Merry Christmas in Kannada
ಕ್ರಿಸ್ಮಸ್ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು
Krismas habbada shubhaashayagalu
Say it like this: KRIS-mus HUB-buh-duh shoo-bhaa-SHUH-yuh-guh-loo
Big letters show the part to say louder.
Quick answer
- In Kannada, Merry Christmas is ಕ್ರಿಸ್ಮಸ್ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು (Krismas habbada shubhaashayagalu), said like KRIS-mus HUB-buh-duh shoo-bhaa-SHUH-yuh-guh-loo.
- Happy New Year is ಹೊಸ ವರ್ಷದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು (Hosa varshada shubhaashayagalu).
- People say it in India (Karnataka), United States, United Arab Emirates.
What Krismas habbada shubhaashayagalu means
'Krismas' (Christmas, from English) + 'habbada' (of the festival) + 'shubhaashayagalu' (good wishes). Together it means good wishes for the Christmas festival.
Kannada is written in its own rounded script, with letters that look like small loops and curls.
Other ways to say it in Kannada
ಮೆರ್ರಿ ಕ್ರಿಸ್ಮಸ್
Merri Krismas
Say it like this: MEH-ree KRIS-mus
The English words Merry Christmas written in Kannada script. Very common in messages.
Happy New Year
ಹೊಸ ವರ್ಷದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು
Hosa varshada shubhaashayagalu
Say it like this: HO-suh vur-SHUH-duh shoo-bhaa-SHUH-yuh-guh-loo
good wishes for the new year
Where people speak Kannada
India (Karnataka)United StatesUnited Arab Emirates
Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) belongs to the Dravidian language family.
Say it with Rally on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train to more than 100 places and teaches kids how to say Merry Christmas at every stop. Practice Kannada today, then follow his trip.
Follow Rally on Christmas Eve →Christmas traditions where people speak Kannada
- Midnight mass in Bengaluru: Thousands attend midnight mass at big churches in Bengaluru, such as St Mary's Basilica and St Patrick's. Special prayers are said across Karnataka to welcome Christmas Day.[2]
- Cribs and carols: Carol singing is part of Christmas across Karnataka. In Mysuru, at St Philomena's church, a priest placed the Infant Jesus figure in the crib during mass.[2]
- Lights and Santa: Colourful lights decorate Christmas trees and busy shopping streets such as Brigade Road in Bengaluru. Santa Claus visits churches and gives gifts and sweets to children.[2]
🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Kannada
Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.
Say Merry Christmas in more languages
- Malayalamക്രിസ്തുമസ് ആശംസകൾ
- Tamilகிறிஸ்துமஸ் வாழ்த்துக்கள்
- Teluguక్రిస్మస్ శుభాకాంక్షలు
- Marathiनाताळच्या शुभेच्छा
- Bengaliশুভ বড়দিন
- Hindiमेरी क्रिसमस
- Korean메리 크리스마스
- MalaySelamat Hari Krismas
Questions parents ask
How do you say Merry Christmas in Kannada?
You can say "ಕ್ರಿಸ್ಮಸ್ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು" (Krismas habbada shubhaashayagalu), which means good wishes for the Christmas festival. Many people also write "ಮೆರ್ರಿ ಕ್ರಿಸ್ಮಸ್", the English Merry Christmas in Kannada letters, in messages. Shubhaashayagalu is the usual Kannada word for festival greetings.[1]
How do you pronounce "Krismas shubhaashayagalu"?
Say it like this: KRIS-mus HUB-buh-duh shoo-bhaa-SHUH-yuh-guh-loo. The capital letters show the part to stress. Say shubhaashayagalu slowly in parts: shu-bhaa-sha-ya-ga-lu. The bhaa part gets the strongest beat, and the bh is a breathy b sound.
What does "Krismas shubhaashayagalu" mean?
It means good wishes for the Christmas festival. Krismas is the English word Christmas, habba means festival, and shubhaashayagalu means good wishes. Kannada speakers use shubhaashayagalu for many festivals and happy events, so one new word opens many greetings.[1]
How do you write Merry Christmas in Kannada?
In Kannada script it is ಕ್ರಿಸ್ಮಸ್ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು. In English letters you may see Krismas habbada shubhashayagalu with small spelling differences. Kannada letters are rounded, and the vowel is built into each letter. For a printed card, ask a Kannada speaker to check the spelling.[1]
How do you say Happy New Year in Kannada?
Happy New Year is "ಹೊಸ ವರ್ಷದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು" (Hosa varshada shubhaashayagalu), said like HO-suh vur-SHUH-duh shoo-bhaa-SHUH-yuh-guh-loo. It means good wishes for the new year. Kannada speakers also celebrate their own new year, Ugadi, in spring, so January 1 uses this wording to be clear.
Is there a formal and a casual way to say Merry Christmas in Kannada?
Krismas habbada shubhaashayagalu is polite and works for everyone, from teachers to grandparents. With friends, many people also say Merry Christmas in English. There is no separate casual Kannada phrase that children need to learn, so the standard greeting is always a safe choice.[1]
When do people say Merry Christmas in Kannada?
People say it on Christmas Eve after midnight mass, on Christmas morning, and when they visit family or neighbours. Cards and messages with the greeting go out in the days before December 25. Many people also post it in messages and on social media.[2]
Is the main Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for Kannada speakers?
Both days matter. Midnight mass on Christmas Eve is the big church moment, and Christmas Day, December 25, is for new clothes, feasts and visits. The greeting is used on both days. Santa Claus also visits churches to give gifts and sweets to children.[2]
What is a Christmas tradition for Kannada speaking families?
Families go to midnight mass, listen to carols and wear new clothes. Homes and churches display cribs, and Santa Claus gives sweets to children at church. In Bengaluru, shopping streets such as Brigade Road are lit with colourful lights.[2]
How can I teach Kannada Christmas words to kids?
Start small. Teach Krismas first, then habbada, then split shubhaashayagalu into six small beats and tap one finger for each. Say the greeting together a few times, then write it on a card. A Kannada-speaking friend or relative can record the real sound for children.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonSources
We check every greeting against dictionaries, language institutes and cultural sources.
- Christmas quotes in Kannada, Tring
- Pomp, gaiety mark Merry Christmas, Deccan Herald
- Useful Kannada phrases, Omniglot
