Dictionary

Indian en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈɪnɖ(ɪ)jən/ (India)
• /ˈɪn.dɪ.ən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio
• /ˈɪn.di.ən/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English Indien, from Anglo-Norman indien, Middle French indien, corresponding to Ind + -ian or India + -an. Applied to inhabitants of the Americas due to an early misconception that the Americas were the eastern end of Asia / the Indies (hence also the designation of Caribbean islands as the West Indies).

Meanings

1. Of or relating to India or its people; or (formerly) of the East Indies.
   • An IAF representative told an Indian parliamentary committee that due to the Ukraine war a “major delivery” from Moscow “is not going to take place.” 2023 March 24, Rhea Mogul, “Russia can’t meet India arms deliveries due to Ukraine war, Indian Air Force says”, in CNN, archived from the original on 15 Jun 2024:
2. (obsolete) Eastern; Oriental.
   • The morrow next apprear'd with purple hayre / Yet dropping fresh out of the Indian fount, / And bringing light into the heavens fayre […]. 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
3. (proscribed) Of or relating to the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
   • The hardships of bark-collecting in the primeval forests of South America are of the severest kind, and undergone only by the half-civilized Indians and people of mixed race, in the pay of speculators or companies located in the towns. 1879, Friedrich August Flückiger et al., Pharmacographia..., page 346:
4. (Canada, US, of foods, proscribed) Made with Indian corn or maize.
   • Indian meal
   • Indian bread
5. Designating any of various chess openings now characterised by black's attempt to control the board through knights and fianchettoed bishops rather than with a central pawn advance.

Forms

Deriveds

Indian fig · Indian blanketflower · Indian harp · Hindian · Indian persimmon · Indian darter · Indian cherry · Indianness · Indian beet · Indian wax scale · Indianize · Indian red · Black East Indian · Indian rojak · Indian poker · Indian relish · Indian nard · Indian golden oriole · Indian Territory · Indian fever · Indian rhubarb · French and Indian War · Indian fire · Indian fox · fringed Indian pink · Indian Orthodox Church · Queen's Indian Defence · Indian peacock · Asian Indian · Indian aconite · Indian pudding · Indian goosegrass · Indian mallow · Indian file · pan-Indian · American Indian · Indian-American · Indian apple · Indian rose chestnut · Indian mustard · Indian Summer Monsoon · Indian wheat · Indian wrestling · Indian mulberry · Indian tapir · Indian myna · Indian ink · Indian thistle · Indian Lake Estates · status Indian · Indian eagle-owl · Indian tick typhus · Indian caper · Indian bean tree · Indian coffee plum · Indian pond heron · East Indian · Indian mahogany · Indian band · Indian bean · Indian ginger · Indian pipe · Indian hawthorn · Indian rugburn · Indian paintbrush · Indian Runner · Indian rhinoceros · Indian elephant · Indiana · Indian paint rock · Indian corn · Indian liquorice · harsh Indian paintbrush · Indian River · Indian nightjar · King's Indian Defence · Indian blanket · Indian caustic barley · Indian potato · Indian pangolin · Indian sunburn · Indian yellow · Indian swiftlet · Indian tonic water · Indian jujube · Indian coral tree · Indian paint pot · Indian shot · Indian sign · Indian pea · Indian tobacco · Indian sandalwood · Indian meal · Indian hemp · Indian warrior · Indian trumpet flower · Indian skimmer · Indian giving · Indian ghost · Indian almond · Indian star tortoise · Indian marking-nut tree · quantum of Indian blood · Indian Mills · Indian cobra · Indian summer · Indian lotus · Indian strawberry · Indian Wells · Indian Rocks Beach · Indian pariah dog · Indian sarsaparilla · Indian spotted creeper · Indian silver greywood · Indian Ocean · too many chiefs and not enough Indians · Indian lemonade · Amerind · Indian bullfrog · Indian Orchard · Indian carp · Indian ox · Indian wolf · Indian burn · West Indian · Indian licorice · Indian peafowl · Indian paintpot · Indian plum · Indian plantain · Amerindian · Indian hog deer · Indian geranium · non-status Indian · Indian style · Indian boys and girls · Indian bison

Relateds

Indo-

Synonyms

First Nation · Native American · Hindian · Amerindian · Desi · Indic · East Indian · Indish

Translations (161)

es indoamericano (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · pt hindu (of India) · ps هندوستاني (of India) · be інды́йскі (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · nrf Îndgien (of India) · cy Indiaidd (of India) · fr amérindien (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ca indià (of India) · la indicus (of India) · es amerindio (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hi भारतीय (of India) · gv Injinagh (of India) · nn indiansk (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hy հնդկացիական (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · cs indický (of India) · et india (of India) · be інды́йскі (of India) · hu indiai (of India) · sh indìjānskī (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ca indià (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · bg индиа́нски (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hu ind (of India) · fa هندی (of India) · es indo (of India) · sl índijski (of India) · sh ѝндӣјскӣ (of India) · he הׇדִּי (of India) · sl indijánski (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · lo ອິນເດຍ (of India) · is indverskur (of India) · ta சிவப்பு இந்தியர்களின் (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · oc indian (of India) · ga Indiach (of India) · tl Indiyano (of India) · af Indies (of India) · lt indų (of India) · grc Ἰνδικός (of India) · mk индиски (of India) · gv Injinagh (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · id India (of India) · pt indiano (of India) · gd Innseanach (of India) · ur ہندوستانی (of India) · ro indian (of India) · jv Indhi (of India) · da indiansk (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ast hindú (of India) · cmn 印地安的 (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · es indígena (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · or ଭାରତୀୟ (of India) · chr ᎠᏴᏫᏯ (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · gd Innseanach (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · it indiano (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · as ভাৰতীয়া (of India) · sh ìndījskī (of India) · de indisch (of India) · ka ინდიელების (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ar هِنْدِيّ (of India) · sh индѝја̄нскӣ (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ia indian (of India) · crg Pramyayr Naasyoon (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · es indio (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · pl hinduski (of India) · fi intialainen (of India) · pl indiański (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · nl Indiaas (of India) · nb indisk (of India) · pt índio (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · es jashte (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fi intiaani- (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · el ινδιάνικος (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · km ឥណ្ឌា (of India) · haw ʻĪnia (of India) · hi मूल अमेरिकी (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · kk үнді (of India) · tg ҳиндӣ (of India) · ru инди́йский (of India) · uk інді́йський (of India) · he אינדיאני (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ja インドの (of India) · lt indėnų (of India) · mi kiriwhero (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · cy Amerindiaidd (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · pt ameríndio (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · es hindú (of India) · fa هندوستانی (of India) · es indio (of India) · nl inheems (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · km ឥណ្ឌៀ (of India) · th อินเดีย (of India) · is indíána- (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hi हिन्दी (of India) · ta இந்திய (of India) · uz hind (of India) · nl Indiaans (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ko 인도의 (of India) · as ভাৰতীয় (of India) · kla maqlaqs (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · el ινδικός (of India) · ja インディアンの (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · cy Indiaidd (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · de indianisch (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ru инде́йский (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · tr Hintli (of India) · tr Hint (of India) · lv indiāņu (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fr indien (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · lv indiešu (of India) · et indiaani (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · pt indígena (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · sv indiansk (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ur بھارتی (of India) · sq indian (of India) · nb indiansk (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · frm indien (of India) · gl hindú (of India) · frm indique (of India) · ms India (of India) · nn indisk (of India) · ro indian (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ast indiu (of India) · vi Ấn Độ (of India) · hy հնդկական (of India) · cmn 印度的 (of India) · te భారతీయ (of India) · sk indický (of India) · fr indien (of India) · cmn 印第安的 (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · es indiano (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · tg ҳиндустонӣ (of India) · nl Indisch (of India) · ko 인디언의 (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hu indián (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · be індзе́йскі (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ro amerindian (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · jv India (of India) · az hindi (of India) · ang Indisċ (of India) · cs indiánský (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ia indian (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ta சிவப்பு இந்திய (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · uk індіа́нський (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · pa ਹਿੰਦੀ (of India) · bg инди́йски (of India) · kk үнділік (of India) · mk индијански (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · pl indyjski (of India) · pa ਭਾਰਤੀ (of India) · ka ინდური (of India) · it indiano (of India) · mh Intiia (of India) · es jashto (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hi हिन्दुस्तानी (of India) · eo barata (of India) · csm míw·y- (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · uk індія́нський (of the aboriginal people of the Americas) · bn ভারতীয় (of India) · sv indisk (of India) · da indisk (of India) · vi Ấn (of India) · mr भारतीय (of India)

Indian en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɪnɖ(ɪ)jən/ (India)
• /ˈɪn.dɪ.ən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio
• /ˈɪn.di.ən/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English Indien, from Anglo-Norman indien, Middle French indien, corresponding to Ind + -ian or India + -an. Applied to inhabitants of the Americas due to an early misconception that the Americas were the eastern end of Asia / the Indies (hence also the designation of Caribbean islands as the West Indies).

Meanings

1. (countable) A person from India.
   • [A]ll personnel are to be hereby ordered to refer to her as a "Kumiho," and not a "Kitsune." Personnel asking what the difference is are to be reminded of the difference between a Cherokee Indian and a New Delhi Indian. 2025, collective, “SCP-953”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 08 Jan 2026:
   • Young Indians looking for work opportunities have made up a sizeable portion of undocumented migrants in the US, many after making the dangerous trek through Latin America to reach the US southern border. 2025 February 7, Esha Mitra, Aishwarya S Iyer and Ross Adkin, “‘Treated like criminals’: Shackling of Indians aboard 40-hour migrant flight sparks new outrage against Trump”, in CNN, archived from the original on 27 Feb 2025:
2. (countable, proscribed) An American Indian, a member of one of the indigenous peoples of the Americas (generally excluding the Aleut, Inuit, Metis, and Yupik).
   • With savage desperation the Indian lunged his horse straight at Hopalong and, knife in hand, leaped for him! 1951, Louis L'Amour, Rustlers of West Fork:
   • We stigmatize the Indians, also, as cowardly and treacherous, because they use stratagem in warfare in preference to open force; but in this they are fully justified by their rude code of honor. 1820 July, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Traits of Indian Character”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., New York, N.Y.: […] C[ornelius] S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC:
   • High Jack had been drinking too much rum ever since we landed in Boca. You know how an Indian is—the palefaces fixed his clock when they introduced him to firewater. 1909, O. Henry [pseudonym; William Sydney Porter], “He Also Serves”, in Options:
   • [A]ll personnel are to be hereby ordered to refer to her as a "Kumiho," and not a "Kitsune." Personnel asking what the difference is are to be reminded of the difference between a Cherokee Indian and a New Delhi Indian. 2025, collective, “SCP-953”, in SCP Foundation:
3. (countable, obsolete) An indigenous inhabitant of Australia, New Zealand or the Pacific islands.
4. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of Indian cuisine.
   alt of Indian cuisine
   • Have you ever tried Indian?
5. (UK, abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, countable, ellipsis) Ellipsis of Indian meal (“meal consisting of Indian cuisine”).
   alt of Indian meal
   • We're going out tonight for an Indian.
6. (UK, abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, countable, ellipsis) Ellipsis of Indian restaurant (“restaurant serving Indian cuisine”).
   alt of Indian restaurant
   • We're going down to the Indian for a curry—wanna join us?
7. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis) Ellipsis of Mardi Gras Indian.
   alt of Mardi Gras Indian
8. (countable, uncountable) A kind of marble (spherical toy) with colored bands on an opaque black base.

Forms

Deriveds

Pueblo Indian · honest Indian

Synonyms

NDN · Red Indian · First American · Amerindian · Indigenous North American · Indigenous American · Native American · Indian · Amerind · Desi · East Indian · redman · Red Indian · Native American · redskin · Hindian · American Indian · red man · Amerindian · Injun · First Nations person · injun · Asian Indian

Translations (252)

ta இந்தியர் (a person from India) · uz hindu (a person from India) · sl Indijánka (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fr Indien (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fr amérindien (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fo indi (a person from India) · ro amerindiancă (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hi हिन्दू (a person from India) · sv indian (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · vi các dân tộc bản địa của châu Mỹ (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · uk індіяни́н (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · apw ndee (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · id indian (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · is Indverji (a person from India) · ko 인디언 (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · eo hindiano (a person from India) · uk інді́йка (a person from India) · nl Indiaan (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · nl bok (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · az hindi (a person from India) · ka ინდოელი (a person from India) · sh Indìjānka (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · sh Индѝја̄нка (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ms orang India (a person from India) · sl Indijánec (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · gv Injinagh (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · it amerindia (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ja アメリカ先住民 (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · cmn 印第安人 (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · nn indianar (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · sl Índijka (a person from India) · nb indianer (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · nl Indiaanse (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · cmn 印度人 (a person from India) · af Indiaan (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · it indiana (a person from India) · txb yentuke (a person from India) · fa سرخپوست (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · mk Индија́нка (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · kla maqlaqs (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ja 印度人 (a person from India) · th คนอินเดีย (a person from India) · gd Innseanach (a person from India) · gl amerindia (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hi हिन्दुस्तानी (a person from India) · et indiaanlane (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · es indígena (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ro amerindian (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · non skrælingi (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · pt hindu (a person from India) · uk індіа́нин (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · or ଭାରତୀୟ (a person from India) · ro indiancă (a person from India) · mk Индијка (a person from India) · tew tʼowa (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · pt indígena (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · tr Hint (a person from India) · lt indas (a person from India) · ast india (a person from India) · pt ameríndio (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ur بھارتی (a person from India) · ro indiancă (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · el Ινδιάνα (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · sh Ìndījka (a person from India) · nl indiaan (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · es hindú (a person from India) · bg индиа́нка (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ru инду́с (a person from India) · pt índia (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fo indiáni (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ta இந்தியன் (a person from India) · es indio (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · cy Indiad (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · mh ri-Intiia (a person from India) · ar هِنْدِيَّة (a person from India) · bg инди́ец (a person from India) · cs Ind (a person from India) · it indiana (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · da inder (a person from India) · eo baratano (a person from India) · el Ινδιάνος (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · pl Hinduska (a person from India) · es india (a person from India) · ja インディアン (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · vi thổ dân châu Mỹ (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · es jashto (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · sv indier (a person from India) · ang Indisċ (a person from India) · uk індіа́нець (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · is indíáni (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ka ინდიელი (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · as ভাৰতীয়া (a person from India) · pt índio (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hu indus (a person from India) · fi intiaani (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · nl indiaanse (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · te భారతీయుడు (a person from India) · ca indià (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · sh Индија́нац (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fr Indienne (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · es indo (a person from India) · fi intialainen (a person from India) · be індыя́нка (a person from India) · as ভাৰতীয় (a person from India) · mi Kiriwhero (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · apw nnéé (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · yua masewal (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · it amerindio (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ro indian (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · sh Indijánac (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · et indialane (a person from India) · hi मूल अमेरिकी (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ru индиа́нка (a person from India) · lv indietis (a person from India) · ru инди́ец (a person from India) · sw Mhindi (a person from India) · fr Amérindienne (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hy հնդկացի (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · nv tó wónaanídę́ę́ʼ bitsįʼ yishtłizhii (a person from India) · cs indiánka (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fr amérindienne (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · uk індія́нець (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hi इंडियन (a person from India) · nb inder (a person from India) · es jashte (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ky индиялык (a person from India) · ru америка́нская индиа́нка (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · sh Indíjac (a person from India) · hrx Buger (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · be індыя́нка (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · gl amerindio (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · nrf Îndgienne (a person from India) · ro indian (a person from India) · nl inheemse (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · apw nnee (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · es amerindio (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ko 인도인 (a person from India) · id orang india (a person from India) · cy Indiad (a person from India) · mk Индиец (a person from India) · pl Indianin (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · haw ʻĪnia (a person from India) · ast hindú (a person from India) · chr ᎠᏴᏫᏯᎢ (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ru индиа́нка (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · cs indián (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · be інды́ец (a person from India) · de Indianer (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ta சிவப்பு இந்தியர் (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · tg ҳинду (a person from India) · es indio (a person from India) · lt indė (a person from India) · es indoamericana (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · sk Indka (a person from India) · tr Kızılderili (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · mk Индија́нец (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fr Amérindien (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · kk үнді (a person from India) · hy հնդիկ (a person from India) · it indiano (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · apw nndee (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · uz hindi (a person from India) · cmn 美洲印第安人 (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · eo baratanino (a person from India) · ru инду́ска (a person from India) · apj didé (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · nv Bitsįʼ yishtłizhii (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ce индо (a person from India) · pt ameríndia (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · lv indiete (a person from India) · ca indià m indiana (a person from India) · ia indiano (a person from India) · de Indianerin (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · eo hindianino (a person from India) · es indiano (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · uk індіа́нка (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · eo indianino (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · eo indiano (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hu indiai (a person from India) · be індзе́ец (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ia indiano (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · be інды́ец (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · el Ινδή (a person from India) · nl Indiër (a person from India) · twf tʼóyna (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hu indián (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fr Indienne (a person from India) · ja インド人 (a person from India) · hy կարմրամորթ (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · cs Indka (a person from India) · ar هِنْدِيّ (a person from India) · es amerindia (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · pl Hindus (a person from India) · sl Índijec (a person from India) · apm ndé (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ta சிவப்பு இந்தியன் (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · cmn 印第安 (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · lv indiānis (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ru инде́ец (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · uk інді́єць (a person from India) · af Indiër (a person from India) · sv indiska (a person from India) · gl indio (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · gv Injinagh (a person from India) · it indiano d'America (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · hi हिन्दी (a person from India) · it indiano (a person from India) · fo indverji (a person from India) · ast indiu (a person from India) · sk Ind (a person from India) · nl Indiase (a person from India) · pt indiano (a person from India) · hi भारतीय (a person from India) · nn indar (a person from India) · cy Amerindiad (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · tr Hindistanlı (a person from India) · bg инди́йка (a person from India) · fr indienne (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · gd Innseanach (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · bg индиа́нец (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · mus estecate (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · es indoamericano (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ur ہندوستانی (a person from India) · fr indien (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ru америка́нский инде́ец (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · paw Caahiksicaahiks (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · es indiana (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fa هندی (a person from India) · ko 인도 사람 (a person from India) · ja インディオ (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · sv indianska (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fr Indien (a person from India) · de Inderin (a person from India) · vi người da đỏ (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · fo indari (a person from India) · cs Americký indián (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · nrf Îndgien (a person from India) · ce хӏиндо (a person from India) · el Ινδός (a person from India) · ny Mmwenye (a person from India) · kk үнділік (a person from India) · sh Инди́јац (a person from India) · apw indee (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · de Inder (a person from India) · ca indiana (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ro indian american (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · da indianer (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · sq indian (a person from India) · pl Indianka (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas) · ce хӏиндихо (a person from India) · vi người Ấn Độ (a person from India) · srn ingi (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas)

Indian en · PROPN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɪnɖ(ɪ)jən/ (India)
• /ˈɪn.dɪ.ən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio
• /ˈɪn.di.ən/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English Indien, from Anglo-Norman indien, Middle French indien, corresponding to Ind + -ian or India + -an. Applied to inhabitants of the Americas due to an early misconception that the Americas were the eastern end of Asia / the Indies (hence also the designation of Caribbean islands as the West Indies).

Meanings

1. (nonstandard) Any of the (unrelated) languages spoken by American Indians.
2. (nonstandard, rare) Any language spoken by natives of India, especially Hindi.
   • [They said] 'Mutton can speak Indian', 'Mutton can see Kanchinjunga out of his bedroom window'[.] 1968, Anne Rider, A hilltop in hazard, page 51: