Archive · 2 Jul 2025
Indian Words That Enriched English: A Linguistic Journey
English has borrowed many words from India!
"Juggernaut," originally from a Hindu deity's chariot, now means a huge, unstoppable force.
Think of a big truck rolling over everything.
Other words, like "shampoo" (from a Hindi word for massage) and "jodhpurs" (pants from an Indian city), also come from India.
These words show how languages share and grow, like the "juggernaut" rolling through the world of words!
English has adopted many words from Indian languages, including 'juggernaut' and 'shampoo'.
'Juggernaut,' derived from Lord Jagannath, originally meant an overpowering force, later used by Marvel comics.
Reverend Claudius Buchanan popularized 'juggernaut' in the 1800s, often with a negative connotation.
Other Indian words in English include 'shampoo,' 'dacoit,' 'Jodhpurs,' 'khaki,' 'cummerbund,' and 'mulligatawny'.
These words reflect cultural exchange, like 'jaconet' (a cotton fabric) and 'cummerbund' (from Hindustani).
- Who
- The words were popularized through cultural exchange, with contributions from various individuals including Reverend Claudius Buchanan and Prince Pratap Singh.
- What
- English has borrowed numerous words from Indian languages, including 'juggernaut,' 'shampoo,' 'dacoit,' 'jodhpurs,' and others.
- When
- The adoption of these words into English occurred over centuries, with some, like 'juggernaut', appearing in the mid-1600s, and others, like 'shampoo', in the 18th century.
- Where
- These words originate from various Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Persian, and have entered the English language.
- Why
- These words were adopted due to cultural exchange and the need to describe new concepts, items, and cultural practices encountered by English speakers in India.
- Word Origin: Juggernaut
- Lord Jagannath (Hindu deity)
- Earliest Use of Juggernaut
- Mid-1600s (Oxford English Dictionary)
- Word Origin: Shampoo
- Hindi 'champo' (to massage)
- Word Origin: Cummerbund
- Hindustani 'kamarband' (waistband)
- Word Origin: Jodhpurs
- City of Jodhpur