What does rickshaw mean?
A rickshaw is a small passenger vehicle, usually with two wheels and a canopy, that is pulled by a person. It is strongly associated with South Asian cities, where it remains a common means of transport alongside buses, trains, taxis, and motorized three-wheelers. Its open or semi-enclosed design makes it especially useful for short journeys through busy streets, markets, and historic districts. The word can also be used figuratively to describe work organized on an exhausting, low-paid, or piecework basis, as in “rickshaw economy.” Although rickshaws have been widely adopted in other parts of Asia and as a tourist vehicle elsewhere, the term retains a particularly strong connection with South Asia. The modern three-wheeled motorized version is normally called an auto-rickshaw rather than simply a rickshaw.
nounA small, usually two-wheeled passenger vehicle with a canopy, pulled by one person. The term is especially associated with South Asian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Dhaka.
- A small, usually two-wheeled passenger vehicle with a canopy, pulled by a person.
"We rode through the old city in a brightly painted rickshaw."
"The rickshaw driver navigated the crowded market lanes with remarkable skill."
"Many visitors explore the historic quarter by hiring a rickshaw or taking a guided tour."
The standard plural is formed by adding -s; the unmodified singular can also be used collectively for the vehicle type.
"Rows of colorful rickshaws waited outside the railway station."
The rickshaw owes its name to a Japanese compound meaning “human-powered vehicle”: jin means human, riki means power, and sha means vehicle.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rickshaw come from?
The English word came through Hindi usage in the 19th century, ultimately from the Japanese term jinrikisha, a compound meaning “human-powered vehicle.” Its elements refer respectively to human power and a vehicle. The form “rickshaw” developed as an abbreviated English adaptation, and the Hindi-derived variant “ricksha” became especially common in South Asia.
Related word forms
How rickshaw is actually used
In contemporary South Asian cities, “rickshaw” commonly refers to a cycle-powered passenger vehicle, whereas “auto-rickshaw” or “tuk-tuk” usually denotes a motorized three-wheeled taxi. The word is also used figuratively in phrases such as “rickshaw economy” and “rickshaw politics.”
Easily confused with rickshaw
Ricksha is a shortened variant of rickshaw, especially common in South Asian English, while rickshaw is the fuller and more internationally familiar form.
A rickshaw is typically pulled from the front or rear by a person on foot or bicycle, whereas a pedicab is generally a passenger carriage attached to and propelled by a bicycle.