name
Uncommon
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.”
name
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The capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, formerly known as Madras.
"The £4bn expressways form a diamond linking Delhi with the country's three other largest cities, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta, marking the beginning of more than £35bn of road projects."
— Randeep Ramesh, Speed limits rise as India falls in love with the car (2007)
"They flew into Chennai for a wedding."
How to use Chennai
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA major coastal city in southern India, previously called Madras.
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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.
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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