ScriptLookup

Kannada

ಕನ್ನಡ
kn 44M speakers

Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) is a Dravidian language with approximately 44M speakers speakers. It is written using the Kannada script. Its BCP 47 language code is kn.

Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is one of the classical languages of India and has a literary tradition spanning over 1,500 years. Kannada is the official language of Karnataka.

Kannada is written in the Kannada script, an abugida derived from the Kadamba script. The script is notable for its circular, rounded letterforms. Kannada has produced several Jnanpith Award (India's highest literary honor) winners.

Writing Systems Used for Kannada

Kannada
ಕನ್ನಡ ಲಿಪಿ
Primary
ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ
LTR Knda

Frequently Asked Questions

What alphabet or script does Kannada use?
Kannada is written using the Kannada script (ISO 15924 code: Knda). Kannada is written left-to-right.
What direction is Kannada written?
Kannada is written Left-to-right. Text runs from left to right, the same direction as most European languages.
How many people speak Kannada?
Kannada has approximately 44M speakers speakers worldwide. It is a member of the Dravidian language family.
What language family does Kannada belong to?
Kannada belongs to the Dravidian language family. It is written with the Kannada script.
What is the language code for Kannada?
The BCP 47 language code for Kannada is "kn". This code is used in software, web standards (the HTML lang attribute), and internationalization contexts.

Language Facts

BCP 47 Code
kn
ISO 639-3
kan
Status
living
Speakers
44M speakers
Language Family
Dravidian
Scripts
1
Primary Script
Kannada

Other Kannada Languages

Tulu

Data sourced from Unicode CLDR and ISO 639-3. Last updated April 20, 2026.