चाय
chāyeveryday
Tea in Hindi is चाय (chāy). It is also the word English borrowed as chai, though in India it simply means tea, usually boiled with milk and sugar.
Offering tea is a normal act of welcome. You can ask चाय पियेंगे? (chāy piyeṅge?), will you have tea, and answer हाँ, थोड़ी सी (hāṁ, thoṛī sī), yes, a little.
Meaning: hot drink made from tea leaves (noun)
Which one should you use?
A common roadside order is कटिंग चाय (kaṭiṅg chāy) in Mumbai, which is a small half glass. Plain चाय (chāy) is enough anywhere else.
Did you know?
- The English word chai comes from this Hindi word, so saying "chai tea" in English repeats the word for tea.
Examples in context
- एक कप चाय दीजिए।ek kap chāy dījie.Please give me a cup of tea.
- आप चाय पियेंगे?āp chāy piyeṅge?Will you have tea?
Example conversation
Seema welcomes her neighbor Mr. Gupta into her home.
- Seemaनमस्ते, अंदर आइए। चाय पियेंगे?namaste, andar āie. chāy piyeṅge?Hello, come in. Will you have tea?
- Guptaहाँ, थोड़ी सी।hāṁ, thoṛī sī.Yes, a little.
- Seemaअभी लाती हूँ।abhī lātī hūṁ.I will bring it now.
