More about the Indian Retail Market
In 2006 AT Kearney’s Global Retail Development Index ranked Asia as the region with the most promising prospects. Among 30 emerging countries worldwide, India ranked number one and China ranked number five.
India’s retail sector is quite fragmented with the top five retailers accounting for less than 2 percent of the $350 billion market, one of the ten largest in the world. There are over four million retail outlets in the country with one million located in urban areas.
Single-brand foreign retailers can now own 51% of an India operation. Indian and foreign companies are making highly ambitious plans for large multi-brand retail operations.
Foreign retailers entered China some years ago and today about 45 companies from Japan, Korea and the West operate in the country.
Carrefour has announced hopes of setting up large stores under its "Market" banner and perhaps 30 convenience stores under the Carrefour express banner in India.
As of 2009, India had 37 publicly-traded retail companies. The largest Indian companies are led by Pantaloon (which owns Big Bazaar, Food Bazaar and Pantaloon's chains) with sales exceeding $2 billion. Other leaders are Shoppers Stop and Vishal Retail. Spencers, Reliance, More and others are active as well.
Our Services
Amritt’s go-to-market service for Asia helps with developing and executing roadmaps to expand your presence:
Sample Word: Karta
Head of Household (literally "the one who does")
Sample Word: 2 by 4
Two divided by Four
Sample Word: 2 into four
Two times four
Sample Word: Aao Jo
Goodbye (in Gujarati)
Sample Word: ABCD
American Born Confused Desi; a pejorative term for 2nd generation Indians in USA
Sample Word: Achchaa!
Okay (from Hindi); Good
Sample Word: Aeroplane
Airplane
Sample Word: Alloh
Hello (when answering the phone)
Sample Word: Almari
Cupboard, cabinet, sometimes closet; also called "almirah"
Sample Word: Almirah
Cupboard, cabinet, sometimes closet; also called "almari"
Sample Word: Amma
In north India, mother; in south India, female (kid or adult)
Sample Word: Annexure
Appendix, "Please look at Annexure B of our report for financials"
Sample Word: Ans.
Answer (abbreviation)
Sample Word: At the rate of
@, At (for email addresses) (my email is jay at the rate of aol.com)
Sample Word: Auto
Auto-rickshaw, - a three wheeler open taxi (tuk-tuk)
Sample Word: Babu
Bureaucrat, clerk, sometimes boss
Sample Word: Babu English
Pejorative for grammatically incorrect English written by a fellow Indian
Sample Word: Back
Ago, as in "We met three days back."
Sample Word: Badmash
See hooligan
Sample Word: Balance Sheet, left side
Where liabilites are recorded, NOT assets
Sample Word: Balance Sheet, right side
Where Assets are recorded, not Liabilities
Sample Word: Balti
Bucket; also a type of cuisine (balti chicken)
Sample Word: Bandh
General strike, where commerical establishments may be shut down
Sample Word: Bapu
Literally father, often refers to Mahatma Gandhi, the "Father of India."
Sample Word: Batchmate
Classmate
Sample Word: Batch-mate
Classmate
Sample Word: Berra
Waiter (also baira)
Sample Word: Bhaiya
Man, dude; literally brother
Sample Word: Black money
Also "black"; money that is untaxed and undocumented to the government
Sample Word: Board
Signboard or sign; see also hoarding
Sample Word: Bogey
Coach, in a passenger train
Sample Word: Bonnet
Hood (of an automobile)
Sample Word: Boot
Trunk (of automobile)
Sample Word: Bowled
Knocked out, from cricket
Sample Word: Brinjal
Eggplant;(Hindi word is Baingan)
Sample Word: Broking
Brokerage (from the British)
Sample Word: Brother
May be a brother, or cousin; see real brother
Sample Word: Bungalow
Any big house, typically with a verandah, driveway and walled front yard
Sample Word: Bunk
(verb), to avoid classes in school
Sample Word: Bus!
That's it (from Hindi)
Sample Word: By
/, the symbol referred to as slash; divided by; see also "1 by 2"
Sample Word: C.A.
Chartered Accountant, like a CPA in the USA
Sample Word: Calling card
Business card (see also visiting card)
Sample Word: Car Park
Parking lot
Sample Word: Cash Memo
Receipt in a retail store
Sample Word: Cent Percent
100 percent
Sample Word: Chaat
Spicy fresh snack foods
Sample Word: Chaprasi
Messenger (from Hindi)
Sample Word: Chawl
Tenement, see also kholi
Sample Word: Chennai
The new name for Madras, a major Southern City
Sample Word: Cheque
Check (as in a bank check)
Sample Word: Chowk
Urban square, market, major intersection
Sample Word: Chuddies
see Chaddies
Sample Word: Ciggy
Slang for cigarette
Sample Word: Cinema
Movie, or movie theater
Sample Word: Cinema Hall
Movie Theater
Sample Word: Co-brother
For a married man, his wife sister's husband; used most often in South India
Sample Word: Colony
Neighborhood or American sub-division; "I grew up in Nehru Colony""
Sample Word: Come again
Please repeat what you said, I did not understand you the first time.
Sample Word: Con Call
Conference phone call, usually at a pre-arranged time
Sample Word: Corporate
Company; "A large corporate in Delhi is interested in hiring my brother"
Sample Word: Cousin brother
Cousin, male
Sample Word: Cousin sister
Cousin, female
Sample Word: Crore
Ten million (also see "lakh")
Sample Word: Current came
The power came back on
Sample Word: Daru
Booze, sometimes written as daaru
Sample Word: Daaru
Booze, sometimes written as daru
Sample Word: Deadly
Intense (slang)
Sample Word: Degree holder
Someone who has a degree (diploma) from the equivalent of a 4-year college
Sample Word: Dekko
To take a look, to examine, to watch out of curiousity; from Hindi dekho "to see"
Sample Word: Departmental store
Any self-service shop, even if small
Sample Word: Dhall
Lentils, typically a source of protein, cooked as a soup/gravy
Sample Word: Dickey
Trunk (of automobile)
Sample Word: District
County, in local government
Sample Word: DM
District Magistrate; the senior most local government official at the county level
Sample Word: Donkey's years
A long time
Sample Word: Dosa
South Indian crepe, often filled with potatos, eaten as a snack
Sample Word: Dress
Outfit, clothing (for men or for women)
Sample Word: Eggetarian
A vegetarian who also eats eggs and egg products
Sample Word: Eleven number bus
Slang for walking
Sample Word: Email ID
Email Address; "Please give me your Email ID"
Sample Word: EMI
Equal Monthly Instalments; a level payment plan to repay capital or revolving loans
Sample Word: Engaged
Busy (for a telephone line); "I gave you a tinkle but your number, was engaged"
Sample Word: Fag
Slang for cigarette
Sample Word: FD
Fixed Deposit, same as a CD or Certificate of Deposit at a US bank
Sample Word: Filter Coffee
Brewed Coffee as opposed to instant coffee
Sample Word: Fired
Chastised (not removed from job)
Sample Word: First floor
The second floor of a multi-storey building, see ground floor
Sample Word: Scheme
Plan, project; (no negative connotation)
Sample Word: Scooter
Sometimes used in North India to refer to a scooter-rickshaw taxi; also "auto".
Sample Word: Seniors
More experienced employees (or students); NOT old people
Sample Word: Sexy
Extremely cool, slick
Sample Word: Shri
Also Shree, meaning Mister, Mr.
Sample Word: Shrimati
Mrs., also written as Srimati or Sreemati (see also Shri)
Sample Word: Sit
To have an office "I sit in London and Delhi."
Sample Word: Six by three or six upon three
Six divided by three
Sample Word: Sixer
Home run, slang from cricket
Sample Word: Sleeper
Cross-tie, as in the cross member that connect railroad tracks
Sample Word: Slow
Soft; "Please speak slow."
Sample Word: Speak in english
Speak English
Sample Word: Specs
Spectacles, glasses
Sample Word: Speed-breaker
Road bump
Sample Word: Stand for election
Run for elective office
Sample Word: Standard
School year / grade - "My son is in sixth standard."
Sample Word: Status family
Rich people
Sample Word: Stay
Usually used instead of live "Where do you stay in Chicago?"
Sample Word: STD
Long-distance phone call, Subscriber Trunk Dialling.
Sample Word: Studio
Photo studio
Sample Word: Take
Means "consume" when used with food or drink items. "Take a cold drink, please."
Sample Word: Tea
Hot tea, often served with milk and sugare pre-mixed; unless you specify in advance
Sample Word: Tehsil
A subdivision of a county
Sample Word: Telecon
Telephone conference, or business telephone call
Sample Word: Thali
Dinner plate, often made of Stainless Steel; see also Thali meal
Sample Word: Thali meal
All you can eat "prixe-fixe" usually at mid-priced restaurant.
Sample Word: Tieup
Joint Venture; agreement to work together
Sample Word: Tie-up
Joint Venture; agreement to work together
Sample Word: Tiffin
Meal, specially a short meal or one that you carry with you
Sample Word: Tiffin carrier
Lunch Box; lunch pail
Sample Word: Tinkle
Phone Call; "Give me a tinkle next time you are in town and we can meet."
Sample Word: Toilet
Restroom, see also W.C.
Sample Word: Too good
Very good; "Your presentation today was too good."
Sample Word: Tyre
Automobile tire
Sample Word: Under root
Square root, in mathematics
Sample Word: Upgradation
Process of applying an upgrade
Sample Word: Use and throw
Disposable
Sample Word: Vela
To have free time. (in Southern India)
Sample Word: Vernac
Provincial; culturally backward, or unrefined (from "vernacular")
Sample Word: Vide
Refer to; "You owe us $32,570 vide Invoice Number 3275/F."
Sample Word: Visiting card
Business card (see also calling card")"
Sample Word: Waah!
Wow! (from Hindi)
Sample Word: WC
Water Closet, ie toilet
Sample Word: Windscreen
Windshield (of automobile)
Sample Word: Wine
Can mean aloholic liquor; you may not find any Chablis at a wine shop!
Sample Word: Works
(noun) factory, plant
Sample Word: Yaar
Friend, amigo, buddy (slang, Hindi), also written as yar
Sample Word: Yallow
Hello (when answering the phone)
Sample Word: Yankland
Pejorative for USA
Sample Word: Yesterday night
Last night
Sample Word: Your good name please?
What is your name?
Sample Word: Zed
Zee (the last letter of the alphabet)
Sample Word: Fly
"and family"; often seen on group tickets; "Mr Singh, Mrs Singh and 2 fly."
Sample Word: Football
Soccer; American football is not played in India
Sample Word: Freak Out
Let's have fun (slang)
Sample Word: French beard
A goatee
Sample Word: Fresher
Freshman; first year student, new employee, inexperienced worker
Sample Word: Full stop
Period, at the end of a sentence
Sample Word: Ghee
Clarified butter, often used as a cooking medium
Sample Word: Godman
Pejorative word for a person who who claims to have supernatural powers
Sample Word: Godrej
Steel almirah; after the brand name of a leading India company
Sample Word: Goggles
Sunglasses, also swimming goggles
Sample Word: Governor
A non-executive, appointed head for a province or state; see Chief Minister
Sample Word: Gratuity
Payment for meritorious service (not identical with a tip)
Sample Word: Ground floor
First floor of a multi-storey building; see first floor
Sample Word: Haina
Isn't it. (used it as a confirmatory filler at the end of a sentence).
Sample Word: Half-pants
Shorts; for knickerbockers; also "nekar"
Sample Word: Half-ticket
Reduced price ticket, for a child, senior, or other special category
Sample Word: Hash
#, ie the pound symbol
Sample Word: Hat trick
Three in a row, from cricket
Sample Word: Healthy
In North India, refers to fat people, but not pejoratively
Sample Word: Hero
In a movie, leading man or male star
Sample Word: Heroine
In a movie, leading woman
Sample Word: High Tech
Stylish (used in reference to attire, for example)
Sample Word: History sheeter
Person with a long history of violations or crimes
Sample Word: Hoarding
Billboard
Sample Word: Hockey
Field hockey, played on grass with a ball and hockeysticks; NOT "ice hockey"
Sample Word: Hooligan
Hoodlum, unruly person
Sample Word: Hotel
Eating establishment, restaurant
Sample Word: I am understanding it
I have already understood.
Sample Word: IAS
Indian Administrative Service; the elite civil service cadre that runs the country
Sample Word: Iddly
In South India, steamed rice/lentil patty, traditionally eaten at breakfast
Sample Word: Idli
In South India, steamed rice/lentil patty, traditionally eaten at breakfast
Sample Word: Indent
(noun) purchase order, or official requistion for goods or services
Sample Word: Intimate you
Inform you
Sample Word: Invigilator
Monitor, as in an administered test or examination
Sample Word: Jangal
Jungle, forest; jungle actually originated in Hindi
Sample Word: Jao
Please go (from Hindi)
Sample Word: Jawan
Soldier, as in "private" in USA
Sample Word: Keep
Pejorative for mistress (noun)
Sample Word: Kem Cho
How are you, in Gujarati
Sample Word: Kholi
In Mumbai, tenement; see also chawl
Sample Word: Kolkata
The new name for Calcutta, a large city in East India
Sample Word: Lac
Hundred Thousand (see Crore)
Sample Word: Lacuna
Gap, shortcoming, failing
Sample Word: Ladyfinger
Okra, a vegetable; bhindi
Sample Word: Lady's finger
Okra, a vegetable; bhindi
Sample Word: Lakh
Hundred Thousand (see Crore)
Sample Word: Lift
Ride; "Can you please give me a lift to the airport? The bus is running late."
Sample Word: Maane
What I mean is (from Hindi)
Sample Word: Madam
Respectful term for women - same as Ma'am
Sample Word: Mama
Maternal uncle, also street talk for "cop"
Sample Word: Marks
Points; "He received 92% marks on the exam."
Sample Word: Matlab
What I mean is (from Hindi)
Sample Word: Matter
Material, content. "Please give me the matter for your website"
Sample Word: MD
Managing Director, equivalent of CEO; (physicians are called MBBS)
Sample Word: Meat
Any food of animal origin (chicken, pork, lamb, fish, etc)
Sample Word: Memsaab
see memsahib
Sample Word: Messrs.
For a corporation e.g. Messr Procter & Gamble
Sample Word: Miscreants
People up to no good; petty criminals;
Sample Word: Mixie
Grinder, blender
Sample Word: Mobile
Cell Phone; "I left my mobile at home."
Sample Word: Mother Tongue
Native language; I live in Delhi but my mother tongue is Oriya
Sample Word: Mumbai
The new name for Bombay; the natives always called it Mumbai
Sample Word: Nahin
No, from Hindi
Sample Word: Namaskar
See namaste
Sample Word: Namaste
A greeting, literally "I respect you", see also "namaskar".
Sample Word: Near and Dear
Friends and family
Sample Word: Needful
Whatever is needed to be done (I will do the needful)
Sample Word: Nekar
Shorts; for knickerbockers; also "nikkar"
Sample Word: NGO
Non-governmental organization, usually in reference to private non-profit groups
Sample Word: Nikkar
Shorts; for knickerbockers; also "nekar"
Sample Word: Note
Bill of currency; I will give you a hundred rupee note
Sample Word: NRI
Non-resident Indian, an Indian citizen residing overseas
Sample Word: Nursing home
Small private hospital, usually owned by a physican; NOT a retirement home
Sample Word: Obsequies
Funeral rituals
Sample Word: Off it
Switch it Off
Sample Word: Offs
Holiday or vacation day (days that I am off)
Sample Word: On it
Switch it On
Sample Word: Oof!
Show distress or frustation (ugh)
Sample Word: Open
Switch on (Open the airconditioner please)
Sample Word: PTO
Please turn over (annotation at the bottom of a page to indicate further content)
Sample Word: Parallely
In parallel (simultaneously in time)
Sample Word: Passed out
Graduated (from college)
Sample Word: Passout
To graduate, to complete education, "I am a 1996 passout from Delhi University."
Sample Word: Peon
Unskilled office helper
Sample Word: Pet name
Nick name. "My brother is Krishna, but we gave him the pet name Kris."
Sample Word: Petrol pump
Gas station
Sample Word: PIN code
Postal Code, (PIN= Postal Index Number);
Sample Word: Pindrop silence
Literaly absolute silence
Sample Word: Plinth
Built up area, in real estate
Sample Word: Postgraduate
Graduate, a student pursuing education beyond a bachelor's degree
Sample Word: Prepone
Move it earlier (as opposed to post - postpone)
Sample Word: Public School
A prestigious (and very private) school; similar to Brtish public schools.
Sample Word: Puncture
Flat (for an automobile tire)
Sample Word: Pune
The new name for Poona, near Mumbai (which see)
Sample Word: Purse
Purse, or wallet for a man or woman
Sample Word: Pyjama
Loose pants worn by men in North India, not just for sleeping
Sample Word: Ragging
Hazing, harrasment of new students by seniors
Sample Word: Raise an invoice
Create an invoice
Sample Word: Real Brother
Brother; as distinct from a cousin or "cousin brother".
Sample Word: Regularise
Legitmize
Sample Word: Rest house
See "dak bungalow"
Sample Word: Revert
Get back to you (by phone or email); "Give me a week to revert to you."
Sample Word: Ring
Phone call. "Give me a ring tomorrow."
Sample Word: Rubber
Eraser (not condom)
Sample Word: Have, have!
exhortation to eat/drink something offered to a guest
Sample Word: Chemist
pharmacist, see also druggist
Sample Word: Druggist
pharmacist, see also chemist
Sample Word: Local
suburban train (in Mumbai)
Sample Word: Maggu
bookish person, one who studies a lot, someone who memorizes answers
Sample Word: Vanaspati
of vegetable/vegetarian origin; vanaspati oil
Sample Word: Roti
bread; see also double-roti
Sample Word: Double-roti
sandwich bread
Sample Word: Forename
first name, see also christian name
Sample Word: Christian name
first name, see also forename and surname
Sample Word: Surname
last name, see also forename and christian name
Sample Word: Dekho
To take a look, to examine, to watch out of curiosity; from Hindi, see also dekko
Sample Word: Mufti
off duty clothes of someone who wears a uniform at work (from British Indian Army)
Sample Word: Throws up
causes, bring up; (" Arabian Sea throws up cyclonic circulation")
Sample Word: Throw up
bring up, cause to happen,
Sample Word: Jai
Hail (salutation); such as Jai Ganesh (to a god) or Jai Hind (to the country)
Sample Word: Stand
trade show booth/exhibit
Sample Word: Crockery
chinaware; fragile dishes
Sample Word: Cabin
office, cubicle
Sample Word: Pukka
solid, real, permanent, the real thing (also spelled pucca); literally means ripe
Sample Word: Pucca
solid, real, the real thing (also spelled pukka); literally means ripe
Sample Word: Pphutt
broken, stopped working, literally torn;
Sample Word: Chamcha
Sycophant (slang), a person who is a "suck-up"; literally a large spoon or ladle
Sample Word: Sub
everything (from Hindi)
Sample Word: Handle
handlebar of bicycle, steering wheel of car
Sample Word: Into
multiplied by; see 2 into 4
Sample Word: PFA
Please find attached (abbreviation often used as part of an email)
Sample Word: Franked
verb, the acting of applying metered postage, using a "franking" machine
Sample Word: Franking machine
postage meter
Sample Word: Pay-in slip
deposit slip (at a bank)
Sample Word: Averagely
on the average
Sample Word: Cowdung
cow chips, used as fertilizer, and as fuel for village fires
Sample Word: Bitiya
daughter, child
Sample Word: Stockist
a dealer or retailer who maintains inventory of a particular item
Sample Word: Tubelight
flourescent light
Sample Word: White goods
in retail: major appliances (and not linens as in United States)
Sample Word: Baap Re!
an exclamation of surprise, literally "Oh daddy!"
Sample Word: Vakalatnaama
affidavit, power of attorney
Sample Word: Sri
Also Shree, Shri, meaning Mister, Mr.
Sample Word: Yar
Friend, amigo, buddy (slang, Hindi), also written as yaar
Sample Word: Corpus
amount, sum of money
Sample Word: Typical
unusual, different (ie the opposite of the American meaning);
Sample Word: Masjid
mosque (an Islamic place of worship)
Sample Word: PSU
public-sector undertaking, a company where owned by the government
Sample Word: Gora
slang for "white" person, foreigner,
Sample Word: NCR
the tri-state area surrounding New Delhi; the National Capital Region
Sample Word: Resp.
respected (used as form of address in a letter or email, such as Resp. Dr. Joy)
Sample Word: Fagged out
tired, exhausted
Sample Word: Smt.
Shrimati, Mrs., also written as Srimati or Sreemati
Sample Word: Cr.
Crore (ten million); "This plot of land costs 4 Cr rupees"
Sample Word: Hutment
a group of huts or makeshift dwellings, often in a slum area
Sample Word: Boring
drilling, as in drilling underground for water as part of new construction
Sample Word: Asli
authentic, real
Sample Word: Badla
in stock market: buying on margin; literally "exchange" or even "revenge"
Sample Word: Benami
anonymous; often used to describe (illegal) anonymous property transactions
Sample Word: Berth
place; sleeper seat on train;
Sample Word: Bisleri
bottled water; after the brand name of a popular beverage company
Sample Word: Bullet
brand name of a popular motorcycle from Royal Enfield
Sample Word: Capsicum
bell pepper
Sample Word: Chowkidar
watchman; literally one who guards the courtyard or chowki.
Sample Word: Coir
fiber made from coconut husk;
Sample Word: Corporator
elected official in city government, similar to councilman
Sample Word: Creche
daycare center for infants
Sample Word: Cum
in combination, such as sofa-cum-bed or ticket-cum-reservation
Sample Word: Dhania
coriander (seeds); cilantro (leaves)
Sample Word: Gharwali
wife, housewife
Sample Word: Grease
lubricant (never cooking fat)
Sample Word: Gutka
chewable tobacco product; shredded tobacco with nuts, sweeteners and flavors added
Sample Word: Gymkhana
country club; sporting facility;
Sample Word: Hafta
weekly payment, usually in reference to a bribe
Sample Word: Hawala
undocumented foreign exchange transactions (not legally permitted)
Sample Word: PAN
Permanent Account Number, a unique ID for Indian taxpayers
Sample Word: Inmates
occupants (not necessarily jail inmates)
Sample Word: Khadi
homespun fabric; clothing made from homespun; often worn by politicians
Sample Word: Kharif
autumn; autumn harvest as distinct from rabi
Sample Word: Rabi
spring; spring harvest
Sample Word: Medico
doctor, sometimes medical student or resident
Sample Word: Mushaira
a public gathering of Urdu poets (often extended into a late night event)
Sample Word: Paying guest
a boarder, someone who rents a room or bed in a private home
Sample Word: Saloon
a beauty parlor for women; a barber (for men)
Sample Word: Sanctum sanctorum
the innermost part of the temple; only priests can enter it, generally
Sample Word: Shamiana
large, often colorful tent for social, religious or political events
Sample Word: Udupi hotel
in South India, a vegetarian restaurant run by South Indian Udupi Brahmins
Sample Word: Horeca
Sales term, abbreviation for HOtels, REstaurants and CAterers
Sample Word: Shuttlecock
"birdie" in badminton, see also shuttle
Sample Word: Shuttle
"birdie" in badminton, short for shuttlecock
Sample Word: Jungly
see junglee
Sample Word: Junglee
uncultured, wild; literally "of the jungle/forest"; sometimes spelled jungly
Sample Word: Durbaan
security guard, doorman
Sample Word: Heeng
see asofoetida
Sample Word: Earthing
grounding (in electrical circuitry)
Sample Word: Fast
having loose morals (often in reference to a woman)
Sample Word: Munni
girl, young woman
Sample Word: Aerial
radio antenna (noun)
Sample Word: Jaan
life; also "darling" colloquially
Sample Word: Kabhi
sometimes; also, when
Sample Word: Mai
I (the singular personal pronoun)
Sample Word: Mei
in (verb); sometimes written as "mein"; not to be confused with mai (which see)
Sample Word: Mera
mine (masculine possessive pronoun); see also meri
Sample Word: Meri
mine (feminine possessive pronoun); see also mera
Sample Word: Munna
boy, young man
Sample Word: Zindagi
life, living
Sample Word: Chaikhana
in northwestern India and Pakistan, a tea stall
Sample Word: Charpoy
a cot, typically strung with rope, or cloth/nylon tape; literally four legs
Sample Word: Choli
blouse, upper garment for women
Sample Word: Dalit
a member of the shudra cast, literally "the oppressed"
Sample Word: Dupatta
a long scarf, typically strung over the shoulders and bosom
Sample Word: Gajra
floral garland, floral band often jasmine or marigold
Sample Word: Ghat
steps, often leading to a river, pond or bathing place; also hills/mountains
Sample Word: Ghati
pejorative for Marathi (someone from the Western Ghats) do not use
Sample Word: Ghazal
urdu poem, often sung
Sample Word: Harijan
member of lower caste, termed coined by Mahatma Gandhi; now referred to as Dalit
Sample Word: Haveli
an old-fashioned mansion, typically with a large central courtyard;
Sample Word: Jati
caste (Hindi)
Sample Word: Laddoo
a dessert, typically a round ball with dairy, lentil or flour ingredients
Sample Word: Lingam
also Shiva-lingam, the phallic representation of the Hindua Lord Shiva
Sample Word: Malik
owner, of a company or business or a parcel of land
Sample Word: Maidan
empty/flat field; often a town square, or meeting place or cricket field
Sample Word: Panchayat
a village council, typically consisting of five elders
Sample Word: Parikrama
circumambulation of a temple, deity or holy place by a worshipper
Sample Word: Pir
a Sufi saint or holy man
Sample Word: Pulao
rice that has been sauted before being steamed; may contain spice/peas/etc
Sample Word: Sepoy
British Colonial way of mispronouncing sepahi; or constable, private
Sample Word: Sepahi
constable, private; see also Sepoy
Sample Word: Tilak
sacred mark on forehead, often yellow sandalwood paste or red coloring
Sample Word: Address diary
address book
Sample Word: Ayurveda
traditional form of medicine in India (other forms are Unani, Homeopathic
Sample Word: Doordarshan
India's government owned television channel; literally "visualize from afar"
Sample Word: Gherao
to surround/encircle a person, generally an official; a form of protest
Sample Word: Jatra
in West Bengal, a form of traditional/folk theater
Sample Word: Mere
Mine (plural possessive pronoun, masculine possessive pronoun)
Sample Word: Prem
Love, also a masculine name
Sample Word: Mujhe
Mine (possessive pronoun)
Sample Word: Teri
Yours (dimunitive possesive pronoun)
Sample Word: Paneer
a form of fresh home-made cottage cheese (often used in cooking)
Sample Word: Bhindi
Okra, also called ladyfinger
Sample Word: Karta
Head of Household (literally "the one who does")
Sample Word: Bhabhi
(elder) brother's wife
Sample Word: Bolo
Say it, Tell me
Sample Word: Goli Maar!
See Goli Mar
Sample Word: Pakoras
Deep fried fritters (breaded potatoes, onions, chicken, veggies)
Sample Word: Dada ji
Gramps, Grandpa, old man
Sample Word: Murgh mussalam
the whole chicken (uncut, but cooked)
Sample Word: Salaam Walikum
Islamic greeting, your reply "Walikum Salaam"
Sample Word: Dengue
a mosquito borne viral illness; usually accompanied by high fever)
Sample Word: Baraat
Wedding Procession
Sample Word: Paan
the betel leaf, eaten after a meal (with catechu, lime, and betel nut)
Sample Word: Sat Sri Akal
Sikh greeting
Sample Word: Angrez
English person; often generic for any foreigner
Sample Word: Tulsi
Basil, used for religious purposed by Hindus; as seasoning by all
Sample Word: Goods train
freight train
Sample Word: Khataa khat
quickly, pronto!
Sample Word: Bhromor
bumble-bee (Bengali)
Sample Word: Kutta
dog, male dog; (see also kutti)
Sample Word: Alaap
introduction, initial movement (as in classical music or son)
Sample Word: Kapsi
capsicum (green, bell peper); aka Simla mirch or Moti mirch
Sample Word: Simla Mirch
Capsicum (green/bell pepper)
Sample Word: Surruchi
tasty (Bengali)
Sample Word: Koi ho
Who's there?!
Sample Word: Masala
spice (n); colloqially: spicy (adj), as in masala movie
Sample Word: Thug
a cheat, a thief
Sample Word: Naani
maternal grandmother
Sample Word: Golimar
see goli mar
Sample Word: Raag
piece of classical indian music, aka raga
Sample Word: Saag
spinach (in Punjabi), any vegetable (in UP)
Sample Word: Paalak
spinach, see also saag
Sample Word: Haat
street market, fair
Sample Word: Asafetida
see Asafoetida, known as heeng
Sample Word: Baabul
father, dad
Sample Word: Babool
a tropical tree, often trimmed for use as a hedge in north indian gardens
Sample Word: Maata
revered mother; also a slang term for smallpox in north India
Sample Word: Vakalatanama
see Vakalatnaama
Sample Word: Bn
battalion (as in army or paramilitary forces)
Sample Word: Coy
Company (as in army or paramilitary forces)
Sample Word: Entre
Appetizer (as in Europe), and not main course of a meal (as in America)
Sample Word: Touch wood
knock on wood (for good luck)
Sample Word: Theek hai
that's right, or it's all right, or its okay
Sample Word: Bindaas
with reckless abandon, carefree
Sample Word: Fridge
refrigerator
Sample Word: Funda
(slang) essence, fundamental,
Sample Word: Fitment
fit ( "What is the fitment between your company needs and our products?")
Sample Word: Bhidoo
buddy (in Mumbai?)
Sample Word: Yedah
irrational, unbalanced, crazy (slang in Mumbai)
Sample Word: Dada
elder brother; Street boss (Mumbai slang)
Sample Word: Dada giri
intimidation, as in by a street boss or rogue (adverb)
Sample Word: Kachra
trash, rubbish
Sample Word: Phattey
tall tales, fabrications
Sample Word: Munda
boy, young man (used in Punjab and north India as slang from Punjabi)
Sample Word: Shifted
relocated, moved (as in office, home); " We have shifted to South Delhi"
Sample Word: Bong
slang for a person from Bengal
Sample Word: Chaddies
underpants
Sample Word: Mention not
Don't mention it; a way saying "You are welcome" in response to a thank you
Sample Word: Bath
as a verb, bath can mean "shower". as in I'm going to a quick bath early tomorrow."
Sample Word: Stores
Warehouse, Stockroom (as in factory)
Sample Word: Do
short for "ditto", used to indicate duplicated data in a list or table
Sample Word: Satta
Gambling, usually illegal, informal mass-scale gambling run by the underworld
Sample Word: Long-cut
A circuituous or rambling path to the destination; opposite of short-cut
Sample Word: Chutney
sauce, could be sour, sweet, or tart; usually from herbs or vegetables
Sample Word: Pakora
see pakoras
Sample Word: Tandoor
Clay oven, high temperature; see Tandoori
Sample Word: Tata
goodbye, also the name of a large Indian corporate group after the founding family
Sample Word: Mydear
my dear, used to mean friend or buddy in casual conversation
Sample Word: Chatni
see chutney
Sample Word: Ghunghat
part of a sari, used to cover the head/face
Sample Word: Ghaghra
lower garment worn by women, usually with a choli on top
Sample Word: Lehenga
lower garment worn by women, usually with a choli on top
Sample Word: Matar
peas, chickpeas; or a dish cooked with peas/chickpeas
Sample Word: Kal
yesterday, also tomorrow!
Sample Word: Chaiyya
Shade (also made famous by the worldwide hit song Chaiyya Chaiyya, google it)
Sample Word: Jai Ho
All Right! Wow! Praise to you!
Sample Word: Pyar
affection, love
Sample Word: Ho
let there be (verb); would
Sample Word: Bharat
the hindi name for India (legally equivalent to India); see also Hindustan
Sample Word: Bhai
brother; also "fellow" or "dude" coloquially
Sample Word: Guru
literally teacher; often used for spiritual teacher; in slang, can mean "buddy"
Sample Word: Sahib
boss, senior person; person in power;
also abbreviated as sa'ab.
Sample Word: Taj
crown, also short name for the Taj Mahal, India's most famous mausoleum, in Agra
Sample Word: Raj
royal (not democratic) rule; also used disparagingly as "Liccence Raj" or "Babu Raj"
Sample Word: Chalo
Let's go; also used colloquially in North India to mean "let it be"
Sample Word: Shanti
peace, calm
Sample Word: Yaar
friend, buddy; in gay culture: partner
Sample Word: Ki
that; also possessive conjunction "car ki headlight"
Sample Word: Kucch
some, few, a little
Sample Word: Saya
shadow, ghost
Sample Word: Tere
yours (dimunitive)
Sample Word: Hum
I (colloquial); We
Sample Word: Mere
mine (plural, masculine)
Sample Word: Namastey
see namaste
Sample Word: B.A. Fail
attended college (but did not receive a bachelor's degree)
Sample Word: Eve teasing
sexual harassment of a female (often on the street by young males)
Sample Word: Join duty
start a new job, return to work after a period away
Sample Word: Tight slap
hard slap (with a tight, not loose hand)
Sample Word: Get down
disembark (as from a train, bus or other mass transportation)
Sample Word: Loose motions
diarrhea
Sample Word: Kindly
Please ("Kindly sign the credit card authorization below"
Sample Word: Paining
hurting (my leg is paining)
Sample Word: Cover
envelope, postal envelope, bag (new stamps are issued as "first day covers")
Sample Word: Hijra
transgender male who adopts feminine gender identity and lives communally
Sample Word: Tike
see theek hai
Sample Word: Hoon
Am; as in "I am"
Sample Word: Fanaa
to be consumed by a cause; to sacrifice oneself to the cause
Sample Word: Saala
wife's brother
Sample Word: Harey
glory to a divine being; such as in "harey ram"; see also hare
Sample Word: Raja
king, prince; also a term of endearment for a child
Sample Word: Sanam
(my) beloved, male or female
Sample Word: Tumse
tum se; can mean from you, by you, because of you
Sample Word: Arrey
Oh! an exclamation of surprise
Sample Word: Aaja
aa ja; come here!
Sample Word: Tikka
a small chunk; as in chicken tikka
Sample Word: Sajna
my(male)beloved
Sample Word: Sajni
my (female) beloved
Sample Word: Ishq
romance, crush
Sample Word: Mahatma
a great soul, respected human being; often in reference to Mahatma Gandhi
Sample Word: Gaya
(he) has gone or (he) has left
Sample Word: Pata
mailing address
Sample Word: Chalaan
fine, tax levied by officials
Sample Word: Soniye
used to address an attractive female; literally "the golden girl" in Punjabi
Sample Word: Balle balle
A celebratory cry; Hurray!
Sample Word: Abscond
to disappear, to go into hiding; the employee has absconded
Sample Word: Intimate
see "intimate you"
Sample Word: Cantonment
see cantt
Sample Word: Guru-ji
respected guru; see guru
Sample Word: Tera
masculine dimunitive possessive pronoun, yours
Sample Word: Aayah
nanny or elder-care person, always female
Sample Word: Tashan
style/attitude
Sample Word: Baabul
Poetic term for father, dad or home; most often used by forlorn daughters
Sample Word: BHK
Bedroom, Hall, Kitchen (when referring to a home, apartment or house, as in 2 BHK)
Sample Word: Gaddi
Vehicle (car, truck, even motorbike); Punjabi slang word
Sample Word: You nonsense!
Angry exclamation roughly equivalent to "You're full of sh*t"
Sample Word: Riks
Risk; common mispronunciation
Sample Word: Agmark
"Certification standard for food products, and its associated logo"
Sample Word: ahimsa
"non-violence, often referring to Gandhian principles"
Sample Word: air-dash
rush travel by air
Sample Word: Angrezi
"English, the language; or British, the people"
Sample Word: anicut
dam; reservoir
Sample Word: anna
older brother (from Tamil)
Sample Word: arranged marriage
marriage arranged by parents/relatives
Sample Word: Aya Ram
Someone who should not be taken seriously
Sample Word: babudom
bureaucracy
Sample Word: backside
rear (or a building or room);
Sample Word: bandobust
protection arranged and provided by police or other security personnel
Sample Word: bank holiday
government or public holiday
Sample Word: basmati
aromatic long rice grown in India and Pakistan
Sample Word: bata
"allowance, usually for casual labor"
Sample Word: bhaji
fried vegetables
Sample Word: Bombaiyya
Bombay-speak
Sample Word: borewell
deep narrow well machine drilled for water
Sample Word: bureau
steel cabinet used as a secure storage space.
Sample Word: bustee
"dwelling place, slum"
Sample Word: bypoll
mid-term elections
Sample Word: casual leave
leave not covered under designated leaves such as medical leave
Sample Word: chargesheet
formal charges filed in a court
Sample Word: chuddies
underpants
Sample Word: clean chit
exoneration; a not-guilty verdict
Sample Word: coming station
next (bus/railway) station or stop on the journey
Sample Word: cool bar
a stall or shop selling soft drinks or fruit juices
Sample Word: country fellow
villager; a person not used to the ways of the city
Sample Word: countrymade
made without licence or official sanction; often to refer to handmade guns
Sample Word: curd rice
fried rice with yoghurt and light spices
Sample Word: custodial deaths
suicides; murders in police custody
Sample Word: dasi
female servant; temple courtesan
Sample Word: deewana
obsessed with desire; mad with love
Sample Word: Delhi Belly
stomach upset suffered by foreign tourists
Sample Word: dhan
wealth; money
Sample Word: dharma
religion; righteousness; philanthropy
Sample Word: dhikkar
condemnation
Sample Word: dhobiwallah
Washerman or laundryman (washes by hand rather than with a machine)
Sample Word: dias
"dais or stage, common misspellig"
Sample Word: doodhwallah
Someone who sells or supplies milk to households; milkman
Sample Word: doosra
an advance bal (pitch) in cricket; similar to a curve ball in baseball
Sample Word: drumstick
"Mooringa olifera, a long bean"
Sample Word: dry grapes
raisins
Sample Word: durbar
king's court
Sample Word: elaichi
"cardamom, a spice used in cooking and as an an after dinner mint"
Sample Word: fisherfolk
fishermen and their families
Sample Word: foot overbridge
bridge meant for pedestrians
Sample Word: forex
foreign exchange
Sample Word: fundas
fundamentals; essentials
Sample Word: gangman
a railway worker whose job is to maintain and check the safety of railway tracks
Sample Word: ganja
marijuana leaves used for smoking
Sample Word: Gaya Ram
See Aya Ram
Sample Word: gobar gas
cooking gas produced from a percolation tank for animal feces usually cowdung
Sample Word: Gujju
"person of Gujarati origin, from the western state of Gujarat"
Sample Word: gumboots
"knee-high, water-proof, rubber boots"
Sample Word: gunny bags
bags made from jute or hemp
Sample Word: gur
"jaggery, brown unrefined sugar"
Sample Word: gyan
knowledge; wisdom; thoughts; attention
Sample Word: hair fall
hair loss; aloepecia
Sample Word: half ticket
discount ticket as for a child; also pejorative slang for dimwit
Sample Word: havaldar
police rank between inspector and constable
Sample Word: height of
intolerable extreme of
Sample Word: high command
the top leadership in a political party
Sample Word: hooch
"illegally brewed liquor, usually country liquor"
Sample Word: hundi
collection box
Sample Word: hungama
commotion; celebration
Sample Word: Iftar
feast to celebrate the end of the Ramzan period of Islamic fasting
Sample Word: immoral traffic
prostitution under The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act
Sample Word: indipop
Indian pop music
Sample Word: inmates
occupants of a building - not necessarily of a jail
Sample Word: jaggery
"unrefined brown sugar, often sold in chunk form"
Sample Word: japat
seizure of assets by court order
Sample Word: jehadis
Muslim terrorists
Sample Word: johad
catchment area for capturing rainwater (in a village or an arid area)
Sample Word: kabab
skewered meat
Sample Word: kaccha
raw; unprepared; unsophisticated; low quality
Sample Word: kameez
shirt; blouse
Sample Word: karyakartas
"workers, often volunteers; in a political movement or cause"
Sample Word: kirana
a retail (or grocery) store
Sample Word: kurta
"a loose, long shirt with a short collar; worn by men and women"
Sample Word: kuruvai
short-term paddy crop season with a duration of 100-115 days
Sample Word: ladies seat
"seat reserved for ladies, as in a train or movie theater"
Sample Word: laxman rekha
firm line that should not be crossed; after a fable in the epic Ramayan
Sample Word: leela
"spectacle, story"
Sample Word: Lok Adalat
people's court
Sample Word: madisaar
"Brahmin style of wearing the sari, in south India"
Sample Word: Madras Tamil
"colloqial Tamizh, as spoken in Madras/Chennai"
Sample Word: make a move
leave; I have stayed too long at the party and must make a move
Sample Word: masti
fun; spirit; euphemism for sexual adventure
Sample Word: matrimonials
advertisements in matrimonial columns of newspapers
Sample Word: maulvi
Muslim learned man
Sample Word: mediamen
"reporters, papparazi"
Sample Word: medicos
medical students or doctors
Sample Word: minority community
anyone who is not a mainstream Hindu
Sample Word: mofussil areas
outlying districts
Sample Word: mohalla
locality; neighbourhood
Sample Word: morcha
public demonstration for conveying a protest or making a demand
Sample Word: Mughal
Relating to the Mughal empire
Sample Word: mundu
white dhoti in South India
Sample Word: Mungeri Lal
daydreamer; a fictional character who is prone to daydreaming
Sample Word: munsif
low-level judge in a district court
Sample Word: naik
non-commissioned officer in the Indian Army
Sample Word: native place
wherever one came from
Sample Word: neta
"politician, leader"
Sample Word: nose cut
a sharp retort or insult; a mark of disrespect
Sample Word: nullah
stream; watercourse; drain
Sample Word: official machinery
government infrastructure; government facilities
Sample Word: opticals
eye-glasses or a shop selling eye-glasses
Sample Word: paati
[Tamil] grandma
Sample Word: pallu
free end of a sari that is thrown across the chest and over the shoulder.
Sample Word: panchakatcham
[Tamil Nadu] Brahmin style of wearing the veshti
Sample Word: PG accommodation
living with a family as a paying guest
Sample Word: reservation
Policy of reserving jobs and seats for certain disadvantaged communities
Sample Word: saas
mother-in-law
Sample Word: sabha
cultural association; political assembly or conference
Sample Word: sadhu
"celibate Hindu priest, often clad in saffron"
Sample Word: sanyas
"ascetic, celibate life"
Sample Word: Sardarji
"a Sikh male, slang"
Sample Word: sarkari
related to government.
Sample Word: seva
service; help
Sample Word: shikaara
boats that ply on lakes in Kashmir
Sample Word: supari
"hired killer (underworld slang, popularized in Bollywood movies)"
Sample Word: sutradar
troubleshooter; problem-solver
Sample Word: tainted
"slang, a modern politician with criminal history or charges against him or her"
Sample Word: Udipi hotel
"restaurant run by Udipi Brahmins, usually in South India"
Sample Word: undertrial
jailed inmate who is awaiting trial or whose trial is currently underway
Sample Word: yagna
"Vedic ritual with ritual fire, pronounce yagya"
Sample Word: yatra
journey; travel
Sample Word: Yuvraj
crown prince; heir to the throne.
Sample Word: Scale
ruler; "I need a 12 inch wooden scale"
Sample Word: Paper
test, exam. "How did you do on your Physics paper today?"
Sample Word: Washroom
restroom, "bathroom"
Sample Word: Bum
butttocks (not vagrant or homeless person);butt;
Sample Word: Sali
wife's sister
Sample Word: Rusticate
Suspend (as in a student from school)
Sample Word: Cheap
inexpensive, less expensive (with no connotation of poorer quality)
Sample Word: Biskoot
See biscuit
Sample Word: At home
an evening reception/dinner party;
Sample Word: Tube light
traditional (tubular) fluorescent lights
Sample Word: Holl-doll
see hold-all
Sample Word: Wash room
see washroom
Sample Word: Thrice
three times
Sample Word: Apart from
aside from; "apart from Sundays, the office is open every day"
