MG Wordbook

Canonical English spellings of Indian and Hinglish words — with native script, pronunciation and meaning. Curated alongside the daily crossword.

Category: All Arts Clothing Concept Festival Food General Geography

Origin: All Arabic Bengali English Hindi Kannada Malayalam Marathi Persian Portuguese Punjabi Sanskrit Tamil

Ahimsa

अहिंसा

uh-HIM-sah

Non-violence or non-injury, an ethical principle in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist traditions.

concept · Sanskrit

Avatar

अवतार

AV-uh-tar

Bodily descent or incarnation of a deity in Hindu thought.

concept · Sanskrit

Babu

बाबू

BAH-boo

Indian English term for a clerk or low-level bureaucrat — sometimes mildly pejorative.

general · Bengali

Bengaluru

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು

BENG-uh-loo-roo

Capital of Karnataka and India's technology capital; called Bangalore in English until 2014.

geography · Kannada

Bhakti

भक्ति

BHUCK-tee

Loving devotion to a personal god — a major strand of Hindu religious practice.

concept · Sanskrit

Bhangra

ਭੰਗੜਾ

BHUNG-rah

High-energy Punjabi folk dance, also a globally popular music genre.

arts · Punjabi

Bharat

भारत

BHAH-rut

Indigenous Sanskrit name for India, used officially alongside "India".

geography · Sanskrit

Bindi

बिंदी

BIN-dee

Decorative mark or jewel worn on the forehead, traditionally by Hindu women.

general · Sanskrit

Biryani

बिरयानी

bir-YAH-nee

Fragrant layered rice dish with meat or vegetables, slow-cooked with whole spices.

food · Persian

Bollywood

BOL-lee-wood

Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai — the largest in India by output and reach.

arts · English

Chai

चाय

CHYE

Indian tea, usually brewed strong with milk, sugar and spices.

food · Hindi

Dharma

धर्म

DHAR-mah

Moral and natural law — duty, righteousness, and the right way to live.

concept · Sanskrit

Dhoti

धोती

DHOH-tee

Traditional Indian men's garment — a long unstitched cloth wrapped around the waist and legs.

clothing · Sanskrit

Diwali

दिवाली

dee-VAH-lee

Hindu festival of lights celebrated across India and the South Asian diaspora.

festival · Sanskrit

Dosa

தோசை

DOH-sah

Thin, crisp South Indian crêpe made from fermented rice and lentil batter.

food · Tamil

Dussehra

दशहरा

duh-SHEH-rah

Hindu festival marking Rama's victory over the demon king Ravana.

festival · Sanskrit

Eid

عید

EED

Either of two major Muslim festivals — Eid al-Fitr after Ramadan, or Eid al-Adha at Hajj.

festival · Arabic

Filmi

फिल्मी

FIL-mee

Adjective: in the style of a Bollywood film — melodramatic, song-and-dance, larger than life.

general · Hindi

Ghee

घी

GHEE

Clarified butter — Indian cooking fat with a high smoke point and nutty flavour.

food · Sanskrit

Guru

गुरु

GOO-roo

Spiritual teacher, mentor or master in Indian religious tradition.

concept · Sanskrit

Hindustan

हिंदुस्तान

HIN-doos-tan

Historical Persian-derived name for the Indian subcontinent or for North India.

geography · Persian

Holi

होली

HOH-lee

Hindu spring festival of colours marking the triumph of good over evil.

festival · Sanskrit

Karma

कर्म

KAR-mah

Action and its moral consequence — a foundational concept in Indian religions.

concept · Sanskrit

Kolkata

কলকাতা

kohl-KAH-tah

Capital of West Bengal and former British Indian capital; called Calcutta until 2001.

geography · Bengali

Kurta

कुर्ता

KOOR-tah

Loose, collarless tunic worn by men and women across South Asia.

clothing · Persian

Lassi

लस्सी

LUH-see

Punjabi yoghurt drink, blended sweet or salted and chilled.

food · Punjabi

Lehenga

लहंगा

leh-HUN-gah

Long, full Indian skirt, usually worn with a fitted blouse and dupatta for festive occasions.

clothing · Hindi

Mantra

मंत्र

MUN-trah

Sacred sound, syllable or phrase repeated to focus the mind or invoke power.

concept · Sanskrit

Mehndi

मेहंदी

MEHN-dee

Temporary body art made by applying a paste of crushed henna leaves to the skin.

arts · Hindi

Memsahib

मेमसाहिब

MEM-sah-hib

Respectful Indian English term of address for a European or upper-class lady — historically colonial.

general · Hindi

Mumbai

मुंबई

mum-BYE

Capital of Maharashtra and India's largest city; called Bombay until 1995.

geography · Marathi

Naan

नान

NAHN

Soft, leavened flatbread traditionally baked in a tandoor (clay oven).

food · Persian

Namaste

नमस्ते

nuh-muh-STAY

Traditional Indian greeting, performed with palms joined at the chest and a slight bow.

concept · Sanskrit

Navratri

नवरात्रि

nuv-RAH-tree

Nine-night Hindu festival honouring the goddess Durga in her nine forms.

festival · Sanskrit

Nirvana

निर्वाण

neer-VAH-nah

Liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth in Buddhist and Hindu thought.

concept · Sanskrit

Onam

ഓണം

OH-num

Ten-day harvest festival of Kerala welcoming the mythical king Mahabali.

festival · Malayalam

Paneer

पनीर

puh-NEER

Fresh, unaged Indian cheese — the vegetarian protein of the north.

food · Persian

Pongal

பொங்கல்

POHN-gul

Tamil four-day harvest festival, also the name of the sweet rice dish cooked for it.

festival · Tamil

Pukka

पक्का

PUH-kuh

Genuine, solid, properly made — an Indian English adjective meaning "the real deal".

general · Hindi

Punjab

ਪੰਜਾਬ

pun-JAHB

Region of the northwest subcontinent, divided in 1947 between India and Pakistan.

geography · Persian

Raksha Bandhan

रक्षा बंधन

RUCK-shah BUN-dun

Hindu festival where sisters tie a protective thread (rakhi) on their brothers' wrists.

festival · Sanskrit

Roti

रोटी

ROH-tee

Round, unleavened Indian flatbread cooked on a hot griddle.

food · Hindi

Salwar

सलवार

sul-VAR

Loose, pleated trousers worn across South Asia, usually as the bottom half of a salwar-kameez.

clothing · Persian

Samosa

समोसा

suh-MOH-sah

Deep-fried savoury pastry filled with spiced potatoes, peas or meat.

food · Persian

Sari

साड़ी

SAH-ree

Draped Indian garment for women, a single length of cloth wrapped around the body.

clothing · Sanskrit

Sitar

सितार

sih-TAR

Long-necked plucked string instrument, the iconic sound of Hindustani classical music.

arts · Persian

Tabla

तबला

TUB-lah

Pair of small hand drums central to Hindustani classical and popular music.

arts · Persian

Vindaloo

विंदालू

vin-dah-LOO

Goan curry of meat marinated in vinegar, garlic and chillies — usually fiery.

food · Portuguese

Wallah

वाला

WAH-lah

Suffix or noun meaning "the one who does X" — the chai-wallah, rickshaw-wallah, etc.

general · Hindi

Yoga

योग

YOH-gah

Indian system of physical, mental and spiritual disciplines aimed at union of self with the divine.

concept · Sanskrit