“I was enjoying spicy kitchery made of sitting on a charpoy when a thug entered my bungalow in khaki pajamas and looted my buggy.”
Despite being hilarious and tragic at the same time, this is just a normal English sentence. What if I tell you that there are six words in this sentence that originate from South Asia?
Language is said to be a doorway to understanding a culture. But it is much more than that: It is our connections to the cultures that are over a thousand kilometers away. In that sense, it won’t be wrong to say that you are keeping the relationship between cultures and humans alive as you go through your life.
You, my friend, are full of history. Everything you say has diverse origins, even if you are unaware of it. But it’s always better to be aware of your cultural connections. And that is where we come in.
Since we, at Urdu with Annie, are focused on Urdu, a South Asian language, let’s talk about common English words that originated from that region.
Let’s begin!
1. Thug
Thug found its way to the English language in the 1800s. It is derived from the Hindi/ Urdu word thug, which means “rogue, cheater, thief, or gangster”.
In your childhood, you would have heard stories about pirates attacking ships to steal their goods. Those were the thugs! In the 14th century, thugs were organized robbers and killers in the Indian subcontinent who attacked caravans and stole their goods. The British colonizers eliminated them in the 19th century to safeguard the trade routes.
Another interesting fact is that the thugs used their own secret language and ciphers to protect their interests.
2. Loot
The first evidence of the word loot was traced back to 1773, when Captain John Ferguson, an employee of the British East India Company, published the “Dictionary of Hindustan Language”. He defined the word “loot” in this book. It’s adapted from the Urdu/ Hindi word Lut (Loot), which means “booty or stolen property. It refers to the goods taken from the enemy. Looting is not just stealing but snatching goods by force, typically in the midst of military or political chaos, social crises, or natural disaster.
Loot can also have a positive connotation. Looters looting, snatching, or stealing by force is obviously negative. But the candy gifted to kids on Halloween is a good kind of loot for them. For dentists, maybe it’s not positive, but for kids, it definitely is!
However, the origin of ‘loot’ was to serve an essentially racist function. It pointed towards an assumed intrinsic inclination in the natives to steal or plunder, something the colonizers had to eliminate. On the other hand, the conquerors looting the people’s treasures was considered alright. Visit the British Museum to see the troves of lawful loot. 🙂
3. Kitchery
Kitchery, also called kedgeree (pronounced: khichri, just like in Urdu) in the West, blossomed as an unusual traditional dish for British breakfast. Like its name, it’s indeed a unique dish consisting of curried rice, parsley, boiled eggs, smoked fish and seasoning. When returning to their homes, the British could not just enjoy this dish alone, so they took it home to their families.
Originally, in the Indian subcontinent, this modest dish only included rice and lentils. The residents enjoy this dish as lunch or dinner. Yesterday, when my mom cooked it, I ate it with pickle (Aachaar in Urdu), but my sister finds that it tastes delicious with Nihari.
It’s just different people with different eating styles. You can eat it whenever and however you like.
4. Bungalow
Bung a low roof, wow, this does sound silly, but it’s pretty concrete. In the late 17th century, this word was borrowed from Hindi and Urdu, baṅglā ‘belonging to Bengal’, a type of cottage built for early European settlers in Bengal. Well, it’s a one-storied house with a low-pitched roof, of course, it’s made to be concrete!
These houses were known as a banggolo or bangala, and were shaped like overturned ships. They had curved roofs that extended almost all the way to the ground. In the US, the bungalow trend squeezed its way in the early 1900s and has evolved into its current form over time.
5. Charpoy (Charpai)
Charpoy (Charpai), light bedstead, is a slightly uncommon word, but most Asians may have seen it somewhere. Actually, it’s quite common in South Asia, including Pakistan and Afghanistan. Charpoy can be traced back to the mid-17th century to the word “Charpai” that means four legs.
A traditional charpoy is woven with the rope of a Moonji Grass. In Pakistan, charpai is often seen at homes. Often, you’d find aunties sitting on the charpai, gossiping and sipping on the chai. This sight is also a common one in the Pakistani dramas. Or you may find uncles having an intense conversation on Pakistani politics.
6. Pajamas
Yes, these comfortable pieces of garment, not just the word but also the clothes, originated from South Asia. Pajamas were introduced to the Western world in the late 19th century. During the time of British India, when British officers went back home, they also took along the exotic, comfortable nightwear to sleep peacefully. Therefore it is not surprising that the word pajamas also paved its way in English dictionaries.
Traditionally, Pajamas comprised of shirts and loose trousers made of soft fabric such as silk, cotton, or flannel. It was not much famous, worn only in a few countries such as India, Iran, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. But their popularity quickly grew once the rest of the world got the taste of them.
Later, variations were brought in their style, and they transformed into elegant fashionable dresses worn as alternatives to tea gowns.
7. Khaki
According to etymologists, Khaki is borrowed from the Urdu word, Khaaki, which means ‘soil colored’. It was inserted in the English dictionary through the British Indian army.
Originally, Khaki was just a color. But the word evolved to mean a particular kind of fabric. Now it’s even used interchangeably for “chinos” or as a placeholder for a lightweight cotton twill.
The story behind this evolution is quite interesting. Way back in the 19th century, clothes were a matter of life and death in war. The native soldiers of South Asia, along with local British soldiers, were being led by Henry Lumsden in skirmishes near the Peshawar border. The soldiers were wearing red woolen uniforms in the blistering heat of the Indian subcontinent. Plus the bright red color made them easy targets for the Pashtun snipers.
Lumsden decided to camouflage his soldiers. He found light cotton fabric and had the soldiers smear it with soil and even tea to blend in the sandy surroundings. The soldiers started calling these clothes “khaaki”. This led to the official introduction of Khaki-colored uniforms. The idea quickly spread to the rest of the British troops during the War of Independence in the sandy terrain of South Asia.
8. Buggy
Buggy, in English, means a small vehicle, often without a roof. In 1773, the word ‘buggy’ in English was first recorded. Historically, ‘buggy’ was used to refer to a light carriage for one or two persons drawn by a horse, especially in the subcontinent.
In Urdu, the word is pronounced as ‘bugghi’ or ‘buggi’,
The compilers of the Dictionary of Anglo-Indian words used in English ‘Hobson-Jobson’ said, “Though we trace the word much further back, we have not discovered the birthplace or etymology”. Collated by George Clifford Whitworth, the Anglo-Indian Dictionary mentions buggi is a corruption of Gujarati word ‘bagi’. However, doubt arises upon the introduction of this word in the English language in 1773 from ‘buggy’ originated from Urdu/ Hindi or Gujarati word.
Despite its origins, it holds great value in the hearts of many. Be it a wedding ceremony or traveling, there are a lot of people who enjoy it.
I even saw children riding a buggy in an amusement park!
9. Masala
Masala originated from the Urdu word Masala, based on Arabic maṣāliḥ meaning ingredients. Masala is a widely used term in South Asian cuisines to refer to a mixture of spices. Masala can be either a blend of a few dried spices or a paste consisting of a mixture of herbs and spices.
Spices are the essence of food for all the cultures that love their food. What differs is the amount and type of species used. If you travel to another country, you might wonder why the food is bland or spicy. You might not like the bled of spices, when it actually tastes delicious for the natives! Well, that’s a matter of preference. Every culture’s food evolves with the things that were available to them, imported or generated locally. Within a culture itself, people may have different preferences.
I personally am a big fan of Pakistani Biryani. It’s full of traditional spices, flavor, and aroma. In fact, if you offer a dish of Biryani to a Pakistani, there is a high chance that they will cheerfully devour it. The main reason is that most Pakistanis love Biryani.
South Asians are very creative with their spices. Many traditional chefs (and moms) don’t use measurements. They just use feelings to measure spices. Using traditional spices, a pinch of this and that; voila! A finger-licking, delicious and cherished Pakistani dish is ready to eat. In Pakistan, even a humble daal (Pulses) feels incomplete without primary species, let alone any shorba (gravy) such as Nihari. This can be the reason why Pakistani cooking seems very intimidating for the inexperienced.
Have you ever admired the beautiful, vibrant colors of Pakistani food? That’s cuz of the spices. They are colorful, flavorful, and also have many health benefits. In Pakistan, these spices are used in both sweet and savory dishes and will leave your taste buds asking for more. Besides cooking and culinary, spices are also used for clinical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other beneficial purposes.
10. Jungle
In English, jungle refers to a wild land overgrown with dense vegetation, or simply, a forest. It originated from the Urdu word Jungul (same pronounciation). It was first recorded in the dictionary in 1906 in Upton Sinclair’s novel.
Although I have heard the word Jungle many times, it only brings laughter when I think about a movie, The Jungle Book. Sitting on the couch, watching this movie in Urdu, humming as the song goes, Jungle Jungle baat chali hai pata chala hai…… Ahhhh! What fun days those were! Worth remembering.
Have you seen any movies revolving around the Jungle? I am all ears!
11. Pashmina
Pashmina is a type of fabric, cashmere wool to be specific. It comes from the Urdu/Farsi word Pashmina, meaning “made from wool”. The word pashmina itself is derived from ‘pashm’, which means ‘inner layer of hair’. It was first woven in Kashmir, where the Europeans encountered this beauty.
It’s woven out of the fur of the goat named Chyangra, which lives high up in the regions of Nepal, Tibet, India, and other parts of Central Asia. The colder the conditions are, the better quality of fur is produced. The best quality pashmina is s 6 times finer than human hair! One goat produces enough wool for 1 scarf, and three goats fur can make a complete shawl.
Pashmina shawls are renowned for their utmost quality. Even today, the highest quality Pashminas are hand-woven by the traditional weavers of the Kathmandu Valley. They and their families have been weaving Pashmina fabrics for centuries. Think of all the history behind your favorite Pashmina shawl the next time you wear it.
What can be more beautiful than the fact that Pashmina scarves, stoles, mufflers, sweaters, blankets, and other products also exist? So lovely!
12. Cheetah
The word cheetah is derived from Urdu, a South Asian language. Cheetah is a large and spotted cat known for its breathtaking speed and distinctive spots. What’s interesting is that cheetahs aren’t always solitary, unlike other big cats, and they never roar. In fact, they sound more like your friendly house cat and are even known to meow and purr.
However, there’s no denying how impressive Usain Bolt’s (the world’s fastest man) speed is compared to the average human! Running 100m in less than ten seconds is a feat few have ever accomplished. However, cheetahs beat even Usain Bolt in speed, hands down. Sarah, the cheetah, shattered the world record for the standing 100-meter dash, clocking a time of 5.95 seconds—making Olympian Usain Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds seem slower.
How unfair, the cheetah ran on 4 legs but Usain ran on 2. Isn’t he the winner? Well, it does not matter. The fact is that Cheetah runs faster, way faster than other animals.
Does English have any words that originated from your native language? Let us know in the comments.
