hindoo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareArchaic, Historical, Potentially Offensive
Quick answer
What does “hindoo” mean?
A dated term for a person who practises Hinduism or is a native of Hindustan.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A dated term for a person who practises Hinduism or is a native of Hindustan.
A term historically used to refer to a follower of the religion of Hinduism or an inhabitant of India. It is now largely considered archaic, superseded by 'Hindu'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic and obsolete in both varieties. No significant difference in historical usage patterns.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term evokes the colonial era and is associated with now-outdated anthropological or missionary texts. It can be perceived as patronising or misrepresentative.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use. Appears almost exclusively in historical quotations or discussions of historical terminology.
Grammar
How to Use “hindoo” in a Sentence
(be) + Hindooa/the + Hindoo + [noun]Hindoo + nounVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hindoo” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The colonial document described Hindoo customs in detail.
- A Hindoo festival was depicted in the 18th-century engraving.
American English
- The early missionary wrote about Hindoo traditions.
- He studied the Hindoo scriptures from a 19th-century translation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used only in historical, post-colonial, or religious studies when quoting or analysing period sources.
Everyday
Should be avoided entirely.
Technical
Not used in modern technical language.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hindoo”
- Using 'Hindoo' in modern writing or speech.
- Confusing it with the modern and correct 'Hindu'.
- Assuming it is a respectful or standard variant.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Only when directly quoting a historical source or discussing the history of the term itself. In all other modern contexts, 'Hindu' is correct.
'Hindoo' is an archaic spelling and form of the word 'Hindu'. The modern, standard spelling is 'Hindu'.
The change reflects standardisation and a move away from colonial-era transliterations towards more accurate and respectful representations of the term as used by the people it describes.
Historically, it was sometimes used loosely to mean 'Indian', but this was inaccurate and is now completely obsolete and inappropriate. Use 'Indian' for nationality and 'Hindu' for religious affiliation.
A dated term for a person who practises Hinduism or is a native of Hindustan.
Hindoo is usually archaic, historical, potentially offensive in register.
Hindoo: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɪnduː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɪnduː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: HINDOO is an OLD double-O spelling for 'Hindu'.
Conceptual Metaphor
Religion/ethnicity as a fixed, exoticised 'other' (historical colonial perspective).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason for avoiding the term 'Hindoo' in modern English?