shikari: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very Low Frequency)Formal/Literary, Historical, Regional
Quick answer
What does “shikari” mean?
A hunter, especially in South Asia.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A hunter, especially in South Asia.
A term for a skilled hunter, guide, or tracker on big-game hunting expeditions, particularly during the British colonial era in India; can imply a person with deep knowledge of local terrain and wildlife.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is historically more familiar in British English due to colonial history, but it remains extremely rare in both varieties. American usage is almost exclusively in historical or literary contexts about India.
Connotations
In both varieties, it evokes a romanticized or historical image of hunting in colonial India. May carry negative connotations related to colonialism and endangered species for some modern readers.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Slightly higher recognition in British English, but still obscure.
Grammar
How to Use “shikari” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] shikari VERB-ed the NOUN.They relied on the shikari for NOUN.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shikari” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not used as a verb.
American English
- Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not used as an adjective.
American English
- Not used as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, post-colonial, or South Asian studies texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
May appear in very specific historical writings on hunting or colonial history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shikari”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shikari”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shikari”
- Using it to refer to any modern hunter (e.g., 'He's a shikari who hunts deer in Colorado.' - Incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'shikari' without the 'h'.
- Pronouncing it with a 'k' sound instead of the aspirated 'kh' /kʰ/ in the original Urdu.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized word primarily encountered in historical or literary contexts related to South Asia.
It would be unusual and potentially misleading. Use 'hunter', 'guide', or 'tracker' instead, unless you are deliberately evoking a specific historical or South Asian setting.
It is a loanword from Urdu (شِکارى), which itself comes from Persian, meaning 'hunter' or 'sportsman'.
Not in common English usage. The word itself is not gender-specific in its source language, but in historical English contexts it was almost exclusively applied to men.
A hunter, especially in South Asia.
Shikari is usually formal/literary, historical, regional in register.
Shikari: in British English it is pronounced /ʃɪˈkɑːri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ʃɪˈkɑri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'She carries (sounds like shikari) a rifle as a hunter in India.'
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A WEAPON; the shikari's knowledge of the jungle is as crucial as his rifle.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'shikari' most appropriately used?