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English Words of Indian Origin

Try to guess these English words which had their origin from various Indian languages
Quiz by Hardaxe
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Last updated: February 22, 2022
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First submittedApril 24, 2021
Times taken448
Average score32.3%
Rating3.50
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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
stalintime
+7
Level 76
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 60
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 70
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").

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