Polite social language and opinions — sound natural and respectful.
Words to know
Polite 9
ధన్యవాదాలు
Dhanyavādālu
Thank you
చాలా ధన్యవాదాలు
Cālā dhanyavādālu
Thank you very much
దయచేసి
Dayacēsi
Please
క్షమించండి
Kṣamin̄caṇi
Sorry / Excuse me
ఫర్వాలేదు
Parvālēdu
It is okay / You are welcome
అవును
Avunu
Yes
కాదు
Kādu
No
ఒక నిమిషం
Oka nimiṣaṁ
One moment, please
మీరు చెప్పండి
Mīru ceppaṇi
Go ahead / Please speak
Social 4
స్నేహితుడు
Snēhituḍu
Friend
పేరు
Pēru
Name
పెళ్ళి
Peḷḷi
Wedding
శుభాకాంక్షలు
Śubhākāṅkalu
Congrats
Use it in a sentence
Social 2
- మీ ఊరు ఏది?Mī ūru ēdi?Where are you from?
- శుభాకాంక్షలు!Śubhākāṅkṣalu!Best wishes!
Plans 2
- రేపు కలుద్దామా?Rēpu kaluddāmā?Shall we meet tomorrow?
- సాయంత్రం ఐదు గంటలకు.Sāyantraṁ aidu gaṇṭalaku.At five in the evening.
Level quiz
Please?
Friend?
Grammar: Tenses the Easy Way
Telugu verbs change at the end. Learn the three core endings and you can say almost anything.
Use it in a sentence
- నేను వెళ్తాను.Nēnu veḷtānu.I go / I will go (present-future).
- నేను వెళ్ళాను.Nēnu veḷḷānu.I went (past).
- నేను వెళ్తున్నాను.Nēnu veḷtunnānu.I am going (right now).
⚠️ Common mistakes
- The "-tunnānu" ending = happening NOW. The "-tānu" ending = habit or future. Mixing them is the #1 beginner slip.
Quiz time
Which ending means "happening right now"?
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Grammar: Respect & Politeness Levels
Telugu has built-in respect. Using the right form is more important than perfect grammar.
Words to know
మీరు
Mīru
You (respectful)
నీవు
Nīvu
You (casual)
-gāru
-gāru
honorific after names
అండి
-aṇḍi
polite tag, like "please/sir"
Use it in a sentence
- రండి, కూర్చోండి.Raṇḍi, kūrchoṇḍi.Please come, please sit.
- చెప్పండి.Ceppaṇi.Please tell me / Yes? (polite)
🪴 Culture & usage
- When in doubt, use the respectful plural form — it is never rude, only the casual form can be.
Quiz time
To an elder, "you" should be:
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