English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

vada

VAH-duh

Vada (noun) means a savoury fried snack, shaped like a small doughnut or fritter, popular across South Asia. Example: “They ordered vada and chutney from the street stall near the station.”

noun
1
A savoury fried snack, shaped like a small doughnut or fritter, popular across South Asia.
"They ordered vada and chutney from the street stall near the station."
verb
1
To look at or watch something (British slang, from Romani/Polari).
"Vada the state of that queue."

How to use vada

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a fried South Asian snack, or old-fashioned British slang for "look."

Word forms

vadaed past tense, vada'd past tense, vadas plural, vadas singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “vada” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They ordered _____ and chutney from the street stall near the station.

Etymology

The food sense comes from Hindi वड़ा (vaṛā). The slang "to look" sense comes from Polari, the historic British slang associated with theatre and gay subculture.

Origin: Hindi

Rhymes for vada

See all rhymes for vada →

Frequently asked questions

What does “vada” mean?

The word “vada” means a savoury fried snack, shaped like a small doughnut or fritter, popular across South Asia. In plain terms, either a fried South Asian snack, or old-fashioned British slang for "look.".

How do you pronounce “vada”?

“Vada” is pronounced VAH-duh (/ˈvɑːdə/ in IPA).

How do you use “vada” in a sentence?

Here is “vada” used in a sentence: “They ordered vada and chutney from the street stall near the station.”

What part of speech is “vada”?

Depending on how it is used, “vada” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “vada” come from?

The word “vada” comes from Hindi. The food sense comes from Hindi वड़ा (vaṛā). The slang "to look" sense comes from Polari, the historic British slang associated with theatre and gay subculture.

How many meanings does “vada” have?

“Vada” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a savoury fried snack, shaped like a small doughnut or fritter, popular across South Asia.

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial