MozhiLingo
via
Learning
← All lessons
Lesson 10A1

Question Words

ಪ್ರಶ್ನಾ ಪದಗಳು

Each German question word maps neatly onto a Kannada counterpart — but German always drags the question word to the very front of the sentence, while Kannada usually leaves it sitting right where the answer word would go.

Grammar Comparison

ವ್ಯಾಕರಣ ಹೋಲಿಕೆ

Fronting vs. in-situ

German

Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live? — wo must come first)

Kannada

ನೀನು ಎಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸಿಸುತ್ತೀಯಾ? (you where live — ಎಲ್ಲಿ sits in its natural adverb slot, not forced forward)

Kannada question words stay exactly where the answer word would go in the sentence — ಎಲ್ಲಿ sits in the same spot ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ('at home') would occupy in a reply. German always promotes the question word to position one, ahead of the verb, which then must land in position two, following the verb-second rule. When forming a German question, build the habit: question word first, verb immediately after — no exceptions, even though Kannada never forces this.

Vocabulary

ಪದಗಳು

wasvahs
Kannada
ಏನುenu
English
what
wervair
Kannada
ಯಾರುyaaru
English
who
wovoh
Kannada
ಎಲ್ಲಿelli
English
where
wannvahn
Kannada
ಯಾವಾಗyaavaaga
English
when
warumvah-ROOM
Kannada
ಏಕೆeke
English
why
wievee
Kannada
ಹೇಗೆhege
English
how
welche(r/s)VEL-kheh
Kannada
ಯಾವyaava
English
which
wie vielvee feel
Kannada
ಎಷ್ಟುeshtu
English
how much