Learn Tulu Online with the Vocabo Chrome Extension
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Master Tulu vocabulary while browsing the web. Free Chrome extension for language learners. Tulu is spoken by around 1.85 million people. Tulu Nadu has a distinctive performance culture built around the language, including Yakshagana theatre and a growing Tulu film industry, that is largely inaccessible without at least basic Tulu.
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About Tulu
Linguists consider Tulu the first branch to split off from Proto-South Dravidian, which is why it keeps archaic grammatical features that even its close relatives Kannada and Tamil no longer have.
Also known as: Tulu Bhase
Speakers
around 1.85 million
Language Family
Dravidian (South Dravidian)
Writing System
Kannada script (a historical Tigalari script also exists but is now rarely used)
Difficulty
Hard
Spoken in
Why Learn Tulu?
Tulu Nadu has a distinctive performance culture built around the language, including Yakshagana theatre and a growing Tulu film industry, that is largely inaccessible without at least basic Tulu.
Common Tulu Words
Start your Tulu journey with these essential words and phrases.
Namaskara
Hello
nuh-mus-KAH-ra
Solmelu
Thank you
sol-MEH-loo
Andu
Yes
UN-doo
Attu
No
UT-too
Neer
Water
neer
Vanas
Food
VUH-nus
Dosthi
Friend
DOS-thee
Moke
Love
MOH-keh
Illu
House
ILL-oo
Surye
Sun
SOOR-yeh
Dina
Day
DEE-na
History of Tulu
Tulu was historically written in its own Tigalari script, used for centuries in palm-leaf manuscripts of religious and literary texts. From around the 18th century onward, the Kannada script increasingly displaced Tigalari for everyday writing, and today almost all Tulu publishing uses Kannada letters, with Tigalari surviving mainly among manuscript scholars and script revivalists. Despite having more speakers than several officially recognized Indian languages, Tulu still lacks constitutional recognition, which has fuelled an ongoing campaign for its inclusion in India's Eighth Schedule.
Is Tulu Hard to Learn?
Tulu vocabulary and grammar are unrelated to English, and belonging to the separate Dravidian family means it offers no shortcuts from Hindi either. Tulu preserves tenses such as the pluperfect and future perfect that its close relatives Tamil and Kannada have lost, formed without auxiliary verbs, which is unusual for the region. Because Tulu has no official status, almost all learning material assumes the learner can already read Kannada script.
Learning Tulu Online: FAQ
Can I learn Tulu online for free?
Yes — Vocabo is a free Chrome extension that teaches you Tulu vocabulary while you browse the web. It replaces words and short phrases on pages you already read with their Tulu equivalents, so you pick up vocabulary passively — no sign-up, no ads, and no daily lesson grind.
Is Tulu on Duolingo?
No — Duolingo doesn't currently offer a Tulu course for English speakers. You can still learn Tulu online for free: Vocabo supports Tulu and builds your vocabulary naturally while you browse.
Similar Languages to Tulu
If you're interested in Tulu, you might also want to explore these related languages:
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