Page 27 of Six Days in Bombay
accha : Hindi for really? and okay
all? : French for hello , especially when answering the telephone
alors : French for so or in that case
baingan : Hindi for eggplant
behan : Hindi for sister
beti : Hindi for daughter
Bhagwan : Hindi for God
bien : French for good , fine
brou?ku : Czech term of endearment meaning little ladybug
brzo se uzdrav : Czech for get well soon
buongiorno : Italian greeting meaning good day
burfi : Indian sweet made of milk
Burra Sahib : Hindi for big master ; what Indians called British administrators
burree aatma : Hindi for evil spirit
caro : Italian term of endearment meaning dear
ca va? : French for is everything okay?
certo : Italian for certainly
chaach : Indian buttermilk drink with cumin and salt and pepper
chai : Hindi for tea
chappals : Hindi for sandals
charkha : Hindi for spinning wheel
che fiasco! : Italian for what a disaster!
chowkidar : Hindi for gateman , watchman
comment? : French for what?
credere, obbedire, combattere : Fascist slogan meaning believe, obey, fight
dall’India? : Italian for are you from India?
děde?ek : Czech for grandfather
désolé : French for I’m sorry if spoken by a male
désolée : French for I’m sorry if spoken by a female
dhoni : person who washes clothes
diya : Indian clay lamp
dhoti : loincloth worn by men, usually white
doodh-walla : Vendor who sells milk
dupattas : Hindi for long scarves worn by women around their shoulders
e adesso? : Italian for what now?
école : French for school
falooda : Refreshing Indian sherbet with thin vermicelli
gori randi : Hindi for white whore
guenon : French derogatory term meaning fucking beast
hahn : Hindi for yes ; hahn-ji has the same meaning but is a respectful address
haricots verts : French for green beans
haveli : Hindi for large house with many people
h?tel particulier : French for grand town house or mansion
Inglese : Italian for English-speaking people
innamorata : Italian for in love
jalebi : Fried Indian sweet covered in orange sugar syrup
kafe : Czech for coffee , informal
katli : Indian sweet often made of cashews
kathputli : Colorful Rajasthani doll made of cloth
káva : Czech for coffee , formal
kofta : Indian seasoned meatball
kofte : Turkish meat seasoned with garlic, onions and cumin
kotha : Hindi for pleasure house , brothel
kulfi : Creamy Indian frozen dessert, ice cream
laddoo : Round Indian sweet made with graham flour or lentils or whole wheat flour
maderchod : Hindi slang for motherfucker
makki ki roti : Indian corn flatbread
malai kofta : Indian dish of fried paneer served in a creamy curry sauce
Marché : French for market ; in the novel, it refers to Paris’s Marché aux Puces
masala bhindi : Hindi for okra cooked with spices
merci : French for thank you
merde : French for shit
mi scusi : Italian for excuse me
mittai : Hindi for sweets
naukaree : Hindi for work or job
nimbu pani : Indian sweet drink made of limes and water
omelette aux fines herbes : French for omelet with herbs
on parle francais? : French for do you speak French?
otec : Czech for father
ovce : Czech for sheep
paan-walla : Vendor who sells Indian paan
pagla : Indian for crazy ; pagli is the feminine form
paise : Small Indian coin
pakoras : Indian vegetables battered and fried
pallu : Tail end of an Indian sari worn over the shoulder
patali-dubali : Hindi for very skinny
per favore : Italian for please
péro : Italian for however
princezno : Czech for princess
puis-je vous aider? : French for can I help you?
ragazze : Italian for girls
rajai : Hindi for coverlet or quilt
rakhi : Threaded amulet that sisters place on brothers’ wrists during the Raksha Bandhan festival in India
rasmalai : Creamy, milky Indian dessert
sahib : Hindi for sir
salam alaikum : Muslim greeting meaning peace
shabash : Hindi for congratulations
salwar kameez : Indian garment for women with tunic and leggings
signora : Italian for ma’am or Mrs.
signorina : Italian for miss
subji-walla : Vendor who sells Indian vegetable curries
suji ka halwa : Indian dessert made from toasted semolina
tartufi : Italian for truffles (fungi)
tavla : Turkish game similar to backgammon
thali : Hindi for round platter used to serve food; sometimes steel or brass
theek hai? : Hindi for everything okay?
tilak : Hindi for ornamental mark made by powder on forehead for religious reasons
va bene : Italian for okay , alright
vous parlez francais? : French for do you speak French?
vous voulez? : French for what would you like?
zari : Gold or silver embroidered border on an Indian sari
zia : Italian for aunt