name
Very common
India
IHN-dee-uh
India (name) means a country in South Asia, officially the Republic of India, with New Delhi as its capital. Example: “India is the most populous country in the world.”
name
1
A country in South Asia, officially the Republic of India, with New Delhi as its capital.
"India is the most populous country in the world."
How to use India
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe South Asian country home to over a billion people and a huge diversity of languages and cultures.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like India.
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
- Indias
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ is the most populous country in the world.
Etymology
From Latin India, from Greek Indía, ultimately from the Indus river, whose name traces back to Sanskrit sindhu, "river."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for India
See all rhymes for India →Frequently asked questions
What does “India” mean?
The word “India” means a country in South Asia, officially the Republic of India, with New Delhi as its capital. In plain terms, the South Asian country home to over a billion people and a huge diversity of languages and cultures.
How do you pronounce “India”?
“India” is pronounced IHN-dee-uh (/ˈɪndi.ə/ in IPA).
How do you use “India” in a sentence?
Here is “India” used in a sentence: “India is the most populous country in the world.”
What part of speech is “India”?
“India” is a name.
Where does the word “India” come from?
The word “India” comes from Latin. From Latin India, from Greek Indía, ultimately from the Indus river, whose name traces back to Sanskrit sindhu, "river.".
Is “India” a common word?
“India” is a very common word in modern English.
What is the capital of India?
The capital of India is New Delhi, which sits within the larger metropolitan area of Delhi in the north of the country. It is the seat of the national government, home to Parliament, the President's residence, and the Supreme Court. Delhi is one of India's most populous urban areas.
What is the difference between India and Bharat?
They are two names for the same country. India is the English name, while Bharat is the ancient indigenous name, drawn from Sanskrit and used in Hindi and other Indian languages. The country's constitution opens with the words India, that is Bharat, recognising both as official.
What is the population of India?
India is the world's most populous country, with over 1.4 billion people, having overtaken China in 2023. Its population is also relatively young compared with many nations. This vast, diverse population spans hundreds of languages, religions, and cultures across its 28 states and eight union territories.
What languages are spoken in India?
India is extraordinarily multilingual. Hindi and English serve as the official languages of the central government, and the constitution recognises 22 scheduled languages, including Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and Urdu. In total, hundreds of languages and dialects are spoken across the country, varying widely from state to state.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include India:
