Usage of “అంటే” (antae)inTelugu

 ‘Antae’ (అంటే) is the conditional form of ‘anu’ (అను). It is often used to describe the words of a speaker or writer if anyone asked the reason.

Here are examples:

·         Athaduaemichesaadantae(అతడు ఏమి చేశాడంటే) which is equivalent to ‘what he does is’

·         Aameaemicheppindhantae(ఆమె ఏమి చెప్పిందంటే) which is equivalent to ‘what she said was’

Thus, ‘antae’ is used while answering questions about anything. If someone asked what did he do, then the answer will be as mentioned above.

Here are the differences you have to know about when to use ‘antae’ while answering.

What did he do? - Vaaduaemichesaadu? (వాడు ఏమి చేశాడు?) - Normal question, so normal answer will be given as follows:

He went to a movie. VaaduCinemakuvelladu. (వాడు సినిమాకు వెళ్ళాడు.)

What did he do that you are scolding him? - Vaaduaemichesaadanivaadinithiduthunnaavu? (వాడు ఏమి చేశాడని వాడిని తిడుతున్నావు?)

Here the question asks the reason for doing something; hence we use ‘antae’ while answering.

What he did was, he went to a movie by skipping classes. - Vaaduaemichaesaadantaetharagathulueggotticinemakuvellaadu. (వాడు ఏమి చేశాడంటే తరగతులు ఎగ్గొట్టి సినిమాకు వెళ్ళాడు.)

‘Antae’ is also used along with question words like – aemiti (what), endhuku(why), elaa(how), ekkada(where),while giving answers when expressing the reason or cause.

Aemiti(ఏమిటి) + antae (అంటే) = aemitantae(ఏమిటంటే) – what it means

Endhuku(ఎందుకు) + antae (అంటే) = Endhukantae(ఎందుకంటే) - why because

Ela (ఎలా) + antae (అంటే) = Elaagantae(ఎలాగంటే) – how as in

Ekkada(ఎక్కడ) + antae (అంటే) = Ekkadantae(ఎక్కడంటే) - where it means

Some more examples using the word “antae”:

1.   I like grapes. = Naakudhraakshapallu antae ishtam. (నాకు ద్రాక్షపళ్ళు అంటే ఇష్టం.)

2.   He likes movies.  = Athadikicinemalu antae ishtam. (అతడికి సినిమాలు అంటే ఇష్టం.)

3.   She likes traveling. = Aamekiprayaanaalu antae ishtam. (ఆమెకి ప్రయాణాలు అంటే ఇష్టం.)

4.   You like books. = Neekupusthakaalu antae ishtam. (నీకు పుస్తకాలు అంటే ఇష్టం.)

5.   My mother likes cooking. = Maa ammakivantachaeyadam antae ishtam. (మా అమ్మకి వంట చేయడం అంటే ఇష్టం.)

6.   We like politics. = Maakuraajakeeyalu antae ishtam. (మాకు రాజకీయాలు అంటే ఇష్టం.)

7.   They like songs. = Vaarikipaatalu antae ishtam. (వారికి పాటలు అంటే ఇష్టం.)

The lion likes hunting. = Simhaanikivaetadatamantae ishtam. (సింహానికి వేటాడటం అంటే ఇష్టం.)