noun
Uncommon
chai
kheye
Chai (noun) means Spiced tea, especially the sweet, milky black tea flavored with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger. Example: “She ordered a chai latte to warm up.”
noun
1
Spiced tea, especially the sweet, milky black tea flavored with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger.
"She ordered a chai latte to warm up."
"The street vendor served chai in small clay cups."
How to use chai
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spiced, usually milky tea popular in South Asia and now common worldwide as "chai tea" or "chai latte."
Common mistake
Saying "chai tea" is technically redundant, since "chai" already means tea — but it's standard usage in English.
Common pairings
chai latte
cup of chai
spiced chai
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Word forms
- Plural
- chais
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She ordered a _____ latte to warm up.
Etymology
From Hindi/Urdu chai, itself borrowed from Persian and ultimately from the same Chinese root as "tea."
Rhymes for chai
See all rhymes for chai →Frequently asked questions
What does “chai” mean?
The word “chai” means spiced tea, especially the sweet, milky black tea flavored with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger. In plain terms, a spiced, usually milky tea popular in South Asia and now common worldwide as "chai tea" or "chai latte.".
How do you pronounce “chai”?
“Chai” is pronounced kheye (/xaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “chai” in a sentence?
Here is “chai” used in a sentence: “She ordered a chai latte to warm up.”
What part of speech is “chai”?
“Chai” is a noun.
Where does the word “chai” come from?
The word “chai” comes from Persian. From Hindi/Urdu chai, itself borrowed from Persian and ultimately from the same Chinese root as "tea.".
Is “chai” a common word?
“Chai” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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