Indian word in english language

English Terms

Meaning

Root Words/ Script / Language

Adda

Gathering
of friends and relatives for mere gossiping.

আড্ডা

Bengali

Ahimsa

Non-violence

अहिंसा ahimsā (Sanskrit)Gandhiji popularised  this word.

Ambarella

A kind of tree

Sinhalese:
ඇඹරැල්ලා æmbarællā

Amrita

Nectar
of everlasting life

Sanskrit
अमृतम् amṛtam

Aniline

A
toxic organic compound

Sanskrit
नीली nili

Portugese
Anil

Apadravya

A male
genital piercing where a barbell passes through the penis

Sanskrit

Aryan

Noble
or honourable

Sanskrit
आर्य Arya-s/
Greek Ἀρεία Areia/ Latin Ariana

Asana

Yoga
postures

Sanskrit
आसन āsana
(seat)

Ashram

A
religious heritage

Sanskrit
आश्रम āśrama

Atoll

Coral
reef enclosing a lagoon

Sanskrit
अन्तला antala/
Maldivean:އަތޮޅު

Aubergine

Eggplant

Sanskrit

वातिगगम vātigagama

Avatar

The
incarnation of a Hindu deity

Avtar
अवतार

Ayurveda

Organic
medicine from herb

Sanskrit
आयुर्वेद āyurveda
(knowledge of life)

Bahuvrihi

Much
rice

Sanskrit
बहुव्रीहि bahuvrīhih

Bamboo

A
tropical giant woody grass

ಬಂಬು baṃbu (Kannada)

Bandanna

A
large and brightly coloured handkerchief; often used as a neckerchief.

Bandhna
बांधना (Hindi)

Bandicoot

Pig
rat

పందికొక్కు pandi-kokka (Telegu)

Bangle

A type of
bracelet

bāngṛī बांगड़ी
(hindi)

Banyan

A
merchant

Sanskrit
वणिज्‌ vaṇij/
Hindi baniya

Basmati

A kind
of slender aromatic rice

Sanskrit
वास vāsa/
Hindi बासमती

Beryl

Most
alluring and popular mineral

Prakrit
वेलुरिय (veluriya)

Betel

A leaf
of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family

Betel

Tamil or Malaylam

Bhakti

Passionate
religious devotion

Sanskrit
भक्ति bhakti

Bhang

hemp

Sanskrit
भङ्ग bhaṅga

Bidi

A thin
Indian cigarette wrapped in kendu leaf.

Sanskrit
वितिक vitika

Blighty

“Britain”
(as a term of endearment among British troops stationed in Colonial India) /
foreigner

Vilāyatī
विलायती,

ولايتى

Bridal
Piri

Seat
for newly married bride-groom as per hindu custom.

বিয়ের পিড়ি

Bengali

Brinjal

Eggplant
vegetable

Sanskrit
भण्टाकी bhaṇṭākī/
Persian بادنجان badingān

Buddha

Enlightened
or awakened

Sanskrit
बुद्ध Buddha/
from the name of Siddhartha Gautam Buddha

Bungalow

House
in Bengal style

Bangle
بنگلہ,

 बंगला

Candy

crystallized
sugar or confection made from sugar

Qand

(Persian)

‘khanda’

(Sanskrit)

Catamaran

Tied
wood

கட்டுமரம்

Kattumaram
in Tamil

Cheroot

A
cylindrical cigar

சுருட்டு

suruṭṭu
in Tamil

Cheetah

Variegated

Cītā चीता

Chit

a
letter or note

Chitthi
चिट्ठी

Chuddar

A large
piece of cloth for wrapping upper part of the body

Sanskrit
छत्रम् chatram

Chukar

Partridge

Urdu
چکور chukar/ Hindi चकोर / Sanskrit चकोर cakorah

Chukkar

A
circle or wheel

Sanskrit
चक्र cakra/
Urdu چکرchakkar

Chutney

A
sauce in the cuisines of the Indian sub-continent.

Chatni चटनी
(Tamil)

Coir

cord/rope,
fibre from husk of coconut

Malayalam
kayar (കയർ)

Or
Tamil kayiru (கயிறு)

Congee

porridge,
water with rice

Khanji

(Tamil)

Coolie

A
labourer or slave

Tamil cooli
(கூலி)

Or
Gujrati

Corundum

குருந்தம்/ குருவிந்தம்

kuruntham/
kuruvintham

Cot

A
portable bed

Khāt खाट

Chowkat

A
door frame

Chokaath

Cowry

the
shells of certain sea snails

Sanskrit
kaparda (कपर्द)

Crimson

Reddish
colour

Sanskrit
कृमिज krmi-ja
literally: “red dye produced by a worm”/ Spanish cremesin

Crocus

A
flowering plant of iris family.

कुङ्कुमं kunkumam (Sanskrit)/ Hebrew כרכום karkōm/
Greek κρόκος crocus

Cummerbund

A
waist-binding

Kamarband
कमरबन्द – Urdu کمربند

Curry

a
variety of dishes flavored with a spicy sauce

Dravidian
Language

Cushy

Easy,
happy, exalted

Khushi ख़ुशी

خوشی

Dacoit

Robbers,
Bandit

Dakait डकैत्

Das

Servant
or slave

Sanskrit
दासा daasa

Datura

A
kind of flowering plant

Sanskrit
धत्तुरह dhattūrāh

Deodar

A
kind of tree found in mountain region

Sanskrit
देवदारु devadāru

Dekko

Look
at or study something

Dekho देखो

Deva

God

Sanskrit
देवी deva/
Latin deus

Devi

Goddess

Sanskrit
देवी devi

Dhal

A
kind of Indian food of dried pulse.

Hindi दल dāl

Dharma

Conformity
to one’s nature

Pali: धम्म dhamma
/ Sanskrit: धर्म

Dhole

Wolf
or dog species animal

ತೋಳ tōḷa (kannada)

Dinghy

A
small boat

Dinghi

Ganja

Marijuana

Sanskrit
गांजा gāñjā

Garam
masala

A
hot (spicy) mixture

garam
masālā

गरम मसाल‌ा گرم مصالح

Gayal

A
large bovine found in Northern India

Sanskrit
गौह gauh
via Bengali গযল্

Gharry

Vehicle

Sanskrit
गर्त gartah
via Hindi: गाड़ी,

Gharial

A
kind of crocodile

Sanskrit
घंतिक ghantikah

Ghee

A
kind of clarified butter

Sanskrit:
घृतं ghritam

Ginger

a
fragrant spice

Tamil inchi
(இஞ்சி) or Malayalam inchi (ഇഞ്ചി)

Godown

Warehouse

Telugu giḍangi
or Tamil kiṭanku

Gour

White
skinned

Sanskrit
गौरह gaurah

Guar

an
annual legume

Sanskrit
गॊपलि gopālī,

Gunny

Sack

Sanskrit
गोणी goni

Gurkha

A
cowherd

via
Nepalese गोर्खा / Sanskrit गोरक्ष goraksa,

Guru

An
honourable teacher or priest. / heavy

Guruh गुरुः
(Sanskrit)

Gymkhana

A
sporting ground where different contests are arranged to test skill.

Hanuman

Mythological
Monkey God (Hindu)

Sanskrit
hanuman (हनुमान्)

Hare
Krishna

Praising
God Krishna

Sanskrit
Hare (हरि) and Krishna (कृष्ण

Himalaya

Adobe
of snow

Sanskrit
हिमालय himalayah

Hijra

Impotent
men

ಹಿಜಡಾ Hijaḍā (Kannada)

Hindi

The
national language of India

Sanskrit
सिन्धु sindhu
(river name)

Interim

Intermediate

Sanskrit
अन्तरीम antarim

Jackle

A
kind of fox

Turkish
çakal, / Persian شغال shaghal/ Sanskrit शृगालः srgalah

Jaconet

A
lightweight cotton cloth with a smooth and slightly stiff finish.

Jagannaath

(Puri,
India)

Where
this kind of textile is originally made of.

Jaggery

coarse
brown sugar made from palm and sugarcane

Malayalam
sharkara (ശർക്കര)

Or
Tamil sakkarai (சக்கரை)

Jinnah
Cap

A hat
shaped like a fez but made of real or imitation karakul and worn by Pakistani
Muslims on occasion

Karakulli
topi (Name changed as Muhmmad

Ali
Jinnah wore this hat)

Jodhpurs

Full-length
trousers, worn for horseback riding, that are close-fitting below the knee
and have reinforced patches on the inside of the leg.

Named
after Jodhpur, an important place of Rajasthan, India.

Juggernaut

A
metaphor for something immense and unstoppable because of institutional or
physical inertia; or impending catastrophe that is foreseeable yet virtually
unavoidable because of such inertia.

Jagannath जगन्नाथ

Jungal

Woods
or forest

Jangal जङल्

Jute

A
kind of fibre used to make thread, sack etc.

Bengali
পাট jhuto / Sanskrit जुतास juta-s (twisted hair)

Kala

Black/
evil

Hindi/
Sanskrit

Kedgeree

Spicy
rice

Sanskrit
कृशर krśara

Kermes

Worm-
made

Persian
قرمز qermez / Sanskrit: कृमिज kṛmija

Khaki

A
dusty or grey colour/ police uniform

Khākī  खकि

خاکی

Karma

Action/
deed/ cycle of cause and effect

Sanskrit

Kos

A
shout

Sanskrit
रोस krosah

Krait

A
kind of snake

Sanskrit:
काराइट

Lac

100
thousand

Hindi लाख
lakh from Prakrit लक्ख lakkha / Sanskrit लाक्षम्

Lacquer

A
liquid

Sanskrit
लक्षं laksha

Langur

An
animal of monkey family

Sanskrit
लंगुलम langūlam

Lilac

Dark
blue coloured flower

Persian
نیلک nilak

Loot

Robbery

LooT , लूट

Multan

A kind
of rug prevalent there

A
place in Pakistan named “Multan”

Mogul

Ancient
Mughal Dynasty ruled set up by Babara

Mughal

Maharaja

A
king

Sanskrit
महा राजन् maha-rājān

Maharani

A
queen

Sanskrit
महा रानी mahārājnī

Maharishi

A
great sage

Sanskrit
महर्षि maha-rishi

Mahatma

A
great soul

Sanskrit
महात्मा mahatman

Mahayana

A
great vehicle

Sanskrit
महायान maha-yana

Mahout

Elephant
driver

Sanskrit
महमत्रह् mahāmātrah

Mandala

A
circle

Sanskrit
मण्डल mandala

Mandarin

Advisor

Sanskrit
मन्त्रिन् mantri

Mango

A
very popular tropical fruit found in summer season.

Malayalam
or Tamil

Mantra

A word
or phrase or psalm used in meditation

Sanskrit

Maya

Illusion

Sanskrit
माया māyā

Mithras

Friend

Sanskrit
मित्र Mitrah

Moksha

Salvation
or purification of soul

Sanskrit
मोक्ष moksha

Mongoose

A small
carnivorous mammal from southern Eurasia or Africa, known for killing snakes

Mulligatawny

Pepper
water

Milaguthanni
(Tamil)

Mung

One
type of bean

Sanskrit
mudga (मुद्ग) or Tamil mūngu (முங்கு)

Musk

a
testicle

Sanskrit
मुस्कस् muska-s

Mynah

A kind
of speaking bird

Sanskrit
मदन madana-s (love)

Nainsook

Pleasing
to the eye

from
Sanskrit नयनम्सुख् nayanam-sukh

Namaste

I bow
to you

Sanskrit
नमस्ते namaha-te

Nard

A round
fat annoying person

French narde
and Latin nardus / Sanskrit नलदम् naladam

Narghile

Hookah

Sanskrit
नारिकेलः nārikelah

Nark

A
police informer

Sanskrit
नक्र‌ nakra

Navigation

Voyage

Sanskrit
नौयान nauyaan

Neem

A kind
of very useful medical tree

Sanskrit
निम्बः nimbah

Nilgai

A kind
of cow

Sanskrit
नीलगौः nīla-gauh

Nirvana

The
highest state of peace and enlightenment when individual desires and
sufferings go away.

Sanskrit  or Prakrit

Nehru
Jacket

a kind
of sleeveless jacket that worn buttoned up to neck – formal and often worn by
the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru

Opal

A kind
of gem

Sanskrit
औपल upalah

Orange

A
citrus fruit, or a colour named for the fruit

Sanskrit
‘naranga’ or Arabic ‘naranj’

Pagoda

A
religious building

Tamil pagavadi
(பகாவடி)

Pandal

Temporary
shelter

பந்தல்
Pandhal (Tamil)

Panther

A tiger
species animal

Sanskrit
पाण्डर  pāṇḍara (Pale)

Pariah

A
social outcaste

Tamil paṟaiyar
(பறையர்)

Patchouli

A kind
of spice plant like mint.

pachchai
ilai (Tamil)

Path

way

Sanskrit

Peacock

A
beautiful bird known for its dance in the monsoon.

Tamil tokei
(தோகை)

Or may
be O.E. ‘pawa’

Pitta

Young
bird

Pitta
పిట్ట (Telegu)

Poori

A
kind of cake

Poori पुर

Punch

Mixture
of five ingredients

panch ,

also
there was a drink named paantsch پانچ

Pundit

A
learned scholar or priest.

पण्डित Pandit

Pukka

UK
slang: “genuine” or “solid”

Pakkā पक्का,پکا

Purana

Ancient
time/ Hindu religious texts that are part of the Vedas.

Sanskrit

Pyjamas

A
kind of leg garment

पैजामा
paijaamaa

پاى

Raga

Indian
Classical music

Sanskrit
राग rāgah,

Raita

A
kind of India dish made especially for accompaniment of roti.

रायता
ریتا

 Rayta

Raj

Kingdom

Sanskrit
राज्य rājya

Rajah

King

Sanskrit
राजन् rājān

Ramtil

a dark
sesame

Sanskrit
रामतिलः rāmatilah

Rani

Queen

Sanskrit
राज्ञी rājnī

Rice

Seed of
paddy

Sanskrit
व्रीहिस् vrihi-s

Roti

Kind
of Indian bread

रॊटी
روٹی roti

Rupee

Indian
currency

Sanskrit
रूप्यकम् rūpyakam

Rye

A
kind of crop

Sanskrit
राजा rājā

Saccharo

Sugar

Pali
सक्खर sakkharā / Sanskrit शर्करा sarkarā

Sadhu

Honest
man

Sanskrit
साधु sādhu

Sahib

European
people

Hindi
‘saheb’

Samadhi

A
spiritual state of consciousness

Sanskrit
समाधि samadhi

Sambal

A spicy
condiment

Tamil
or Telegu

Sambar

Asian
deer

Sanskrit
संभारह् śambarah

Samsara

Passing
through

Sanskrit
संसार saṃ-sāra

Sandal

wood
for burning incense

Sanskrit
चन्दनम् candanam / Greek σανδάλιον sandalion

Sangha

A
community for Buddhist monk

Sanskrit
संघ saṅgha

Sanskrita

Put
together

Sanskrit
संस्कृतम् samskrtam

Sapphire

A
precious stone sacred to Saturn (Sani)

Latin sapphirus and Greek σάπφειρος sappheiros / Sanskrit शनिप्रिय

Sari

A kind
of ladies garment

Prakrit सदि sadi/ Sanskrit षाटी
sati

Satyagraha

insisting
on truth

Sanskrit
सत्याग्रह satyagraha

Sattva

truth

Sanskrit
सत्त्व sattvah

Shamana

a
Buddhist monk

Sanskrit
श्रमण sramana-s

Shampoo

A
liquid preparation for washing the hair.

chāmpo
चाँपो

Shanti

Peace
of mind

Sanskrit,
T.S. Eliot made the term entry in his The Waste Land.

Shawl

A
strip of cloth

Sanskrit
सत्ल् satI

Siddha

Achieved

Sanskrit
सिद्ध siddhah

Sikh

Studies

Hindi
सिख sikh

Singh

A
lion

Sanskrit
सिंहः simhah

Stupa

Crown
of the head

Sanskrit
स्तूपः stūpah

Sulfur

Copper’s
enemy

Sanskrit
शुल्बारी shulbari

Sugar

ground
or candied sugar

Sanskrit
शर्करा sharkara

Sunn

A kind
of fibre plant

Sanskrit:
सन sāna

Sutra

rule

Sanskrit
सूत्र sutram

Suttee

Virgin
woman

Sanskrit
सती sati

Swami

Lord or
master

Sanskrit
स्वामी svami

Swastika

A lucky
charm

Sanskrit
स्वस्तिक svastika

Taka

Money

Bengali: টাকা

Tantra

weave

Sanskrit
तन्त्र tantram

Teak

A
tropical hardwood tree

tekku (தேக்கு) in Tamil

Teapoy

Three-legged
table

Sanskrit
compound: त्रि

Thug

A
cheater or con man

Thagi

ठग

Til

A
kind of plant

Sanskrit
तिल tilah

Toddy

A
kind of juice from palm tree

Tārī

ताड़ी

Tola

A
traditional unit of mass

Sanskrit
तुला tulā

Tutty

Blue
vitriol

Sanskrit
तुत्थं tuttham

Typhoon

A
cyclonic storm

طوفان toofaan

Veranda

Porch
or corridor

baramdaa
बरामदा

Vimana

Aeroplane

Sanskrit
विमान vimana

Vina

A
kind of musical instrument

Sanskrit
वीणा vīṇā

Vinyasa

To
place

Sanskrit

Wanderoo

A
kind of monkey

Sanskrit
वानर vānarah

Wat

An
enclosure

Sanskrit
वात vātah

Yoga

An
ancient Hindu spiritual
practices common in India that have become internationally popular

योग

Yogi

One
who practises yoga

Sanskrit
योगिन् yogin

Yugas

Age/
Period

Sanskrit

Zen

A
meditation

Japanese 禅 and Chinese 禪 Chán
/ Sanskrit ध्यान dhyana

Zamindar

A
landholder of British colonial India for collecting taxes.

Adda from Bengali adda, a group of people a place where people of same interests gather for conversation. Ahimsa  from Sanskrit ahimsa, which means «not-harmful». alvar from Tamil alvarr. sink, be absorbed (as in contemplation) Ambarella  from Sanskrit: ambarella, a kind of tree. Entered English through Sinhalese Amrita  from Sanskrit amrutam, nectar of everlasting life. anaconda possibly from Tamil  yaanai kondra, «that which killed an elephant».The word may have entered English through Sinhalese henakandaya, «whipsnake». anicut from Tamil  anaikattu, («anai»=dam, «kattu»=building/structure) Aniline  from Sanskrit  nili. Entered English through German: Anilin, French: Aniline and Portuguese: Anil from Arabic  al-nili and Persian  nila, Apadravya  from Sanskrit apadravya which refers to a male genital piercing where a barbell passes through the penis. Mentioned in Indian literature in theKama Sutra ape from the Tamil word for a monkey, kapi, i.e., swift, nimble, active. It was first transformed to api and later to ‘ape’ arhat from Sanskrit arhat which means «deserving». Aryan  from Sanskrit  Arya-s «noble, honorable». Entered English through Latin Ariana, from Greek  Areia. Asana  from Sanskrit  asana which means «seat», a term describing yoga postures. Ashram  from Sanskrit  asrama, a religious hermitage. Atman from Sanskrit atman meaning «essence». Atoll  from Sanskrit  antala. Probably entered English through Maldivean: Aubergine  from Sanskrit  vatigagama, meaning aubergine or eggplant in American English. Probably entered English through Catalan alberginera, via Arabic ( al-badinjan) and Persian ( badin-gan) ultimately Avatar  from Tamil «avataram» and Sanskrit  avatara, which means «descent». Refers to the human incarnation of God . Thus, Krishna and Rama were two of the ten avatars of Vishnu. Ayurveda  from Sanskrit  ayurveda, which means «knowledge of life». baboo from Hindi babu, meaning «father»  Bahasa fromSanskrit bhasa, meaning  «language». Bahuvrihi  from Sanskrit  bahuvrihih, a composite word, meaning ‘much rice.’ Bandanna  from Hindi Bandhna,() which means to ‘tie-dye,’ a mode of dyeing in which the cloth is tied in different places, to prevent the parts tied from receiving the dye.  A bright yellow or red silk handkerchief with diamond shaped spots left white while dyeing. bandy from the Tamil word ‘vandy’ which means ‘vehicle’. ox-cart Bangle  from Hindi Bangri , a ring of coloured glass worn on the wrist by women. Banyan  from Hindi baniyaa and Sanskrit  vanij, which means «a merchant». Basmati  from Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit  vasa, meaning ‘fragrant’ Batik  A textile dyeing technique in which areas not to be dyed are coated with wax producing an irregular, mottled motif or pattern.  Bazaar  from Hindi and Persian, a permanent market or street of shops. Bazaar  Indian and Middle Eastern term for a marketplace or a group of shops; in the West it refers to a charity sale of trinkets and other items.  begum From Urdu begam which comes from Eastern Turkish bigim meaning «princess»  Beryl  from Sanskrit  vaidurya, and Prakrit  (veluriya). Actually of Dravidian origin, maybe from the name of Belur. Probably entered English through Old French beryl, via Latin beryllus, Greek betel from Malayalam  vettila and Tamil  vettrilai where «vettru»=plant name and «ilai»=leaf. Bhakti  from Sanskrit  bhakti, which means «loyalty». Bhang  from Hindi  bhang, which is from Sanskrit  bhanga «hemp». Bidi  from Hindi bidi which comes from Sanskrit  vitika. birka from Hindi burqa which came from persian / Arabic  biryani from Hindi biryani which camefrom Persian biryan meaning «fried, roasted»  Blighty  from Hindi and Urdu vilayati «foreign», ultimately from Arabo-Persian «provincial, regional». Home’ indicating Britain (as a term of endearment among British troops stationed in Colonial India): bo (tree) from Sanskrit bodhi- «perfect knowledge». Entered English through  Sinhalese Buddhist usage. Bodhisattva from Sanskit bodhi; «perfect knowledge» + sattva; «being»  Bottle  from Urdu Botul, rigid container. Brahmin  from Sanskrit  brahmana, from brahman. Brinjal  from Persian  badingan, probably from Sanskrit  bhantaki. Buddha  from Sanskrit  buddha, which means «awakened, enlightened», refers to Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism. Also refers to one who is enlightened. Bungalow from Hindi  bangla & Urdu  bangla, literally, «(house) in the Bengal style». Derived from the Bengali word for hut,bangala. A small house of only one storey, usually surrounded by a large verandah. Calico  from the place name Calicut, India. The fine cotton stuffs of Malabar was originally mentioned by Marco Polo in the 14th century.  candy from Sanskrit. khanda «piece (of sugar),» and Tamil kantu, kattu, or katta «to harden, condense». The word was gradually transformed to Persian qand «cane sugar,» Arabic qandi, and Old French cucre candi «sugar candy». crystalized sugar carambola from Marathi karanbal. cash Possibly from Malayalam or Tamil  kasu catamaran from Tamil  kattumaram («kattu»=tie up, «maram»=tree/wood) chakra from Sanskrit chakra; «wheel». Charpoy  A lightweight cot or bed, common throughout India. Usually a simple structure, it can sometimes be an elaborate creation, carved and painted.  Cheetah  from Hindi cita, , meaning «variegated» and Sanskrit chitraka, or chitrakaya, ‘having a speckled body.’ Also from Tamil ‘chiruthai’. cheroot from Tamil  suruttu, meaning ‘rolled’ which was transformed to French cheroute. Chili  The pod of the red pepper (capsicum). The plant came to India from South America.  Chint or Chintz  The overall-patterned, often flower-covered, block-printed cotton fabric that has become synonymous with English-style decorating. Originally from the Sanksrit chitra, means variegated or speckled.  chintz from Hindi chint which comes from Sanskrit citra «many-colored». The overall-patterned, often flower-covered, block-printed cotton fabric that has become synonymous with English-style decorating. Chit  from Hindi  Chitthi, a letter or note. The Tamil people use shit for a ticket, or for a playing-card. Chuddar  from Sanskrit  chatram which means screen, parasol etc. Entered English through Urdu  chaddar (cloth). Chukar  from Sanskrit  chakorah. Came to English via Hindi  chakor and Urdu  chukar. Chukker  from Sanskrit  chakra, and Hindi  chakkar, «a circle, a wheel». Chutney  from Hindi chatni, meaning «to crush» A spicy relish often made from mangoes, chili peppers, or tomatoes. The word is derived from the Hindi catni.  Citipati  from Sanskrit  chiti-pati, which means «a funeral pyre lord». A kind of Dinosaur coir probably from Malayalam  kayar, Tamil » «kayiru» for rope or thread or to be twisted. congee from Tamil kanji  coolie Possibly from  cooli a Tamil word for «labour». Alternatively, it could refer to a tribe from Gujarat, whose members were frequently employed as manual laborers. cooly from Tamil kuli hire, hireling copra from the Malayalam word  koppara, coconut kernel or Tamil  kopparai /  koppara or Telugu word kobbera corundum from a Tamil word for ‘ruby’,  kuruntham or  kuruvintham cot from Tamil  kattil (bedstead) and Sanskrit khatva which became Hindi khat cowrie, cowry from Sanskrit kaparda, Mahrati kavadi and Tamil  kotu (shell). Entered English via Hindi and Urdu kauri (small shell). Crimson  from Old Spanish cremesin, via Medieval Latin cremesinus from Arabic  qirmiz «a kermes», which is ultimately from Sanskrit  krmi-ja literally: «red dye produced by a worm.» Crocus  from Sanskrit  kunkumam which later became Persian and Arabic  kurkum, which mean saffron or saffron yellow,  Aramaic  kurkama, Hebrew  karkom, and Greek  crocus. Cummerbund  from Hindi and Urdu kamarband , meaning «waist binding» [ultimately from Persian ] curry from Tamil kari which means ‘sauce’ A spicy dish made of meat, fish or vegetables cooked with ground spices, red pepper and turmeric.  Cushy probably from Hindi khushi,  — Urdu «easy, happy, soft» [ultimately from Persian]. But some sources suggest an origin from «cushion» Dacoit  from Hindi  Dakait, a robber belonging to an armed gang. dal from Hindi dal meaning «split pulse»  Das  from Sanskrit  daasa, a slave or servant. Datura  from Hindi  dhatura «jimson weed» which is ultimately from Sanskrit  dhatturah, a kind of flowering plant. Dekko  From Hindi dekho, «look» from  Dekho, the imperative ‘look’, ( ) meaning look at or study something. (UK slang for ‘a look’) Deodar  from Hindi  deodar which comes from Sanskrit  devadaru, a kind of tree. Deva  from Sanskrit  deva, which means «a god», similar to Latin deus, which means ‘god’. Devi  from Sanskrit  devi, which means «a goddess». Dhal  from Hindi  dal which comes from Sanskrit  dalah, meaning cotyledon of a pea pod, a type of Indian food. Also refers to lentils. Dharma  from Pali  dhamma and Sanskrit meaning «conformity to one’s duty and nature» and «divine law». Dhoti  from Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit  dhunoti, traditional garment of men’s wear in India. Dhurrie  From Hindi A flat woven cotton carpet Dinghy  from Hindi and Bengali  dingi «a tiny boat», which is probably from Sanskrit  dronam. A rowing boat Dolly  from the Hindi word dali. a gift or presentation of fruit, flowers, vegetables or sweets, sometimes arranged in a basket or tray. Doolally from the town of Deolali, where British troops were stationed before returning to England and developed «camp fever» from boredom mad, insane Dungaree  from Hindi dungri, a place-name. A coarse cotton fabric that was traditionally worn by the poor. Durbar  from Hindi and Persian durbar. The court of an Indian prince. a ceremonial audience chamber.  eka (chemical prefix) from Sanksrit eka which means «one»  Ganja  from Hindi «Elephant bull» ultimately from Sanskrit  ganja, which means «hemp». Garam Masala from Hindi and Urdu  a  garam masaalaa, literally «warm ( = hot) mixture». Gaur  from Hindi «white» which comes from Sanskrit  gaurah. Gavial  from Hindi  ghariyal which Is ultimately from Sanskrit  ghantikah, a kind of crocodile. Gayal  from Sanskrit  gauh which entered English through Bengali , a kind of animal. Gharry  from Sanskrit  gartah. Entered English via Hindi gaadi, a kind of vehicle. ghat from Hindi ghat which means «quay»  Ghee  from Hindi which is ultimately from Sanskrit  ghritam «sprinkling». ginger from Tamil  inciver which is the combined form of  inci = ginger and  ver = root. May be also from Sanskrit shringaveram «horn-bodied»  godown from Tamil Kittangi (kidangu/kodangu) which means ‘store room’, Kannada gadangu and Telugu gidangi. May have entered English via Malay gudang. Gondwanaland from Sanskrit gondavana, the name of a forest. Guar  from Hindi which is ultimately from Sanskrit  gopali, an annual legume. Gunny  from Hindi which is ultimately from Sanskrit  goni «sack». Gurkha  from Nepalese  gorkha, which is ultimately from Sanskrit  goraksa, «a cowherd». Guru from Hindi guru «teacher, priest,». Ultimately from Sanskrit guru-s «one to be honored, teacher,» literally «heavy, weighty,» an expert in a field. Gymkhana  from Urdu & Hindi gend-khana (ball-house) .khanah  in Persian means «house, dwelling». The term originally referred to a place where sporting events and contests were held to test the skill of the competitors. In English-speaking countries, a gymkhana refers to a multi-game equestrian event performed to display the training and talents of horses and their rider Hanuman  from Hindi which is ultimately from Sanskrit Hanuman (), name of a Hindu mythological God. Hare Krishna  from Sanskrit Hare () «oh God!» and Krishna (), name of Hindu god. harijan from Sanksrit harijana which is a combination of Hari «Vishnu» + -jana «community»  hatha yoga from Sanksrit hatha which means «force, violence» and yoga  Himalaya  from Sanskrit  himalayah, which means «adode of snow». Hindi  from Hindi  Hind which is ultimately from Sanskrit  sindhu, which means «a river». Entered English via Persian  Hindu «Sind». Hindu from Hindi Hindu which means «an Indian». Comes from Persian hind which was used to denote people from Sindh. hookah  from Urdu hukkah which comes from Arabic huqqah; «vase, bottle». howdah from Urdu haudah which came from Arabic haudaj. I am  from Sanskrit Aham Jackal  from Sanskrit  srgalah «the howler» and Middle Indic shagal, which later became Persian  shaghal and Turkish chakal. jackfruit from the Malayalam and Tamil name for the fruit chakka (). The word entered English through Portuguese jaca. Jaconet modification of Sanskrit jagannaath, from Jagannath (Puri), [India], where such cloth was first made. Jaggery from Sanskrit  sarkara and Tamil/Malayalam  chakkara which was later transformed to Portuguese jagara, jagre. Jaggery  from Malayalam  chakkara which came from Sanskrit  sarkara which was derived from proto-Dravidian. Entered English through Portuguese jagara, jagre.  Jinnah cap Named after Pakistani statesman Muhammad Ali Jinnah. A hat shaped like a fez but made of real or imitation karakul and worn by Pakistani Muslims on occasion. It is called a «Karakulli topi» (Topi meaning cap). Jodhpurs Named after the Indian city of Jodhpur , where similar garments are worn by Indian men as part of everyday dress. Full-length trousers, worn for horseback riding, that are close-fitting below the knee and have reinforced patches on the inside of the leg. Jodhpurs  Riding breeches that fit close to the leg from the knee to the ankle. These are worn with a low pair of boots. They are modelled after similar trousers worn in Jodhpur in Rajasthan.  Juggernaut  from Hindi and sanskrit Jagannath (Sanskrit:  jagannatha), a form of Vishnu particularly worshipped at the Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha where during Rath Yatra festival thousands of devotees pull temple carts some 14m (45 feet) tall, weighing hundreds of tons through the streets. Early European visitors witnessed these festivals and returned with reports of religious fanatics committing suicide by throwing themselves under the wheels of the carts. A metaphor for something immense and unstoppable because of institutional or physical inertia; or impending catastrophe that is foreseeable yet virtually unavoidable because of such inertia. Jungle  from Hindi  jangal «a desert, forest» which came from Sanskrit  jangal, which means «arid». Jute  from Bengali  jhuto which is ultimately from Sanskrit  juta-s, which means «twisted hair». kabaddi From the Tamil word (-) «kai» (hand), «pidi» (catch), which can be translated into «Holding Hands» Kama Sutra from Sanksrit kama «love» and sutra ‘rein or technique’. Karma  from Sanskrit  karma, which means «work, fate». Kedgeree  probably from Sanskrit  krusar. A dish of recooked fish, served for breakfast. Kermes  from Sanskrit  krumija meaning «worm-made.» which later became Persian  qermez , Arabic:  qirmiz and French Kermes. Khaki from Hindi  khaki «of dust colour, dusty, grey», Urdu [ultimately from Persian]. khalsa from Urdu khalicah which comes from Arabic khalic; «pure, real». Kos  from Hindi  kos which is ultimately from Sanskrit  krosah, which means «a call, a shout». Krait  from Hindi  karait which is ultimately from Sanskrit , a kind of snake. Kshatriya from Sanksrit kshatriya; ‘the ruling class’ which comes from  kshatra; «rule, authority». Lac, lakh from Sanskrit  laksha and Prakrit  lakkha which became Hindi  lakh Persian  and came to English through Urdu ., Lacquer  from Sanskrit  laksha which became Arabic  lakk, Portuguese Laca and French Laque. resin Langur  from Sanskrit  langulam. Enterd English through Hindi. Lantern  from Urdu Lal ten , meaning ‘lighting device’. lascar fromUrdu lashkar «army’. Entered English through Portuguese. Lilac  from Sanskrit  nila, which means «dark blue». Later became Persian  nilak meaning «bluish» and entered English throughArabic  lilak. lingam from Sanskrit linga which means «distinctive mark, penis»  Loot  from Sanskrit  lota-m or  lunthati meaning «he steals». Entered English through Hindi  loot, which means ‘a booty, stolen thing’. Madras  A colourful plaid-patterned textile made of silk or cotton, or both, and coloured with vegetable dyes. It takes its name from the southern city of Madras.  Maharajah  from Hindi which is ultimately from Sanskrit  maha-raajan, which means «a great king». Maharani  from Hindi which is ultimately from Sanskrit  maharajni which means «consort of a maharajah». Maharishi  from Sanskrit  maha-rishi, which means ‘a great sage’. Mahatma  from Sanskrit  mahatman, which means «a great breath, soul». Mahayana  from Sanskrit  maha-yana, which means «a great vehicle». Mahout  from Hindi (variant of ) which is ultimately from Sanskrit  mahamatrah. Mandala  from Sanskrit  mandala, which means «a disc, circle». Mandarin  from Hindi  mantri «a councillor» which is ultimately from Sanskrit  mantri, which means «an advisor». Came to English from Portuguese mandarim. Mango derived from Tamil «Maangaay» a Tamil word for an unripe mango. mango from Tamil  maangaai and Malayalam ‘maangaai’ where maa=big and kaai=unripe fruit. Mantra  from Sanskrit  mantra which means «a holy message, chanting or text». Maya  from Sanskrit  maya, a religious term which means ‘illusion’. Mithras  from Sanskrit  mitrah, which means «a friend». Mogul from Hindi and Urdu. from the Persian rulers of India like Akbar and Shah Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal. An acknowledged leader in a field, Moksha  from Sanskrit  moksha, liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth, heaven. mongoose from Marathi mangoos and Telugu mangisu  Moringa from Tamil and Malayalam  murungai , the word for drumstick. Mugger  from Hindi and Urdu  magar which ultimately comes from Sanskrit  makara, a sea creature like a crocodile, which attacks stealthily. mullah from Urdu mulla which comes from Arabic mawla  mulligatawny from Tamil  milagu-tanneer from milagu black pepper and tanneer, water A curry-flavoured soup. Multan Named after the Pakistani town of Multan. A kind of rug prevalent there. Mung bean  from Hindi  mug Tamil mungu, and Pali/Prakrit  mugga which ultimately comes from Sanskrit  mudgah, a kind of bean. Musk  from Sanskrit  muska-s meaning ‘testicle’, from a diminutive of  mus (mouse). It was transformed to Persian  mushk and then to and Late Greek  moskhos. Entered Middle English as muske from Middle French musc which in turn came from Late Latin Muscus. Mynah  from Hindi  maina and Sanskrit  madana-s, which means «love». nabob  from Urdu nawwab «deputy governor».Entered English through French. Nainsook  from Hindi  nainsukh and Urdu which are ultimately from Sanskrit  nayanam-sukh, meaning «pleasing to the eyes». Namaste  from Hindi namasthe which is ultimately from Sanskrit  namaha-te, which means «I bow to you». nan from Hindi nan. narc from Romani nak «nose»  Nard  from Sanskrit  naladam which later became Greek  nardos and Latin nardus. Entered English through Old French narde. Narghile  from Sanskrit  naarikelah. Entered English through French Narguile and Persian  narghileh. Nark  from Hindi  nak which is ultimately from Sanskrit  nakra. Came to English from Romany nak «a nose». navigate possibly from Tamil (navai) which came to Middle English as navigate, through Latin navigo, from navis (ship) + ago (do), from Proto-Indo-European where nau maens ‘boat’. Neem  through Hindi  nim ultimately from Sanskrit  nimbah, a kind of tree. Nilgai  from Hindi  nilgaai meaning blue cow which is ultimately from Sanskrit  nila-gauh, an ox-like animal. Nirvana  from Sanskrit  nirvana-s which means «extinction, blowing out». one from Tamil word onnu which means ‘one’. Tamil people pronounce onnu almost similary to one in English Opal  from Sanskrit  upalah.Came to English through French opalle which in turn came from Latin opalus and Greek  opallios. Orange from Tamil  narantham (orange), or  naarangam (mandarin-orange), with + =  naaraththangaay. Later it was transformed to Sanskrit  naranga, Persian  narang, Arabic  naranj, Italian arancia, Latin orenge, and Old French orenge. pagoda perhaps from Tamil pagavadi (house belonging to a deity) and Sanskrit bhagavati (goddess) or from Portuguese pagode which comes from a corruption of Persian butkada (but=idol + kada=dwelling). Pajamas, Pyjamas from Hindi pajamas «Leg clothing» and Urdu payjamah which comes from Persian pay «foot» + jamah «garment». A pair of loose trousers tied at the waist. palanquin from Sanskrit palyanka; «bed». Later became Javanese pelangki and entered English through Portuguese Palmyra from Tamil Pannamarrum/Pannai, (Marram = Tree) pandal from Tamil  pandhal. pariah from Tamil  paraiyar, plural of  paraiyan «drummer». outcast pariahdom from Tamil paraiyar, plural of paraiyan ( a caste whose members are drummers ). The name of the caste is derived from parai, a festival drum. Pashmina from Hindi , Urdu , ultimately from Persian . patchouli from Tamil pachchai  (green), and ellai  (leaf). A small southeast Asian shrub. pepper from Sanskrit pippali; «berry». Entered English through Latin. Polo  The game of hockey on horseback originated in Persia. It was played in the extreme west of the Himalayas till it was adopted in Calcutta around 1864, and quickly spread across the lower provinces, and to Kashmir, where summer visitors took it up. It soon made its way to England where it was first played in 1871, and later, to the US.  poon from Tamil punnai, pinnai, Malayalam punna names for Calophyllum inophyllum Poori from Hindi poori, from Sanskrit  (pura) or «cake». poppadom, papadum  from Malayalam or Tamil  pappatam, which ultimately comes from Sanskrit  parpata (a kind of thin cake made of rice or pease-meal and baked in grease). Entered English via Hindi-Urdu or Punjabi. portia tree from Tamil  puvarasu, a kind of flowering tree. Prakrit from Sanskrit prakrta which means «natural, vulgar»  prize from Tamil parisu Pukka  from Hindi Pakka , cooked, ripe, solid. UK slang for ‘genuine’. Punch from Hindi and Urdu panch , meaning «five». The drink was originally made with five ingredients: alcohol, sugar, lemon, water, and tea or spices. The original drink was named paantsch. A kind of drink. Pundit  from Hindi  Pandit, meaning a learned scholar or Priest. Punkah  From Hindi pankah; ‘fan’ Purdah  A Hindi word from the Persian parda, an area in the house reserved for women and screened from the sight of men by a curtain.  purdah  from Hindi and Urdu pardah «veil, curtain». Derived from the Persian parda, an area in the house for women that was screened from the sight of men by a curtain.  puttee from Hindi patti «band(age)» which is derived from Sanskrit patta «bandage». Raga  from Sanskrit  ragah, color, passion, melody». Used to denote melodic modes used in Indian classical music. Came to English via Hindi. Raita  from Sanskrit  rajikatiktakah. Came to English via Hindi  rayta, a south Asian condiment and side dish made of yogurt and vegetables. Raj  from Hindi and Pali/Prakrit  rajja ultimately from Sanskrit  rajya, which means «a king» or «kingdom.» Raj means kingdom or domain of a ruler. Rajah  from Hindi and Sanskrit  rajan, which means «a king». rakshasa from Sanskrit rakshasa which means «demon». Derived from rakshas; «to be guarded against». Ramtil  from Hindi and ultimately from Sanskrit  ramatilah, which means «a dark sesame». Rani  from Hindi which is ultimately from Sanskrit  rajni, consort of a rajah. Rice  from Sanskrit  vrihi-s (rice), derived from proto-Dravidian which can be found in Tamil as  arici. Entered English via Old French ris and Italian riso from Latin oriza, which is from Greek  oryza, where it came through an Indo-Iranian tongue. Roti from Hindi & Urdu   roti «bread»; akin to Prakrit  rotta «rice flour», Sanskrit  rotika «kind of bread». Rupee  from Hindi  rupiya which is ultimately from Sanskrit  rupyakam, an Indian silver coin. Rye  from Sanskrit  raja; a gypsy. Entered English via Romani. Saccharo from Sanskrit  sarkara and Pali  sakkhara which became Greek . Came intoEnglish via Latin Saccharon. Sadhu  from Sanskrit  sadhu meaning «good man.» sahib from Urdu sahib which comes from Arabic cahib «friend»  Samadhi  from Sanskrit  samadhi, which means «putting together». Sambal  from Sanskrit  sambhrei which underwent transformation as Tamil  campal. Entered English through Afrikaans where it came from Indonesian. Sambar  form Hindi ultimately and Sanskrit  sambarah, a kind of Asian deer. samosa from Hindi samosa  Samsara  from Sanskrit  sam-sara, which means «passing through». Sandal, sandalwood from Sanskrit  chandanam meaning ‘wood for burning incense’. This word means sandalwood, and is not related to sandals which is a type of footwear. Entered  Middle English as sandell from French sandale which in turn came from Medieval Latin sandalum, Medieval Greek  sandalion and Arabic and Persian ; Sandhi  from Sanskrit  samdhih; «junction’ — a wide variety of phonological processes. Sangha  from Sanskrit  sangha, a community of Buddhist monks and nuns. Sanskrit  from Sanskrit  samskrtam «put together, perfected, well-formed». Sapphire  from Sanskrit  sanipriya which literally means ‘Sacred to Saturn (Shani)’. The word underwent many transformations as Hebrew sapir, Greek  sappheiros, Latin sapphirus, and finally entered English via Old French saphir. Sari  from Hindi sari and Prakrit  sadi, finally from Sanskrit  sati «garment». Sarong  from Sanksrit saranga «variegated». An old Indian form of dress. Entered English through Malay sarung. The chief form of dress in Java and Malaya.  Sattva  from Sanskrit  sattvah, which means «truth». Satyagraha  from Sanskrit  satyagraha, which means «insisting on truth». Combined form of satya «truth» + graha «pertinacity»  sepoy from Urdu sipahi «horseman» which comes from Persian sipah «army»  serpent from Tamil ‘Sarppam’. Shaman  from Sanskrit  sramana-s  and Prakrit «a Buddhist monk». Entered English through Russian  which in turn came from Tungus shaman, and Chinese  sha men, Shampoo Derived from Hindi and Hindustani champo (),the imperative form of champna, to knead and press the muscles with the view of relieving fatigue. Shawl From Urdu and Persian sal, probably from Shaliat, the name of a town in India. May be also from from Sanskrit  satI, which means «a strip of cloth». Entered English through Persian  shal. A piece of fabric worn by women over the shoulders or head or wrapped around a baby. shri from Sanskrit sri «Lakshmi» which also means prosperity. shrub (drink), Sherbet, Sorbet from Urdu name of a drink which comes from Arabic shurb «beverage, juice». Derived from shariba; «drink».  Siddha  from Sanskrit  siddhah, which means «achieved, accomplished». Sikh  from Hindi  sikh ‘a disciple’, which is ultimately from Sanskrit  sikshati which means «studies». Singapore  from Sanskrit  Simhapuram, literally «the lion city». Came to English language from Malay Singapura. Singh from Sanskrit  simhah which means ‘a lion’, and Tamil  singam. Entered English via Hindi  Singh. Sinhala  from Sanskrit  Simhala which means «Sri Lanka». Sinhalese  from Sanskrit  simhala which means «of lions». sitar from Hindi sitar which originally meant»three-stringed». soma from Sanskrit soma; ‘Vedic liquor’. Sri Lanka from Sanskrit:   which means «venerable island.» Stupa  from Sanskrit  stupah which means «crown of the head». Sudra from Sanskrit sudra  sugar from Tamil  sakkarai and Sanskrit  sharkara which means «ground or candied sugar». The word was later transformed to Persian  shakar, Arabic:  sukkar, Medieval Latin succarum, Italian zucchero, and entered English from Old French sucre. Sunn  from Hindi which is ultimately from Sanskrit  sana, a kind of Asian plant. Sutra  from Sanskrit  sutram which means «thread, string». Suttee  from Sanskrit  sati, which means «an honorable woman». Entered English through Hindi. Swami  from Sanskrit  svami, which means «a master». Entered English through Hindi  swami. Swastika  from Sanskrit  svastika, which means «one associated with well-being, a lucky charm that gives well-being». Taka  from Sanskrit  tankah. Entered English through Maithili and Bengali Talipot  from Sanskrit  talapatram, a kind of tree. Came to English through Hindi, Indonesian and Malay talipat. tandoor from Urdu tandur which comes from Turkish tandir and Arabic tannur «oven» . tank possibly from Gujarati tankh which means ‘water reservoir’  Tantra  from Sanskrit  tantram, which means «weave». teak from Malayalam  thekku, and Tamil  thekku. Entered English via Portuguese teca. Teapoy from Hindi  tipai and Urdu  tipai,which originated as a Sanskrit compound of tri, (three) and pada (foot). Tendu  from Sanskrit and Hindi  tainduka. Came to English via French Thug  from Marathi  and Hindi  thag which is ultimately from Sanskrit  sthaga, meaning ‘a scoundrel’. tikka from Hindi tikka. Til  from Sanskrit  tilah, a kind of plant. Toddy  from Hindi  tari and Sanskrit  tala, a Dravidian origin is also probable. Toddy (also Hot toddy)  from Hindi Tari , juice of the palm tree. Tola  from Sanskrit  tula; ‘the scale’ and Hindi tola, a traditional Indian unit of mass. Toon  from Hindi  tun and Sanskrit  tunnah, a kind of tree. Tope  from Hindi  top probably from Prakrit  thupo, which came from Sanskrit  stupah. tutenag from Tamil  thuthanaagam meaning «raw zinc». Tutty  from Sanskrit  tuttham meaning «blue vitriol». A Dravidian origin is also probable. Entered Middle English as tutie from Old French, which in turn came from Medieval Latin tutia, Arabic  tutiya, and Persian . Typhoon from Hindi and Urdu  toofaan. A cyclonic storm. Upanishad  from Sanskrit Upanishad. A combination of upa «near» + nishad «lie down». veda from Sanskrit veda «knowledge». verandah or veranda from Tamil  veruntharai — Verum (empty) + tharai (floor or space) — A roofed open gallery. vetiver from Tamil  vettiver; a tropical Indian grass; Botanical name: Vetiveria zizanioides; its aromatic roots are used for weaving screens and baskets and the oil in perfumery (source: AHD) Vimana  from Sanskrit  vimana meaning plane, also used to refer to the top of the temple tower, sanctum santorum. Vina  from Sanskrit  veena and Hindi  veena, a kind of musical instrument. vindaloo from Hindi and Portuguese vin d’alho «wine with garlic»  vivid   from Sanskrit » vividh, meaning ‘various’. wallah  from Hindi -wala. Wanderoo  from Sanskrit  vanarah, a kind of monkey. Entered English through Sinhalese. A kind of monkey Wat  from Sanskrit  vatah meaning «an enclosure.» Came to English through Thai Yoga  through Hindi  ultimately from Sanskrit  yoga-s, which means «yoke, union». ancient spiritual practices common in India that have become internationally popularized. Yogi  from Hindi  yogi and Sanskrit  yogin, one who practices yoga or ascetic. yoni from Sanskrit yoni «abode, womb»  Zen  from Pali  jhana and Sanskrit  dhyana, which means «a meditation». The word graually got transformed through Japanese  and Chinese  Chan.

Atoll, avatar, bandana, bangle, bhelpuri, blighty, bungalow, calico, cashmere, catamaran, cheetah, cheroot, chintz, chit, choky, churidar, chutney, coir, cot, cowrie, cummerbund, cushy, curry, dal, dinghy, dharma, doolally, dungarees, godown, gymkhana, gunny, guru, jodhpurs, jungle, jute, karma, kedgeree, khaki,

15 English Words of Indian Origin

• Avatar. In Hinduism, an avatar is the manifestation in human or animal form of a god, especially Vishnu.
• Bangle. A rigid ornamental bracelet worn around the wrist (or ankle).
• Bungalow. A one-storied house.
• Cheetah.
• Chutney.
• Cot.
• Guru.
• Juggernaut.

What are some words borrowed from Hindi in English?

Did You Know These 17 Common English Words Were Borrowed from Hindi?

• Jungle. Photo Source.
• Bandana. Advertisement.
• Dinghy. Photo Source.
• Chit. Photo Source.
• Pyjama. Advertisement.
• Juggernaut. Photo Source.
• Cashmere. Photo Source.
• Thug. Advertisement.

How many Indian words are in Oxford dictionary?

The tenth edition of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, which was launched on Friday, has 384 Indian English words.

How many native words are used in modern English?

Oxford Dictionary has 273,000 headwords; 171,476 of them being in current use, 47,156 being obsolete words and around 9,500 derivative words included as subentries.

Is Bungalow an Indian word?

The word Bungalow come from Bangla, the Hindi or Mahratti term meaning “of or belonging to Bengal”, as in Bangladesh (East Bengal).

Why is a Added to Hindi words in English?

Words that end in in Sanskrit lost that in Hindustani, but Dravidian loanwords maintained it. The English words were probably borrowed either directly from Sanskrit, or from a language that didn’t drop the final .

Is jungle a Hindi word?

Etymology. The word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jaṅgala (Sanskrit: जङ्गल), meaning rough and arid. It came into the English language via Hindi in the 18th century. Jāṅgala has also been variously transcribed in English as jangal, jangla, jungal, and juṅgala.

Which word is originated in India and used in English?

If you did, then you probably did not stop to contemplate the origin of those everyday words. But pyjamas, shampoo, kedgeree and yoga are just some of the words that have been adopted into the English language, one of the many legacies of the British presence in India that lasted more than three hundred years.

When were Indian words added to English?

The oldest words in this batch—qila (1761), chaudhuri (1772), haat (1779), bada din (1781), and Devi (1799)—were adopted into English just when the British were consolidating political and economic control over the Indian subcontinent, and English was beginning to rise in importance as a language of bureaucracy.

Which Hindi word was in Oxford dictionary?

NEW DELHI: ‘Aatmanirbharta‘ implying self-reliance has been named by Oxford Languages as its Hindi word of the year 2020 as it “validated the day-to-day achievements of the countless Indians who dealt with and survived the perils of a pandemic”.

What are the new words for 2020?

10 new English words you should know in 2020

• Stan. Meaning: An extremely excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan (stalker-fan).
• Nomophobia. Meaning: Fear or worry at the idea of being without your phone or unable to use it.
• Peoplekind.
• Bottle episode.
• Carbon sink.
• Buzzy.
• Sober-curious.
• Permaculture.

What Viking words are used in English?

War And Violence

English	Old Norse	Meaning
berserk	berserkr	lit. a “bear-shirt” a Viking warrior who entered battle wearing nothing for armor but an animal skin
club	klubba	a heavy, blunt weapon
gun	gunn	from the female name Gunnhildr: gunn (war) + hildr (battle)
ransack	rannsaka	to search a house

What is the longest word in English language?

pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
Appearing in the Oxford English Dictionary, this 45-letter word for a disease is the longest English word that is defined in a major dictionary. It’s a technical word referring to the lung disease more commonly known as silicosis.

Which language has the biggest vocabulary?

English
The language with the largest vocabulary in the world is English with 1,025,109.8 words. This is the estimate provided by Global Language Monitor on January 1, 2014. The English language officially surpassed the millionth word threshold on June 10, 2009 at 10:22 a.m. (GMT).

How do you greet an Indian?

Greetings

1. In many parts of India and during formal occasions, it is common for people to greet with the traditional Hindu greeting of “Namaste” (‘I greet the divine within you’).
2. A common gesture when greeting is pressing the palms together with the fingertips facing upwards (i.e. in a prayer position).

What are the basic Hindi words?

Learn how to say some basic Hindi phrases

Hello/Hi	Namaste	Namaste
My name is Peter	Mera naam Peter hai.	Mera naam Peter hai
Thank you	Dhanyavad	Dhanya-vaad
Sorry	Maaf kijiye	Maaf ki-jie
Excuse me	Suniye	Sunie

How do you say hello in different Indian languages?

Table of contents

• Namaste (नमस्ते) in Hindi.
• Sata Sri Akal (ਸਤਿ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ) in Punjabi.
• Nomoshkar (নমস্কার) in Bangla.
• Aadab (आदाब) in Kashmiri.
• Parnam (प्रणाम) in Magadhi.
• Namaskar (नमस्कार) in Marathi.
• Vanakkam (வணக்கம்) in Tamil.
• Namaskaram (నమస్కరం) – Telegu.

What is Indian English accent?

Indian-English speakers usually speak with a syllabic rhythm. Further, in some Indian languages, stress is associated with a low pitch, whereas in most English dialects, stressed syllables are generally pronounced with a higher pitch.

Which language gave us jungle loot juggernaut?

Language That Gave Us “Jungle” And “Juggernaut” Crossword Clue

Rank	Word	Clue
94%	HINDI	Language that gave us “jungle” and “Juggernaut”
4%	LATIN	Language that gave us ‘i.e.’
2%	ERSE	Language that gave us “plaid”
2%	WELSH	Language that gave us ”corgi”

When did Hindi language originated?

Like other Indo-Aryan languages, Hindi is a direct descendant of an early form of Vedic Sanskrit, through Sauraseni Prakrit and Śauraseni Apabhraṃśa (from Sanskrit apabhraṃśa “corrupt”), which emerged in the 7th century CE.

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Hindi Loan Words in English

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English has been called a magpie language, since like the bird that collects shiny things, English also collects lots of words from many different languages. One of these languages is Hindi. People don’t always think of Hindi as a language that has influenced (had an impact on) English, but there are a number of (many) Hindi loan words in English! Hindi loan words are more common in English than you may think.

To help expand your knowledge of English, whether you’re learning English or you’re a native speaker, check out this list of common Hindi loan words. Some of them may surprise you!

Bandana

From bandhna (बांधना), meaning to tie.

Have you ever worn a bandana? A bandana is a square piece of cloth that you can tie around your head to keep your hair out of your face or tie around your neck to use like a scarf. Bandanas are very versatile (have many different uses), so how you use a bandana is not limited to these two ways! Bandana is a Hindi loan word in English that comes from the word meaning to tie.

For example:

• Whenever I go hiking, I always wear a bandana to keep the sweat out of my eyes.
• In the old days, bank robbers would wear a bandana over their mouth and nose to cover their face.

Chit

From chitthi (चिट्ठी), meaning a letter or a note.

A chit is not such a common word, but it is one that you’ll hear once in a while. A chit, which is one of many Hindi loan words, is a small scrap of paper with a note or a reminder written on it. Now I use my phone, but when I was younger, I would write small notes to myself on scraps of paper (small, torn pieces of paper). These small notes could be reminders of what homework I had to do, or could be someone’s phone number. These small notes to myself could also be called chits!

For example:

• She accidentally left the chit with his phone number on it in her pants pocket and put the pants in the wash.
• I wrote the time of the meeting on a chit while sitting at my desk, but I couldn’t find it. I hope it didn’t get thrown out by mistake!

Guru

From guru  (गुरु) , meaning teacher or priest.

As a yoga teacher, I hear the word guru all the time. Guru is the Hindi word for a teacher or a priest and are usually seen as a very wise person. If you have ever taken a yoga class or been involved in the wellness industry, you’ve probably heard the word guru. Your yoga teacher could have been talking about their teacher and what they learned from them, referring to (talking about) them as their guru. Once you start looking for this word, I’m sure you’ll start seeing it everywhere.

For example:

• She was called a guru of interior design. People loved her designs and looked to her for advice about how to set up their homes.
• He studied with a guru for months to learn how to meditate and improve his life.

Juggernaut

From the Sanskrit jagannātha (जगन्नाथ), a form of the god Vishnu. Literally meaning lord of the universe.

The word juggernaut, one of the most interesting Hindi loan words, has a fascinating history of how it came to be in the English language. The original word, Jagannath, is a form (version) of the Hindu god Vishnu. Worshipers (religious followers) of this form of Vishnu pull a 14ft statue of the god through the streets on carts during an annual festival. Early Europeans in India saw these festivals and brought back stories about the festival to Europe. They told stories of worshipers committing suicide under the wheels of the carts as the statues of the gods moved through the streets, although these stories were probably false (wrong). Since then, however, the word juggernaut has come into English meaning an immense (huge), unstoppable, powerful force.

For example:

• The richest man in the world has been called a juggernaut of his industry. He is so good at what he does, that he seems unstoppable.
• Her company is an advertising juggernaut. They are the best in their field and have been very successful.

Loot

From loot (लूट), meaning to steal.

Have you ever heard of looting? Looting is when people steal from somewhere, usually during a riot or a war. They may steal things from stores or people’s houses. Loot is a Hindi loan word in English which comes from the word meaning to steal. Sometimes when there are riots, some rioters will start looting stores and stealing from places. The same thing can happen in war after a battle, where the victors (winners) will steal from the losers.

For example:

• The police arrested looters during the riots. They would catch them on their way out of stores with their arms full of stolen goods.
• During the Middle Ages, many armies would loot villages that they passed through.

Did you know that these words are all Hindi loan words? Do you know any other words that come from Hindi? Share them with us in the comments below!

Crystal Fisher2020-07-30T10:14:56+01:00

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English really isn’t a Native American language, but virtually all of today’s Indians speak this as their first and primary language. During the past several centuries the English-speaking Europeans and their descendents who have come to occupy what is now the United States and Canada have consistently shown intolerance for other languages. Consequently, native languages have been suppressed. Native Americans have been required to learn English, and have not been allowed to use their native languages.  

In the early days of contact between Native Americans and the English-speaking colonists, the need for communication between the two groups resulted in the formation of Pidgin English. Pidgin English is a stripped down version of English which allows for basic communication. Pidgin English was primarily a trade language. During the seventeenth century, American Indians, if they learned English at all, learned it only as a medium for basic communication with alien invaders.

Another interesting aspect of the use of English and its incorporation into Indian cultures is in swearing: in general, Indian languages do not have swear words. As the Indians came into contact with English-speaking people, they acquired the art of swearing which was always done in English.

As the Europeans invaded the North American continent they encountered many things which they had never seen. Having no words to describe these things, the European colonists-English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and French-speaking-borrowed many words from the Indians.

Some of the Indian words which have been incorporated into English included words for plants, animals, and foods:

Abalone

Avocado

Caribou

Cashew

Cassava

Chili

Chipmunk

Chocolate

Condor

Cougar

Coyote

Hickory

Hominy

Iguana

Maize

Moose

Muskrat

Ocelot

Opossum

Pecan

Persimmon

Petunia

Potato

Puma

Raccoon

Skunk

Squash

Succotash

Tobacco

Tomato

Woodchuck

Some of the words described clothing and tools:

Canoe

Hammock

Kayak

Moccasin

Tipi

Toboggan

Tomahawk

Wampum

Wigwam

Some of the other words English has acquired from American Indian languages include:

Barbecue

Bayou

Buccaneer

Caucus

Chinook

Hurricane

Mackinaw

Podunk

Powwow

Quinine

Totem

“Caucus” comes into English from the Algonquian caucauasu which means “counselor” and was first recorded in print by Captain John Smith, an early English colonist.

“Buccaneer” originally meant “someone who dries meat on a wooden frame over a fire” and has its origin in the Tupi language of the Caribbean islands. It came into English through French.

This list of words is not complete, but illustrates some of the words which English has borrowed. In some cases, English has borrowed the words directly from Indian languages (most of these have come from the Algonquian languages), while in other instances the Indian words have come into English from Spanish or French.

In addition to borrowing words to describe the new wonders they were seeing, the Europeans also borrowed a number of place names. Adjacent to the United States, both Canada and Mexico are Indian names. More than half of the states in the United States bear Indian names:

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

Connecticut

Dakota

Illinois

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

New Mexico

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Wisconsin

Wyoming

On the local level, many cities and towns, including Chicago, carry Indian place names.  

Situated in the heart of South Asia lies the Indian subcontinent, which has a myriad of culturally rich and diverse civilizations over the millennia. Needless to say, each civilization has left its own mark, culminating in the form of the vast amalgamation of cultures nestled deep within the subcontinent even to this day. 

The intermingling of each of the unique languages and cultures has to lead to each language being heavily influenced by its peers. This is, however, not to take credit away from the fact that there are still 22 separate, highly popular languages still spoken within the Indian subcontinent, each of which has donated a significant amount of words to the English language.

Are there Indian Words in English?

Over the span of nearly 3 centuries, numerous words have been assimilated from the multitude of Indian languages into English. Many commonplace English words everyday staples so to speak – are in fact adaptations of words having originated in one of many Indian languages and customs.

• Avatar
• Guru
• Pundit
• Mantra
• Juggernaut
• Khaki
• Shampoo
• Thug
• Mugger
• Chutney
• Jute
• Bungalow
• Bandanna
• Punch (Fruit Punch)
• Pajamas

The History of Indian Languages 

The North Indian languages evolved from Old Indo-Aryan such as Sanskrit. Naturally, the development of each language was influenced by socio-political contact with foreign invaders, who brought with them new languages. These languages were heavily influenced by those of the invaders – Persian and Arabic.

Unlike their Northern counterparts, the South Indian languages had a history independent of Sanskrit. The origins of the South Indian languages, as well as their development and the period of their differentiation, are relatively unclear. The most popular of these are Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.

From the Mid-East of India rose Bengali, yet another widely spoken language. The local language of the East of the subcontinent eventually evolved into varying regional dialects, which in turn went on to form three separate groups of languages: the Bihari, the Oriya, and the Bengali-Assamese languages.

The Effects of Colonization on the Indian Subcontinent

It was at the beginning of the 17th century that the British first ventured to India. From trading partners in the form of the East India Company, the British influence in the region eventually grew to the extent that the British gained control of the entire subcontinent.

Through colonization, Indian culture came face-to-face with the foreign language and customs of her rulers. It was inevitable that the interaction of these two vastly diverse languages would not lead to the adaptation of words and customs of one language into the other. 

Naturally, the assimilation of different words could take place with either the same pronunciation as the donor language or with a slight distortion depending on the pronunciation limitations of the recipient language.

Indian Words Adopted into the English Language

Some of the most interesting Indian words adopted into the English language are:

Avatar: It is derived from the Sanskrit word for ‘Incarnation’. Traditionally, it has been used to describe the re-incarnations of the Hindu God ‘Vishnu’ on Earth. However, it is also used as a term to describe one who has taken a new form.

Guru: This word is derived from the Sanskrit word for ‘Teacher’, and it can be traced back to the times of the Vedanta. 

Pundit: In India, ‘Pundit’ is a highly respected title for one who has reached great heights in fields involving arts or philosophy.

Mantra: It is the English adaptation of the Sanskrit word for ‘incantation’ or ‘chant’. In India, mantras are revered as having significant spiritual powers, capable of acting as a remedy for many spiritual issues. 

Juggernaut: The word Juggernaut is derived from the name of God Vishnu – Jagannath.

 The official definition of ‘juggernaut’ in the English language is “a huge and unstoppable force”. 

Dating back to the annual festival held at the Jagannath temple in Puri, Eastern India, a huge chariot seating the deity-Jagannath- is dragged with ropes by devotees. In the past, devotees would sometimes get crushed under the moving chariot, but as per tradition, the chariot could not and would not be stopped and it was thus that the word juggernaut came about.

Khaki: Widely known for being utilized in camouflage wearables, it was first used as a color in 1848 and the word Khaki itself is derived from the Hindu word ‘Khak’, which means ‘Ash, or ‘Soil’. 

Shampoo: Even the word shampoo is a derivation from the 18th century Hindi word -‘Champoo’ which means to massage into the head or the hair.

Thug: Originating from the Hindi word ‘Thug’, comes the English word, ‘thug’. In earlier times, notoriously secretive and skilled robbers were collectively called thugs. They would strangle passers-by on forest routes with their legs by hanging down from trees. 

Mugger: Mugger is derived from the Hindi word for ‘Crocodile’, “Muggermach”. The crocodile is a known master ambush hence the definition present for Mugger in English.

Chutney: Often used as a condiment in culinary dishes, the word Chutney comes from the Tamil word ‘Chatni’. A mix of condiments and spices used as a sauce that accompanies specific, or even multiple dishes, chutney’s are now used to enhance the palette word wide. 

Jute: In English, Jute is used to describe a long, soft, and shiny fiber that can be spun into strong threads. It hails From the Bengali word ‘Jatho’ which means matted or interwoven fabric.

Bungalow – The classic English word Bungalow originates From the Hindi word ‘Bangla’. Houses in India and Bengal were constructed in the ‘Bengali’ style and were known widely known as ‘Banglas’.

Bandanna: From the Hindi word ‘Bandhan’, which means to Tie, comes the English word Bandanna, which is a piece of cloth tied to the head.

Punch (Fruit Punch): Tracing back to the Hindi word ‘Paanch’, which means ‘Five’ the meaning of the ancestor of Punch (English) comes from the fact that the drink’s original five ingredients were spirits, water, lemon juice, sugar, and spice.

Pajamas: Originating from the Hindi word ‘Paijama’- which essentially means ‘Leg garment‘-comes the word Pajamas, which are commonly used to describe soft garments covering the legs.

Many more words like Loot, Zen, Catamaran, Loot, and Thugs- each one can be traced back to its Indian origins. Even words as commonplace as cash can be traced back to their Tamil origins.

Conclusion

To conclude, one can simply not place enough emphasis on the role of the vast multitudes of Indian languages in the development of the English language, and as such the Indian languages and customs have played a crucial-yet necessary role to propel English to the heights it has achieved today.

Not only that, the English language continues to adopt words from different languages even today. Take a look at the newly added Korean words in English!

As a language which is continuously evolving, English has borrowed a multitude of words from Hindi. Cultural footprints of the past, these 17 words have deep Indian roots and have entered English through various routes, with most being absorbed during the days of British Raj. Here’s a look at this act of ‘borrowing’ which enriched English with many new words, courtesy of Hindi and India.

1. Verandah

   

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Since there were no verandahs in England because of its cold weather, the word never existed in English before the British interaction with India, where almost every house had one, usually for the family to enjoy the breeze on hot days. Interestingly, the word veranda itself came to Hindi via the Portuguese.

2. Jungle

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Derived from the Hindi word jangal meaning a wild wasteland, it was used by English settlers in India to refer to any wild, untended or uncultivated land, including sparsely wooded scrub landscapes and tangled forest landscapes, overgrown with dense vegetation.   

3. Bandana

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The English fashion dictionary borrowed the word bandana from two Hindi words –  badhnu, which describes the process of tie-and-dye through which large handkerchiefs with vibrant, distinctive designs were made, and bandhana meaning to tie something up.

4. Dinghy

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The English word dinghy was derived from the Hindi word dingi or dingiya that was used for small rowing boats that travelled through the sheltered waters of Indian rivers and along the Indian coasts to fish and to transport passengers and freight in the olden days.

5. Chit

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Remember the chits you used to take to your exam halls? Chit has its origins in chitthi, a Hindi word for a letter or post. In olden days, letters were a way to practice critical reading, self-expressive writing and also exchange ideas with like-minded others in India. No wonder this common Hindi word was assimilated into the English language.

6. Pyjama

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Denoting loose fitting sleeping clothes worn by early European settlers, the English word pyjama was taken from the Hindi word payajama. Broken down, “pay” means leg and “jama” means clothing, thus referring to a pair of comfortable, loose and lightweight trousers fitted with drawstring waistbands.

7. Juggernaut

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Defined as something that is very large and unstoppable, this word has its roots in the fascinating Jagannath yatra – a religious procession in Puri in Orissa where a giant carriage carries the image of Lord Jagannath, and which devotees are said to have sometimes thrown themselves under. The British also use it to refer to very large trucks.

8. Cashmere

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Cashmere, meaning the fabric spun from the fine downy wool of the cashmere goat, is a word that travelled to Britain via Hindi. The word cashmere is an old spelling of Kashmir as pronounced in Hindi, the state where these shaggy goats were once found in abundance.

9. Thug

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A descendent of the Hindi word thag, meaning a thief or a swindler, it entered the English language early in the 19th century. The thags were organized bands of notorious thieves, robbers, and conmen who would travel across India, befriending travellers on the way before looting and killing them.

10. Chutney

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Essentially a Hindi word – chatṭni means ‘to lick’and denotes a pickled condiment made from fruit, vinegar, spices and sugar. The word Chutney entered the English language in the 19th century when the British started exporting their favourite chutneys to their colonies in Australia and North America.

11. Bangles

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The word bangle in English means a rigid bracelet, usually made from metal, wood, or plastic and its introduction in English dates back to the late 18th century. It is derived from the Hindi word bangri which originally meant the colored glass ring ornaments worn on the wrist by Indian women .

12. Shampoo

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Becoming a part of the English language in the 18th century, the word shampoo is derived from the Hindi word champo, meaning to squeeze, knead or massage. In Britain, the term and concept was introduced by a Bengali trader, Sheikh Deen Mohammad, who, along with his wife, opened a shampooing bath in Brighton in 1814.

13. Punch

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The English word punch originates from ‘paanch’ in Hindi, meaning ‘five’, because of the five ingredients used in  it – spirit/soda, sugar, lemon, water and tea/spices. The drink was brought to England from India by the sailors and employees of the East India Company in the early seventeenth century.

14. Cot

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The English word for a light bedstead, cot, seems to have been derived from the words ‘khat’ and ‘khatwa’, Hindi words for bed. These ‘khats’ were traditionally made of jute and wood as the charpoys in Indian homes for people to relax in the open or sleep under the stars.

15. Loot

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The word derives from the Hindi word ‘lut’, meaning to plunder or steal, which until the 18th century was hardly used outside north India. The English word loot came to mean to ransack somebody, to steal from someone, or whatever is stolen by the act of looting.

16. Bungalow

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Used initially in 17th century Bengal to describe the single storey homes built for early British settlers, the English term bungalow originally derives from the Hindi word ‘bangla’ which meant houses constructed in the style of Bengal.

17. Cushy

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Meaning relaxed, comfortable or easy in English, the word cushy stems from ‘khushi’, the Hindi term for ‘happiness’. It is said to have entered the English language through British Army slang around the time of the First World War.

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The English language has absorbed words from cultures the world over. The following is a list of some English words whose origins lie in the Hindi, Urdu or Sanskrit languages spoken in India, Pakistan and other countries. These words have entered English through a variety of routes, but the presence of many dates back to the days of the Raj, when India was occupied by the British.

1. Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is the manifestation in human or animal form of a god, especially Vishnu. The word first appeared in English in the 18th century and derives ultimately from the Sanskrit word avatara meaning descent.

More recently the word has gained additional senses, for example to refer to a computer user’s visual representation within a game, on a forum etc.

2. Bangle
A rigid ornamental bracelet worn around the wrist (or ankle). Its appearance in English dates back to the 18th century. It derives from the Hindi word bangri meaning a glass ring or bracelet.

3. Bungalow
A one-storied house. Derives from the Hindi word bangla meaning, literally, in the style of or belonging to Bengal. The word bungalow in English dates back to the 17th century when it was used to refer to a type of cottage built in Bengal for early European settlers.

4. Cheetah
A long-legged big cat from Africa, the fastest land animal on Earth. Its black spots provide the clue to the origins of its name, which derives from the Hindi word cita, meaning speckled or variegated.

5. Chutney
A thick, pickled condiment made from fruit, vinegar, spices and sugar. This word entered the English language in the 19th century and derives from the Hindi word chatni, whose meaning is more or less the same as the English word.

6. Cot
This word has several meanings, but in the sense of a portable bed or a high-sided child’s bed, it derives from the Hindi word khat, meaning a bedstead or hammock. It arrived in the English language during the 17th century.

7. Guru
Originally a Hindu or Sikh spiritual guide, guru entered English in the 17th century, where it now also means any important and respected intellectual guide or mentor. The original word in the Hindi and Sanskrit, also guru, means venerable.

8. Juggernaut
In English, a juggernaut is an unstoppable force or movement that sweeps aside or destroys anything in its path. In the UK it is also used to refer to very large lorries (trucks). The word arrived in English in the 19th century and derives from the word Jagannath, a form of the Hindu deity Vishnu.

9. Jungle
An area of dense vegetation or, by extension, any challenging or hostile environment. It derives from the Hindi word jangal meaning a forest and began to be used in English during the 18th century.

10. Loot
Loot is both a noun and a verb. As a verb it means to ransack, to steal from someone or something, often in a violent way. The noun means whatever is stolen by the act of looting or, simply, any money. The word derives from the Hindi verb lut, meaning to plunder or steal.

11. Pyjamas/Pajamas
A set of loose-fitting sleeping clothes, consisting of a jacket and trousers. The pajama spelling is used in North America. The word entered English in the 19th century. It derives from the Hindi word payjamah, meaning leg (pay) and clothing (jamah).

12. Shampoo
A soapy liquid for washing the hair (or other things such as carpets). It arrived in English in the 18th century and derives from the Hindi word champo, meaning to squeeze, knead or massage.

13. Thug
A brutal or violent person, it derives ultimately from the Hindi word thag meaning a thief or a cheat. It entered the English language early in the 19th century.

14. Veranda/Verandah
A sheltered gallery or terrace attached to a house or some other building. The word began to appear in the English language early in the 18th century. In Hindi, the word varanda has a similar meaning. This is not the source of the word, however, as it is thought to derive from the Portuguese word varanda meaning a balcony.

15. Yoga
This was originally a Sanskrit word meaning yoking or union. It refers to a system of Hindu philosophy concerned with achieving reunion with the divine. A part of this discipline involves meditation, breath control and the adoption of certain postures, which is how the word came to have the sense of a system of physical exercise. It entered English in the 19th century.

Note: Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit words in this article have been written in a simplified, anglicized form, using the representations employed by the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary.

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