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Quiz about More Words of Indian Origin
Quiz about More Words of Indian Origin

More Words of Indian Origin Trivia Quiz


Given the good reception that the first quiz on words of Indian origin had, here's another one on the contributions of Indian languages to English.

A multiple-choice quiz by almaster. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
almaster
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
192,769
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
1324
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. This fruit, most often associated with India, comes from the Tamil and Malayalan words for this fruit. It was first adopted into Portuguese, and from there entered the English language in the form we know it today. Which fruit? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. We know that 'guru' comes from Sanksrit for teacher or wise man. Which Sanskrit word which means learned man or scholar, is also used in English to describe one who is an expert or a scholar in one's particular field? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. This word, which has been borrowed from Hindi, means to pillage goods during a period of war or just plain robbery. Which word?

Answer: (4 letters)
Question 4 of 10
4. Another interesting Sanskrit word, which became infamous in the last century, refers to a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Hinduism. Which word? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. One of the most recent entrants into the Oxford Dictionary, this word is the Hindi word for devotional songs, sung at prayer meetings and festivals? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. The word, "bandana", comes from the Hindi word for what? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. This sweet word gets its name from the Sanskrit word for the same product. Which word?

Answer: (...and spice (5 letters))
Question 8 of 10
8. The disputed state of Kashmir in North India, also lends its name to a type of wool.


Question 9 of 10
9. The word cheroot, referring to a cigar made with a cheaper tobacco, which comes from the French word Cheroute, but actually originates from a word in which South Indian language? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Which country's name also comes from the Sanskrit word meaning "Land of the Lion"? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This fruit, most often associated with India, comes from the Tamil and Malayalan words for this fruit. It was first adopted into Portuguese, and from there entered the English language in the form we know it today. Which fruit?

Answer: Mango

The word 'mango' comes from the Portuguese word, 'manga', which by itself comes from the Tamil and Malayalam word, 'mankay' for the fruit. India is the world's largest producer and exporter of numerous kinds of mangoes, especially the luscious "Alphonso" variety, besides others of varying size, shape, colour and taste.
2. We know that 'guru' comes from Sanksrit for teacher or wise man. Which Sanskrit word which means learned man or scholar, is also used in English to describe one who is an expert or a scholar in one's particular field?

Answer: pundit

'Pundit', is a Sanskrit word which has been adopted into English to describe one who is very learned in his or her specific field. It is a variation of the word "Pandit", which in Sanskrit referred to a learned man, usually a Brahmin versed in the sacred texts.
3. This word, which has been borrowed from Hindi, means to pillage goods during a period of war or just plain robbery. Which word?

Answer: Loot

The word "loot" is actually a Hindi word which means the same thing as in English.
4. Another interesting Sanskrit word, which became infamous in the last century, refers to a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Hinduism. Which word?

Answer: swastika

The swastika, maligned as it is in western countries due to its unfortunate association with Nazism and the Holocaust, was actually a good luck symbol deriving from the Sanskrit word for the Infinite, "aum". Interestingly, the swastika was associated with several cultures with Indo-Aryan heritages, such as the Greeks, Persians, Trojans and even travelled to the Far East with Buddhism.

It was always associated with good luck and benediction, till of course, it became irreconcilably associated with Nazism. So remember, if you see your Indian neighbour with a swastika design in his or her house or front door, they are just hoping for their good luck, and are not the local members of the Neo-Nazi Party!
5. One of the most recent entrants into the Oxford Dictionary, this word is the Hindi word for devotional songs, sung at prayer meetings and festivals?

Answer: bhajan

Bhajans are light tunes with two to three verses, sung in the praise of a particular God during the festival periods and in prayer meetings. OF the other words, Bhagwan is the Hindi word for deity, bhakti for devotion and bhang ... well for cannabis. All these words were included in the latest version of the Oxford English dictionary.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2004/07/05/stories/2004070502472000.htm
6. The word, "bandana", comes from the Hindi word for what?

Answer: to tie

Bandana comes from the Hindi word, "Bandhana" which means to tie and refers to a kerchief or colourful cloth which is usually tied around the head and worn as headgear.
7. This sweet word gets its name from the Sanskrit word for the same product. Which word?

Answer: sugar

The word "Sugar" comes from the Sanskrit word for the same product, Shakkra. India is one of the world's leading producers of sugarcane, and as such has a long history of making sugar. However, most of the sugar produced is not very high quality and is hence mainly for local consumption.
8. The disputed state of Kashmir in North India, also lends its name to a type of wool.

Answer: True

Cashmere wool is gotten from the Cashmere goat, found in the Himalayan regions of India, China, Mongolia and Afghanistan. Its name is derived from the state (then princely state) of Kashmir, though very little of it actually comes from Kashmir itself. The veryt finest of cashmere is called pashmina wool.
9. The word cheroot, referring to a cigar made with a cheaper tobacco, which comes from the French word Cheroute, but actually originates from a word in which South Indian language?

Answer: Tamil

The French word, cheroute, also comes from the Tamil word, "curruttu", meaning circular or to be spiral. After Sanskrit and Hindi, Tamil has perhaps contributed the most number of words to the English language, as far as Indian languages go.
10. Which country's name also comes from the Sanskrit word meaning "Land of the Lion"?

Answer: Singapore

Singapore comes from the Sanskrit words "Singha" and "Pura", meaning "Land of the Lion" and later anglicized to Singapore after it became a British Colony.

Hope you enjoyed this quiz.
Source: Author almaster

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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