Parts of Speech in Telugu

 In this lesson, we are going to learn about the Parts of Speech in Telugu. Parts of speech are essential for any language. In Telugu, there are mainly five parts of speech. They are Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Verb, and Avyayam.

1. Noun

The noun denotes the names of persons, places, and anything. రవి (Ravi) (name of a male person), రేఖ (Rekha) (name of a female person), తీపి (Theepi) (sweetness) are some examples for nouns. There are five types of nouns in Telugu.

The nouns that represent the nature and character of a thing or race (సంతతి – Santhathi). – ఆవు (Aavu) (cow), నక్క (Nakka) (fox), మనుష్యుడు (manushyudu) (man) etc.

The nouns that denote the names of the people – రాము (Ramu), సీత (Sita).

The nouns that denote the quality or nature of a thing or object – పులుపు (Pulupu) (sour), తెలుపు (Thelupu) (white).

The nouns that denote a group – మంద (Mandha) (herd), సమూహం (Samooham) (group).

The nouns that denote work and action – పాడు (Paadu) (sing), తిను (Thinu) (eat).

2. Pronoun

Pronouns are used instead of nouns. నేను (Naenu) (I), నువ్వు (Nuvvu) (you),  అతడు (Athadu) (he), ఆమె (Aame) (she) are some examples for pronouns. There are eight types of pronouns in Telugu.

Pronouns that reveal the relationship – ఎవరు (Evaru) (who), వారు (Vaaru) (they)

Example sentence:  ఈ పనిని ఎవరు చేస్తే వారే విజేత. (Ee Panini evaru chaesthae vaarae vijaetha.) – Those who do this work will be the winner.

In this sentence, ‘ఎవరు’ (evaru), ‘వారు’ (vaaru) reveal the relationship with the action of the sentence and the result of ‘విజేత’ (vijaetha).

Pronouns that work like adjectives – అందరూ అందరే (Andharoo andaarae). - Everyone is the same. Here ‘అందరూ’ (andharoo) is the pronoun.

Pronouns that reveal numbers – ఒక నియమము (Oka niyamamu) -  one rule. Here ‘ఒక’ (oka) is the pronoun.

Pronouns that reveal the numbers by the numbers – వారు నలుగురూ వీరే. (Vaaru naluguroo veere.) – These are those four people. Here ‘వారు’ (Vaaru) is the pronoun.

Pronouns that reveal the ‘Purushas’ or Persons – I, We, You, He, She, It, and They.

Pronouns that specify something – అవి (Avi) (those), ఇవి (Ivi) (these) while specifying any object or thing particularly.

Pronouns that reveal something but do not specify the quantity – అన్ని (Anni) (all), కొన్ని (Konni) (some).

Pronouns that are used to question – ఎవరు (Evaru) (who), ఎలా (Elaa) (how).

3. Adjective

Adjectives reveal the quality of a noun or pronoun. మంచి (Manchi) (good), తీపి (Theepi) (sweet), నలుపు (Nalupu) (black) are some examples of adjectives. There are six types of adjectives in Telugu.

Adjectives that reveal race – అతడు భారతీయుడు. (Athadu bhaaratheeyudu.) – He is an Indian. Here, Indian reveals the race of a person; hence it is an adjective.

Adjectives that join with verbs – చేసేది నా కూతురు. (Chaesaedhi naa koothuru.) – It is my daughter who is doing this. Here ‘చేసేది’ (chaesaedhi) is an adjective.

Adjectives that reveal the quality of a thing or person – ఆమె తెల్లనిది. (Aame thellanidhi.) – She is white. Here ‘తెల్లని’ (thellani) is an adjective.

Adjectives that reveal monetary status – కుచేలుడు పేదవాడు. (Kuchaeludu paedhavaadu.) – Kuchela is poor. Here, ‘పేదవాడు’ (paedhavaadu) is an adjective.

Adjectives that reveal number – ఈ తరగతిలో ఆమె ఒక్కతే బాలిక. (Ee tharagathilo aame okkathae baalika.) – She is the only girl in the classroom. Here ‘ఒక్కతే’ (okkathae) is an adjective.

Adjectives that reveal a specific sign or symbol – పార్వతి శివుని భార్య. (Paarvati Shivuni bhaarya) - Parvathi is Shiva’s wife. Here, ‘శివుని’ (shivuni) is adjective.

4. Verb

Verb reveals the work and action. చూడు (choodu ) (see), చదువు (Chadhuvu) (read) are some examples of verbs. There are two types of verbs in Telugu.

Verbs that denote the completion of an action – సీత బడికి వెళ్లింది. (Sita badiki vellindhi.) – Sita went to school. Here, the action has been completed.

Verbs that denote the incomplete action of a thing – రాము పాఠమును చదివి, అన్నం తిన్నాడు. (Ramu paatamunu chadhivi, annam thinnaadu.) – Ramu ate the meals after finishing the lesson. Here, there are two verbs. One denotes the complete action, and another denotes the incomplete action. The verb which denotes the incomplete action here is ‘chadhivi’.

5. అవ్యయం (Avyayam)

అవ్యయం (Avyayam) is something which denotes the words that are not gender-specific or singular and plural. అక్కడ (Akkada) (there), ఆహా (Aahaa) (Ah) are some examples. There are three types of అవ్యయం (Avyayam).

అవ్యయం (Avyayam that denotes the words that are formed naturally – ఎక్కడ (Ekkada) (where), ఇక్కడ (ikkada) (here).

అవ్యయం (Avyayam) that is changed as per the grammar- almost all the verbs that denote incomplete action of a thing or verb fall under this category – వెళ్ళి (velli), వచ్చి (vacchi).

అవ్యయం (Avyayam) words express emotions – అహా (Aahaa) (Ah), శభాష్ (Shabhaash) (Bravo).