead ask ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರೇನು? ('what is your name?') to be even more polite when meeting a stranger.
Examples in context
- ನೀವು ಯಾರು?nīvu yāru?Who are you?
- ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಹೇಳಿ, ನೀವು ಯಾರು?dayaviṭṭu hēḷi, nīvu yāru?Please tell me, who are you?
Example conversation
Kavya meets a new person at a social event.
- ಕಾವ್ಯ Kavyaಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ, ನೀವು ಯಾರು?kṣamisi, nīvu yāru?Excuse me, who are you?
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರು ರಾಹುಲ್.nanna hesaru rāhul.My name is Rahul.
- ಕಾವ್ಯ Kavyaನಮಸ್ಕಾರ ರಾಹುಲ್ ಅವರೇ.namaskāra rāhul avarē.Hello, Mr. Rahul.
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರು ಕಾವ್ಯ ಅಲ್ವಾ?nimma hesaru kāvya alvā?Your name is Kavya, right?
