Hindi has given to English many clothing terms ("bangle", "sari"), food words ("samosa", "basmati") and words to do with crime ("loot", "thug"). There are many other words.
Please note that Hindi is the name of the language while Hindu is the name of a religion.
| Word | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| bandanna | dyed cloth | One of many cloth and clothing terms from Hindi. |
| bangle | Glass bracelets. | |
| basmati | A type of rice. One of many food terms from Hindi. | |
| Blighty | foreign | UK soldiers' slang for the homeland. |
| cheetah | ||
| chintz | Painted cotton cloth. | |
| chutney | A side dish for food. | |
| coolie | Someone who does the hard work. | |
| cot | Place to sleep. | |
| cummerbund | close waist | |
| dungaree | A type of coarse cloth. | |
| goolies | balls, bullets | UK slang for 'testicles'. |
| Himalaya | abode of snow | Mountain range in India, Nepal and Tibet. |
| jodhpurs | Riding breeches named after their town of origin. | |
| juggernaut | UK word for a large lorry. From 'Juganath', the name of an Indian god whose image gets carried around the town in a huge cart once a year. | |
| jungle | Now used as another term for a thick forest. | |
| loot | Stolen goods. | |
| mahout | elephant driver | |
| pukka | ripe | Used in the UK to mean 'good' or 'right'. |
| punch | five | As in the drink - from the five ingredients used. |
| pundit | learned | As in a 'sporting pundit'. Used in the UK. |
| samosa | A spicy snack popular in the UK. | |
| sari | The distinctive wrap-around cloth worn by many women in India. | |
| sentry | armed guard | |
| shampoo | massage | |
| thug | From a Hindu sect ('Thugees') that would kill people for the goddess, Kali. |
