|
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. |
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