namma

Namma is a word from the Kannada language meaning “our” or “ours,” used as a possessive determiner to express inclusive belonging. It is written in Kannada script as ನಮ್ಮ and transliterated as namma. The term is widely used in everyday speech by Kannada speakers in Karnataka, India, and among Kannada-speaking communities abroad.

In contemporary usage, namma has been adopted in branding and civic slogans to foster a sense of local identity. Notable examples include “Namma Metro,” the branding associated with Bengaluru’s metropolitan rail system, and various slogans and campaigns that deploy namma to emphasize community involvement and ownership of local streets, services, and urban projects. The phrase “Namma Bengaluru” has appeared in media and civic discourse as a rhetorical label for the city by its residents.

Culturally, namma appears in music, literature, and film as a marker of belonging and shared space. It is also used in itineraries, blogs, and news to denote something pertaining to the local area or its people. The term reflects a broader pattern in Kannada where inclusive pronouns are used to foster communal engagement and a sense of locality.