English Words from Hindi | 50 Words India Gave English

🔊 India-Specific

🇮🇳

English Words That Come from Hindi

50 English words borrowed from Hindi & Urdu — celebrate India’s gift to English!

🔤 50 Words 📋 5 Groups 🇮🇳 Hindi Guide 🎮 Quiz 📏 5 Rules

💡 Why Learn English Words That Come from Hindi?

Did you know that English borrowed hundreds of words from Hindi and Urdu? Words like ‘jungle’, ‘loot’, ‘avatar’, ‘shampoo’, and ‘bungalow’ are all Indian words that entered English during the British colonial period. They’re now used worldwide — India’s gift to the global language!

This is a pride page! Share it with your child to show that English isn’t just a foreign language — Indian languages helped BUILD it. These 50 words prove that Hindi and English are deeply connected. Your child will love discovering how many everyday English words are actually Indian!

🌳

Nature & Geography Words (10 Words)

jungle

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: JUNG-gul

🇮🇳 Hindi: जंगल → jungle

💡 From Hindi ‘jangal’ (जंगल) — forest!

“The tiger lives in the jungle.”

monsoon

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: mon-SOON

🇮🇳 Hindi: मौसम → monsoon

💡 From Arabic via Hindi ‘mausam’ (season)

“The monsoon brings heavy rains to India.”

typhoon

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: ty-FOON

🇮🇳 Hindi: तूफ़ान → typhoon

💡 From Hindi/Urdu ‘toofan’ (storm)

“A typhoon hit the coast.”

cheetah

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: CHEE-tuh

🇮🇳 Hindi: चीता → cheetah

💡 From Hindi ‘chita’ (spotted one)

“The cheetah is the fastest land animal.”

jackal

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: JAK-ul

🇮🇳 Hindi: गीदड़/शृगाल → jackal

💡 From Sanskrit ‘srigala’

“Jackals howl at night.”

mongoose

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: MONG-gooss

🇮🇳 Hindi: नेवला → mongoose (via Marathi)

💡 From Marathi ‘mangus’

“The mongoose fought the cobra.”

mandarin

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: MAN-duh-rin

🇮🇳 Hindi: मंत्री → mandarin

💡 From Hindi ‘mantri’ (minister/counselor)

“Mandarin oranges are sweet.”

indigo

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: IN-dih-goh

🇮🇳 Hindi: नील → indigo

💡 From Hindi/Sanskrit — ‘Indikon’ (from India!)

“Indigo dye comes from India.”

calico

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: KAL-ih-koh

🇮🇳 Hindi: कालीकट → calico

💡 Named after Calicut (Kozhikode) in Kerala!

“Calico fabric has a distinctive print.”

#10

jute

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: JOOT

🇮🇳 Hindi: जूट → jute

💡 From Bengali/Hindi ‘jhuto’

“Jute bags are eco-friendly.”

⚔️

Action & Crime Words (10 Words)

#11

loot

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: LOOT

🇮🇳 Hindi: लूट → loot

💡 From Hindi ‘lut’ (to rob/plunder)

“The pirates divided the loot.”

#12

thug

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: THUG

🇮🇳 Hindi: ठग → thug

💡 From Hindi ‘thag’ (a cheat/criminal)

“The thugs were arrested.”

#13

dacoit

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: duh-KOYT

🇮🇳 Hindi: डकैत → dacoit

💡 From Hindi ‘dakait’ (bandit)

“The dacoits robbed the village.”

#14

bandanna

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: ban-DAN-uh

🇮🇳 Hindi: बाँधना → bandanna

💡 From Hindi ‘bandhna’ (to tie)

“She wore a red bandanna.”

#15

cushy

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: KUSH-ee

🇮🇳 Hindi: ख़ुशी → cushy

💡 From Hindi/Urdu ‘khushi’ (pleasant/easy)

“He has a cushy office job.”

#16

guru

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: GOO-roo

🇮🇳 Hindi: गुरु → guru

💡 From Sanskrit ‘guru’ (teacher)

“He’s a tech guru.”

#17

avatar

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: AV-uh-tar

🇮🇳 Hindi: अवतार → avatar

💡 From Sanskrit ‘avatara’ (descent of a god)

“Choose your avatar for the game.”

#18

mantra

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: MAN-truh

🇮🇳 Hindi: मंत्र → mantra

💡 From Sanskrit ‘mantra’ (sacred utterance)

“‘Work hard’ is her daily mantra.”

#19

nirvana

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: nir-VAH-nuh

🇮🇳 Hindi: निर्वाण → nirvana

💡 From Sanskrit ‘nirvana’ (liberation)

“The spa was absolute nirvana.”

#20

karma

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: KAR-muh

🇮🇳 Hindi: कर्म → karma

💡 From Sanskrit ‘karma’ (action/deed)

“What goes around comes around — that’s karma!”

🏠

Home & Daily Life Words (10 Words)

#21

bungalow

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: BUNG-guh-loh

🇮🇳 Hindi: बंगला → bungalow

💡 From Hindi ‘bangla’ (Bengali-style house)

“We live in a bungalow.”

#22

verandah

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: vuh-RAN-duh

🇮🇳 Hindi: बरामदा → verandah

💡 From Hindi ‘baramda’ (covered porch)

“Sit on the verandah and enjoy the breeze.”

#23

shampoo

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: sham-POO

🇮🇳 Hindi: चम्पू → shampoo

💡 From Hindi ‘champo’ (to press/massage)

“Use shampoo to wash your hair.”

#24

cot

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: KOT

🇮🇳 Hindi: खाट → cot

💡 From Hindi ‘khat’ (small bed)

“The baby sleeps in a cot.”

#25

pyjamas

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: puh-JAH-muhz

🇮🇳 Hindi: पायजामा → pyjamas

💡 From Hindi/Urdu ‘paijama’ (leg garment)

“Wear your pyjamas to bed.”

#26

dungaree

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: dung-guh-REE

🇮🇳 Hindi: डूँगरी → dungaree

💡 From Hindi ‘dungri’ (coarse cloth)

“She wore blue dungarees.”

#27

chintz

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: CHINTS

🇮🇳 Hindi: छींट → chintz

💡 From Hindi ‘chhint’ (spotted cloth)

“The sofa has a chintz pattern.”

#28

cashmere

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: KAZH-meer

🇮🇳 Hindi: कश्मीर → cashmere

💡 Named after Kashmir region!

“This cashmere sweater is very soft.”

#29

cummerbund

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: KUM-er-bund

🇮🇳 Hindi: कमरबंद → cummerbund

💡 From Hindi ‘kamarband’ (waist-band)

“He wore a silk cummerbund.”

#30

khaki

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: KAH-kee

🇮🇳 Hindi: ख़ाकी → khaki

💡 From Hindi/Urdu ‘khaki’ (dust-coloured)

“School uniforms are often khaki.”

🍛

Food & Spice Words (10 Words)

#31

curry

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: KUH-ree

🇮🇳 Hindi: करी/कढ़ी → curry

💡 From Tamil ‘kari’ (sauce/gravy)

“Indian curry is famous worldwide.”

#32

chutney

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: CHUT-nee

🇮🇳 Hindi: चटनी → chutney

💡 From Hindi ‘chatni’ (condiment)

“Serve the samosa with green chutney.”

#33

pepper

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: PEP-er

🇮🇳 Hindi: पिप्पली → pepper

💡 From Sanskrit ‘pippali’ via Latin

“Add pepper for extra flavour.”

#34

sugar

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: SHUG-er

🇮🇳 Hindi: शर्करा → sugar

💡 From Sanskrit ‘sharkara’ (sweet)

“Don’t add too much sugar.”

#35

candy

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: KAN-dee

🇮🇳 Hindi: खाँड → candy

💡 From Hindi ‘khand’ (sugar)

“Don’t eat too much candy.”

#36

mango

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: MANG-goh

🇮🇳 Hindi: मैंगो ← आम (via Portuguese ‘manga’)

💡 From Tamil ‘mankay’ via Portuguese

“Mango is the king of fruits!”

#37

ginger

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: JIN-jer

🇮🇳 Hindi: अदरक → ginger

💡 From Sanskrit ‘srngaveram’ via Latin

“Add ginger to the tea.”

#38

rice

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: RYSS

🇮🇳 Hindi: From Tamil ‘arisi’ via Greek/Latin

💡 Via Old French, ultimately South Indian origin

“Indians eat rice daily.”

#39

toddy

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: TOD-ee

🇮🇳 Hindi: ताड़ी → toddy

💡 From Hindi ‘tari’ (palm drink)

“Toddy is made from palm sap.”

#40

punch

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: PUNCH

🇮🇳 Hindi: पाँच → punch

💡 From Hindi ‘panch’ (five) — 5 ingredients!

“The fruit punch has five flavours.”

🕉️

Spiritual & Cultural Words (10 Words)

#41

yoga

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: YOH-guh

🇮🇳 Hindi: योग → yoga

💡 From Sanskrit ‘yog’ (union)

“Yoga is practiced worldwide now.”

#42

mandala

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: MUN-duh-luh

🇮🇳 Hindi: मंडल → mandala

💡 From Sanskrit ‘mandala’ (circle)

“She drew a beautiful mandala.”

#43

chakra

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: CHUK-ruh / CHAK-ruh

🇮🇳 Hindi: चक्र → chakra

💡 From Sanskrit ‘chakra’ (wheel/circle)

“The body has seven chakras.”

#44

dharma

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: DAR-muh

🇮🇳 Hindi: धर्म → dharma

💡 From Sanskrit ‘dharma’ (duty/righteousness)

“Follow your dharma.”

#45

pundit

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: PUN-dit

🇮🇳 Hindi: पंडित → pundit

💡 From Hindi ‘pandit’ (scholar/expert)

“The cricket pundit predicted India’s win.”

#46

juggernaut

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: JUG-er-nawt

🇮🇳 Hindi: जगन्नाथ → juggernaut

💡 From ‘Jagannath’ (Lord of the Universe)

“Amazon is a corporate juggernaut.”

#47

swastika

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: SWOS-tih-kuh

🇮🇳 Hindi: स्वस्तिक → swastika

💡 From Sanskrit ‘svastika’ (auspicious)

“The swastika is an ancient Indian symbol.”

#48

dinghy

❌ Indians say: DING-ee

✅ Correct: DING-ee

🇮🇳 Hindi: डिंगी → dinghy

💡 From Hindi/Bengali ‘dingi’ (small boat)

“We crossed the river in a dinghy.”

#49

lemon

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: LEM-un

🇮🇳 Hindi: लिम्बू/नींबू → lemon

💡 From Hindi/Arabic ‘limun’

“Add lemon juice to the water.”

#50

bamboo

❌ Indians say: (correct!)

✅ Correct: bam-BOO

🇮🇳 Hindi: बाँस → bamboo (via Malay)

💡 From Malay, originally from Dravidian languages

“Bamboo grows very fast.”

📏 Rules & Patterns

Hindi/Urdu Words Entered English During British Rule

From 1600-1947, the British in India adopted hundreds of Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, and Sanskrit words into English.

jungle, loot, thug, bungalow, verandah, pyjamas, shampoo

Sanskrit Words via Religion & Philosophy

Many spiritual/philosophical words entered English from Sanskrit: yoga, karma, nirvana, avatar, dharma, mantra.

yoga, karma, nirvana, avatar, dharma, mantra, guru, chakra, mandala

Tamil & Southern Indian Contributions

Tamil and other South Indian languages gave English many words: curry, mango, rice, ginger, pepper, calico.

curry (Tamil kari), mango (Tamil mankay), rice (Tamil arisi), ginger, pepper

Trade & Fabric Words

India was a major textile exporter. Many fabric words are Indian: cashmere, chintz, dungaree, calico, khaki.

cashmere (Kashmir), chintz (chhint), dungaree (dungri), calico (Calicut), khaki

Words Indians Already Know!

The best part: you already know these words! They feel natural because they ARE your words. This page is about pride — India enriched the English language.

All 50 words on this page are India’s gift to English!

🎮 Quiz — Test Your Knowledge!

Question 1 of 10

‘Jungle’ comes from which language?

AEnglish

BFrench

CHindi (jangal)

Question 2 of 10

‘Shampoo’ originally meant:

ATo wash hair

BTo press/massage (champo)

CA type of soap

Question 3 of 10

‘Avatar’ is from:

AA Hollywood movie

BSanskrit (avatara = descent of god)

CJapanese

Question 4 of 10

‘Bungalow’ comes from:

AFrench ‘belle’

BHindi ‘bangla’ (Bengali house)

CGerman ‘bau’

Question 5 of 10

Which Indian word means ‘robbery’?

AThug

BLoot

CKarma

Question 6 of 10

‘Cashmere’ is named after:

AA person

BKashmir region

CA colour

Question 7 of 10

‘Punch’ (drink) comes from Hindi word for:

AHit

BFive (panch)

CSweet

Question 8 of 10

Which word comes from Tamil?

AJungle

BCurry (kari)

CThug

Question 9 of 10

‘Pyjamas’ comes from:

AGreek

BHindi/Urdu (paijama)

CFrench

Question 10 of 10

How many Hindi words are in English?

AAbout 10

BAbout 50

CHundreds!

🧠 Parent Tips

📅

One Word Per Day

Pick one word each morning. Use it in 3 sentences during the day. Consistent practice beats cramming!

🎯

Learn the Patterns

Don’t memorize each word separately — learn the rules above. Once you know “K before N = silent K”, you’ll get ALL those words right!

📺

Watch & Listen

English cartoons and movies help kids hear correct pronunciation naturally. Turn on subtitles so they connect spelling with sound.

💛

Encourage, Don’t Correct Harshly

Say “Actually, this word is said like…” gently. Never mock a child for mispronouncing — confidence matters more than perfection.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How did Hindi words enter English?

▼

During British rule in India (1600-1947), British traders, soldiers, and administrators adopted Hindi/Urdu words for things they didn’t have English words for: jungle, bungalow, verandah, monsoon, curry, shampoo.

How many Hindi words are in English?

▼

Hundreds! Some estimates say 500-1000 words from Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Sanskrit, and other Indian languages entered English. Many are so common (jungle, shampoo, yoga) that English speakers don’t know they’re Indian!

Which Indian language contributed the most words?

▼

Hindi/Urdu contributed the most everyday words (jungle, loot, thug, bungalow). Sanskrit contributed philosophical words (karma, yoga, nirvana). Tamil contributed food/trade words (curry, mango, rice).

Do Indians pronounce these words correctly?

▼

Usually better than native English speakers! Since these words originated in Indian languages, Indians naturally get the sounds right. The original Hindi pronunciation is usually close to the English version.

Why should kids learn about this?

▼

It builds pride! Many Indian children feel that English is a ‘foreign’ language. Learning that English borrowed heavily from Hindi, Tamil, and Sanskrit shows that it’s a shared language. India didn’t just learn English — India helped build it!

📚 All Pronunciation Guides — 50 Topics

English Words That Come from Hindi

💡 Why Learn English Words That Come from Hindi?

Nature & Geography Words (10 Words)

Action & Crime Words (10 Words)

Home & Daily Life Words (10 Words)

Food & Spice Words (10 Words)

Spiritual & Cultural Words (10 Words)

📏 Rules & Patterns

Hindi/Urdu Words Entered English During British Rule

Sanskrit Words via Religion & Philosophy

Tamil & Southern Indian Contributions

Trade & Fabric Words

Words Indians Already Know!

🎮 Quiz — Test Your Knowledge!

🧠 Parent Tips

One Word Per Day

Learn the Patterns

Watch & Listen

Encourage, Don’t Correct Harshly

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How did Hindi words enter English?

How many Hindi words are in English?

Which Indian language contributed the most words?

Do Indians pronounce these words correctly?

Why should kids learn about this?

📚 All Pronunciation Guides — 50 Topics

Silent Letters

Sound Patterns

By Topic

India-Specific

Word Types

Fun & Viral