Indian English Quiz: A cross cultural eye opener to India

This quiz is part of the "India survival Kit", a collection of articles written by an American expat living in India.

This test is a must for foreigners who are new to India or are planning to visit India. Here are a few words from Indian English and culture that sometimes have a meaning different from that in the West, and sometimes do not even exist there. Let’s see if you can decipher them.

1. Petrol bunk
a. A bed stacked over another
b. Gas station
c. A way to skip school

2. Out of station
a. Status of train
b. Something that is not in its correct position
c. Out of town

3. Auto
a. A three-wheeled cab
b. A pistol
c. Self-acting

4. Nappy
a. Short siesta
b. Diaper
c. Liquor

5. Lorry
a. Truck
b. A common last name
c. An apology

6. Native place
a. Hometown
b. Favorite spot
c. Tribal town

7. Mixie
a. A person who mixes sound effects for or a motion picture or television
b. A food blender
c. A vivacious girl

8. Tick off
a. Make someone angry
b. Keep time
c. Check off

9. Geyser
a. a spring that throws intermittent jets of heated water and steam
b. A water-heating appliance
c. An old man

10. Overtake
a. Retrieve from an overhead shelf
b. An opinion
c. Pass a vehicle on the road

11. Interval
a. Intermission during a movie
b. Snack break at school
c. Both a and b

12. Rubber
a. Male contraceptive
b. An instrument used to give massages
c. Eraser

13. Odomos
a. Mosquito repellant lotion
b. Smelly
c. People who live in a region called Odom

14. Tuition
a. College fees
b. Tutoring classes
c. Sixth sense

15. Prepone
a. Reschedule an event ahead of the originally planned time
b. Prepaid phone card
c. Get ready for a trip

16. Bollywood
a. Hollywood misspelt
b. A type of wood used to make cricket bats
c. The Hindi movie industry

17. STD/ISD
Abbreviations for
a. Health conditions
b. Long-distance dialing
c. Design software

18. Peon
a. An office handyman
b. A western Indian city
c. A kind of flower

19. Stepney
a. A London suburb
b. A spare tire
c. A kind of folk dance

20. Lady’s finger
a. A woman’s digit
b. Green vegetable
c. Female defendant in a murder trial

21. Saloon
a. Barber shop
b. Health spa
c. Living room

22. Iron box
a. A receptacle to keep valuables
b. An appliance to press clothes
c. A person who can be trusted to keep a secret

23. Xerox
a. Photocopy
b. Name of a document management firm
c. Name of a God

24. No?
a. Denial with a doubt
b. Opposing the use of the question mark
c. An inflection used in place of “isn’t it”, “aren’t you”, etc.

25. Landline
a. Home phone
b. Underground sewage pipes
c. Ship’s anchor

Answers:

can decipher them.

1. Petrol bunk- Gas station

2. Out of station- Out of town

3. Auto- A three-wheeled cab

4. Nappy- Diaper

5. Lorry- Truck

6. Native place- Hometown

7. Mixie- A food blender

8. Tick off- Check off

9. Geyser- A water-heating appliance

10. Overtake- Pass a vehicle on the road

11. Interval- Both a and b

12. Rubber- Eraser

13. Odomos- Mosquito repellant lotion

14. Tuition- Tutoring classes

15. Prepone- Reschedule an event ahead of the originally planned time

16. Bollywood- The Hindi movie industry

17. STD/ISD- Abbreviations for Long-distance dialing

18. Peon- An office handyman

19. Stepney- A spare tire

20. Lady’s finger- Green vegetable (Okra)

21. Saloon- Barber shop

22. Iron box- An appliance to press clothes

23. Xerox- Photocopy

24. No?- An inflection used in place of “isn’t it”, “aren’t you”, etc.

25. Landline- Home phone (not a cell phone)

How did you score?
1-6 – Carry a dictionary. You will be lost.
7-12 – You could improve with tuitions.
13-18 – Pretty good. You will survive.
19-25 – Definitely Indian in a previous birth.

Editor: Nisha Giri

The India survival Kit is divided into four sections:

I) Cultural tips for newcomers to India

• The Indian society: A few cultural tips for visitors
• Top ten cultural tips for expats and foreigners visiting India
• Cultural tips for visitors to India: Food & Restaurant etiquette
• Visiting exotic India? A primer on the diverse country
• Indian Family Values: What you must know before you visit India

II) Doing business in India

• Working in India: Work culture tips for newcomers
• Doing business in India: The role of culture
• Working and doing business with Indians? Indians can’t say No!

III) An American's diary

• Visiting India? Read the experiences of an American visitor Part 1
• Visiting India? Read the experiences of an American visitor Part 2

IV) Street English in India: Indian English and the Indian way of communication

• How Indians communicate: Cultural tips for visitors
• Terms commonly used by Indians: An ‘Indian English’ quiz
• Cultural tips for visitors to India: An American grapples with Indian English

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