government-waali—of the government
guftagoo—conversation
gulli—narrow alley
gup, gupshup—shooting the breeze
gutka—perfumed and sweetened chewing tobacco, a speciality of Khaufpur
guttu ghumana—to charm, or cast a spell on someone
guzz—one of Elli’s rare mistakes, she meant ghuss, or squeeze
haathi—elephant
hashish—cannabis resin
hindi mein samjhaun? — Should I tell you in Hindi? i.e., Do I have to spell it out?
holi—Spring festival of colours
imli—tamarind
Inglis—English
Isa—Jesus
Isayi—Christian
ishtoo—stew
itraana—to be a bit too clever, protest too much
jaan—life
jaanvar—animal
jahã jaan hai, jahaan hai—While we have life, we have the world.
jahaan—the world
jarnail—corruption of English “general”
jhadoo—household broom, made of a bundle of long grass stems
jugaad—a great idea; a jugaadu, a genius of good ideas
juloos—demonstration march
jungli—wild
kaané—cross-eyed
kabbadi—a rough game, involving wrestling opponents to the ground
kachambar—cucumber chunks with pepper and lime juice
Kali—Hindu mother goddess, dark goddess of death and destruction
kameez—long loose shirt, usually worn over
shalwar (q.v.)
kankana—ever youthful, full of energy
karnail—corruption of English “colonel”
khã—Khaufpuri term of familiarity like “mate.” See yaar.
khaañsi—a cough
kheer—a milky pudding
khuda hafez—lit. God protect you, in Farsi. Used as a farewell.
kismiss—what English sounds like to non-English speakers
KLPD, khade lund pe dhoka—betrayal of the erect dick, used of disappointments
kulcha—flat breads, thicker than a chappati, not as thick as a naan
kurta—fine embroidered muslin shirt worn by men and women
kushti—wrestling
kutiya ki aulad—son of a bitch
kya main Hindi mein samjhaun — See hindi mein samjhaun?
kyõ khã?—So, friend?
laal imli ka gatagat—tamarind pieces in salt and spices, sold as a chew
laat sahib—a big shot, corruption of English “Lord sahib”
langur—long-tailed monkey
lassi—a yoghurt drink
latkan—a helpmeet, a benefactor, a close mate
look london talk tokyo—a case of a bad squint
Lukhnawi—from Lucknow, a city renowned for its courteous speech
lund—schlong, dick, penis
lund latkayé—with dick dangling
lund pasanda—the dick’s favourite
madhyam—fourth note of the Indian scale, equivalent of “fa”
Mala Sinha—film actress
Malkauns—serious raga of the night
marsiya—a Muharram song about the martyrdom of Imam Hussein
masjid—mosque
maut pade—lit. may you die; means To hell with you; can be a greeting
mazaaq—fun, a fun jape
mehboobi—beloved
mela—fair
miyañ—polite word meaning gentleman, a cultured person
Muharram—Shi’a festival of mourning for the death of Imam Hussein
munsipal—municipal
murgi-ka-panja—Chicken Claw
musaafir—traveller
naala—an open drainage canal
naan—flat unleavened loaf
namaaz—a Muslim’s five-times-daily prayers
naqsheen katora—one whose face is scarred by smallpox
nasha—intoxication
Naya Adalat—the new courthouse, which is two hundred years old
neem—Azadirachta indica tree, bitter and astringent, used in herbal remedies
nishada—seventh note of the Indian scale, equivalent of “ti”
õ—nasal o, identical to the last syllable of French Proudhon
oot pataang—nonsense
ous raat—that night
pancham—fifth note of the Indian scale, equivalent to “sol”
pandu—contemptuous name for a policeman
qasam Khuda ki—by god
raakhee—a token tied by a girl on the wrist of a boy she regards as a brother
raal tapkana—to drool, but in Khaufpur to stare, casting the evil eye
raat-ki-rani—lit. Queen of the Night, night jasmine, cestrum nocturnum
Rajshree—film actress
Rampuri knife—switchblade with serrated edge, synonymous with gangsters
Reshma—film actress
risabha—second note of the Indian scale, equivalent of “re”
romanchik—literally hair-raising, causing tiny hairs to stand on end
roti—flat bread, chappati
sa re ga—equivalent of do re mi in the Indian scale
saala, saalé—used like English “bloody” (literally brother in law)
sadak chhaap—street-stamped, used of street kids, hardened by that life
Sadda Miyã ki tond—the belly of Sadda Miyã, a self-important person
sadhu—a Hindu ascetic, one who has renounced the world
sahib—title of respect, signifying a chief or boss
santoor—large zither
Saraswati—Hindu goddess of music and literature
sarauta—nutcracker
sardarji—a Sikh man
sargam—the Indian solfège, sa re ga ma pa dha ni sa
shabaash—well done
shadja—first note of the Indian scale, equivalent of “do”
shalwar—a pair of light loose trousers fitting closely round the ankles
shalwar kameez—long loose shirt worn over a pyjama, with a scarf
shamiana—a marquee tent, usually bright and heavily decorated