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Chennai

CHEH-neye

Chennai (name) means the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, formerly known as Madras. Example: “They flew into Chennai for a wedding.”

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The capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, formerly known as Madras.
"They flew into Chennai for a wedding."

How to Use Chennai

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA major coastal city in southern India, previously called Madras.

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Fill the Gap

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They flew into _____ for a wedding.

Etymology

From the Tamil name Chennai, adopted officially in 1996 to replace the colonial-era name Madras.

· First attested 1996

Class of 1996 Chennai joined the language around 1996.
See the full Class of 1996 →

Related Words

Rhymes for Chennai

See all rhymes for Chennai →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Chennai” mean?

The word “Chennai” means the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, formerly known as Madras. In plain terms, a major coastal city in southern India, previously called Madras.

How do you pronounce “Chennai”?

“Chennai” is pronounced CHEH-neye (/ˈt͡ʃɛnaɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “Chennai” in a sentence?

Here is “Chennai” used in a sentence: “They flew into Chennai for a wedding.”

What is another word for “Chennai”?

Words with a similar meaning to “Chennai” include Chenappapatam, Chennapatnam, Chennapattanamu, Chinapatam, Chinapatana and Madras.

What part of speech is “Chennai”?

“Chennai” is a name.

Where does the word “Chennai” come from?

The word “Chennai” dates back to around 1996. From the Tamil name Chennai, adopted officially in 1996 to replace the colonial-era name Madras.

Is “Chennai” a common word?

“Chennai” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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