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noun

gora

GOH-ruh
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Gora (noun) means (South Asian, informal) A white or fair-skinned person, especially a European. Example: “The tour guide joked about all the goras taking photos of the market.”

noun
1
(South Asian, informal) A white or fair-skinned person, especially a European.
"The tour guide joked about all the goras taking photos of the market."
"Every day after that, my parents showed off their daughter's Urdu-speaking gora ‘friend’ to anyone who walked through the door." — Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi, The Centre (2023)
adj
1
Fair-skinned; relating to white or European people.
"She was teased for her gora complexion as a child."
""Sir! Yes." He saluted, did an about face and marched off. Sher swiveled around in his chair and looked fondly at the picture of the huge dead tiger and the embarrassed looking white, gora king, Edward." — Harold M. Bergsma, One Way to Pakistan: A Novel (2007)

How to use gora

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSouth Asian slang for a white/fair-skinned person, used casually and sometimes teasingly.

When to use it

Informal; tone can range from playful to mildly loaded depending on context.

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Word forms

Plural
goras
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The tour guide joked about all the _____ taking photos of the market.

Etymology

Borrowed from Hindi-Urdu gorā, meaning "fair-skinned" or "white."

Origin: Hindi

Rhymes for gora

See all rhymes for gora →

Frequently asked questions

What does “gora” mean?
The word “gora” means (South Asian, informal) A white or fair-skinned person, especially a European. In plain terms, south Asian slang for a white/fair-skinned person, used casually and sometimes teasingly.
How do you pronounce “gora”?
“Gora” is pronounced GOH-ruh (/ˈɡəʊ.ɹə/ in IPA).
How do you use “gora” in a sentence?
Here is “gora” used in a sentence: “The tour guide joked about all the goras taking photos of the market.”
What part of speech is “gora”?
Depending on how it is used, “gora” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “gora” come from?
The word “gora” comes from Hindi. Borrowed from Hindi-Urdu gorā, meaning "fair-skinned" or "white.".
How many meanings does “gora” have?
“Gora” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (South Asian, informal) A white or fair-skinned person, especially a European.

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