VOCABULARY
Aashcharya (aash-char-ya): Surprise
Achcha (a-chha): Good
Aradhana (Ar-rard-hana): A Sanskrit word meaning ‘an act of glorifying god’ – also a popular girls name
Ashirwad (Ash-ir-ward): Blessing
Baal (baal): Hair
Bacho (bach-ho): Child
Bayta (bay-ta): Son
Beetel (bee-tel): The beetel leaf which is chewed as a stimulant comes from the beetel palm
Beti (betty): Daughter
Bhabhi (bar-bi): Eldest sons wife
Bhajia (bha-jeea): Also known as pakoras - fried snack covered with batter that can be made with onions, potatoes or perhaps cauliflower florets
Bhaiya (bhai-ya): Elder brother
Bhindi (bin-dee): Little decorative sticker worn on the forehead between the eyes
Burfis (bur-fees): A sweet usually made with condensed milk and sugar
Bhuja (bhoo-jar): Crispy snacks
Cardamom (cardamom): A spice – also called Elaichi (eee-ly-chee) in Hindi
Chai (chai): Tea
Chai-wallah (chai-wall-ah): Chai = tea, wallah = person who performs a specific task
Chapatti (cha-pa-tees): Round flat bread
Chappals (chup-pals): Slip on shoes
Chandra (chan-dra): Moon
Chhutti (chuut-ee): Holiday
Cholay (choo-lay): Chickpea soup
Dahl (dahl): Cooked lentil soup
Dicky (dick-ee): An old British term referring to the boot of a car
Dil (dil): Heart
Divas (de-vis): Little clay lamps to light when worshipping
Doop (doop): Incense (usually in a small cone shape)
Dupatta (doo-par-tta): Shawl
Durrie (dhar-ree): Cotton mat
Gajara (ga-jara): Decorative flower clip
Gana (ghar-na): Song
Ghar (ghar): House
Gulab (goo-lab): Rose (Gulab Jaman is a sweet dessert)
Haan (haan): Yes
Halwa (hul-wah): Semolina based pudding
Hasi (huss-ee): Laugh
Hindi (hin-dee): Indian language
Hindu (hin-doo): Indian religion
Hunaman (Hun-nu-man): God of strength, wisdom, peace of mind and knowledge
Jaldi (jal-dee): Quickly
Jalebis (jaa-lay-bees): Orange coloured sweet that is usually in a spiral shape
Jashan (ja-shan): Party
Jaman (ja-mun): Tree native to India (Gulab jaman is a sweet dessert)
Jeevan (jee-van): Life (Can be a persons name)
Ji (gee): Added to the end a persons title as a sign of respect
Karma (kar-ma): An act or deed – what goes around comes around
Khazana (kha-zarna): Treasure
Kheer (kheer): Sweet rice pudding
Khushi (khush-ee): Happy
Kulcha (kul-cha): Type of roti bread that is fried in oil
Kulfi (kul-fee): Indian ice-cream
Kurta (kurr-ta): Men’s pants and top suit
Ladoos (la-doos): Golf ball sized sweets traditionally made with chana (chickpea) flour
Lakshmi (luck-shme): Beautiful goddess of wealth, love and light with four arms
Lal (laal): Red
Lassi (lass-ee): Whipped yoghurt smoothie drink
Lardakaa (lard-a-kaa): Boy
Lardakee (lard-a-kee): Girl
Mandir (man-deer): Temple
Mantras (man-tras): Prayers recited
Matri (mut-tree): A savoury snack that is shaped like a biscuit
Mendhi (men-dee): Henna
Memsab (mem-sab): Madam
Naan (narn): Bread this is thick like a pita, quite often flavoured with garlic.
Namaste (Naa-ma-stay): A salutation, greetings, hello – literal meaning is ‘I bow to you’
Paan (paan): The name of the beetel leaf once it’s ready to be sold as a stimulant.
Pakana (par-khana): Cooked
Paneer (paa-near): Homemade cheese
Pani (paa-nee): Water
Paranthas (par-ran-thas): Flaky pastry type of roti
Pashmina (pash-meena): Cashmere shawl/scarf
Pariwar (par-ree-wah): Family
Peon (pee-on): Servant
Phul (ful): Flower
Pinnis (pin-nees): Ball shaped sweets made with wheat flour, sugar, ghee etc
Prasad (pra-sard): A substance that is offered to a god in Hinduism, then consumed
Punka-wallah (pan-kha wall-aah): Punka = A fan (a large rectangular object that is attached to the ceiling and requires a person to pull a rope to make it work, wallah = person who performs a specific task (i.e. pulls the rope to move the fan)
Pyiar (pee-yar): Heart
Puja (poo-jaa): Worship/prayers
Raja (rar-ja): King
Raajkumaari (raj-koo-marree): Princess
Rajakumar (raja-koo-marr): Prince
Rangoli (ran-go-lee): Decorative designs that relate to religion
Rani (raa-nee): Queen
Roti (ro-tee): Flat round bread
Saal (saal): Year
Salwar Kameez (sal-waar ka-meez): Pant and top suit set
Sari (sa-ree): Traditional Indian women’s clothing made from a long length of cloth and a small bodice top
Shaadi (shar-dee): Marriage
Shanti (Sharn-tee): Peace
Shuu-shuu (shoo-shoo): Childhood words for needing the toilet
Subji (sub-gee): Cooked vegetables ready to eat
Sundar (suun-dar): Beautiful
Suraj (sur-arj): Sun
Swaagat (swaa-get): Welcome
Tawa (ta-wah): Heavy black cooking utensil, similar to a frying pan with no sides
Tiffian (tiff-in): Tiffian refers to a small meal – Tiffian carrier is a round metal lunch container
Teohar (tee-o-har): Festival
Vyakti (ve-yak-tee): An individual, a person