name
Uncommon
Indies
IHN-deez
Indies (name) means the East Indies, referring to India, Southeast Asia, and the surrounding islands. Example: “European traders once sailed for months to reach the Indies.”
name
1
The East Indies, referring to India, Southeast Asia, and the surrounding islands.
"European traders once sailed for months to reach the Indies."
2
The West Indies, the islands of the Caribbean.
"They sailed a cruise through the Indies, stopping at several Caribbean islands."
How to use Indies
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA historical term for either the East Indies (South/Southeast Asia) or the West Indies (the Caribbean).
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Word forms
- Plural
- the Indies
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European traders once sailed for months to reach the _____.
Etymology
From Latin India, historically applied broadly to regions east and west that early European explorers associated with India.
Rhymes for Indies
See all rhymes for Indies →Frequently asked questions
What does “Indies” mean?
The word “Indies” means the East Indies, referring to India, Southeast Asia, and the surrounding islands. In plain terms, a historical term for either the East Indies (South/Southeast Asia) or the West Indies (the Caribbean).
How do you pronounce “Indies”?
“Indies” is pronounced IHN-deez (/ˈɪndiz/ in IPA).
How do you use “Indies” in a sentence?
Here is “Indies” used in a sentence: “European traders once sailed for months to reach the Indies.”
What part of speech is “Indies”?
“Indies” is a name.
Where does the word “Indies” come from?
The word “Indies” comes from Latin. From Latin India, historically applied broadly to regions east and west that early European explorers associated with India.
Is “Indies” a common word?
“Indies” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Indies” have?
“Indies” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the East Indies, referring to India, Southeast Asia, and the surrounding islands.
What is the difference between the East Indies and the West Indies?
The East Indies refers to India, Southeast Asia, and the surrounding islands, while the West Indies refers to the islands of the Caribbean. The two names arose from historical geography and are not interchangeable regions.
Why are the Caribbean islands called the West Indies?
The West Indies is the traditional name for the islands of the Caribbean, distinguishing them from the East Indies of Asia. Both terms reflect older geographic naming conventions rather than modern political boundaries.
Is 'the Indies' the same as 'Indonesia'?
No, the East Indies is a broader historical term covering India, Southeast Asia, and the surrounding islands, of which present-day Indonesia is only a part.
