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.
"I bought a tea and a potato vada, and sat under a banyan tree to eat."
— Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger (2008)
"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 notesIn plain EnglishEither a fried South Asian snack, or old-fashioned British slang for "look."
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like vada.
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
- vadas
- Third person singular
- vadas
- Past tense
- vadaed, vada'd
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.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
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
Vocabulary lists that include vada:
