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

Bhakti

भक्ति

BHUCK-tee

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

concept · Sanskrit

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

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

Dussehra

दशहरा

duh-SHEH-rah

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

festival · Sanskrit

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

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

Mantra

मंत्र

MUN-trah

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

concept · Sanskrit

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

Raksha Bandhan

रक्षा बंधन

RUCK-shah BUN-dun

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

festival · Sanskrit

Sari

साड़ी

SAH-ree

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

clothing · Sanskrit

Yoga

योग

YOH-gah

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

concept · Sanskrit