Asana: Sanskrit, yoga or meditation body posture
Aa jao: Hindi, “Come in”
Ayurvedic: relating to Ayurveda, the ancient medicine system of India. In Sanskrit, Ayur means “life” and Veda means “knowledge or science”
Bahut accha: Hindi, “very good” or “nice”
Basant Panchami: kite festival in India to welcome spring
Benchod: Hindi, slang curse word, “sisterfucker”
Beti: Hindi, also Beta, endearing term for children, translates to “dear”
Bhabu: Hindi and Bengali, a term of respect for men, slang word for “pimp”
Bhai: Hindi, “brother”
Bharatanatyam: a major form of Indian classical dance
Biryani: an Indian dish of highly seasoned rice with either meat or vegetables
Chai: Hindi, short for masala chai, black tea made with milk and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and ginger
Chaiwala: street seller of tea
Chakra: Sanskrit, “wheel” or “cycle”; energy centers, known as seven main chakras situated along the spine, from the base of your spine to the crown of your head
Chana masala: an Indian dish of spiced chickpeas in gravy
Chalo: Gujarati, “Let’s go”
Dada: Hindi, father’s father
Dadi: Hindi, father’s mother
Dalit: in the traditional Indian caste system, a member of the lowest caste, known as untouchable
Dupatta: Hindi, a length of material worn as a scarf or head covering in India
Ghanta: Sanskrit, ritual bell used in Hindu religious practices
Ghee: Hindi, clarified butter
Gujarati: language of the state of Gujarat in India
Gundas: Hindi, “gangsters,” usually a group of violent criminals
Hijra: Hindi, a person whose gender identity is neither male or female; transgender and generally a person assigned as male at birth but who expresses themselves as female in India
Holi: a joyous Hindu festival that welcomes spring, also known as the festival of colors; signifies good over evil
Jain: ancient Indian religion
Jalebi: a popular Indian sweet of maida flour deep fried in a circular or pretzel shape, then soaked in sugar syrup
Jharu: Hindi, a long-handled and fanned broom used to sweep the floor
Kesar pista kulfi: traditional Indian saffron and pistachio-flavored ice cream treat
Ladki: Hindi, “girl”
Lassi: Hindi, yogurt drink, flavors such as mango or salty
Lehenga: Hindi, Indian dress often consisting of an ankle-length skirt
Marathi: language predominantly spoken by Marathi people in the Indian state of Maharashtra
Masala: Hindi, any of a number of spice mixtures ground into a paste or powder for use in Indian cooking
Mausi: Hindi, also spelled Masi; mother’s sister
Motee ladki: Hindi, “big woman”
Muladhara chakra: Sanskrit, root chakra at the base of the spine
Mummy: Hindi, informal term for “mother”
Naan: Hindi, leavened, oven-baked or tawa-fried flatbread eaten in India
Nana: Hindi, mother’s father
Nani: Hindi, mother’s mother
Paan: Hindi, an Indian after-dinner treat folded into a triangle or rolled that consists of a betel leaf filled with chopped betel (areca) nut, slaked lime, and other ingredients
Paneer tikka masala: Hindi, an Indian dish of marinated paneer cheese served in a spiced gravy
Panjabi: a native or inhabitant of the region of Punjab, India
Parsi: Parsis or Parsees are an ethnoreligious group of the Indian subcontinent whose ancestors migrated to India from Sassanid Iran to avoid persecution
Pashmina: a fine-quality shawl made from wool
Pav bhaji: a fast food Indian dish consisting of a thick vegetable curry served with a soft bread roll
Peepal: a tree native to India where every part of the tree has several medicinal benefits discovered in ancient times in the science of Ayurveda
Phena bhat: starchy rice gruel or porridge, popular Bengali dish known in Kolkata
Prana: Sanskrit, “breath,” considered as a life-giving force
Prashansak: Hindi, “fan”
Pulao: Hindi, an Indian rice dish, cooked in seasoned broth and an array of spices, including coriander seeds, cumin, cardamom, cloves, and others
Puppa: Hindi, informal term for “father”
Roti: Hindi, a type of unleavened bread made from wheat flour
Saab/Sahib: a form of address or title placed after a man’s name or designation, used as a mark of respect in some areas of India
Salwar kameez: Hindi, a long tunic worn over a pair of baggy trousers, usually worn by women in India and Pakistan
Sari: Hindi, a garment consisting of a length of cotton or silk elaborately draped around the body, traditionally worn by women in South Asia
Shabash: Hindi, an expression meaning “Well done”
Shakti: Sanskrit, female power
Sravana: the fifth month of the Hindu solar calendar and known for the arrival of south-west monsoons
Subzi: in Indian cuisine, a vegetable cooked in gravy
Surya namaskar: Sanskrit, a specific sequence of twelve yoga asana, otherwise known as a “sun salutation”
Thali: Hindi, “plate”
Theek hai: Hindi, “It’s okay” or “That’s fine”
Tiffin: Hindi, light meal, packed
Topi: Hindi, cap for head
Vaishya: the third of the four Hindu castes
Yaar: Hindi, slang for “buddy”