home

English Words of Indian Origin

Try to guess these English words which had their origin from various Indian languages
Quiz by
Hardaxe
Rate:
Last updated: February 22, 2022
You have not attempted this quiz yet.
More quiz info >>
First submittedApril 24, 2021
Times taken479
Average score32.3%
Rating3.50
Report this quizReport
Quiz and answer stats >>
Friends stats >>
6:00
Enter answer here
0
 / 31 guessed
The quiz is paused. You have remaining.
Scoring
You scored / = %
This beats or equals % of test takers also scored 100%
The average score is
Your high score is
Your fastest time is
Keep scrolling down for answers and more stats ...
Hint
Answer
Language
Descent of a deity from heaven or a popular Hollywood movie by James Cameron
Avatar
Sanskrit
Leaf or vine belonging to Piperceae family
Betel
Tamil
A small house or cottage that is either single-story or has a second story built into a sloping roof
Bungalow
Urdu
Crystallized sugar confectionery; Crush to get a popular game
Candy
Sanskrit
Physical form of currency i.e. paper notes or coin
Cash
Tamil
A multi-hulled watercraft featuring two parallel hulls of equal size or a pointed Indian boat often built with wood
Catamaran
Tamil
Spotted big cat found in Africa; fastest land mammal
Cheetah
Sanskrit
Fibrous material found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut
Coir
Tamil
Low wage labourer or indentured servant
Coolie
Tamil
Bedstead or portable bed
Cot
Tamil
Indian dishes made from spicy sauce
Curry
Tamil
A criminal from a band of robbers
Dacoit
Hindi
A fragrant spice which is a root tuber; Meow
Ginger
Tamil
Warehouse used for storage (Indian English)
Godown
Tamil
A spritual teacher, mentor or guide, one who is held in high regard
Guru
Sanskrit
Coarse Indian cane sugar
Jaggery
Tamil
A large chariot; metaphor for something unstoppable
Juggernaut
Sanskrit
Results of one's past actions; What goes around, comes around
Karma
Sanskrit
Tropical fruit with yellow juicy flesh and a single seed
Mango
Tamil
Small carnivorous mammal, often associated with snakes
Mongoose
Tamil
Spicy pepper water
Mulligatawny
Tamil
Transcendent state with no desire or suffering; associated with Buddha
Nirvana
Sanskrit
Popular citrus fruit or colour
Orange
Tamil
One who is despised or rejected; A social outcast
Pariah
Tamil
Large bird with an elaborate and ornamental tail
Peacock
Tamil
Learned scholar or an expert in a particular field
Pundit
Sanskrit
Loose leg garment worn at night
Pyjamas
Hindi
Applied to wash hair
Shampoo
Hindi
Tropical hardwood tree used to make furniture
Teak
Tamil
A three or four legged tea or coffee table
Teapoy
Hindi
A tropical cyclonic storm or a European fighter aircraft
Typhoon
Urdu
Save Your Stats
Your Next Quiz
US States Quiz
Name all 50 states in the USA. Easy, right?
Countries with the Biggest Economies by GDP
We made a list of the 20 countries that have the largest economies. How many can you name?
World Map Without 20 Random Countries
20 random countries have been removed from the map of the world! Can you identify them in 3 minutes?
Pin US States on a Borderless Map - Sudden Death
Drag the flag onto the correct state. Careful, though! One wrong move and the game ends.
5 Comments
stalintime
+7
Level 81
Feb 22, 2022
Hints could be better, if they are supposed to be related to the English usage of the word. For example, a bungalow's defining feature would be only having one storey rather than its size, and a pyjama's would be its use for sleeping rather than its fit. If the hints are intentionally supposed to be related to the original Indian meanings, specify in the description please.
QuizFace
+1
Level 61
Feb 22, 2022
Seconded.

Also, catamaran definition should be updated, catamarans are dual hulled boats with parallel hulls of equal size.

Hardaxe
+1
Level 71
Feb 22, 2022
Thanks for the feedback. Have tried to provide better and elaborate hints and updated revised definitions wherever required.
Jiaozira
+1
Level 72
Feb 24, 2022
Good quiz, I find etymologies very interesting and there's always words in English I don't think twice about which have far-flung origins.

Speaking of typhoon, I thought it originally came from Chinese languages? I looked up the etymology and the word seems to have travelled via Arabic and/or Portuguese (although they use the same word in Hindi/Urdu as in Arabic - "tufaan").

Neodymium
+1
Level 63
Sep 30, 2024
Areca would be better clue for betel
Copyright H Brothers Inc, 2008–2026
Contact Us | Go To Top | View Desktop Site | Site Map