गोरा
gorā/ɡoː.ɾɑː/
The Hindi phrase for "white person" is गोरा (gorā).
While it can function as an adjective, in common parlance गोरा is used as a noun to mean a white person. It describes a person of light skin, typically of European descent.
What does it mean word for word?
The term गोरा literally refers to someone with fair or light skin, rather than the color white itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes based on the gender and number of the person being described. Use गोरी when referring to a woman, and use गोरे when referring to multiple people or used as a respectful form. The default masculine form is गोरा.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is gorā. The syllables are 2.
Did you know?
- While गोरा is a neutral descriptor, the term फिरंगी is a more historical and sometimes derogatory way to refer to Europeans.
- The word गोरा is derived from the Sanskrit word गौर, which refers to a pale yellow or golden hue rather than a pure bleached white.
- In Hindi, गोरा is often used as a desirable beauty standard, and the phrase गोरा होना can be used to describe the process of skin brightening.
Examples in context
- वह एक गोरी महिला है।She is a white woman.
- वह एक गोरा आदमी है।vaha ek gora aadmi hai.He is a white man.
- क्या वह गोरा है?kya vaha gora hai?Is he a white person?
Example conversation
Aditya and Pooja are talking about a tourist they saw.
- आदित्य Adityaवह गोरा व्यक्ति कहाँ गया?Vah gora vyakti kahan gaya?Where did that white man go?
- पूजा Poojaवह होटल के अंदर गया है।Vah hotel ke andar gaya hai.He has gone inside the hotel.
- आदित्य Adityaक्या वह अंग्रेज़ था?Kya vah angrez tha?Was he English?
- पूजा Poojaहाँ, वह गोरा लग रहा था।Haan, vah gora lag raha tha.Yes, he looked white.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry गोरा, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries गोरा, CC BY-SA 4.0.
