Words With Hindi & Urdu Origins

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60 Words

1 Aarav A male given name of Indian origin, popular among Hindi speakers.
2 amma A word for "mother," used in several South Asian languages and borrowed into English in that context.
3 Avinash A male given name of Hindi origin, meaning "indestructible".
4 babu A respectful title for a Hindu man, similar to "Mr.", traditionally placed after the surname.
5 babuji A respectful South Asian term of address for a man, roughly equivalent to "sir" or "mister" but warmer and mor...
6 bangle A rigid, usually round bracelet worn on the wrist or ankle, typically without a clasp.
7 bapu An affectionate term for "father," used in Hindi and several other South Asian languages.
8 ber The Indian jujube, a fruit-bearing tree native to South Asia, also known by its scientific name Ziziphus mauri...
9 Bhabhi A term used in South Asian families for a sister-in-law, especially an elder brother's wife.
10 Bhaskar A surname of Hindi origin.
11 Bihari Relating to the Indian state of Bihar or its people.
12 Chand A surname of Hindi origin, meaning "moon."
13 Chandi A fierce form of the Hindu goddess Durga.
14 chitty A short written note, voucher, or slip used to record a small debt or authorize a purchase.
15 chutney A spicy or tangy condiment, typically made from fruit or vegetables, originating in South Asian cuisine.
16 coolie (dated, now often offensive) An unskilled laborer, historically often of Chinese or Indian descent, especially...
17 dacoit A member of an armed gang of robbers, especially historically in India and neighbouring regions.
18 dal Split lentils, peas, or beans used in South Asian cooking, or a spiced dish made from them.
19 Deepak A male given name common in India, also used as a surname.
20 Desi Relating to the people, culture, or products of South Asia and its diaspora.
21 dhoti A long piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and legs like a loincloth, traditionally worn by men in India.
22 didi A respectful term of address for an older female relative or family friend, used in South Asian English.
23 diya A small oil lamp, traditionally made of clay, with a cotton wick, used in South Asian homes and religious cere...
24 dum Cooked slowly by trapping steam inside a sealed pot, as in South Asian cuisine.
25 Gopal A masculine given name and surname of Sanskrit origin, meaning "cowherd," used especially as a name of the god...
26 gora (South Asian, informal) A white or fair-skinned person, especially a European.
27 hing Asafoetida, a pungent spice used mainly in South Asian cooking.
28 Jaipur The capital city of the Indian state of Rajasthan, famous for its pink-hued old town.
29 jodi In South Asian English, a pair or couple, especially a matched or well-suited one.
30 kabaddi A South Asian contact sport in which a lone "raider" dashes into the opposing team's half, tries to tag defend...
31 Lahore The second-largest city in Pakistan, capital of Punjab province, known for its Mughal-era architecture.
32 loot Goods stolen or taken by force, especially during war, a riot, or (in video games) after defeating an enemy.
33 Madhav A male given name used in India, referring to the Hindu deity Krishna.
34 maharaja A Hindu prince or king of high rank, especially in historical India, ranking above an ordinary raja.
35 Manda A shortened, informal form of the female given name Amanda.
36 marg A road or path.
37 Maruti A car made by the Indian manufacturer Maruti Suzuki.
38 paan A chewable preparation of betel leaf, areca nut, and sometimes tobacco, popular across South Asia.
39 Poonam A Hindu female given name derived from a Hindi word for "full moon."
40 puri A small, round, deep-fried bread from South Asia that puffs up when cooked.
41 Rajasthan A state in northwestern India, whose capital is Jaipur.
42 Rishabh A masculine given name of Indian usage, from Hindi.
43 Rohit A masculine given name of Indian origin, from Sanskrit.
44 sada Plain or unseasoned, without added spices or stuffing.
45 Sagar A city and district in Madhya Pradesh, India, and also a surname and given name.
46 Sapna A female given name used in India, from a Hindi word meaning "dream."
47 shampoo A liquid soap-like product made for washing hair.
48 Sharma A surname common among Hindi and Telugu speakers in India.
49 shastri A teacher or scholar of traditional Hindu scriptures (shastras).
50 Sheetal A female given name of South Asian origin.
51 Shimla The capital city of Himachal Pradesh in northern India.
52 Shinde A surname of Hindi origin, common in India.
53 Singh A common South Asian surname, especially among Sikhs and in parts of northern India.
54 Suraj A male given name of Hindi origin, meaning "sun," used mainly by Hindus.
55 Swamy A surname of Hindi origin, related to the title "swami."
56 tat (informal, chiefly British) Cheap, tacky, or poor-quality items; junk or trinkets.
57 Thakur A title of nobility historically used for feudal lords in parts of the Indian subcontinent.
58 Thar A large desert straddling the border of India and Pakistan.
59 thug A violent, aggressive criminal, often acting as part of a gang.
60 vada A savoury fried snack, shaped like a small doughnut or fritter, popular across South Asia.