noun
Common
Hindu
HIHN-doo
Hindu (noun) means a follower of Hinduism, a major religion originating in India. Example: “Her grandparents were devout Hindus who visited the temple daily.”
noun
1
A follower of Hinduism, a major religion originating in India.
"Her grandparents were devout Hindus who visited the temple daily."
adj
1
Relating to Hinduism or to Hindus.
"They celebrated a Hindu wedding ceremony."
"Hindu American organizations, including the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus in North America, advocated for the law."
— Deepa Bharath, California makes Diwali an official statewide holiday (2025)
How to use Hindu
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person who practises Hinduism, or an adjective for anything related to that religion.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "Hindi," which refers to the language, not the religion.
Easily confused with
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Hindu.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Hindus
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her grandparents were devout _____ who visited the temple daily.
Etymology
From Persian hindū ("Indian"), ultimately from Sanskrit síndhu ("river," referring to the Indus).
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “Hindu” mean?
The word “Hindu” means a follower of Hinduism, a major religion originating in India. In plain terms, a person who practises Hinduism, or an adjective for anything related to that religion.
How do you pronounce “Hindu”?
“Hindu” is pronounced HIHN-doo (/ˈhɪnduː/ in IPA).
How do you use “Hindu” in a sentence?
Here is “Hindu” used in a sentence: “Her grandparents were devout Hindus who visited the temple daily.”
What part of speech is “Hindu”?
Depending on how it is used, “Hindu” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Hindu” come from?
The word “Hindu” comes from Persian. From Persian hindū ("Indian"), ultimately from Sanskrit síndhu ("river," referring to the Indus).
Is “Hindu” a common word?
“Hindu” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Hindu” have?
“Hindu” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a follower of Hinduism, a major religion originating in India.
What is the difference between Hindu and Hinduism?
Hinduism is the religion — a major faith that originated in India — while a Hindu is a person who follows it. Hindu also works as an adjective meaning relating to Hinduism or its followers, as in Hindu temples or Hindu festivals.
What is the difference between Hindu and Indian?
Indian describes nationality — someone or something from India — while Hindu describes religion: a follower of Hinduism. Most Hindus live in India, but not all Indians are Hindus, since India also has large Muslim, Christian, Sikh, and other communities, and Hindus live all over the world.
What is the difference between Hindu and Hindi?
Hindi is a language widely spoken in India; a Hindu is a follower of the religion Hinduism. The words are often confused, but a person can speak Hindi without being Hindu, and many Hindus speak languages other than Hindi.
Should Hindu be capitalised?
Yes. Like other nouns and adjectives referring to religions and their followers — Christian, Muslim, Buddhist — Hindu is always written with a capital H in English, whether used as a noun or an adjective.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Hindu:
