Pronunciation guide
How to say “Brother” in Kannada
Say “anna”. Written ಅಣ್ಣ in Kannada.
ಅಣ್ಣ
Say it: “anna”
Formal notation: aṇṇa
Syllable breakdown
Try saying the word one syllable at a time:
a·ṇṇa
Speaking tips for this word
- Retroflex consonants (ṭ, ḍ, ṇ, ṣ) are pronounced with the tongue curled back, touching the roof of the mouth — different from English t/d/n/sh.
When to use it
"Anna" is elder brother; "tamma" (ತಮ್ಮ) is younger brother.
Saying “Brother” in Kannada — frequently asked
How do you pronounce "Brother" in Kannada?
Say "anna" — broken into syllables: a-ṇṇa. The native spelling is ಅಣ್ಣ.
What is the simplest way to say "Brother" in Kannada?
The most common Kannada word for "brother" is ಅಣ್ಣ, pronounced "anna". It works in everyday speech with no formality concerns.
Is "aṇṇa" the same as "anna"?
Yes. "aṇṇa" uses IAST notation with diacritics — the long lines (ā ī ū) mean "hold the vowel longer". "anna" is the same word written the way an English speaker might spell it phonetically.
Are there other ways to say "Brother" in Kannada?
Yes — common alternates include: Anna, Tamma. ಅಣ್ಣ is the most widely understood.
Want more context?
See the full Kannada word page for “Brother” →Includes alternate translations, example sentences, related vocabulary and the word in cultural context.
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