9 Common English Words Borrowed from Hindi

Apr 13, 2023, 15:04 IST

Wion Web Desk

Jungle

This English word is taken from the Hindi word 'jangal' and is used to describe s dense tropical forests. 

Cashmere

This word is used to describe shawls spun by Kashmiri craftsmen and is an old spelling of Kashmir. 

Juggernaut

The word juggernaut comes from the Hindi 'Jagannath' meaning 'lord of the world'. 

Thug

The English word thug traces its roots to Hindi, which means 'swindler' or 'deceiver'.  

Shampoo

In Britain, the term and concept were introduced by a Bengali trader, Sake Dean Mohamed, who, along with his wife, opened a shampooing bath in Brighton in 1814. 

Loot

The English word ‘loot’ has been borrowed from the Hindi word ‘lut’, which means to loot or to plunder. 

Bungalow

The English term bungalow originally derives from the Hindi word ‘bangla’ which meant houses constructed in the style of Bengal.

Chit

This English word that is said to have been borrowed from 'chitthi', which means a short note on a piece of paper.

Bangles

Derived from the Hindi word 'Bangri' which originally meant the coloured glass ring ornaments worn on the wrist by Indian women.

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