Mayu's Telugu blog
Vocabulary, culture, and the method. Written by a peacock who has opinions.
- July 21, 2026How do you say the days of the week in Telugu?All seven Telugu day names end in -vaaram, and in real speech people either clip them shorter or just say the English day name instead.
- July 20, 2026Why does Telugu sound different in Telangana vs Andhra?Telugu has real regional dialects. Telangana speakers often say enti for what, coastal Andhra speakers often say emi, and neither form is wrong.
- July 19, 2026What order does Mayu show my Telugu cards in?Mayu sorts every due card, new and review alike, oldest-due-first in one queue. There's no separate new-cards bucket and no reviews-first rule.
- July 16, 2026Why Does Mayu Never Show Telugu Script by Itself?Mayu always pairs Telugu script with Latin transliteration, because script-only screens punish heritage speakers who already speak the language.
- July 15, 2026Naaku or Manaku: Why Telugu Feelings Skip 'I'Telugu routes feelings, wants, and knowledge through naaku (to me) and manaku (to us) instead of an 'I' subject - here's how the pattern works.
- July 14, 2026Meeru or Nuvvu: Which 'You' Do You Use in Telugu?Telugu has two words for you: meeru (respectful) and nuvvu (casual). Here's how to pick the right one so you don't sound rude or stiff.
- July 11, 2026Is Telugu hard to learn for English speakers?Telugu is harder than Spanish for English speakers because of its script and case-marking grammar, but its spelling is phonetic and it has no tones.
- July 11, 2026How long does it take to learn Telugu?It depends on your starting point and goal: basic phrases take weeks, comfortable family small talk takes months, real fluency takes years.
- July 11, 2026How can heritage speakers learn to actually speak Telugu?Heritage speakers already have Telugu pronunciation and rhythm; what's missing is fast word retrieval, not a beginner course from scratch.
- July 11, 2026What are the best ways to learn Telugu?The best ways to learn Telugu: talk with family or native speakers, watch Telugu media, take a class or tutor, and use spaced repetition for vocabulary.
- July 11, 2026What's the best app to learn Telugu?There's no single best Telugu app. Check five things first: real Telugu support, script plus transliteration, spaced repetition, custom words, and honest grading.
- July 11, 2026How do I rate Again, Hard, Good, and Easy honestly?Grade by how much effort recall took, not by guilt or pride. Again means you missed it, Hard means it cost you, Good is normal, Easy is instant.
- July 10, 2026Telugu phrases for autos, buses, and asking directionsThe core Telugu for getting around: auto (ఆటో), ekkada undi (where is), and how to tell a driver where to go without switching to English.
- July 7, 2026Why do I keep forgetting Telugu words?You forget Telugu words because memory decays on a predictable curve, and cramming reviews them at the wrong time. Spaced repetition fixes the timing.
- July 7, 2026How to count and haggle in Telugu at the marketLearn Telugu numbers 1-1000, ask 'how much' with entha, and haggle politely with konchem takkuva - all with transliteration.
- July 7, 2026Essential Telugu food words for a family dinnerThe Telugu words you need at a family dinner: annam (rice), kuura (curry), ruchigaa undi (tasty), and how to ask for more or say you're full, politely.
- July 7, 2026How to tell time and talk about days in TeluguLearn Telugu days of the week, clock time, and frequency words with transliteration, script, and when to use each one.
- July 7, 2026Do you need to read Telugu script to learn Telugu?No. You can start speaking Telugu using transliteration, and learn the script alongside it, without either one blocking the other.
