Hindi
Word |
English
Meaning |
Begum |
A
Muslim woman of high rank; a from of address |
Brahmin |
The
highest Hindu caste: often a member of the priestly
class |
Chalo,
Chalo |
Let
us go |
Chappal |
Sandal |
Chappati |
Unleavened
Indian bread. |
Chhota |
Small |
Chela |
Disciple |
Cheeni |
Sugar |
Choli |
Saree
Blouse |
Chowkidar |
Watchman |
Daaen |
Right |
Darshan |
Audience
or meeting with a gurus; having a glimpse of a temple
deity |
Darwaza |
Gateway,
door |
Dhaba |
A
cheap Indian restaurant |
Dhal |
Lentil
curry; what most Indians take with bread or rice |
Dharamsala |
A
religious guest house which provides free
accommodation |
Dharma |
Hindu
ethical code |
Dhobi |
Washerman |
Dhoti |
Worn
like the lunghi; the cloth is pulled up between the
legs and tucked |
Durbar |
Royal
Court |
Durga |
Name
of a Hindu goddess, symbol of power |
Doodh |
Milk |
Faquir |
A
Muslim ascetic, a beggar |
Feni |
A
spirit-drink made from cashews |
Gaddi |
Throne |
Ganesh |
The
Elephant-headed god; the God of Wisdom |
Ghee |
Clarified
butter |
Gurudwara |
A
Sikh religious temple |
Guru |
Teacher;
a holy person |
Haaji |
A
Muslim who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca |
Hanuman |
Hindu
god with the face of a monkey |
Harijan |
The
so-called untouchables. Now, untouchability is not
practiced and they get preference in jobs, etc. |
Hookah |
Water-pipe
for smoking tabacco |
Kali |
Hindu
goddess; manufestation of power |
Karma |
Fate |
Khadhi |
Handspun
cloth. Mahatma Gandhi had ordained its use to make
India self-sufficient |
Kothi |
Residence,
usually a large mansion |
Kotwali |
A
police station |
Krishna |
Hindu
God who delivered the sermon in the Gita. |
Kurta |
Indian
style loose shirt |
Lakh |
One
hundred thousand |
Lassi |
A
refreshing, popular sweet yoghurt drink |
Mahabharta |
A
Hindu epic |
Mahal |
Palace |
Maharajah |
A
Hindu ruler |
Maidan |
A
large open ground |
Mali |
A
gardener |
Mandir |
A
Hindu temple |
Mantra |
A
Hindu prayer |
Masjid |
A
mosque |
Mela |
A
fair |
Memsahib |
A
form of address for wealthy women, often used for
white foreign women |
Mughals |
A
dynasty of Muslim rulers who ruled northern India for
200 years |
Moksha |
Salvation
from cycle of births and deaths |
Monsoons |
Rainy
season in India from June to October |
Narayana |
A
name for Vishnu, the Protector |
Nawab |
A
Muslim ruling prince |
Namaste |
An
expression with which a person may be greeted at any
time of the day. |
Pandit |
Hindu
priest |
Puja |
Prayer |
Puranas |
Ancient
Hindu scriputers |
Puradah |
Isolation
in home practiced by Muslim women |
Raga |
Melody
or rhythm |
Raj |
Rule
or government |
Rajput |
A
warrior class from Rajastan |
Ramayana |
One
of the two major Hindu epic stories. It is known all
over South-East Asia |
Rani |
Wife
of a princely ruler |
Rasta
Rokao |
A
form of protest by stopping all traffic |
Rikshaw |
Two-wheeled
vehicle pulled by a man using a cycle |
Rishis |
Sages |
Sadhu |
An
ascetic |
Salwar |
Trousers
worn by Punjabi women; now by most Indian young girls |
Satsang |
A
gathering for a holy discourse |
Satyagraha |
Non-violnet
protest popularized by Mahatma Gandhi |
Sardar |
A
term used for leader; Sikhs are also addressed as
Sardars |
Shri/Shrimati |
Mr./Mrs. |
Shukriya |
Thank
You |
Tabla |
A
pair of kettledrums plyed with fingers |
Thali |
Traditional
Indian metal plate for serving food |
Tonga |
Two-wheeled
horse or pony carriage |
Vedas |
The
four scriptures which the Hindu believed where
revealed by the Gods through ancient sears. |