GLOSSARY



Abbha: Echoic sound, expression of vexation
Addabottu: Lines of ashes across the forehead Saivites wear
Agneyam: Southeast
Akkayya: Alt. Akka. 1. Older sister either by blood or through family
connections. See note under relational terms. 2. A form of address with
reference to female adults.
Akshintalu: Alt. Akshitalu. Rice mixed with turmeric usually used on special
occasions.
Alludu: Son-in-law.
Amma: 1. Mother 2. A form of address for adult females, especially belonging
to higher social status. 3. A term of endearment for women possibly of all
ages.
Anaa: 1/16th of a rupee in pre-Independent India (1947)
Anna or Annayya: 1.Older brother, either by blood or through the family
connections. See the note under relational terms. 2. A form of address with
reference to male adults.
Apacaaram: Sacrilege, wrong.
Appa: a variant of akka, older sister; 2. father.
Atlataddi: A playful, festive day in October for female young adults. Girls play
on swings and other group games, also fast in the hope of getting loving and
caring husbands.
Attayya: Alt. Attamma, Atta. A relational term. 1. Father’s sister; 2. Mother’s
brother’s wife; 3. Mother-in-law; 4. A form of address for adult, unrelated
women.
Ayya: 1. Term used to address older, male adult, mostly in higher social
status; 2. Father
Babayi:  Father’s younger brother
Babayya: 1. Term used to address older male adults higher in status; 2.
Father
Babu: A form of addressing male persons of higher social and/or economic
status. 2. A term of endearment used to address male children.
Bava: 1. Brother-in-law; 2. Male cross-cousin.
Bidi:  Tobacco rolled in a leaf. Pl. bidis. Alt. Beedi
Bullemma: Little girl
Cha or Cchi An expression of disparagement, disapproval.
Cent: (geological survey term) 1/40th of an acre
Pagadaalu: Corals
Daabaa: Terrace; house with a terraced roof.
Deepavali: Alt. Diwali. Festival of lights.
Dhoti: A 5-yard, plain cloth which men wear waist down.
Emayyaa: Form of address, second person singular, for male adults (informal)
Engili: Saliva pollution
Ganji: Rice broth.
Gaade: Barn
Garu: Honorific term suffixed to a name, male or female, and relational terms.
e.g. atta garu
Golla: Cowherd caste/community
Gopika: Woman of cowherd family.
Harati: Alt. Aarti. Lit camphor and offerred to god or people on auspicious
occasions.
Harijan: A term coined by Gandhi for the untouchables
Harikatha: Narratives of gods, sung by traditional performers.
Isaanyam: Northeast direction
Idli: Steamed rice cake, a common food for breakfast or lunch.
Illarikam: A custom in which son-in-law moving in with his wife’s family.
Jari: Gold thread woven into various types of cloth.
-ji:  A honorific suffix that can be suffixed to proper names (male and female).
Jindabad: A kind of best wishes. Often used as a slogan shouted during
processions. See Murdabad.
Kaapu: One of the non-brahmin castes/community
Kaaranam: Reason
Kaavadi: Yoke with water jugs or other items hung on either end and carried
on shoulder by men.
Kalipurushudu:  Personification of time in Hindu mythology, supposedly, all
actions in the universe happen per his ordinance and is responsible for
ending the universe in due course.
Kanyaadaanam: Giving a daughter in marriage to the groom.
Karanam: Village accountant
Katuka: Home-made black paste, similar to eyeliner. Usually made by burning
clean white cloth soaked in caster oil and grinding it into a smooth paste.
Khaddar: Cloth made of handmade thread.
Kottam: Pent roofed chamber
Kova: Milk and sugar cake
Kumkuma: Red powder used for dot on forehead and also in rituals.
Lempalesukonu, lempalu vesukonu: Tapping gently on one's own cheeks by
way of offering apology, mostly to Gods.
Lungi: A 3-yard plain cloth, men wear waist down.
Madi: A temporary condition of sanctity created by individuals to perform puja
or a ritual. The practice includes taking a bath, wearing a fresh set of clothes
set aside for the specific purpose, and remain within certain part of the house,
mostly kitchen, until the puja or ritual is over.
Maadiga: The tanner caste
Maala: Untouchable
Mamool: The money paid on a regular basis for service as a custom.
Mandapam: 1. A raised patio, usually attached to a temple, and intended for
people to gather and discuss local affairs and settle disputes; 2. Tent put up
for weddings, parties, etc.
Mantra: Text for chanting repeatedly.
Menakodalu: Niece
Menalludu: Nephew
Midde: Flat roofed house; house with two or three storeys
Moksham: Deliverance from earthly ties.
Mukti: Salvation, emancipation from earthly ties
Munsif: Village administrator.
Murdabad: A slogan like “jindabad,” wishing somebody his death. See
jindabad.
Naidu: One of the nonbrahmin castes
Nairuti: Southwest
Nallamandu: Intoxicant substance, similar to marijuana.
Namaskaaram: Alt. Namaste. Folding hands in deference. Namaskaram is
more common in Andhra Pradesh.
Nanna: Alt. Nayanaa: 1. Father; 2. Affectionate form of address for males,
irrespective of age.
Niluvubottu: Vertical lines [red and white] Vaishnavites wear on forehead.
Olammo: A term of exclamation
Orey: An informal of address, usually used among males of equal or lower
status.
Osey: An informal of address, usually used among females of equal or lower
status.
Paan: A kind of edible leaf used to make a roll with lime, crushed betal nut
and condiments.
Paisa: Alt. Naya paisa:  One hundredth of a rupee. Currency introduced after
independence. Pl. Paise
Pakodi: Alt. Pakora. Deep fried made of chickpea flour, salt, pepper, onions
and vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage or broccoli. Similar ot vegetable
fritters.
Pancangam: Lunar calendar
Pancayat: An administrative branch at village level
Pancayati: A legal branch for settling disputes at village level.
Pandal: A huge tarpaulin tent temporarily put up for special occasions.
Pandiri: Tent made of matted coconut leaves; alt. pandal.
Palloo: The loose end of a saree, hanging over a woman’s shoulder.
Peerlu festival: A muslim festival. Although it is significant for muslims, usually
Hindus also participate in the festivities.
Pelli chuupulu: First step in arranged marriage. The prospective groom and
family pay a visit to the prospective bride and her family.
Perantaalu: 1. Woman saint, Village goddess
Prasadam: Food offered to god
Punyam: Heavenly reward for good acts.
Punyapurushudu: Man whose life has been sanctified because of his good
deeds..
Puurillu: House with a thatched roof.
Relational terminology: In Telugu culture older persons are addressed using
relational terms even when there is no blood relationship. Most common terms
are attayya [female adult], mamayya or mavayya [male adult], akkayya
[female adult within the same generation], annayya [male adult in the same
generation], etc. Also, children of two brothers' or sisters are considered
brothers and sisters; crosscousins (children of a brother and a sister) are
referred to, based on their age, as bava or maridi, if males, and, vadina or
maradalu, if females. Marriage between crosscousins is acceptable in Telugu
families.
Sampangi: A bright orange or white flower known for its strong aroma.
Common in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Sancitam: That which is accumulated. In religious terms, refers to the results
of the good or bad deeds done in previous lifetime..
Sanyasi: A person who rejects all mortal attachments. Ascetic. Pl. Sanyasis
Saree. Alt. Sari: 6-yard cloth women wear. Comes in various colors and
designs.
Saukar: Rich landlord; businessman.
Sri: 1. Goddess Lakshmi. 2. An honorific prefix.
Srihari: A name of a Hindu god. Alt. Hari.
Sudra: The fourth caste, mostly employed in janitorial services.
Swami:   A Hindu revered for his religious austerity, usually detached. –ji a
suffix of respect.
Swayamvaram: One type of wedding ceremony, in which the bride chooses
her husband from an array of bridegrooms. It was prevalent in royal families.
Thali: Alt. Tali. A symbol of a woman’s marital status. A small pendant tied
around bride’s neck during wedding ceremony.
Thatha: Grandfather; an old man.
Thodikodalu: A daughter-in-law, married into the same family. Wives of two
brothers are thodikodallu in a given family. Similarly, two men married two
sisters are referred to as thodallullu (Note: A professor drew my attention to C.
P.Brown's suggestion, "fellow sister-in-law." In either case, we are making up a
terminology that needed explanation. Since I have already used co-daughter-
in-law in other stories, the translations on this site will be consistently use
these terms.)
Thulasi: Holy basil, a reverential plant for Hindus.
Tiffin: A common term for breakfast, lunch a snacks that go with evening tea.
Umm: Echoic sound children utter when listening to a story, indicating they are
listening.
Uttareeyam: Alt. Paipancha, kanduvaa garment, plain cloth, men wear on
shoulder.
Yajnam: A ritual; an act of worship
Vadina: Sister-in-law.
Vaayavyam: Northwest
Varahaa: Gold coin with a boar-head, equals 3 ½ rupees.
Vedas: Hindu scriptures. Adj. Vedic.
Viyyapuraalu:  The mothers of the couple are referred at viyyapuraalu.
Viyyam is a relationship of two parties that is created as a result of marriage.
The fathers are Viyyankudu to each other.
Voni: A three yard piece, equivalent of one half of a sari, worn by pre-
adolescent girls—one end tucked at the waist and the other end thrown over
the shoulder. A transitional garment from frocks to saris.