Kannada language

Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ kannada

Spoken in: Karnataka, India
Total speakers: 50 million (2001)
Ranking: 23
Language family: Dravidian Southern Dravidian Tamil-Kannada Kannada

Official status

Official language of : Karnataka, India
Regulated by :Various academies and the Government of Karnataka

Language codes

ISO 639-1 :kn
ISO 639-2 :kan
ISO/FDIS 639-3 :kan


Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ kannada) is one of the major Dravidian languages of southern India and one of the oldest languages in India. Speakers of its various dialects number roughly 50 million people. It is the state language of Karnataka, one of the four southern states in India. It is also one of the official languages of the Republic of India. It is written using the Kannada script. At present, a classical language tag for Kannada language is being sought by various government and non-government organisations on the lines of Sanskrit and Tamil, based on its antiquity. A decision from the government of India is awaited.