Indian

For “cool” meaning great, young Hindi speakers say मस्त (mast) or कूल (kool). For low temperature, use ठंडा (thanda).

Jasmine is चमेली (chameli) in Hindi. A closely related, very fragrant white flower is called मोगरा (mogra).

When raising a glass, Hindi speakers say चियर्स (chiyars), borrowed from English.

A man is an आदमी (aadmi) in everyday speech. पुरुष (purush) is the formal word used on forms and signs, and मर्द (mard) stresses manliness.

India is भारत (Bharat) in Hindi, which is also the country’s official Indian name. People also say इंडिया (India) and हिंदुस्तान (Hindustan).

English, the language, is अंग्रेज़ी (aṅgrezī) in Hindi. An English person is an अंग्रेज़ (aṅgrez). अंग्रेज़ी works as a noun and as an adjective.

A lion is a शेर (sher). The literary word is सिंह (singh) and a lioness is a शेरनी (sherni). A tiger is a different animal, called बाघ (baagh).

“Goodnight” is शुभ रात्रि (śubh rātri). Friends also say शब्बा खैर (shabbā khair), and many people use गुड नाइट (guḍ nāiṭ) from English.

Children ask for a टॉफ़ी (tofi) when they want a small wrapped candy. कैंडी (kaindi) is also used, and मिठाई (mithaai) means traditional Indian sweets.

The Hindi word for owl is उल्लू (ullū). It also appears in everyday speech as a mild insult for a foolish person. उल्लू (ullū) names the bird.