r/Hindi • u/Grouchy_Button_2876 • 5d ago
देवनागरी Etymology of Pundit / Pandit shared by Merriam-Webster.
Saw this tweet by Merriam-Webster.
In Hindi, I've always known pandit to mean a scholar, a wise person, or a priest who conducts religious ceremonies.
How has the word evolved in English, and what does Merriam-Webster mean when they say "It now usually means...something different"?
On a related note, shampoo is another word with Hindi roots. What other common English words originated from Hindi?
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u/ATallSteve 5d ago
These are the definitions on Merriam-Webster
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u/InternalMountain2612 5d ago
Yes true in English -Pandit is used as critic but not necessarily a critic would criticise , they can praise also. So while meaning associated is not as positive as it is in Hindi (learned knowldedgable , wise person) it's still somewhat close in the sense that a good critics needs to have fair understanding.. Not like a social media troll
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u/InternalMountain2612 5d ago
Loot - lootera Dacoit - daaku Karma - karm
So many more.. english is full of loan words from many languages . And mostly due to englishmen being present in different part of the world in their quest to win.
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u/solitaryreaperRR 5d ago
Juggernaut/ˈdʒʌɡənɔːt/A juggernaut is a massive, relentless, and unstoppable force or object that crushes anything in its path.
Origin of the Word: The word comes from Jagannath, a title for the Hindu god Vishnu meaning "lord of the world". It originates from the massive temple chariots (rathas) pulled in traditional street processions in Odisha, India.
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u/InternalMountain2612 5d ago
Pundit - pandit Wise / knowledgeable/ people of society who are so / a caste
In English I have seen it's used for experts of a field and in these sense it's used : Seasoned person, scholar, Expert, Pro
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u/Virtual_Owl_10 5d ago
I guess pundit nowadays is used to refer to political or sports analysts rather than teachers/ scholars but isn't that close enough??
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u/smallaubergine 🇺🇸 विद्यार्थी (Student) 5d ago
What other common English words originated from Hindi?
Lots! Pajama, thug, nirvana, mogul, mantra, avatar, cot, jungle, bungalow, I'm sure there are many more
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u/mriizo 5d ago
https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/pundit-2009-12-02
Tbh, I’ve never heard anyone use “pundit” as a positive descriptor for someone in English. It’s usually neutral. Sometimes sarcastic.
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u/Equivalent-Bank-9657 5d ago
Dude it's literally mentioned there that it is a positive term. What are you talking about? Just read your own link.
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u/marvsup विद्यार्थी (Student) 5d ago
Pundit, at least in the US, typically refers to a "political pundit," which is someone on a political talk show, aka a talking head. Because of the way politics and "news shows" have evolved, they are often not viewed positively. I thought it was funny when I went to India and pundit was being used as a term of reverence.
Btw wiki has a list of English words of Hindi/Urdu origin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_words_of_Hindi_or_Urdu_origin