Free · No account · 69 languages

Figure it out. Say it. Remember it.

Don't memorize the language — learn to build it. Construct real sentences yourself, then say them out loud.
Your progress stays private in your browser

Popular languages

Pick one and build your first sentence in under a minute.

🇬🇧🇫🇷🇺🇦🇦🇿🇧🇩🇰🇷
The game

Path — speak your way home

A new eastbound line each run. Construct a sentence at every city. The clock only bites when you miss. Paris · Kyiv · Baku · Dhaka · Seoul.

🔥 Good evening — your Telugu path

0/31 lessons built

A ~5-minute daily loop that keeps Telugu alive. Start anywhere.

Languages map

Click a country. Start the language.

A world map of courses we actually teach — not a booking map, and not Path.

🎯 Build Challenge

Build a sentence you've never seen

You already know two Telugu words. Can you construct a brand-new sentence from them?

I wantquiero
coffeecafé
So how would you say “I want coffee.”?
That's LanguagePath.
The LanguagePath Method™

Reason it out — don't cram it in

You won't memorize phrases. You'll construct real sentences, then listen and rebuild them. Every step reuses what you already built — so the language compounds.

1 · UNDERSTANDGet one piece of the language.
2 · CONSTRUCTBuild a sentence you've never seen.
3 · SAYSay it out loud before you reveal.
4 · HEARListen and compare with the target.
5 · REBUILDReuse those pieces in the next sentence.
Language Bridges™

You're not always starting from zero

Every language you already know hands you free bridges to a new one. Words stick on first contact when you spot the connection.

English — information
French — informations
Spanish — información
Portuguese — informação
Add the languages you already speak in the 🌐 Hub → Settings — then tap ✨ Bridge on any phrase to surface the real cognates and shared roots that make new words click.
🇮🇳 Shared Sanskrit roots: namaskāram ≈ namaskār, dhanyavādālu ≈ dhanyavād, roṭṭe ≈ roti, kāphī ≈ coffee.
🇹🇷 Grammar like Turkish: verb-last and endings glued on — the same build-from-pieces logic transfers directly.

Real sentences you'll learn to build in Telugu

31 interactive lessons and 3 real conversations, built to be said out loud Tap any phrase to hear it — then you'll build them yourself.

Explore the Learning Library

Short, interactive pages on specific skills and situations — each one teaches you something real, then hands you straight into a course.

Explore all learning topics →

Frequently asked questions

Is LanguagePath free?

Yes, every lesson, course and tool is free to use, with no account or sign-up. Two things are optional and paid: LanguagePath Pro ($4.99 a month or $29 a year), which removes ads and adds extra AI practice, and printable Travel Phrase Pack PDFs ($9 per city, or $19 for all 8). Advertising only loads after you consent — the site stays fully usable if you reject it.

Do I need an account?

No. Your progress is saved in your own browser's local storage. Nothing is uploaded to a server.

How is LanguagePath different?

You don't memorize phrases — you reason them out. The teacher gives you a piece, you build real sentences yourself, say them aloud, then reveal and check. Every step reuses what you already built.

Which languages can I learn?

Nine flagship courses (Mandarin, Arabic, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, Telugu, Farsi) plus dozens more in the picker. Each Path rolls a new eastbound line of cities from languages you can practise here.

What is Path?

Path is LanguagePath’s race: construct a sentence at each city. Misses cost days; a clean build costs nothing. The eighty-day clock is the rule, not the title. Explore → Path, or tap Play Path above.

🧠 How this works

Telugu — Telugu is built the reason-it-out way: you learn the pieces, then construct real sentences yourself. It starts with Greetings, "I want" నాకు కావాలి, Numbers, Food. That's 31 short interactive lessons and 3 real conversations — free, no account.

The 3 rules of the method

🗣️ Say everything out loud. Silent reading doesn't build speech. Speak before you reveal.
⏸️ Always pause and try first. When you hit a challenge, actually work it out — getting it slightly wrong is how it sticks. Then tap Reveal.
🔁 Don't fear forgetting. Everything comes back through use in later steps. Keep moving; understanding beats memorizing.

Your course (≈10 min each)

Do roughly one a day. They build in order — each lesson reuses the last.

Lessons 1–10 0/10
Lessons 11–20 0/10
Lessons 21–30 0/10
Lessons 31–31 0/1

Planning a trip to Hyderabad, India?

Learning Telugu for a trip? Use the phrases from this course on the ground, and sort the rest here.

✈️ Find flights🏨 Find a hotel🎟️ Tours & tickets📶 Travel eSIM🛡️ Travel insurance

Flight delayed or cancelled? Check compensation with AirHelp → · or Compensair →

Partner links: LanguagePath may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. How this works.

⭐ LanguagePath Pro: no ads, the whole course offline, and more AI practice. $4.99/month or $29/year. See Pro →

🎧 Lessons

Tap to begin. Speak each answer aloud before revealing.

🔁 Spaced recall

Your daily warm-up. Sentences you've built come back at growing gaps — but don't recall them from memory. Rebuild each one from its pieces, every time; that's what makes them permanent. Read the English, work it out aloud, then reveal.

🧩 Build

The real test of the method: brand-new sentences you've never seen, made only from words and structures you've already learned. You can't recall these — you have to construct them. That's fluency in miniature.

👂 Listening drills

Real conversations hit your ear with no subtitles. Here you only hear the language — work out the meaning, then reveal. This trains the skill you'll actually use in real conversations.

🗣️ Shadowing

A powerful way to develop more natural rhythm and pronunciation: hear a line and repeat it immediately, copying the rhythm and melody — not translating. 10–15 focused minutes beats an hour of tired mimicry.

✚ Chunk builder

Heard a useful phrase out in the world? Capture it here. Every chunk you save joins your Recall, Listen, Shadow and Quiz automatically — so it actually sticks.

📺 Resources & daily plan

Free listening you can understand and enjoy — the comprehensible-input piece. Mix these with your lessons.

💬 Real conversations

Full exchanges you'll actually have, start to finish. Tap 🔊 on any line, or play the whole conversation. Try covering the English and reading the other language aloud.

🎯 Quiz

Test yourself across everything you've learned. Multiple-choice both ways, plus a typing challenge. You need 80% to call a set solid.

🤖 Conversation partner

The practice no drill gives you: a real back-and-forth. Chat with an AI partner that stays at a beginner level and gently corrects you — a powerful way to turn what you've learned into speech.

🌍 Culture & etiquette

Speaking well is half of it — these unwritten rules will make locals warm to you instantly.

🗂️ Pocket phrases

Grab-and-go reference for real situations — greetings, numbers, emergencies that you just need ready. Search or filter, tap 🔊.

🔊 Sounds

Quick grammar

🌐 Hub

Your command centre — progress across every language, one daily plan, a single review that spans them all, and a phrase explorer that shows how your languages connect.

Learning Telugu: a practical guide

This is a written companion to the free Telugu course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.

What Telugu is like

Telugu is Dravidian and agglutinative — like Turkish, it glues endings onto words and puts the verb last (Subject-Object-Verb). 'To-me tea is-needed' = నాకు టీ కావాలి. No articles. A lot of Sanskrit vocabulary overlaps with Hindi/Marathi.

Words you may already know

🇮🇳 Shared Sanskrit roots: namaskāram ≈ namaskār, dhanyavādālu ≈ dhanyavād, roṭṭe ≈ roti, kāphī ≈ coffee. 🇹🇷 Grammar like Turkish: verb-last and endings glued on — the same build-from-pieces logic transfers directly.

Pronunciation notes

Telugu has its own script and a few retroflex sounds — copy the audio. The grammar puts verbs last, like Turkish.

First phrases

The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.

TeluguPronunciationMeaning
నమస్కారంnamaskāramhello
ధన్యవాదాలుdhanyavādāluthank you
దయచేసిdayachēsiplease
అవునుavunuyes
కాదుkāduno
సెలవుselavugoodbye
క్షమించండిkshaminchaṇḍisorry
ఒకటిokaṭi1
రెండుreṇḍu2
మూడుmūḍu3
పదిpadi10
వందvanda100
నీళ్లుnīḷḷuwater
టీṭītea
అన్నంannamfood / rice
బిల్లుbilluthe bill
రుచిగా ఉందిruchigā undidelicious
ఎక్కడ?ekkaḍawhere?
ఎడమeḍamaleft
కుడిkuḍiright
టాయిలెట్ṭāyileṭtoilet
విమానాశ్రయంvimānāśrayamairport
సహాయం!sahāyamHelp!
నాకు అర్థం కాలేదుnāku artham kālēduI don't understand
డాక్టర్ḍākṭardoctor
పోలీసుpōlīsupolice

How the Telugu course is structured

The course has 31 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:

  1. Greetings — నమస్కారం · ధన్యవాదాలు
  2. I want" నాకు కావాలి — నాకు కావాలి · ఎంత
  3. Numbers — ఒకటి to పది
  4. Food — అన్నం · బిల్లు
  5. Getting around — ఎక్కడ · ఎడమ/కుడి
  6. I have / is there" ఉంది — నా దగ్గర ఉంది · ఉందా · లేదు
  7. Talking about the past — -ను = I … (past)
  8. Mine & yours — నా = my · మీ = your
  9. Time & when — ఇప్పుడు · ఈరోజు
  10. Question words — ఏమి · ఎక్కడ
  11. Where things are — ఇక్కడ · అక్కడ
  12. Need & can — కావాలి · చేయగలను
  13. Joining ideas — ఎందుకంటే · కానీ
  14. Help & emergencies — సహాయం · పోలీసు
  15. Shopping & bargaining — ఎంత · ఖరీదు
  16. Family & people — కుటుంబం · అమ్మ
  17. Colours & describing — రంగులు · పెద్ద
  18. At the restaurant — మెనూ · బిల్లు
  19. Days & months — వారం · నెల
  20. Weather & small talk — వేడి · వర్షం
  21. Transport — బస్సు · రైలు
  22. Money & prices — డబ్బు · వెయ్యి
  23. Hotel & booking — గది · రాత్రి
  24. Phone & internet — ఫోన్ · వైఫై
  25. How I feel — సంతోషం · ఆకలి
  26. Everyday routines — లేస్తాను · పని
  27. At the doctor — జబ్బు · డాక్టర్
  28. Countries & languages — ఎక్కడి నుండి · మాట్లాడతాను
  29. Making plans — వెళ్దామా · కలుద్దాం
  30. Politeness & survival — దయచేసి · ధన్యవాదాలు
  31. Final scene — put it all together — a capstone scene: no new words, just everything you've built

Inside the lessons

Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.

Greetings

Key pieces: నమస్కారం · ధన్యవాదాలు

Telugu starts gently. Tap the audio and copy the sound — the transliteration under each phrase is just the pronunciation.

To say “Hello” in Telugu: నమస్కారం (namaskāram). Built from నమస్కారం = a respectful hello.

To say “Thank you” in Telugu: ధన్యవాదాలు (dhanyavādālu). Built from ధన్యవాదాలు = thanks.

'Yes' is అవును (avunu), 'no' is కాదు (kādu), 'please' is దయచేసి (dayachēsi).

To say “Please” in Telugu: దయచేసి (dayachēsi). Built from దయ = kindness; చేసి = having done.

To say “Yes” in Telugu: అవును (avunu). Built from అవును = yes.

I want" నాకు కావాలి

Key pieces: నాకు కావాలి · ఎంత

'I want' is నాకు కావాలి (nāku kāvāli) — literally 'to-me needed'. Like Turkish, the verb comes at the end.

To say “I want water” in Telugu: నాకు నీళ్లు కావాలి (nāku nīḷḷu kāvāli). Built from నాకు = to me; నీళ్లు = water; కావాలి = needed.

To say “I want tea” in Telugu: నాకు టీ కావాలి (nāku ṭī kāvāli). Built from నాకు = to me; టీ = tea; కావాలి = needed.

'This' is ఇది (idi); 'how much' is ఎంత (enta).

To say “How much is this?” in Telugu: ఇది ఎంత? (idi enta). Built from ఇది = this; ఎంత = how much.

'I don't want' is నాకు వద్దు (nāku vaddu).

To say “I don't want” in Telugu: నాకు వద్దు (nāku vaddu). Built from నాకు = to me; వద్దు = not wanted.

Numbers

Key pieces: ఒకటి to పది

To say “ten” in Telugu: పది (padi). Built from పది = 10.

One hundred is వంద (vanda).

To say “one hundred” in Telugu: వంద (vanda). Built from వంద = 100.

Food

Key pieces: అన్నం · బిల్లు

To say “I want food” in Telugu: నాకు అన్నం కావాలి (nāku annam kāvāli). Built from నాకు = to me; అన్నం = food; కావాలి = needed.

'I don't eat meat' is నేను మాంసం తినను (nēnu mānsam tinanu).

To say “I don't eat meat” in Telugu: నేను మాంసం తినను (nēnu mānsam tinanu). Built from నేను = I; మాంసం = meat; తినను = don't eat.

To say “It's delicious” in Telugu: రుచిగా ఉంది (ruchigā undi). Built from రుచిగా = tasty; ఉంది = it is.

The bill is బిల్లు (billu).

To say “The bill, please” in Telugu: బిల్లు, దయచేసి (billu, dayachēsi). Built from బిల్లు = bill; దయచేసి = please.

Getting around

Key pieces: ఎక్కడ · ఎడమ/కుడి

'Where?' is ఎక్కడ (ekkaḍa). Telugu just says '[thing] where?'.

To say “Where is the toilet?” in Telugu: టాయిలెట్ ఎక్కడ? (ṭāyileṭ ekkaḍa). Built from టాయిలెట్ = toilet; ఎక్కడ = where.

To say “Where is the hotel?” in Telugu: హోటల్ ఎక్కడ? (hōṭal ekkaḍa). Built from హోటల్ = hotel; ఎక్కడ = where.

To say “Where is the airport?” in Telugu: విమానాశ్రయం ఎక్కడ? (vimānāśrayam ekkaḍa). Built from విమానాశ్రయం = airport; ఎక్కడ = where.

To say “I want a taxi” in Telugu: నాకు టాక్సీ కావాలి (nāku ṭāksī kāvāli). Built from నాకు = to me; టాక్సీ = taxi; కావాలి = needed.

If you're lost: 'I don't understand' is నాకు అర్థం కాలేదు (nāku artham kālēdu).

I have / is there" ఉంది

Key pieces: నా దగ్గర ఉంది · ఉందా · లేదు

'I have' is నా దగ్గర ఉంది (nā daggara undi) — literally 'near me it-is'. To ask 'is there?', use ఉందా? (undā).

To say “I have money (డబ్బు)” in Telugu: నా దగ్గర డబ్బు ఉంది (nā daggara ḍabbu undi). Built from నా దగ్గర = near me; డబ్బు = money; ఉంది = it is.

To say “Is there tea?” in Telugu: టీ ఉందా? (ṭī undā). Built from టీ = tea; ఉందా = is there?.

To say “Is there a room? (గది)” in Telugu: గది ఉందా? (gadi undā). Built from గది = room; ఉందా = is there?.

'There isn't / I don't have' is లేదు (lēdu).

To say “I don't have time (సమయం)” in Telugu: నా దగ్గర సమయం లేదు (nā daggara samayam lēdu). Built from నా దగ్గర = near me; సమయం = time; లేదు = isn't.

Talking about the past

Key pieces: -ను = I … (past)

Telugu marks 'I did' with the ending -ను (-nu). 'I go' వెళ్తాను → 'I went' వెళ్ళాను (veḷḷānu).

To say “I went” in Telugu: నేను వెళ్ళాను (nēnu veḷḷānu). Built from నేను = I; వెళ్ళాను = went.

To say “I ate” in Telugu: నేను తిన్నాను (nēnu tinnānu). Built from నేను = I; తిన్నాను = ate.

To say “I saw” in Telugu: నేను చూశాను (nēnu chūśānu). Built from నేను = I; చూశాను = saw.

To ask 'did you…?', use the ending -ారా (-ārā): తిన్నారా? = did you eat?

To say “Did you eat?” in Telugu: తిన్నారా? (tinnārā). Built from తిన్న = ate; -ారా = did you?.

Mine & yours

Key pieces: నా = my · మీ = your

'My' is నా (nā), 'your' is మీ (mī) — placed before the noun. 'my name' = నా పేరు (nā pēru).

To say “my name” in Telugu: నా పేరు (nā pēru). Built from నా = my; పేరు = name.

To say “This is my bag (బ్యాగ్)” in Telugu: ఇది నా బ్యాగ్ (idi nā byāg). Built from ఇది = this; నా = my; బ్యాగ్ = bag.

To say “your name” in Telugu: మీ పేరు (mī pēru). Built from మీ = your; పేరు = name.

To say “my friend (స్నేహితుడు)” in Telugu: నా స్నేహితుడు (nā snēhitudu). Built from నా = my; స్నేహితుడు = friend.

Time & when

Key pieces: ఇప్పుడు · ఈరోజు

Point in time with simple words. ఇప్పుడు (ippudu) = now.

To say “When?” in Telugu: ఎప్పుడు? (EP-poo-doo). Built from ఎప్పుడు = when.

To say “Now, please” in Telugu: ఇప్పుడు, దయచేసి (IP-poo-doo, DA-ya-chay-si). Built from ఇప్పుడు = now; దయచేసి = please.

To say “I will come tomorrow” in Telugu: నేను రేపు వస్తాను (NAY-noo RAY-poo VAS-taa-noo). Built from నేను = I; రేపు = tomorrow; వస్తాను = will come.

To say “I came yesterday” in Telugu: నేను నిన్న వచ్చాను (NAY-noo NIN-na VACH-chaa-noo). Built from నేను = I; నిన్న = yesterday; వచ్చాను = came. past tense.

Question words

Key pieces: ఏమి · ఎక్కడ

Five key questions open most conversations. ఏమి (emi) = what.

To say “What is this?” in Telugu: ఇది ఏమి? (I-di AY-mi). Built from ఇది = this; ఏమి = what.

To say “Where is it?” in Telugu: ఇది ఎక్కడ ఉంది? (I-di EK-ka-da OON-di). Built from ఇది = this; ఎక్కడ = where; ఉంది = is. uses ఉంది.

To say “Who are you?” in Telugu: మీరు ఎవరు? (MEE-roo E-va-roo). Built from మీరు = you; ఎవరు = who.

To say “Why?” in Telugu: ఎందుకు? (EN-doo-koo). Built from ఎందుకు = why.

Where things are

Key pieces: ఇక్కడ · అక్కడ

Location words help you point and find. ఇక్కడ (ikkada) = here.

To say “It is here” in Telugu: ఇది ఇక్కడ ఉంది (I-di IK-ka-da OON-di). Built from ఇది = this; ఇక్కడ = here; ఉంది = is.

To say “It is there” in Telugu: అది అక్కడ ఉంది (A-di AK-ka-da OON-di). Built from అది = that; అక్కడ = there; ఉంది = is.

To say “The hotel is near” in Telugu: హోటల్ దగ్గర ఉంది (HO-tal DAG-ga-ra OON-di). Built from హోటల్ = hotel; దగ్గర = near; ఉంది = is.

To say “Come inside” in Telugu: లోపల రండి (LOH-pa-la RAN-di). Built from లోపల = inside; రండి = come (polite).

Need & can

Key pieces: కావాలి · చేయగలను

Express need, ability and obligation. కావాలి (kaavaali) = need/want.

To say “I need water” in Telugu: నాకు నీళ్ళు కావాలి (NAA-koo NEEL-loo KAA-vaa-li). Built from నాకు = to me; నీళ్ళు = water; కావాలి = need.

To say “I can do it” in Telugu: నేను చేయగలను (NAY-noo CHAY-ya-ga-la-noo). Built from నేను = I; చేయ = do; -గలను = can.

To say “I must go” in Telugu: నేను వెళ్ళాలి (NAY-noo VEL-laa-li). Built from నేను = I; వెళ్ళ = go; -ాలి = must.

To say “Can you help?” in Telugu: మీరు సహాయం చేయగలరా? (MEE-roo SA-haa-yam CHAY-ya-ga-la-raa). Built from సహాయం = help; చేయ = do; -గలరా = can you?.

Joining ideas

Key pieces: ఎందుకంటే · కానీ

Connect sentences with small joiners. కానీ (kaani) = but.

To say “It is good but expensive” in Telugu: ఇది బాగుంది కానీ ఖరీదు (I-di BAA-goon-di KAA-nee KHA-ree-doo). Built from బాగుంది = is good; కానీ = but; ఖరీదు = expensive.

To say “I want this because it is good” in Telugu: నాకు ఇది కావాలి ఎందుకంటే ఇది బాగుంది (NAA-koo I-di KAA-vaa-li EN-doo-kan-tay I-di BAA-goon-di). Built from ఎందుకంటే = because; నాకు కావాలి = I want.

To say “I want tea also” in Telugu: నాకు టీ కూడా కావాలి (NAA-koo TEE KOO-daa KAA-vaa-li). Built from టీ = tea; కూడా = also; కావాలి = want.

To say “Tea and coffee” in Telugu: టీ మరియు కాఫీ (TEE MA-ri-yoo KAA-fee). Built from టీ = tea; మరియు = and; కాఫీ = coffee.

Help & emergencies

Key pieces: సహాయం · పోలీసు

Ask for help fast. సహాయం (sahaayam) = help.

To say “Help!” in Telugu: సహాయం! (SA-haa-yam). Built from సహాయం = help.

To say “Call the police” in Telugu: పోలీసుకు ఫోన్ చేయండి (PO-lee-soo-ku FONE CHAY-yan-di). Built from పోలీసుకు = to police; ఫోన్ చేయండి = call (polite).

To say “Where is the hospital?” in Telugu: ఆసుపత్రి ఎక్కడ? (AA-soo-pat-ri EK-ka-da). Built from ఆసుపత్రి = hospital; ఎక్కడ = where.

To say “I did not understand” in Telugu: నాకు అర్థం కాలేదు (NAA-koo AR-tham KAA-lay-doo). Built from నాకు = to me; అర్థం = meaning; కాలేదు = did not become.

Shopping & bargaining

Key pieces: ఎంత · ఖరీదు

Ask the price and bargain politely. ఎంత (enta) = how much.

To say “How much is this?” in Telugu: ఇది ఎంత? (I-di EN-ta). Built from ఇది = this; ఎంత = how much.

To say “It is too expensive” in Telugu: ఇది చాలా ఖరీదు (I-di CHAA-laa KHA-ree-doo). Built from చాలా = very; ఖరీదు = expensive.

To say “Make it less” in Telugu: తక్కువ చేయండి (TAK-koo-va CHAY-yan-di). Built from తక్కువ = less; చేయండి = do (polite).

To say “Is there anything cheap?” in Telugu: చౌకగా ఏమైనా ఉందా? (CHOW-ka-gaa AY-mai-naa OON-daa). Built from చౌకగా = cheaply; ఏమైనా = anything; ఉందా = is there?.

Family & people

Key pieces: కుటుంబం · అమ్మ

Words for family come up often. కుటుంబం (kutumbam) = family.

To say “This is my family” in Telugu: ఇది నా కుటుంబం (I-di NAA KOO-toom-bam). Built from ఇది = this; నా = my; కుటుంబం = family.

To say “She is my mother” in Telugu: ఆమె నా అమ్మ (AA-may NAA AM-ma). Built from ఆమె = she; నా = my; అమ్మ = mother.

To say “He is my father” in Telugu: అతను నా నాన్న (A-ta-noo NAA NAAN-na). Built from అతను = he; నా = my; నాన్న = father.

To say “This is my wife” in Telugu: ఈమె నా భార్య (EE-may NAA BHAAR-ya). Built from ఈమె = she (this); నా = my; భార్య = wife.

Colours & describing

Key pieces: రంగులు · పెద్ద

Describe things by colour and size. రంగు (rangu) = colour.

To say “What colour is this?” in Telugu: ఇది ఏ రంగు? (I-di AY RAN-goo). Built from ఇది = this; ఏ = which; రంగు = colour.

To say “I want the red one” in Telugu: నాకు ఎరుపు కావాలి (NAA-koo E-roo-poo KAA-vaa-li). Built from నాకు = to me; ఎరుపు = red; కావాలి = want.

To say “It is too big” in Telugu: ఇది చాలా పెద్దది (I-di CHAA-laa PED-da-di). Built from చాలా = very; పెద్దది = big one.

To say “Do you have a small one?” in Telugu: చిన్నది ఉందా? (CHIN-na-di OON-daa). Built from చిన్నది = small one; ఉందా = is there?.

To compare: కంటే (kaṇṭē) = than, ఇంకా పెద్దది (inkā peddadi) = bigger, అన్నిటికన్నా పెద్దది (annitikannā peddadi) = the biggest.

At the restaurant

Key pieces: మెనూ · బిల్లు

Order and pay with ease. మెనూ (menu) = menu.

To say “Menu, please” in Telugu: మెనూ ఇవ్వండి (ME-noo IV-van-di). Built from మెనూ = menu; ఇవ్వండి = give (polite).

To say “Table for two people” in Telugu: రెండు మందికి (REN-doo MAN-di-ki). Built from రెండు మంది = two people; -కి = for.

To say “It is very tasty” in Telugu: ఇది చాలా రుచికరమైనది (I-di CHAA-laa ROO-chi-ka-ra-mai-na-di). Built from చాలా = very; రుచికరమైనది = tasty one.

To say “The bill, please” in Telugu: బిల్లు ఇవ్వండి (BIL-loo IV-van-di). Built from బిల్లు = bill; ఇవ్వండి = give (polite).

Days & months

Key pieces: వారం · నెల

Talk about days and dates. వారం (vaaram) = week.

To say “What day is today?” in Telugu: ఈరోజు ఏ వారం? (EE-ro-joo AY VAA-ram). Built from ఈరోజు = today; ఏ = which; వారం = weekday.

To say “Today is Monday” in Telugu: ఈరోజు సోమవారం (EE-ro-joo SO-ma-vaa-ram). Built from ఈరోజు = today; సోమవారం = Monday.

To say “Tomorrow is Sunday” in Telugu: రేపు ఆదివారం (RAY-poo AA-di-vaa-ram). Built from రేపు = tomorrow; ఆదివారం = Sunday.

To say “Which month?” in Telugu: ఏ నెల? (AY NE-la). Built from ఏ = which; నెల = month.

Common mistakes and things to watch out for

Culture and etiquette

Banana-leaf feasts

Traditional Telugu meals are served on a banana leaf and eaten with the right hand — a full thali of rice, dal and pickles.

Namaskāram

Palms together with a slight bow is the respectful greeting, especially toward elders.

Respect for elders

Younger people may touch an elder's feet to seek blessings; using 'gāru' after a name shows respect.

Among India's spiciest

Andhra food is fiery. Ask for less spice with 'kāram takkuva' (కారం తక్కువ).

Shoes off

Remove footwear before entering homes and temples.

Festivals

Sankranti, Ugadi and Bathukamma are big — expect rangoli, lamps, kites and sweets.

Example dialogues

Ordering tea

Server: నమస్కారం, ఏం కావాలి? (namaskāram, ēm kāvāli) — Hello, what do you want?

You: నాకు ఒక టీ కావాలి. (nāku oka ṭī kāvāli) — I'd like a tea.

Server: ఇంకేమైనా? (inkēmainā) — Anything else?

You: ఇది ఎంత? (idi enta) — How much is it?

Server: యాభై రూపాయలు. (yābhai rūpāyalu) — Fifty rupees.

You: ధన్యవాదాలు! (dhanyavādālu) — Thanks!

Asking directions

You: క్షమించండి, స్టేషన్ ఎక్కడ? (kshaminchaṇḍi, sṭēshan ekkaḍa) — Excuse me, where's the station?

Local: నేరుగా వెళ్ళండి. (nērugā veḷḷaṇḍi) — Go straight.

You: దగ్గరా? (daggarā) — Is it near?

Local: అవును, దగ్గరే. (avunu, daggarē) — Yes, it's near.

You: ధన్యవాదాలు! (dhanyavādālu) — Thanks!

Meeting someone

Local: మీ పేరు ఏమిటి? (mī pēru ēmiṭi) — What's your name?

You: నా పేరు Alex. (nā pēru Alex) — My name is Alex.

Local: మీరు ఎక్కడి నుంచి? (mīru ekkaḍi nunchi) — Where are you from?

You: నేను దుబాయ్ నుంచి. (nēnu dubāy nunchi) — I'm from Dubai.

Local: స్వాగతం! (svāgatam) — Welcome!

Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.