FIVE INDIAN WORDS IN OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY

SOME Indian words have stayed on the tongues and minds of people in the Indian diaspora and have been passed down from generation to generation.

As a result, these words have made their way into the Oxford English Dictionary:

Puri

Deriving from the Sanskrit word “Purika”, and now described in the Oxford dictionary as “Indian English”, it is a small round piece of bread made without yeast that is deep-fried and eaten with meat or vegetables.

South African Indians have been known to team puri with a bean curry. Masala

Although masala is widely considered to be a red spice used in a curry in South Africa, Oxford describes it as a mixture of spices used in South Asian cooking.

Masala is generally mixed with a chilli powder before being used, depending on the chef. Ghee

An oily substance with a rich history in India for its use in the kitchen and in Ayurvedic (holistic) medicines.

The dictionary says it as a type of butter used in South Asian cooking.

Ghee, or ghuta as it is known in Sanskrit, is essentially melted butter. Chutney

This cold, thick sauce made from fruit, sugar, spice and vinegar, and eaten with cold meat and cheese, is a common dish on South African plates. Of Hindi origin, it means “to lick”. Aiyo

A word that has arguably come out of the lips of almost every Indian person on the planet. The Oxford dictionary describes aiyo as “Indian English” and it is used to show you are surprised or upset.

South African Indians generally use the word as a prefix to Indian Gods Rama and Yama.