What does india mean?
India is the name of a large country in South Asia and the world's most populous country. Its territory extends from the Himalayan mountain range to the Indian Ocean, and its landscape includes deserts, tropical forests, fertile plains, major river systems, and extensive coastlines. India contains many linguistic, religious, and cultural communities and has been shaped by ancient civilizations, several regional empires, European colonialism, and independence in 1947. The country is a major participant in world affairs, with influential traditions in literature, music, cuisine, cinema, science, and public life. In English, “India” identifies the nation, while the adjective “Indian” describes things associated with it or its people. Because English speakers encounter many different regions, languages, and traditions within the country, descriptions of Indian culture should avoid treating it as uniform or monolithic.
proper nounIndia is a country in South Asia, bounded by the Himalayas to the north, the Indian Ocean to the south, the Arabian Sea to the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal to the southeast. Its capital is New Delhi, and it is the world's most populous country.
- The name of the South Asian country whose capital is New Delhi.
"The festival of Diwali is celebrated by millions of people across India and around the world."
"India has a multilingual population and a wide variety of regional cultures."
"The Government of India announced a new initiative to expand renewable energy production."
India gives its name to the Indian Ocean, a name rooted in the ancient Greek belief that the Indus River flowed into a sea to the south.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does india come from?
The English name “India” developed through classical and medieval European usage. It ultimately derives from Old Persian Hindu, from Sanskrit Sindhu, the ancient name of the Indus River; the Greeks adopted a form of this name as Indos and extended it to the region south of the river. The name reached English through Greek and Latin forms, with Portuguese India contributing a prominent later variant.
Related word forms
How india is actually used
When used attributively, as in “Indian culture” or “Indian cuisine,” the appropriate form is “Indian,” not “India.” The term “India” may also occur in the names of features including the Indian Ocean, the Indian subcontinent, and the subcontinent's many geographic regions.
Easily confused with india
India is a country in South Asia, whereas Indiana is a US state in the Midwest.