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

Chai

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

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

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

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

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

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

Round, unleavened Indian flatbread cooked on a hot griddle.

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