Kannada

noun

Kan·​na·​da ˈkä-nə-də How to pronounce Kannada (audio)
also
ˈka- How to pronounce Kannada (audio)
: the major Dravidian language of Karnataka, southern India

Word History

Etymology

Kannada kannaḍa

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Kannada was in 1856

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kannada.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Kannada. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!