This guide adapts rules and examples from Microsoft’s 49-page Kannada Localization Style Guide (originally written for software/UI localization). The underlying linguistic rules apply universally — to legal contracts, medical documents, marketing copy, and any Kannada translation work. Restructured and reformatted as a general Kannada translator reference by ChatsControl.

Kannada Translation Style Guide — Voice, Word Choice & Common Pitfalls (Legal, Medical, Marketing, IT)¶

TL;DR¶

• Modern Kannada translation prefers warm, clear, conversational register; transliterate established English loan words (ಅಪ್ಲಿಕೇಶನ್, ವಿಂಡೋ, ಲಾಗ್ ಇನ್) rather than coining heavy Sanskrit-derived equivalents for consumer-facing IT, marketing, and software content.
• Kannada has no articles — use demonstrative and possessive pronouns only when essential to meaning; avoid copying English ಯ/your possessive markers unless ownership is genuinely important.
• English prepositions become Kannada postpositions (ಗೆ for ‘to’, ಇಂದ for ‘from’); follow noun forms when translating prepositional patterns (migrate to → ಗೆ ವಲಸೆ ಹೋಗು, import from → ಇಂದ ಆಮದು ಮಾಡು).
• Plural-form ಗಳು appends to most loanwords (ಡೌನ್‌ಲೋಡ್‌ಗಳು, ಕ್ಲೈಂಟ್‌ಗಳು); use ZWNJ where applicable in transliterated forms; product names should not take genitive ಯ directly but rather a separator.
• Reference authoritative Kannada sources: Kannada Shaili Kaipidi (Kannada Style Manual), Kannada Ratnakosha, Kannada Sahitya Parishat dictionary, contemporary publications (Praja Vani, Kannada Prabha, Vijaya Karnataka).

Reference materials¶

Adhere to these normative references. When more than one solution is possible, consult this guide for guidance.

1. Kannada Shaili Kaipidi (Kannada Style Manual) — Prepared by Kannada University, Hampi and Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore. Published by The Director, Prasaranga, Kannada University. First impression 1995.
2. Kannada Ratnakosha, Third (revised) Edition, 2001, by Kannada Saahitya Parishat, Bangalore.
3. Kannada Saahitya Parishattina Kannada NighanTu — Published by Kannada Saahitya Parishat. Chief Editor: N Basavaradhya, Third (revised) Edition, 2001.
4. kannadakasturi.com — online Kannada reference.
5. baraha.com/kannada/ — Kannada language tools.

Contemporary language references: Praja Vani, Kannada Prabha, Vijaya Karnataka.

These references apply across all spheres — legal, medical, marketing, IT — wherever consistent, normative Kannada orthography and terminology matter.

Register and tone for modern Kannada translation¶

Register is the level of formality, warmth, and conversational ease the target text projects. Three principles define the modern Kannada register for consumer-facing content:

• Warm and relaxed. Natural, less formal, grounded in honest conversations. Occasionally fun where the brand permits.
• Crisp and clear. Written for scanning first, reading second. Simplicity over flourish.
• Ready to help. Anticipates the reader’s needs and offers information at the right moment.

The general style should be clear, friendly, and concise. Use language that resembles everyday conversation, as opposed to the formal, technical Sanskrit-heavy language often used in technical and commercial content. Because conversational style is the goal, literally translating the source may produce target text not relevant to customers.

Guidelines:

• Write short, easy-to-read sentences.
• Avoid passive voice — it’s difficult to read and understand quickly.
• Be pleasant and ensure explanations appear individualized.
• Avoid slang; be careful with colloquialisms. Reassure and connect with the customer in a conversational tone, but stay professional.

Why this matters: Bureaucratic, Sanskrit-heavy register damages outcomes across spheres. In marketing copy it kills conversion — readers disengage when text sounds like a government notice. In patient-facing medical materials it reduces comprehension and compliance. In software UI it creates friction at every interaction. In consumer-facing legal documents plain Kannada improves regulator and reader trust. Only sworn legal translation and pure technical specifications retain the older formal register.

Audience targeting: technical vs. consumer vocabulary¶

Although content might be different for different audiences, the principles are the same — keep the audience in mind. Choose technical terms for technical audiences; for consumers use common words.

This applies in every sphere. Legal translation for corporate counsel uses Sanskrit-heavy procedural shorthand; consumer-facing versions need plain-Kannada framing. Medical translation for clinicians keeps Greek/Latin transliterations; for patients it switches to common terms. IT translation uses developer jargon in engineer-facing docs, natural transliterated Kannada in end-user help.

Word choice: short forms and everyday words¶

Use approved terminology from the Microsoft Language Portal where applicable, especially for key terms, technical terms, and product names.

en-US word	Usage
App	Use app instead of application or program.
Pick, choose	Use pick in fun, lightweight situations (“pick a color”); choose for more formal ones (don’t use select unless required by UI).
Drive	General reference to any drive type. Use specific drive type if necessary.
Get	Use as synonym for “obtain” or “come into possession of”; avoid for other general meanings.
Info	Use in most situations unless information better fits the context. Use info when pointing reader elsewhere (“for more info, see \“).
PC	Use for personal computing devices. Use computer for situations about PCs and Macs. Don’t switch between PC and computer.
You	Address the user as you, directly or indirectly. Avoid third-person references like “user” — they sound formal and impersonal.

Shorter words are generally more conversational, save screen space, and are easier to read quickly.

en-US source term	kn-IN target term	Usage
Share (verb)	ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ	For example, ಈಮೈಲ್ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ
Pick, choose	ಆಯ್ಕೆ	For example, ಆಯ್ಕೆ ಮಾಡಿ / ಈಮೈಲ್ ಆಯ್ಕೆ

Words and phrases to avoid in modern Kannada¶

Modern Kannada translation avoids unnecessarily formal tone. The following table lists US English words that add formality without adding meaning, along with everyday equivalents.

en-US to avoid	Preferred en-US
Achieve	Do
As well as	Also, too
Attempt	Try
Configure	Set up
Encounter	Meet
Execute	Run
Halt	Stop
Have an opportunity	Can
However	But
Give/provide guidance, give/provide information	Help
In addition	Also
In conjunction with	With
Locate	Find
Make a recommendation	Recommend
Modify	Change
Navigate	Go
Obtain	Get
Perform	Do
Purchase	Buy
Refer to	See
Resolve	Fix
Subsequent	Next
Suitable	Works well
Terminate	End
Toggle	Switch
Utilize	Use

Kannada-specific replacements:

en-US source	kn-IN old word/phrase	kn-IN new word/phrase
Attempt	ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸು	ಯತ್ನಿಸು
In addition	ಹೆಚ್ಚುವರಿಯಾಗಿ	ಜೊತೆಗೆ
Give/provide guidance, give/provide information	ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶನ ನೀಡಿ ಒದಗಿಸಿ / ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ನೀಡಿ ಒದಗಿಸಿ	ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶನ ಮತ್ತು ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ನೀಡಿ

Why this matters: These formal forms appear in legal templates and government communications out of institutional habit but feel alien in consumer-facing products, patient-facing medical materials, brand-led marketing, and user-friendly software. Plain Kannada wins on conversion, comprehension, and compliance.

Sample translations: addressing the user to take action¶

US English	Kannada target	Explanation
The password isn’t correct, so please try again. Passwords are case-sensitive.	ಪಾಸ್‌ವರ್ಡ್ ಸರಿಯಿಲ್ಲ, ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಮತ್ತೆ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸಿ. ಪಾಸ್‌ವರ್ಡ್‌ಗಳು ತುಂಬಾ ಕೇಸ್ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮತೆಯನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿವೆ.	Short and friendly message with the action to try again.
This product key didn’t work. Please check it and try again.	ಉತ್ಪನ್ನ ಕೀ ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಹಿಸಲಿಲ್ಲ. ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಅದನ್ನು ಪರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಮತ್ತೆ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸಿ.	Casually and politely asks the user to check and try again.
All ready to go	ಇನ್ನು ಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಿದೆ	Casual and short message to inform user setup completed.
Would you like to continue?	ಮುಂದುವರಿಸಲು ಬಯಸುತ್ತೀರಾ?	Polite question; second-person addressing.
Give your PC a name — any name you want. If you want to change the background color, turn high contrast off in PC settings.	ನಿಮ್ಮ PC ಗೆ ನಿಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾಗಿರುವ ಯಾವುದೇ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ನೀಡಿ. ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆ ಬಣ್ಣವನ್ನು ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಲು ನೀವು ಬಯಸಿದರೆ, PC ಸೆಟ್ಟಿಂಗ್‌ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕಾಂಟ್ರಾಸ್ಟ್ ಅನ್ನು ಆಫ್ ಮಾಡಿ.	Addresses user directly using second-person, prompts necessary action.

Promoting a feature¶

US English	Kannada target	Explanation
Picture password is a new way to help you protect your touchscreen PC. You choose the picture—and the gestures you use with it—to create a password that’s uniquely yours.	ನಿಮ್ಮ ಟಚ್‌ಸ್ಕ್ರೀನ್ PC ಅನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಲು ನಿಮಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಲು ಚಿತ್ರ ಪಾಸ್‌ವರ್ಡ್ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಹೊಸ ಮಾರ್ಗವಾಗಿದೆ. ನೀವು ಚಿತ್ರವನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಅದರೊಂದಿಗೆ ನೀವು ಬಳಸುವ ಸನ್ನೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಿಮ್ಮದೇ ಆದ ಅನನ್ಯವಾದ ಪಾಸ್‌ವರ್ಡ್ ರಚಿಸಲು ಆಯ್ಕೆಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತೀರಿ.	Em-dash emphasizes the specific requirements for the feature.
Let apps give you personalized content based on your PC’s location, name, account picture, and other domain info.	ನಿಮ್ಮ PC ಯ ಸ್ಥಳ, ಹೆಸರು, ಖಾತೆ ಚಿತ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ಡೊಮೇನ್ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಆಧರಿಸಿ ಅಪ್ಲಿಕೇಶನ್‌ಗಳು ನಿಮಗೆ ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕಗೊಳಿಸಿದ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ನೀಡಲಿ.	Familiarity through everyday words like PC.

Provide how-to guidelines¶

US English	Kannada target	Explanation
To go back and save your work, click Cancel and finish what you need to.	ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕೆ ಮರಳಿ ಹೋಗಲು ಮತ್ತು ಉಳಿಸಲು, ರದ್ದುಮಾಡಿ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾಗಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಪೂರೈಸಿ.	Short and clear action using second person.
To confirm your current picture password, just watch the replay and trace the example gestures shown on your picture.	ನಿಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಚಿತ್ರ ಪಾಸ್‌ವರ್ಡ್ ಅನ್ನು ದೃಢಪಡಿಸಲು, ಮೀಡಿಯೋವನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸ್ವಂತ ಚಿತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ತೋರಿಸಿದ ಉದಾಹರಣೆ ಸನ್ನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪತ್ತೆ ಹಚ್ಚಿ.	Voice is simple and natural; only what’s needed to make a decision.

Explanatory text and support¶

US English	Kannada target	Explanation
The updates are installed, but Windows 10 Setup needs to restart for them to work. After it restarts, we’ll keep going from where we left off.	ಪರಿಷ್ಕರಣೆಗಳನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ, ಆದರೆ ಇವುಗಳು ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಹಿಸಲು Windows 10 ಸೆಟಪ್ ಅದನ್ನು ಮರುಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ. ಅದು ಮರುಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದ ನಂತರ, ನಾವು ಬಿಟ್ಟಿರುವಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಮುಂದುವರಿಯುತ್ತೇವೆ.	Natural language; reassuring voice; “we” provides a more personal feel.
If you restart now, you and any other people using this PC could lose unsaved work.	ನೀವು ಇನ್ನು ಮರುಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರೆ, ಈ PC ಬಳಸುವ ನೀವು ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಉಳಿಸದ ಕಾರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬಹುದು.	Clear and natural, informing what will happen.
This document will be automatically moved to the right library and folder after you correct invalid or missing properties.	ನೀವು ಅಮಾನ್ಯ ಅಥವಾ ಕಾಣದ ಗುಣಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳನ್ನು ಸಂಪರ್ಧಿಸಿದ ನಂತರ ಈ ದಾಖಲೆಯನ್ನು ಸ್ವಯಂಚಾಲಿತವಾಗಿ ಸರಿಯಾದ ಲೈಬ್ರರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಫೋಲ್ಡರ್‌ಗೆ ಸ್ಥಳಾಂತರಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.	Informative and direct about the action.
Something bad happened! Unable to locate downloaded files to create your bootable USB flash drive.	ಏನೋ ತಪ್ಪಾಯಿತು! ನಿಮ್ಮ ಬೂಟ್ ಮಾಡಬಹುದಾದ USB ಫ್ಲ್ಯಾಶ್ ಡ್ರೈವ್ ರಚಿಸಲು ಡೌನ್‌ಲೋಡ್ ಮಾಡಿದ ಫೈಲ್‌ಗಳನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ.	Short sentences inform what has happened.

Language-specific standards¶

Abbreviations¶

In general, most abbreviations are not allowed in Kannada. Exceptions can be made in unavoidable instances, such as a character limit that can’t be further reduced. Abbreviated terms are denoted with a period.

Examples: ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ → ಸಂ; ಮೀಟರ್ → ಮೀ; ಕ್ರಮಸಂಖ್ಯೆ → ಕ್ರ.ಸಂ.

Keep in mind:

• The abbreviated term should be understood easily.
• Don’t abbreviate in a way that coincides with another word’s established abbreviation.
• Keep accent marks where present.
• Product names should never be abbreviated.

Common abbreviations (with and without dot, both acceptable):

Expression	Acceptable abbreviation
B.A.	ಬಿಎ
B.Sc.	ಬಿಎಸ್‌ಸಿ
B.C.A	ಬಿಸಿಎ
BCCI	ಬಿಸಿಸಿಐ
ATM	ಎಟಿಎಮ್
IST	ಐಎಸ್‌ಟಿ

Use a nonbreaking space (CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR) in abbreviations. If unavailable (Help files, etc.), write without space to avoid one letter moving to the next line.

Measurements and numerals:

Measurement	Abbreviation
Kilometer (km)	ಕಿಲೋಮೀಟರ್ (ಕಿ.ಮೀ.)
Meter (m)	ಮೀಟರ್ (ಮೀ)
Centimeter (cm)	ಸೆಂಟಿಮೀಟರ್ (ಸೆ.ಮೀ.)
Millimeter (mm)	ಮಿಲಿಮೀಟರ್ (ಮಿ.ಮೀ.)
Inch	ಅಂಗುಲ
Gigabyte	GB
Kilobyte	kB
Kilobit	Kb
Megabyte	MB
megabit	Mb

Don’t abbreviate words that would cause grammatical error or confusion. Example: ಮಾಡು → ಮಾ may convey both negative and positive (since ಮಾಡು ಮಾಡಬೇಡ can result). Avoid such ambiguous abbreviations.

Acronyms¶

Acronyms are words made up of the initial letters of major parts of a compound term (WYSIWYG, DNS, HTML).

Localized acronyms — common English acronyms transliterated:

Kannada	Expansion
ಉಲ್ಫಾ	‘ULFA’ / ಯುನೈಟೆಡ್ ಲಿಬರೇಶನ್ ಫ್ರಂಟ್ ಆಫ್ ಅಸ್ಸಾಮ್
ಟಾಡಾ	‘TADA’ / ಟೆರರಿಸ್ಟ್ ಡಿಸ್ರಪ್ಟಿವ್ ಆಕ್ಟಿವಿಟೀಸ್ ಪ್ರಿವೆನ್‌ಶನ್ ಆಕ್ಟ್
ಪೋಟಾ	‘POTA’ / ಪ್ರಿವೆನ್‌ಶನ್ ಆಫ್ ಟೆರರಿಸ್ಟ್ ಆಕ್ಟಿವಿಟೀಸ್
ಪೋಟೋ	‘POTO’ / ಪ್ರಿವೆನ್‌ಶನ್ ಆಫ್ ಟೆರರಿಜಮ್ ಆರ್ಡಿನಂಜ್
ಸಾರ್ಕ್	‘SAARC’ / ಸೌಥ್ ಏಶಿಯನ್ ಅಸೋಸಿಯೇಶನ್ ಫಾರ್ ರೀಜನಲ್ ಕೋ-ಆಪರೇಶನ್
ಯುನೆಸ್ಕೋ	‘UNESCO’ / ಯುನೈಟೆಡ್ ನೇಶನ್‌ಸ್ ಎಜುಕೇಶನಲ್ ಸೈಂಟಿಫಿಕ್ ಕಲ್ಚರಲ್ ಆರ್ಗನೈಸೇಶನ್
ಯುನಿಸೆಫ್	‘UNICEF’ / ಯುನೈಟೆಡ್ ನೇಶನ್‌ಸ್ ಇಂಟರ್‌ನ್ಯಾಶನಲ್ ಚಿಲ್ಡ್ರನ್‌ಸ್ ಎಮರ್ಜೆನ್ಸಿ ಫಂಡ್
ಹೂ	‘WHO’ / ವಲ್ಡ್ ಹೆಲ್ತ್ ಆರ್ಗನೈಸೇಶನ್

Examples of Kannada Acronyms:

• ಕಸಾಪ → Kannada Sahitya Parishat / ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಪರಿಷತ್
• ಬಾಜಪ → ‘BJP’ / ಭಾರತೀಯ ಜನತಾ ಪಕ್ಷ

Unlocalized acronyms. Many acronyms remain untranslated. They are followed by their full English spelling if explanation is needed for Kannada-speaking audiences. If commonly known, they can be used on their own.

Examples not localized or spelled out: ANSI, ISO, ISDN, DOS, DSL, CD, DVD.

If unsure what an acronym stands for, contact your PM.

Adjectives¶

Kannada adjectives describe or modify another person or thing in the sentence.

Examples: ಒಂದು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಕಟ್ಟಡ; ಒಬ್ಬ ತುಂಬಾ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಗೆಳೆಯ.

Possessive adjectives. Frequent use of possessives is a feature of English. In Kannada, possessive adjectives are handled the same way during translation from English.

Examples: ನನ್ನ ಮೀನು; ಅವರ ಮನೆ.

Articles¶

Kannada has no articles — only demonstrative and possessive pronouns. Be consistent in how variation in English articles is handled.

English example	Kannada example	Explanation
File already exists / The file already exists / This file already exists	ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಫೈಲ್ ಇದೆ.	In complete sentences, use determiners consistently even if the US string does not.
Not enough memory to complete this operation.	ಈ ಕ್ರಿಯೆಯನ್ನು ಪೂರ್ಣಗೊಳಿಸಲು ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಸ್ಮರಣೆ ಇಲ್ಲ.	No need for a demonstrative construction unless important in context.
Windows 10 can’t start your system. If the problem persists, contact your network administrator.	Windows 10 ಸಿಸ್ಟಮ್ ಗಣಕವನ್ನು ಆರಂಭಿಸಲು ಆಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಮುಂದುವರೆದರೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ನೆಟ್‌ವಕ್ ನಿರ್ವಾಹಕರನ್ನು ಸಂಪರ್ಕಿಸಿ.	Avoid possessive marker “your” unless ownership is important in context.

Unlocalized feature names — Microsoft product/feature names not translated are used without articles. Treat as proper nouns:

English example	Kannada example
Windows Mail shares your Internet Connection settings with Internet Explorer	Windows Mail ನಿಮ್ಮ ಇಂಟರ್‌ನೆಟ್ ಸಂಪರ್ಕ ಸೆಟ್ಟಿಂಗ್‌ಗಳನ್ನು Internet Explorer ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಹಂಚುತ್ತದೆ
Website addresses will be sent to Microsoft	ವೆಬ್‌ಸೈಟ್ ವಿಳಾಸಗಳನ್ನು Microsoft ಗೆ ಕಳುಹಿಸಲಾಗುವುದು.

Localized feature names — translated feature names are used with definite or indefinite article as they are not proper names.

English example	Kannada example
Open Control Panel from the Settings	ಸೆಟ್ಟಿಂಗ್‌ಗಳಿಂದ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ ಫಲಕಕ್ಕೆ ತೆರೆಯಿರಿ

Articles for English borrowed terms. Consider motivation, analogy, frequency. Even when using English words as transliteration, follow Kannada grammar rules — suffixes and plural forms should be added as applicable. ZWNJ should be used wherever applicable.

English	Kannada
Application	ಅಪ್ಲಿಕೇಶನ್
Applications	ಅಪ್ಲಿಕೇಶನ್‌ಗಳು
Window	ವಿಂಡೋ
Log in	ಲಾಗ್ ಇನ್

Compounds¶

Compounds should be understandable and clear to the user. Avoid overly long or complex compounds; unintuitive compounds cause intelligibility and usability issues.

Kannada compound types:

• Noun-Noun (Hyponomous): ಮೀನುಗಾಡಿ, ಕುದುರೆಗಾಡಿ
• Dvanda: ಕಣ್ಣು, ಮೂಗು, ಬಸ್ಸು, ಕಾರು
• Regular: ಮನೆಕೆಲಸ, ಕಸಕಡ್ಡಿ
• Complex: ಕಲ್ಲುಸಕ್ಕರೆ
• Genitive: ದೇವರಮನೆ
• Re-Duplicative: ಮೀನುಮೀನು
• Intensifier: ತುತ್ತತುದಿ
• Stem: ಸಾಕ್ಷಾತ್

Compounds may be written without space, with space, or with a hyphen (less popular and without standards). Standards have to be evolved. Express the relationship verbally where overly long.

English	Kannada
Internet Accounts	ಇಂಟರ್‌ನೆಟ್ ಖಾತೆಗಳು
Logon script processing	ಲಾಗ್ ಆನ್ ತುಣುಕು ಸಂಸ್ಕರಣ
Workgroup Administrator	ಕಾರ್ಯಗುಂಪಿನ ನಿರ್ವಾಹಕ
Internet News Server Name	ಇಂಟರ್‌ನೆಟ್ ಸುದ್ದಿ ಸವರ್‌ರ್ ಹೆಸರು

Conjunctions¶

For modern voice, conjunctions help convey a conversational tone. Starting a sentence with a conjunction can convey informal tone.

en-US source	kn-IN old use	kn-IN new use
As \ gains features, there is a risk that older content may not display correctly.	\ ವೈಶಿಷ್ಟ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಪಡೆದಂತೆಯೇ, ಹಳೆಯ ವಿಷಯವು ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶಿಸಲಾಗದೇ ಇರುವ ಅಪಾಯವಿರುತ್ತದೆ.	\ ವೈಶಿಷ್ಟ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಪಡೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದರಿಂದಾಗಿ, ಹಳೆಯ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶಿಸಲಾಗದೇ ಇರಬಹುದಾದ ಅಪಾಯವಿರಬಹುದು.

Gender¶

Always recognize audience sensitivity to male/female stereotypes. Use neutral language. Avoid scenarios that reinforce stereotypes. Create balance when assigning roles to men and women.

Instead of phrases mentioning two genders separately, use a general term — “people,” “users,” “persons.” Avoid writing sentences referring to a single person whose gender is unknown — rewrite to make the subject plural. Don’t use “he or she,” “him or her,” “his or hers.” Avoid slashes to combine both genders.

Linguistic method	Example	Context
Use a Neutral noun	ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರು	Concept descriptions, explanations
Two different genders	ಅವನು, ಅವಳು	Only in exceptional cases such as License Terms, sometimes in tables
Better to use the form with the name	ಪೀಟರ್ ಅವರು	—

Genitive¶

The genitive case generally indicates possession (including possession of qualities or attributes), so it can have adjective function. Genitives and adjectives both end in -ಅ. The genitive marker is -ಅ; when added, links -ದ್, -ಇನ್, -ಯ್ come between the word and the marker.

Examples: ಹುಡುಗನ, ಮಾಸ್ಟರ್‌ನ, ಪುಸ್ತಕದ, ಕಂಪ್ಯೂಟರ್‌ನ, ಮನೆಯ, ಮೀನಿನ.

Convention 1 — product names. Attaching a genitive to (trademarked) product names is not feasible — could be interpreted as modification. Use ನ separated by space:

• ✓ Microsoft Office Word ನ
• ✓ Microsoft Excel ನ
• ✗ Microsoft Office Wordನ
• ✗ Microsoft Excelನ

Gerunds¶

Be careful when translating gerunds. To be safe, avoid them altogether.

Example (running text): Skype has great offers, including the best rates for calling anywhere in the world. → ಪ್ರಪಂಚದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲಿಯಾದರೂ ಕರೆ ಮಾಡುವುದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಉತ್ತಮ ದರಗಳು ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ, Skype ಉತ್ತಮ ಕೊಡುಗೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದೆ.

Example (links): Getting help → ಸಹಾಯ ಪಡೆಯುವಿಕೆ.

Localizing colloquialisms, idioms, and metaphors¶

• Don’t replace source colloquialism with a Kannada one unless it’s a perfect and natural fit.
• Translate the intended meaning, only if integral.
• If it can be omitted without affecting meaning, omit it.

Modifiers¶

Like English, Kannada uses adjectives and adverbs as modifiers. Kannada possesses few adjectives not derived from a noun.

Examples: ಕಪ್ಪಾದ ಮೋಡ; ಸುಂದರವಾದ ನವಿಲು. Here ಕಪ್ಪಾದ and ಸುಂದರವಾದ are modifiers.

Nouns¶

General considerations. Many languages differentiate noun classes based on animacy, shape, gender, etc. English loan words must be integrated into the noun class system. Consider motivation, analogy, frequency.

English example	Kannada example
Delete it from server.	ಇದನ್ನು ಸವರ್‌ರ್‌ನಿಂದ ತೆಗೆದುಹಾಕು.
Enter a password to log into the server	ಸವರ್‌ರ್‌ಗೆ ಲಾಗ್ ಮಾಡಲು ಪಾಸ್‌ವರ್ಡ್ ಅನ್ನು ನಮೂದಿಸಿ
DNS can’t resolve the server IP address	DNS ಸವರ್‌ರ್ ನ IP ವಿಳಾಸವನ್ನು ಬಗೆಹರಿಸಲಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ
Verify the name of the server’s certificate	ಸವರ್‌ರ್ ನ ಪ್ರಮಾಣಪತ್ರದ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ಪರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ.

Inflection. English loanwords inflect for number in Kannada.

English	Kannada
Clients	ಕ್ಲೈಂಟ್‌ಗಳು
Websites	ವೆಬ್‌ಸೈಟ್‌ಗಳು
Downloads	ಡೌನ್‌ಲೋಡ್‌ಗಳು
Proxies	ಪ್ರಾಕ್ಸಿಗಳು
Administrators	ನಿರ್ವಾಹಕರು

Plural formation. Add ಗಳು, ಅವರು, or ರವರು as appropriate. Examples: ಡೌನ್ ಲೋಡ್ ಗಳು, ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳು.

Participles¶

In English, participles are very frequent, and so is passive voice. Avoid literal translation. In general, use active verb forms.

Example: Many of these features are used by Skype users. → ಈ ಹಲವಾರು ವೈಶಿಷ್ಟ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು Skype ಬಳಕೆದಾರರಿಂದ ಬಳಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.

Prepositions¶

English prepositions become Kannada postpositions. Examples: ಒಳಗೆ, ಕೂಡ, ಸಹ, ಜೊತೆ. Anglicisms should be avoided.

US Expression	Kannada Expression	Comment
migrate to	ಗೆ ವಲಸೆ ಹೋಗು	In Kannada there is no preposition; use postposition.
Migrate from	ಇಂದ ವಲಸೆಯಾಗು	Following examples kept in noun forms.
import to	ಗೆ ಆಮದು ಮಾಡುವುದು	—
import from	ಇಂದ ಆಮದು ಮಾಡು	—
export to	ಗೆ ರಫ್ತು ಮಾಡು	—
export from	ಇಂದ ರಫ್ತು ಮಾಡು	—
update to	ಗೆ ನವೀಕರಿಸು	—
upgrade to	ಗೆ ಉತ್ತಮಗೊಳಿಸು / ಸುಧಾರಿಸು	—
change to	ಗೆ ಬದಲಿಸು	—
click on	ಮೇಲೆ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ	—
connect to	ಗೆ ಸಂಪರ್ಕಿಸಿ	—
welcome to	ಗೆ ಸ್ವಾಗತ	—

Pronouns¶

Many error messages in English vary in use of articles, demonstrative and possessive pronouns. Be consistent. Kannada has no articles — only demonstrative and possessive pronouns.

Examples: ಅವನು, ಅವಳು, ಅವರು, ಅದು, ಇದು.

Punctuation¶

Social updates should finish with punctuation — but if you need to save character count, drop the final period or question mark. Use discretion.

Bulleted lists. Follow the source.

Comma. Use commas to break between words.

Example: ಶ್ರೀಯುತ ಅವರಮನೆಗೆ ಸಂಪಾದಕರು, ಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳು, ಮಿತ್ರತರು ಬೋಜನಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದರು.

Colon. Use to list contents or provide details.

Example: ಎಂತಹವರಿಗೆ ದಾನ ಕೊಡಬಹುದು ಎಂದರೆ: ಅಂಗವಿಕಲರು, ವೃದ್ಧರು, ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು, ಮಿತ್ರತರ ಗ್ರಂಥಿಕರು.

Colons shouldn’t be written for complete sentences.

Dashes and hyphens.

Hyphen — divides words between syllables, links parts of a compound, connects parts of an inverted/imperative verb form.

Example: E-mail → ಇ-ಮೈಲ್.

En dash — indicates a closed range of values (dates, times, numbers); minus sign with spaces before/after.

Example: 10 – 5 p.m. → ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ 10 – ಸಂಜೆ 5 ರವರೆಗೆ.

Used in page-number ranges: from page No. 1 – 5 → ಪುಟಸಂ 1 – 5.

Em dash — emphasizes an isolated element or introduces a non-essential element.

Example: ಕನ್ನಡ ― ಸಾಯುವ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲ.

Decimal separators. Use period as decimal separator. For numbers smaller than 1, always put zero before the decimal: 0.5. For thousands, use comma as in English.

Always written with numerals: Time; Dates and years; Metric system measures (5 m, 33 km, 12 kg); Temperature (24 ºC); Number of inhabitants (41 000 000 ಜನರು); Version number (ಆವೃತ್ತಿ 3.0); Page numbers (ಪುಟ 18); Article numbers (ಲೇಖನ 15).

Ellipses (suspension points). Even when a word is missing, the missing letter should be understood.

Example: ಅವನಿಗೆ ಆಕಸ್ಮಿಕವಾಗಿ ಸಂದೇಹ…

Exclamation marks. Aim for excitement in copy, not punctuation. Use occasional exclamation marks to convey importance and draw attention.

Percentage. Don’t leave a space between number and % sign: 50% (not 50 %).

Period. A punctuation mark (.) ending declarative sentences and other complete statements, after many abbreviations.

Example: ಈಗ ಹಣದ ತೊಂದರೆಯಿಂದ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಹೊರಬಂದಿದ್ದೇನೆ.

Quotation marks. “” used to denote speech or quotation; ‘’ for embedded quotes.

Examples: “ಈ ದಿನ ಗಣೇಶ ಚತುರ್ಥಿ”; ‘ಹೂಗೆಣೆಯಾರ ಮಂದಿಯೆಂದರೆ ವೈವಿಧ್ಯತೆ’.

Parentheses. No space between parentheses and text inside. Used for explanations or comments.

Example: (ಗಮನಿಸಿ: ಈ ದಿನ ಅಂಗಡಿ ತೆರೆದಿರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.)

Sentence fragments¶

For modern voice, use of sentence fragments helps convey a conversational tone — short and to the point.

en-US source	kn-IN long form	kn-IN sentence fragment
Use the following steps.	ಈ ಹಂತಗಳನ್ನು ಬಳಸಿ	ಹೀಗೆ ಮಾಡಿ
Use this step by step.	ಒಂದರ ನಂತರ ಮತ್ತೊಂದರಂತೆ ಬಳಸಿ	ಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿ
List this in descending order.	ಇದನ್ನು ಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಟ್ಟಿ ಮಾಡಿ	ಅವರೋಹಣ

Split infinitive¶

A split infinitive is an English construction where a word/phrase, usually an adverb, comes between “to” and the bare infinitive.

Example: To go nearby to that mountain where nobody has gone before. → ಇದುವರೆಗೂ ಯಾರೂ ಹೋಗದ ಆ ಬೆಟ್ಟದ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಹೋಗಲು. The adverb “nearby/ಹತ್ತಿರ” splits the full infinitive “to go.”

Subjunctive¶

Expresses a condition, possibility, or hypothesis; a verb mood typically used in subordinate clauses to express a wish. Example: Judgment, possibility, necessity, opinion — in Kannada: ತೀರ್ಪು, ಸಂಭವನೀಯತೆ, ಅಗತ್ಯ, ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯ.

Symbols & nonbreaking spaces¶

A symbol represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention.

Example: To continue, select ü → ಮುಂದುವರಿಸಲು, ü ಅನ್ನು ಆಯ್ಕೆಮಾಡಿ.

Nonbreaking space (hard/fixed space). In HTML created by replacing the space with “ “.

Example: ಅಪ್ಲಿಕೇಶನ್ ಗ್ರಾಫಿಕ್ ಅನ್ನು ಪರಿವರ್ತಿಸಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸಬಹುದು.

Verbs¶

Use simple tenses. Simple present is the default. Avoid future tense unless describing something that will really happen. Use simple past for events already happened.

English example	Kannada example	Explanation
The document is too large. / Document too large.	ದಾಖಲೆಯು ತುಂಬಾ ದೊಡ್ಡದು.	Be consistent in verb usage.
Access was denied. / Access denied.	ಪ್ರವೇಶವನ್ನು ನಿರಾಕರಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.	Use verbs and the same tense as in source.
The file “%s” is an unknown graphics format.	“%s” ಫೈಲ್ ಒಂದು ಅಜ್ಞಾತ ಗ್ರಾಫಿಕ್ ಸ್ವರೂಪವಾಗಿದೆ.	Rephrase “is” with “have” if needed; use ಒಂದು if needed.
The application may attempt to convert the graphic.	ಅಪ್ಲಿಕೇಶನ್ ಗ್ರಾಫಿಕ್ ಅನ್ನು ಪರಿವರ್ತಿಸಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸಬಹುದು.	“may + Verb” can be “Verb + possibly”.

Continuous operations follow the English context:

English	Kannada
Connecting to a network	(+) ನೆಟ್‌ವಕ್‌ಗೆ ಸಂಪರ್ಕಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ / (-) ನೆಟ್‌ವಕ್‌ಗೆ ಸಂಪರ್ಕಿಸು

Localization considerations¶

Accessibility¶

Accessibility options and programs make the computer usable by people with cognitive, hearing, physical, or visual disabilities. Hardware and software components engage a flexible, customizable UI, alternative input/output methods, and greater exposure of screen elements.

General accessibility info: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/.

Applications, products, and features¶

Product/application names are often trademarked and rarely translated. Occasionally feature names are also trademarked (e.g., IntelliSense™). Before translating any application, product, or feature name, verify it’s translatable and not protected. For Kannada, generally don’t translate product/feature names until the application is localized with their names.

Version numbers always contain a period (Version 4.2). Punctuation example: Windows 10 → Windows 10.

Trademarks¶

Trademarked names and “Microsoft Corporation” shouldn’t be localized unless local laws require translation and an approved translated form is available.

Geopolitical concerns¶

Part of cultural adaptation is resolving geopolitical issues. Sensitive issues may occur in: maps; flags; country/region, city, and language names; art and graphics; cultural content (encyclopedia content with historical/political references). Maps and graphical representations should be checked for accuracy and existing political restrictions. Country/region, city, and language names change regularly and should be checked.

Error messages¶

Error messages inform the user of an error that must be corrected. Apply modern voice principles to ensure target is natural, empathetic, and not robot-like.

English	Correct Kannada translation
Oops, that can’t be blank…	ಓಹ್, ಅದು ಖಾಲಿ ಇರಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ…
Not enough memory to process this command.	ಈ ಆದೇಶವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತಪಡಿಸಲು ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಸ್ಮರಣೆ ಲಭ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ.

Kannada style in error messages. Use consistent terminology and language style. Keep simple and easy to understand.

Standard phrases in error messages.

English	Translation	Example
Can’t … / Could not …	(+) ಆಗಲಿಲ್ಲ	ಫೈಲ್ ಸಿಗಲಿಲ್ಲ
Failed to … / Failure of …	(+) ಸಂಪರ್ಕಿಸುವಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಫಲವಾಗಿದೆ	Failed to connect / Failure to connect
Can’t find … / Could not find … / Unable to find … / Unable to locate …	(+) ಡ್ರೈವರ್‌ಗೆ ಸಾಫ್ಟ್‌ವೇರ್ ಹುಡುಕಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ	Can’t/could not find driver software etc.
Not enough memory / Insufficient memory / There is not enough memory / There is not enough memory available	(+) ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಸ್ಮರಣೆ ಲಭ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ	—
… is not available / … is unavailable	(+) ಆದೇಶ ಲಭ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ	The command is not available / unavailable

Error messages containing placeholders. Anticipate what will replace the placeholder. Placeholder letters convey meaning: %d, %ld, %u, %lu = number; %c = letter; %s = string.

Examples:

• “Checking Web %1!d! of %2!d!” means “Checking Web \ of \“
• “INI file “%1!-.200s!” section” means “INI file “\” section”

English example	Message user will see	Kannada example
Replace invalid %s?	Replace invalid data? / Replace invalid file?	ಅಮಾನ್ಯವಾದ %s ಅನ್ನು ಬದಲಾಯಿಸುವುದೇ?
%s already exists	File already exists / Name already exists	ಈಗಾಗಲೇ %s ಇದೆ
%s is now set as your personal contact.	Regina is now set as your personal contact / Mr. Kim is now set as your personal contact	%s ಅನ್ನು ಈಗ ನಿಮ್ಮ ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಸಂಪರ್ಕವಾಗಿ ಹೊಂದಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.
%s stopped working and was closed	The application stopped working and was closed / The program stopped working and was closed	%s ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುವುದನ್ನು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿದೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಮುಚ್ಚಿದೆ

Keys¶

References to key names appear in normal text. Names of keys on the keyboard should not be translated.

English	Kannada
Alt	Alt
Backspace	Backspace
Break	Break
Caps Lock	Caps Lock
Ctrl	Control
Delete	Delete
Down Arrow	ಕೆಳಗಿನ ಬಾಣದ ಗುರುತು
End	End
Enter	Enter
Esc	Escape
Home	Home
Insert	Insert
Left Arrow	ಎಡ ಬಾಣದ ಗುರುತು
Num Lock	Num Lock
Page Down	Page Down
Page Up	Page Up
Pause	Pause
Right Arrow	ಬಲ ಬಾಣದ ಗುರುತು
Scroll Lock	Scroll Lock
Shift	Shift
Spacebar	ಸ್ಪೇಸ್ ಬಾರ್
Tab	Tab
Up Arrow	ಮೇಲಿನ ಬಾಣದ ಗುರುತು
Windows key	Windows ಕೀ
Menu Key	ಮೆನು ಕೀ
Print Screen	Print Screen

Keyboard shortcuts / access keys¶

Sometimes there are underlined or highlighted letters in menu options, commands, or dialog boxes — these are keyboard shortcuts. In Kannada, the keyboard shortcut can be assigned to any letter of the Kannada character.

Keyboard shortcuts special options	Usage: is it allowed?	Notes
“Slim characters,” such as I, l, t, r, f can be used as keyboard shortcuts	Yes	But Kannada characters can’t be termed “slim” compared to Roman ones
Characters with downstrokes, such as g, j, y, p, q can be used	No	Only j, y, and p can be used as keyboard shortcuts.
Extended characters can be used	No	—
An additional letter, appearing between brackets after item name	No	Such additional letters can’t be used as keyboard shortcuts.
A number, appearing between brackets after item name	Yes	Can be allowed.
A punctuation sign, appearing between brackets after item name	No	Punctuation marks not needed — many clear and simple letters available.
Duplicate keyboard shortcuts when no other character is available	No	Not allowed.
No keyboard shortcut assigned when no more characters are available (minor options only)	Yes	Can be assigned.

Term definitions: access key (used with Alt for top-level UI controls), key tip (last character after “" in UI localization, e.g., HomeH), shortcut key (used with Ctrl for common actions; Ctrl+letter and F1–F12 are best choices).

Arrow keys¶

Arrow keys move input focus among controls within a group. Pressing right arrow moves to the next control in tab order, left arrow to the previous. Home, End, Up, Down also have their expected behavior within a group. Users can’t navigate out of a control group using arrow keys.

Examples: - Right arrow — ಬಲ ಬಾಣದ ಗುರುತು - Left arrow — ಎಡ ಬಾಣದ ಗುರುತು - Up arrow — ಮೇಲಿನ ಬಾಣದ ಗುರುತು - Down arrow — ಕೆಳಗಿನ ಬಾಣದ ಗುರುತು

Numeric keypad¶

Avoid distinguishing numeric keypad keys from other keys unless required. In Kannada, numeric keypad is used as in English for numbers and operations. Specifically used for typing “/” since it won’t appear on the main keypad and language would have to be switched to English.

Shortcut keys¶

Shortcut keys are keystrokes or combinations that perform defined functions. Shortcut keys replace menu commands and can be used even when not visible on screen.

Standard shortcut keys (selected).

US English command	US shortcut	Kannada command	Kannada shortcut
Help window	F1	ಸಹಾಯ ವಿಂಡೋ	F1
Context-sensitive Help	Shift+F1	ಸಂದರ್ಭ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮತೆಯ ಸಹಾಯ	Shift+F1
Display pop-up menu	Shift+F10	ಪಾಪ್ ಅಪ್ ಮೆನು ಪ್ರದರ್ಶಿಸು	Shift+F10
Cancel	Esc	ರದ್ದು ಮಾಡು	Esc
Activate/Deactivate menu bar mode	F10	ಸಕ್ರಿಯಗೊಳಿಸು / ನಿಷ್ಕ್ರಿಯಗೊಳಿಸು ಮೆನು ಬಾರ್ ಮೋಡ್	F10
Switch to the next primary application	Alt+Tab	ಮುಂದಿನ ಪ್ರಾಥಮಿಕ ಅಪ್ಲಿಕೇಶನ್‌ಗೆ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಿ	Alt+Tab
Display next window	Alt+Esc	ಮುಂದಿನ ವಿಂಡೋ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶಿಸು	Alt+Esc
Display pop-up menu for the window	Alt+Spacebar	ವಿಂಡೋಗಾಗಿ ಪಾಪ್ ಅಪ್ ಮೆನುವನ್ನು ಪ್ರದರ್ಶಿಸು	Alt+Spacebar
Close active application window	Alt+F4	ಸಕ್ರಿಯ ಅಪ್ಲಿಕೇಶನ್ ವಿಂಡೋ ಮುಚ್ಚು	Alt+F4
Capture active window image to the Clipboard	Alt+Prnt Scrn	ಸಕ್ರಿಯ ವಿಂಡೋ ಇಮೇಜ್ ಅನ್ನು ಕ್ಲಿಪ್ ಬೋರ್ಡ್‌ಗೆ ಸಂಗ್ರಹಿಸು	Alt+Prnt Scrn
Access Start button in taskbar	Ctrl+Esc	ಪ್ರಾರಂಭ ಬಟನ್ ಅನ್ನು ಟಾಸ್ಕ್‌ಬಾರ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಿ	Ctrl+Esc
Launch Task Manager and system initialization	Ctrl+Shift+Esc	ಟಾಸ್ಕ್ ಮ್ಯಾನೇಜರ್ ಮತ್ತು ಸಿಸ್ಟಂ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಕವನ್ನು ಆರಂಭಿಸು	Ctrl+Shift+Esc
File New	Ctrl+N	ಹೊಸ ಫೈಲ್	Ctrl+N
File Open	Ctrl+O	ಫೈಲ್ ತೆರೆ	Ctrl+O
File Close	Ctrl+F4	ಫೈಲ್ ಮುಚ್ಚು	Ctrl+F4
File Save	Ctrl+S	ಫೈಲ್ ಉಳಿಸು	Ctrl+S
File Save as	F12	ಫೈಲ್ ಅಂತೆ ಉಳಿಸು	F12
File Print	Ctrl+P	ಫೈಲ್ ಮುದ್ರಿಸು	Ctrl+P
File Exit	Alt+F4	ಫೈಲ್ ನಿರ್ಗಮಿಸು	Alt+F4
Edit Undo	Ctrl+Z	ಸಂಪಾದನೆ ರದ್ದು ಮಾಡು	Ctrl+Z
Edit Repeat	Ctrl+Y	ಸಂಪಾದನೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮಾಡು	Ctrl+Y
Edit Cut	Ctrl+X	ಸಂಪಾದನೆ ಕತ್ತರಿಸು	Ctrl+X
Edit Copy	Ctrl+C	ಸಂಪಾದನೆ ನಕಲಿಸು	Ctrl+C
Edit Paste	Ctrl+V	ಸಂಪಾದನೆ ಅಂಟಿಸು	Ctrl+V
Edit Select All	Ctrl+A	ಸಂಪಾದನೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಆಯ್ಕೆ ಮಾಡು	Ctrl+A
Edit Find	Ctrl+F	ಸಂಪಾದನೆ ಹುಡುಕು	Ctrl+F
Edit Replace	Ctrl+H	ಸಂಪಾದನೆ ಮರು ಸ್ಥಾನಗೊಳಿಸು	Ctrl+H
Italic	Ctrl+I	ಇಟ್ಯಾಲಿಕ್ಸ್	Ctrl+I
Bold	Ctrl+B	ಬೋಲ್ಡ್	Ctrl+B
Underlined	Ctrl+U	ಅಂಡರ್‌ಲೈನ್ ಪದ ಅಂಡರ್‌ಲೈನ್	Ctrl+U
Centered	Ctrl+E	ಮಧ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ	Ctrl+E
Left aligned	Ctrl+L	ಎಡಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊಂದಿಸು	Ctrl+L
Right aligned	Ctrl+R	ಬಲಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊಂದಿಸು	Ctrl+R
Justified	Ctrl+J	ಜಸ್ಟಿಫೈಡ್	Ctrl+J

English pronunciation¶

English terms and product names left unlocalized should be pronounced the English way (Microsoft pronounced the English way). For common terms with established Kannada pronunciation (such as “server”), use the local pronunciation.

Example	Phonetics
SecurID	ಸೆಕ್ಯೂರ್ ಐಡಿ
.NET	ಡಾಟ್ ನೆಟ್
Skype	ಸ್ಕೈಪ್

Acronyms pronounced like real words: RADIUS → ರೇಡಿಯಸ್; RAS → ಆರ್‌ಎಎಸ್; ISA → ಐಎಸ್‌ಎ; LAN → ಲಾನ್; WAN → ವಾನ್; WAP → ವಾಪ್; MAPI → ಮಾಪಿ; POP → ಪಾಪ್; URL → ಯುಆರ್‌ಎಲ್.

Other abbreviations pronounced letter by letter: ICMP → ಐಸಿಎಂಪಿ; IP → ಐಪಿ; TCP/IP → ಟಿಸಿಪಿ/ಐಪಿ; XML → ಎಕ್ಸ್‌ಎಂಎಲ್; HTML → ಹೆಚ್‌ಟಿಎಂಎಲ್; OWA → ಒಡಬ್ಲ್ಯೂಎ; SQL → ಎಸ್‌ಕ್ಯೂಎಲ್.

URLs. “http://” omitted; rest read entirely. “www” pronounced ಡಬ್ಲ್ಯೂಡಬ್ಲ್ಯೂಡಬ್ಲ್ಯೂ. “Dot” may be omitted or read as ಡಾಟ್.

Example: http://www.microsoft.com/en-in → ಹೆಚ್‌ಟಿಟಿಪಿ ಸ್ಲಾಶ್ ಸ್ಲಾಶ್ ಡಬ್ಲ್ಯೂಡಬ್ಲ್ಯೂಡಬ್ಲ್ಯೂ ಮೈಕ್ರೋಸಾಫ್ಟ್ ಡಾಟ್ ಕಾಮ್ ಸ್ಲಾಶ್ ಇಎನ್-ಐಎನ್.

Punctuation marks naturally implied by sound of voice (? ! : ; ,). En dash (–) pronounced as a comma — a short pause.

Special characters like / \ < > + - use approved Kannada translations.

FAQ¶

What’s the right register for modern Kannada translation across professional contexts?¶

Warm, conversational, scannable — close to everyday spoken Kannada for consumer-facing software UI, marketing copy, patient-facing medical materials, and consumer-facing legal documents. Formal Sanskrit-heavy register remains appropriate only for sworn legal translation, classical literary work, and certain technical specifications.

When should I transliterate English terms into Kannada vs. find a native equivalent?¶

Transliterate established loanwords commonly used in everyday Kannada (ಅಪ್ಲಿಕೇಶನ್, ವಿಂಡೋ, ಲಾಗ್ ಇನ್, ಡೌನ್‌ಲೋಡ್, ಕ್ಲೈಂಟ್) — coining heavy Sanskrit equivalents for these creates unnatural text. For new terms not yet established, check the Microsoft Language Portal and consult contemporary publications. ZWNJ should be used where applicable in transliterated forms.

How do Kannada postpositions work vs. English prepositions?¶

Kannada has no prepositions — English prepositions become postpositions attached after the noun. ಗೆ for ‘to’ (migrate to → ಗೆ ವಲಸೆ ಹೋಗು), ಇಂದ for ‘from’ (import from → ಇಂದ ಆಮದು ಮಾಡು), ಮೇಲೆ for ‘on’ (click on → ಮೇಲೆ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ). Avoid Anglicism — don’t omit postpositions or copy English word order.

How should I handle Kannada genitives with product names?¶

Don’t attach genitive ಯ directly to trademarked product names (avoid Microsoft Office Wordಯ) — it could be interpreted as a modification of the trademark. Instead, separate with a space: Microsoft Office Word ನ, Microsoft Excel ನ. The genitive marker -ಅ links with -ದ್, -ಇನ್, -ಯ್ depending on phonological context.

Which Kannada language references should I consult?¶

Kannada Shaili Kaipidi (Kannada Style Manual) prepared by Kannada University, Hampi and the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore; Kannada Ratnakosha (3rd revised ed., 2001); Kannada Sahitya Parishattina Kannada Nighantu; online resources kannadakasturi.com and baraha.com. Contemporary publications: Praja Vani, Kannada Prabha, Vijaya Karnataka.

How should I handle gender in Kannada translation?¶

Use neutral language. Use general terms (ಜನರು, ಬಳಕೆದಾರರು, ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳು) rather than mentioning two genders separately. Rewrite sentences to make the subject plural when gender is unknown. Don’t use “he or she” / slashes for gender. Use feminine forms (ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರು) for concept descriptions; both genders (ಅವನು, ಅವಳು) only in exceptional cases like license terms.

What are the most important Kannada punctuation rules to know?¶

No space between number and % sign (50%, not 50 %). Use period as decimal separator (5.25), zero before decimal less than 1 (0.5). Comma for thousands. En dash for ranges, em dash for emphasis, hyphen for compound words and syllable division. Quotation marks (“”) and parentheses follow source patterns. Colons should not be written for complete sentences. Drop final period or question mark in short social updates only when space is constrained.

Sources¶

• Microsoft Localization Style Guide for Kannada (PDF)
• Microsoft Globalization Style Guides hub
• Kannada Sahitya Parishat
• Kannada Kasturi online dictionary
• Baraha Kannada tools