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noun

rickshaw

RIHK-shaw

Rickshaw (noun) means a small two- or three-wheeled vehicle for one or two passengers, pulled or pedalled by a driver. Example: “We took a rickshaw through the crowded old-town streets.”

noun
1
A small two- or three-wheeled vehicle for one or two passengers, pulled or pedalled by a driver.
"We took a rickshaw through the crowded old-town streets."

How to use rickshaw

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small passenger cart pulled or pedalled by a person.

Common pairings
auto rickshaw pedal rickshaw

Word forms

rickshawed past tense, rickshaws plural, rickshaws singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

We took a _____ through the crowded old-town streets.

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese jinrikisha, literally "human-powered vehicle," later shortened to rikisha and adapted into English as rickshaw.

Origin: Japanese

ricksha jinrikisha

Frequently asked questions

What does “rickshaw” mean?

The word “rickshaw” means a small two- or three-wheeled vehicle for one or two passengers, pulled or pedalled by a driver. In plain terms, a small passenger cart pulled or pedalled by a person.

How do you pronounce “rickshaw”?

“Rickshaw” is pronounced RIHK-shaw (/ˈɹɪkˌʃɔː/ in IPA).

How do you use “rickshaw” in a sentence?

Here is “rickshaw” used in a sentence: “We took a rickshaw through the crowded old-town streets.”

What part of speech is “rickshaw”?

“Rickshaw” is a noun.

Where does the word “rickshaw” come from?

The word “rickshaw” comes from Japanese. Borrowed from Japanese jinrikisha, literally "human-powered vehicle," later shortened to rikisha and adapted into English as rickshaw.

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