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.
Arthangi: Wife (literally one half of the husband)
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
Kuditi. Liquid food for cows, basically made by grinding various grains.
Kumkuma: Red powder used for dot on forehead and also in rituals.
Kuppelu. Also known as kucchulu. Three balls made of threads, sometimes capped with gold cone. It is
attached to girls' braids at the end.
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.
Madhuparkaalu. A pair of garments specially made for bride and groom. Madhuparkam. (s)
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.
Madhparkaalu: A pair of garments specially made for bride and groom to wear at their wedding.
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.
Navarsu. A gold coin (Sovereign).
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 to vegetable fritters.
Palloo: Sari end which hangs over the shoulder
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.
Talambraalu: Rice smeared with turmeric. On auspicious occasions, the rice is sprinkled on one's head as
a way of blessing.
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.
Thyagamurthy. Thyagamurthulu, pl. A person who makes sacrifices for the sake of others.
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. A 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.