skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Birds (Hakkilu)
Badaga Language
Badagas of the Blue Mountains…..their unique history, origin, culture, customs, rituals, language and lifestyle !!
This website is dedicated to
my mother, Mrs.Idyammal Bellie Gowder,
my uncle Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder and
my grand parents Rao Bahadur HJ Bellie Gowder and Nanji Ammal
Let us learn Badaga
Let us learn Badaga
” Ollenge iddiya ? - How are you ?”
‘Suddi saddha ella olliththa ? - (Roughly) ‘ How is everything ? ‘
1. Are you a Badaga ? - Nee ondu Badagana?
2. Yes, I am a Badaga - Ha, Na ondu Badaga
3. What is your name ? - Ninna hesaru aena ?
4. My name is Bhoja - Enna hesaru Bhoja
5. Which is your village ? - Ninna Hatti edu ?
[5a. Amme / Thamma, nee ai hatti ? - Girl/ Boy, which is your village?]
6. My village is Bearhatti - Enna Hatti bandu Bearhatti
7. Whose son/daughter are you ? - Nee dara maathi / hennu ?
8. I am Mela thara (top street) Joghi Gowder’s son / daughter - Na Mela thara Joghi gowdaru maathi / hennu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Numbers in Badugu /Badaga
1. Ondu (One) 11. Hannondu (Eleven)
2. Eradu (Two) 12. Hanneradu (Twelve)
3. Mooru (Three) 13. Hadimooru (Thirteen)
4. Naakku (Four) 14. Hadanaakku (Fourteen)
5. Iidu (Five) 15. Hadanaidu (Fifteen)
6. Aaru (Six) 16. Hadanaaru (Sixteen)
7. eizhu (Seven) 17. Hadarizhu (Seventeen)
8. Eattu (Eight) 18. Hadarettu (Eighteen)
9. Ombathu ( Nine) 19. Hathombathu (Nineteen)
10. Hathu (Ten) 20. Eipathu (Twenty)
30. Moovathu (Thirty) 40. Nalavathu (Forty)
50. Iivathu (Fifty) 60. Aravathu (Sixty)
70. Elavathu (Seventy) 80. Embathu ( Eighty)
90. Thombathu (Ninrty) 100. Nooru (Hundred)
Days In Badugu/Badaga
1. Aadivaara (Sunday)
2. Sovaara (Monday)
3. Mangavaara ( Tuesday)
4. Bodavaara (Wednesday)
5. Chikkavaara (Thursday)
6. Bellie (Friday)
7. Sani (Saturday)
Months In Badugu/Badaga
(Courtesy ” Naakku Betta ” Monthly - Goodalu (1979) Issue by Sivaprakash B.Sc.,B.Ed (Davanai))
It is said that Badaga month starts on every 10th of the English month. Like for example Goodalu month starts on 10th January.
1. Goodalu (Jan)
2. Aalaani (Feb)
3. Nallaani (Mar)
4. Aani ( Apr)
5. Aadire (May)
6.Aadi (Peraadi) (Jun)
7.Aavaani (Jul)
8.Perattadi (Aug)
9. Dodda Deevige (Sep)
10. Kiru Deevige (Oct)
11. Thai (Nov)
12. Hemmaatti (Dec)
Pleasantly surprised to hear all the Badaga Months being mentioned in this song called ‘Kappu Huttileyu’- a great dance number.
**************************************
| Hindu-Arabic numeral | Badaga and pronunciation | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | ? | |
| 1 | ஒந்து (Ondu) | |
| 2 | எரடு (Eradu) | |
| 3 | மூறு (Mooru) | |
| 4 | நாக்கு (Naaakkuu) | |
| 5 | ஐது (aidhu) | |
| 6 | ஆறு (aaru)) | |
| 7 | எழ்ழு (ézhu) | |
| 8 | எட்டு (ettu) | |
| 9 | ஒம்பத்து (Ompathu) |
For Badaga songs go here
Peculiarities of Badaga
Peculiarities of Badaga
I am not an expert on language studies, but will try and explain certain peculiarities of Badaga which makes it an unique language.
Haalu [haa - as in hospital and lu - as in Zulu] means milk
Hallu [ ha- as hurt and llu - as in loo] means tooth [teeth]. note - there is no plural term.
Haasu - spread [the bedding], Haasike - bedding
Hasu - hunger
Maana - Pride, Mana - heart
Kaanu - see, Kannu - eye[s] (example - Doctor-a Kaanu, kanna pathi hegina - See the Doctor, he will tell about the eyes]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peculiar Words
There are some words in Badaga that are truly peculiar. for example :
1. GIJI GIJI ( as in Give & Jinx) - Confusion , mess up / disorderly
GIJI GIJI maada beda - Don’t create confusion
Room ekka ethe GIJI GIJI (ya) hadadhe ? - Why is this room in such a mess?
2. MURUKKU(LU) (Mu ru ku) - Foul mood / mild anger
Amme Ekka maathaduvadu elle ? - Why is sister not talking ?
Ava murukkindu endhave - She is in a foul mood
3. BADAYI (Ba daa ee ) - Show Off (proud)
Appara badayi maadiya - She shows off a lot
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Badaga video
Blog Archive
In Badaga
- Haddu (Eagle)
- Kakke (Crow)
- Soray (Dove)
- Kili (Parrot)
- Emme Hakkilu
- Bikkola
- Karia(n)chitta (Black bird)
- Gubbachi (Sparrow)
- Mayilu (Peacock)
- Koi (Poultry hen/cock)
- Kaadu Koi (Wild hen)
- Baathu(koi) – Duck
Mari (chic) –{Koi Mari – chic(ken)}
Also for calf [ for eg) Nei mari – puppy dog]
Animals
Aanay (Elephant)
- Kaade -Kaadu Emme – (Bison)
- Ottaga (Camel)
- Kudire (Horse)
- Kaththe (Donkey)
- Dana (Cow)
- Emme (Buffalo)
- Yethu (Bull)
- Karu (Calf)
- Huli (Tiger)
- Singa (Lion)
- Siruthe (Panther)
- Karadi (Bear)
- Maanu (Deer)
- Pulli Maanu (Spotted Dear)
- Kadamay (Sambar)
- Handi (Black Pig)
- Kaadandi – kaadu handi – (Wild Pig)
- Mullandi – Mullu Handi – (Porcupine)
- Seeme Handi (White Pig)
- Koda, Korangu (Monkey)
- Mola (Rabbit)
- Nari (Fox)
- Nei (Dog)
- Koththi (Cat)
- Eli (Rat)
- Aame (Turtle)
- Nalli (Crab)
- Halli (
- Haavu (Snake)
- Kappe (Frog)
- Meenu (Fish)
Insects
- Hoo (general for insect)
- Nona (Fly)
- Selandhi (Spider)
- Kunni (Bee)
- Eruppu (Ant)
- Kosu (Mosquito)
- Bendu (Moth/Butterfly)
Anatomy
- Mande (Head) – also refers to Hair though there is specific word – Orama
- Heddakku (Back of the skull) – usually Badagas have a long heddakku as they donot use cradles. The reason for not using cradles for babies is a story by itself. It is due to the fact that when they left Mysore to escape from the King (Thipu Sultan ?) in the night in a hurry, they had forgotten the baby which was sleeping in the cradle,each thinking that the other person wiould pick up the child.
- Moole (Brain)
- Nethi (Forehead)
- Kenni (Cheeks)
- Kannu [eye(s)]
- Kivi (Ear)
- Mookku (Nose)
- Bae (Mouth)
- Thudi (lip)
- Hallu (Teeth)
- Naalenge (Tongue)
- Dhaade ( Chin)
- Thonde (Throat)
- Gaththu (Neck)
- Maaru – Nenju - (chest)
- Mole (Breast)
- Hiththalu – Bennu – (Shoulder)
- Kai (Hands)
- Mutti (Elbow – also for knee)
- Beralu (Fingers)
- Hebbatte - Katte (beralu) – [Thumb]
- Ugilu (Nails)
- Hotte (Stomach)
- Mollu Kudi (Naval)
- Nadu (Hip)
- Pitti (Buttocks)
- Thode (Thigh)
- Monakkaalu (Knee)
- Kaalu (Leg)
- Midi (Heel)
- Angalu (Foot)
Translate to
COPYRIGHT:
© 2014 Bellie Jayaprakash.
:: contact-> bjaypee@gmail.com ::