Difference between the Telugu negative words - “కాదు” (kaadhu) and “లేదు” (laedhu)

 Though both Kaadhu’ (కాదు) and laedhu’ (లేదు) can be used interchangeably sometimes, they do not have the same meaning always. ‘Kaadhu’ (కాదు) is generally used to answer for yesor notype questions. Yes, means avunu’ (అవును) and no means kaadhu’ (కాదు). ‘Laedhu’ (లేదు) also has the same meaning that says no,but it is actually used to answer door didtype questions.

The following are some examples:

Ravi telivainavaadu(రవి తెలివైనవాడు) – Ravi is an intelligent boy.

Avunu(అవును) – Yes.

Kaadu(కాదు) – No.

You will use kaadhu’ (కాదు) when you have to choose an answer between yes and no, and your answer is no. ‘Kaadhu’ (కాదు) can also be used for negative statements.

Athadudabbunnavaadukaadhu. (అతడు డబ్బున్నవాడు కాదు.) – He is not a rich person

In the above example it is used to give the meaning of not’. So, kaadhu (కాదు) can be used as both noand notdepending on the context.

Laedhu’ (లేదు) is generally used as a reply when anyone questions about any work and action which is not done by you. This can be used as a suffix to the verb, especially in the past tense.

For example, nuvvukooragaaylautecchaavaa(నువ్వు కూరగాయలు తెచ్చావా)? - Did you bring vegetables?

Naenukooragaaylauthaelaedhu(నేను కూరగాయలు తేలేదు)? - I did not bring vegetables.

In some cases, the answer can be given as laedhu’ (లేదు) to indicate that you are not going to do that action in the present or future tense as well. But, in such cases, you just need to say laedhu’ (లేదు). But,laedhu’ (లేదు) cannot be added to the present tense or future tense verbs as a suffix in Telugu.

Nuvvurepuschoolkiveltaavaa(నువ్వు రేపు స్కూల్ కి వెళ్తావా)? - Will you go to school tomorrow?

For this question, you can simply answer laedhu’ (లేదు) that means you are not going to school the next day. But if you want to add full negative sense to the answer, you have to answer as follows:

Laedhu, naenuraepuschoolkivellanu. (లేదు, నేను రేపు స్కూల్ కి వెళ్ళను). - No, I will not go to school tomorrow.

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