bajao 'To play', and often, 'to thump', as with a drum. So 'bajao' is used in the context of music, and it can often be used in the context of violence or sex. To 'bajao' somebody (or something) can mean to hit them, or to have vigorous sex with them. It has a similar connotation as 'to bang' in American slang.
Bakr'id A Muslim festival that commemorates the faith and sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (Abraham), who was asked by Allah to sacrifice his son. The day is marked by the sacrifice of animals. Outside the subcontinent, the festival is known as Id-ul-Zuha or Id-ul-Azha.
Bali, Sugreev Characters from the Ramayana. They are both monkeys, and are brothers. Bali has usurped the monkey kingdom from Sugreev and kidnapped Sugreev's wife. Rama befriends Sugreev and ambushes Bali and kills him. Sugreev, as ruler of the monkeys, then becomes an ally of Rama's in the great war against Ravana.
ban A very large vessel or pot, made out of metal, to store and heat water.
bandh Literally, 'closed'. A closing down of a city or locality, a strike. Often called by a political party, and sometimes enforced with violence.
bandhgalla Literally, 'closed neck'. Used for any jacket or coat that has a round, closed collar, such as the Nehru jacket.
bandobast Practical arrangements, logistics.
bania Trader, shopkeeper.
banian Undershirt.
bar-balas Bar-girls, women who work in bars.
bas Enough, stop.
Bas khwab itna sa hai These are lines from a song from the Hindi film Yes, Boss (1997):
Bas khwab itna sa hai
Bas itna sa khwab hai
shaan se rahoon sada
Bas itna sa khwab hai
Haseenayein bhi dil hon khotin,
dil ka ye kamal khile
Sone ka mahal mile,
barasne lagein heere moti
Which translate as:
I have only this little dream
That I forever live forever in luxury
That beautiful women lose their hearts
May this dream of mine flower.
That I gain a palace of gold,
That pearls and diamonds fall from the sky.
basta Schoolbag.
basti Literally 'settlement' or 'town'. The term is often used for low-income areas or slums.
Bataa re. Kaad rela. 'Tell me. Spill it'.
batasha Drops of candied sugar.
batata-wada A fried snack made from potatoes and chickpea flour.
besan Chickpea flour.
bevda A drunk.
Bhabhi A respectful term for one's brother's wife.
bhadwaya, bhadwa Pimp.
bhadwi Feminine form of 'bhadwa', pimp. Therefore, 'Madam'.
Bhai Literally, 'brother'. In Bombay it also means 'gangster', meaning a member of an organized crime 'company'. 'Bhai' is roughly equivalent to the American 'made guy'. A Bhai is what a tapori wants to become.
bhaigiri The act of acting like a bhai.
bhajan A devotional song.
bhajiyas A fried snack.
bhakri A flat, round, unleavened bread that has traditionally been eaten by farmers.
bhakt Devotee, follower.
bhang A derivative of cannabis, made from the leaf and flower of the female plant. Can be smoked, or is used in drinks.
bhangad Problems, a mess, a mix-up.
bhangi Sweeper.
bhangra An energetic and lively dance native to Punjab, and also the music that accompanies this dance. Bhangra music has been modernized and crossbred with many influences, and is now popular as dance music in clubs around the world.
bhashan Lecture.
bhat Rice.
Bhavani A goddess. She is the fierce aspect of Shakti or Devi, but she is also the giver of life, and 'Karunaswaroopini', the very form of mercy.
bheja Brain.
bhelpuri A spicy snack typical of Bombay. Bhelpuri is often sold from carts on streets and beaches.
bhenchod Sister-fucker.
bhenji A respectful way of addressing one's older sister: 'Respected Sister'.
bhidu Buddy, pal.
bhindi Okra. Lady's Finger.
bhondu Fool.
bhoot Ghost.
Bhumro bhumro A line from a song from the Hindi film Mission Kashmir (2000): 'Bumblebee, o bumblebee '
bibi A respectful term of address for a woman. Something like 'Miss'.
bidi Indian cigarette made out of tobacco rolled in a leaf. Bidis are very cheap, and are usually smoked by poor people, or those in rural areas.
bigha A unit used to measure land. The actual size of the land indicated by the unit varies from region to region, from about a third of an acre to an acre.
bissi Bissi is actually free food provided by the jail, and the term also applies to where it is preparedthe kitchen.
BMC Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
bola na 'I told you '
Bole to voh edkum danger aadmi hai 'He's an absolutely dangerous man'.
bolo 'Tell', or 'talk'. In this context, the black-marketeer is asking people who want tickets at his price to speak up.
BSES Brihanmumbai Suburban Electric Supply.
budhau, budhdha An old man, an old cootthe word 'budhau' is a gently patronizing way to talk about someone. 'Old timer'.
bundal Bad, substandard.
burfi A sweet dish made from thickened milk.
carrom A board game, perhaps of subcontinental origin.
CBI The Criminal Bureau of Investigation.
chaas A refreshing drink made from buttermilk.
chaavi Girlfriend.
chabbis Literally, 'twenty-six'. Bombay slang for a beautiful girl.
chacha, chachu Unclefather's brother.
Chainya Chainya A line from a song from the Hindi film Dil Se ('From the Heart', 1998): 'The shadow, in the shadow '
chakkar Whirl.
Chala jaata hoon kisi ki A line from a song from the Hindi film Mere Jeevan Sathi ('My Lifelong Companion', 1972): 'I walk to the rhythm of a certain person '
chalo 'Let's go'. Another meaning is in the sense of 'then' in the sentence, 'Okay, then, I will see you in Bombay'. So you could say, 'All right, chalo, we'll meet tomorrow morning'.
cham-cham A sweet-dish made from cheese.
champi Head-rub.
channa Chickpeas.
chappan-churi A wily prostitute. After a famous courtesan of Allahbad who survived fifty-six knife wounds inflicted by a lover. Literally, 'fifty-six knife-marks'.
charas Hashish.
charbi Fat.
charpai A traditional cot or bed. Sturdy cloth tape or rope is strung across a wooden frame to make the sleeping surface. Charpais are nowadays used by the poor, or in smaller towns and villages.