These common Hindi words will help you navigate around Southern India. Can you think of anymore? Please submit them in a comment to this post.
Badam
- milk made with almonds
(sometimes pistachios) typically spiced
with cardamon and saffron
and sweetened with sugar
Chapati
- Round flat unleavened bread typically
used for scooping up food or dipping in soups
Chat
- Snacks
Chutney
- Spicy relish of vegetables or fruits
usually served as a side dish
Curd
- Fermented milk similar to yogurt
Curry
- Savory cooked dishes prepared with spices
Dal
- Lentils
Dosa
- Crispy crepes made from rice and lentils;
“Mysore masala dosa” when filled with vegetables
Dubbata
- A lightweight scarf worn by women
to cover their shoulders and/or head
Gungy
- White “meat” inside a coconut
Hotel
- Can refer to a restaurant
Idli
- Small round cakes made from steamed rice
and lentils often served for breakfast
Lassi
- A yogurt drink prepared sweet or salty
Masala
-Spice
Rickshaw
- 3 wheeled motorized “taxi”
with seating for 1-3 people
Roti
- A general term for bread
Salwar Kameez
- Long tunic top with matching
loose-fitting pants worn by women
Sambhar
- Hot and soupy lentils cooked with spices
Thali
- A meal typically with portions of rice, dal,
chapatis, vegetables, curd and a sweet
Tariff
- Rates
Uttapam
- Rice pancakes thicker than dosa
Vada
- Deep-fried lentil and rice doughnut
Wallah
- Street vendor
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
What a wonderful website. Makes one want to hop over there to India and begin a new life. Will be back often to see the new life I *could* have.
Lynda
Lovely website! And the lessons in local language – super! Keep it up. If you need any help with common words or small sentences in Kannada, please just ask. It is always good to know the local language.
Good luck and best wishes
PS: The Hindi illustration above – is pronounced CHAPTI. chapti means flat.
Thank you Anu! That’s exactly the kind of feedback I’m looking for. If you know of any other words that I could add, please let me know.
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