गुम-कोश (Lost-arry)

अनुवाद में खो गए शब्दों का कोष| A glossary of words lost in translation.

रेकी (Reki) - Recce

British informal shorthand for reconnaissance, used in context of planning. In the north indian context it's usually used to describe the act of checking out a flat or plot of land before you buy it.

Example:

आज फ्लैट की रेकी कर के आये

Today we went for a recce of the flat

कलेश (Kalesh) - Clash

From English “clash,” meaning conflict or fight. In North Indian slang, it is commonly used to describe drama, arguments, or any chaotic situation.

माचिस (Machis) - Matches

Matches in English become Machis in Hindi.

अस्पताल (Aspatal/Haspatal) - Hospital

Adapted from English “hospital.” In colloquial Hindi, the “h” sound is often dropped, resulting in “aspatal.”

Example:

उसे तुरंत अस्पताल ले जाया गया

He was taken to the hospital immediately

आइसपाइस (Isepais) - I spy

आइसपाइस (Isepais) The gibberish mispronunceation of "I spy" which we screamed for all our childhoods without knowing what it actually means.

बिरादरी (Biraadri) - Brotherhood / Community

Actrually from Persian/Urdu “biradar” meaning brother. “Biradari” refers to a community, clan, or social group bound by kinship, caste or shared identity.

Example:

वो अपनी बिरादरी के लोगों के साथ रहता है

He lives among people of his community

गलियारा (Galiaara) - Corridor / Passage

From English “gallery.” In Hindi, it refers to a corridor or passageway in a building.

Example:

लंबे गलियारे में कई कमरे थे

There were many rooms along the long corridor

तारपीन (Taarpeen) - Turpentine

Directly derived from English “turpentine,” a solvent commonly used in paints and cleaning.

Example:

पेंट साफ करने के लिए तारपीन इस्तेमाल करते हैं

Turpentine is used to clean paint

तिरपाल (Tirpal) - Tarpaulin

From English “tarpaulin,” referring to a waterproof sheet used to cover goods or provide temporary shelter.

Example:

सामान को तिरपाल से ढक दो

Cover the goods with a tarpaulin

कनस्तर (Kanastar) - Canister

Adapted from English “canister,” meaning a metal container used for storing oil, fuel, or grains.

Example:

तेल कनस्तर में रखा है

The oil is stored in a canister

लैस (Lais) - Laced / Equipped

From English “laced.” In Hindi usage, “लैस” means equipped with or containing a particular feature or quality.

Example:

यह मशीन नई तकनीक से लैस है

This machine is equipped with new technology

त्रासदी (Traasdi) - Tragedy

Derived from English “tragedy.” It refers to a deeply distressing or disastrous event.

Example:

यह घटना एक बड़ी त्रासदी थी

This incident was a major tragedy

प्लास (Plaas) - Pliers

Pliers in English become Plaas in Hindi.

कंडम (Kandam) - Condemn

बेकार, रद्दी, इस्तेमाल के लायक न होना, या नष्ट। जैसे

"यह मशीन कंडम हो चुकी है।"

"this machine has been kandam-ed"

Often used to either describe scrap, or to describe the process of scrapping. How it ended up meaning this is a mystery. Probably originates from a grandiose order given once upon a time by a British official in India to “condemn” some railroad engine or boiler or something “to scrap” which somehow diffused into the lexicon.

"I hereby declare this engine to be condemned as scrap."

Said some official, probably a gora or maybe even an indian babu

Bade sahab ne bola hai engine ko kabad me kandam karwana hai

Said some clerk to some thekedar.... Teaching him a new word that he did not fully understand himself.

raseed (Raseed) - Receipt

Receipt in English become Raseed in Hindi.