рдЕрдзрд┐рдХ рдЦреЛрдЬреЗ рдЧрдП рд╢рдмреНрдж

рд╕рд╣реЗрдЬреЗ рдЧрдП рд╢рдмреНрдж

рдЕрдзрд┐рдХ рдЦреЛрдЬреЗ рдЧрдП рд╢рдмреНрдж

рд░рд┐рд╕рд╛рдИ

рджреБрдЦ рдФрд░ рдореМрдд рд╕реЗ рд╕рдВрдмрдВрдзрд┐рдд, рд╢реЛрдХрдпреБрдХреНрдд

рдЬрд╝рд░реНрдлрд╝

рдмрд░реНрддрди

рддрд┐рд╣рд╛рдИ

рдХрд┐рд╕реА рд╡рд╕реНрддреБ рдХреЗ рддреАрди рд╕рдорд╛рди рднрд╛рдЧреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдХреЛрдИ рдПрдХ рднрд╛рдЧ, рддреАрд╕рд░рд╛ рдЕрдВрд╢, рднрд╛рдЧ рдпрд╛ рд╣рд┐рд╕реНрд╕рд╛, рддреАрд╕рд░рд╛ рд╣рд┐рд╕реНрд╕рд╛

рд▓рд╛'рдирдд

рдзрд┐рдХреНрдХрд╛рд░, рдлрдЯрдХрд╛рд░, рднрд░реНрддреНрд╕рдирд╛, рдЕрднрд┐рд╢рд╛рдк, рд╢рд╛рдк

рдХрд╝рд╣рд░ рдврд╛рдирд╛

рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд╕рдВрдХрдЯ рдкреИрджрд╛ рдХрд░рдирд╛, рд╕рдВрдХрдЯрдЧреНрд░рд╕реНрдд рдмрдирд╛рдирд╛, рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдкрд░ рдХреЛрдИ рдЖреЮрдд рд▓рд╛рдирд╛, рдЬрд╝реБрд▓реНрдо рдХрд░рдирд╛, реШрд╣рд░ рддреЛреЬрдирд╛

рдордЬрд╝рджреВрд░

рд╢рд╛рд░реАрд░рд┐рдХ рд╢реНрд░рдо рдХреЗ рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░рд╛ рдЬреАрд╡рд┐рдХрд╛ рдХрдорд╛рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рдХреЛрдИ рд╡реНрдпрдХреНрддрд┐, рдЬреИрд╕реЗ: рдЗрдорд╛рд░рдд рдмрдирд╛рдиреЗ, рдХрд▓-рдХрд╛рд░реЩрд╛рдиреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдХрд╛рдо рдХрд░рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛, рд╢реНрд░рдорд┐рдХ, рдХрд░реНрдордХрд╛рд░, рднреГрддрдХ, рдордЬреВрд░

рдЪрд▓реЗ рди рдЬрд╛рдП рдЖрдБрдЧрди рдЯреЗрдврд╝рд╛

рдХрд╛рдо рдореЗрдВ рдХреБрд╢рд▓ рди рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рдкрд░ рджреВрд╕рд░реЗ рдкрд░ рдЖрд░реЛрдк рдореЭрдирд╛

рдЖрдЧреЗ рдирд╛рде рди рдкреАрдЫреЗ рдкрдЧрд╛

рдЬрд┐рд╕рдХреЗ рдЖрдЧреЗ-рдкреАрдЫреЗ рдХреЛрдИ рди рд╣реЛ, рдЬрд┐рд╕рдХрд╛ рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рдХреЛрдИ рди рд╣реЛ, рдЕрд╕рд╣рд╛рдп, рд▓рд╛рд╡рд╛рд░рд┐рд╕, рдЕрдХреЗрд▓рд╛

рд╕рд╛рд╣рд┐рд░

рдЬрд╛рджреВрдЧрд░, рд╡рд╣ рд╡реНрдпрдХреНрддрд┐ рдЬреЛ рдЬрд╛рджреВ рджрд┐рдЦрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реЛ

рдХреБрдбрд╝рдорд╛рдИ

рд╢рд╛рджреА рдХреЗ рдкреВрд░реНрд╡ рд░рд┐рд╢реНрддрд╛ рдкрдХреНрдХрд╛ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдХреА рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реА рд░рд╕реНрдо, рд╕рдЧрд╛рдИ, рд╢рд╛рджреА рддреИ рдХрд░рдирд╛, рд░рд┐рд╢реНрддрд╛ рдХрд░рдирд╛

рдирдЬрд╝рд░-рднрд░ рджреЗрдЦрдирд╛

рднрд░рдкреВрд░ рдиреЫрд░ рд╕реЗ рджреЗрдЦрдирд╛, реЪреМрд░ рд╕реЗ рджреЗрдЦрдирд╛, рдзреНрдпрд╛рди рд╕реЗ рджреЗрдЦрдирд╛

рдЦрд╝реНрд╡рд╛рдЬрд╛-рддрд╛рд╢

рдПрдХ рд╕реНрд╡рд╛рдореА рдХреЗ рджрд╛рд╕, рдЬреЛ рдЖрдкрд╕ рдореЗрдВ рдЦреНрд╡рд╛рдЬрдГрддрд╛рд╢ рдХрд╣рд▓рд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ

рдореИрдпрд╛

рдХреГрдкрд╛, рдХрд░реБрдгрд╛, рддрд░рд╕, рдордорддрд╛, рджрдпрд╛

рдХрд╝рдлрд╝рд╕

(рдкрдХреНрд╖рд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХрд╛) рдкрд┐рдВрдЬрд░рд╛, рдХрдмреВрддрд░реЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рджрд░рдмрд╛ рдЬреЛ рдмрд╛рдБрд╕ рдХреА рдЦрдкрдЪреНрдЪрд┐рдпреЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдмрдирд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ

рд╣реБрд╕реНрди-рдП-рддрд▓рдм

рдорд╛рдБрдЧрдиреЗ рдХрд╛ рдЕрдЪреНрдЫрд╛ рдврдВрдЧ, рдХреЛрдИ рдЪреАреЫ рдЗрд╢рд╛рд░реЗ рдЗрд╢рд╛рд░реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдорд╛рдБрдЧрдирд╛, рдРрд╕реЗ рдврдВрдЧ рд╕реЗ рдЪреАрдЬрд╝ рдорд╛рдБрдЧрдирд╛ рдХрд┐ рджреЗрдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рджреЗрддреЗ рд╣реБрдП рдЦрд╝реБрд╢реА рдорд╣рд╕реВрд╕ рдХрд░реЗ

рдмрд╕рд░

рдЧреБреЫрд╛рд░рд╛, рдирд┐рд░реНрд╡рд╛рд╣, рдЬреАрд╡рди-рдпрд╛рдкрди, рдЬреАрд╡рд┐рдХрд╛, рдирд┐рдмрд╛рд╣рдирд╛

рдмрд╕рд░-рдФрдХрд╝рд╛рдд

рдЬреАрд╡рдирд╛рдирд┐рд░реНрд╡рд╛рд╣ рдХрд╛ рдЕрд╡рд▓рдВрдм, рдЬреАрд╡рди рдХрд╛ рд╕рд╣рд╛рд░рд╛, рдЬреАрд╡рд┐рдХрд╛ рд╕рд╛рдзрди, рдЖрдЬреАрд╡рд┐рдХрд╛, рд╡реГрддреНрддрд┐, рд░реЛрдЬреА, рд░реЛрдЬрдЧрд╛рд░

рдореБрдВрддрд╢рд┐рд░

рдмрд┐рдЦрд░рд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ, рдЫрд┐рддрд░рд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ, рдлреИрд▓рд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ, рддрд┐рддрд░-рдмрд┐рддрд░, рдмрд┐рдЦрд░рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛, рдлреИрд▓рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛

рдкрд┐рдирдХ

рдЕреЮреАрдордЪреА рдХреА рд╡рд╣ рдЕрд╡рд╕реНрдерд╛ рдЬрд┐рдорд╕реЗрдВ рд╡рд╣ рдирд╢реЗ рдХреА рдЕрдзрд┐рдХрддрд╛ рдХреЗ рдХрд╛рд░рдг рд╕рд┐рд░ рдЭреБрдХрд╛рдХрд░ рдмреИрдареЗ рд░рд╣рдиреЗ рдХреА рджрд╢рд╛ рдореЗрдВ рдмреЗрд╕реБрдз рдпрд╛ рд╕реЛрдпрд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рд╕рд╛ рд░рд╣рддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдЕреЮреАрдо рдХреЗ рдирд╢реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдКрдБрдШрдирд╛, рдЕреЮреАрдо рдХреЗ рдирд╢реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдзреБрддреНрдд, рдЕрдлрд╝реАрдо рдХреА рдЭреЛрдВрдХ

рдЖрдБрдЦ рдУрдЯ рдкрд╣рд╛рдбрд╝ рдУрдЯ

рдЬреЛ рд╡рд╕реНрддреБ рдЖрдБрдЦ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рдордиреЗ рди рд╣реЛ рдпрджрд┐ рд╡рд╣ рдирд┐рдХрдЯ рд╣реЛ рддрдм рднреА рджреВрд░ рд╣реИ

Home / Blog / From Wilaayaah to Blighty: The Journey of a Word Across 4 Languages

From Wilaayaah to Blighty: The Journey of a Word Across 4 Languages

by Atifa Haroon 06 February 2023 4 min Read

From Wilaayaah to Blighty: The Journey of a Word Across 4 Languages

Travel stories are one of the most loved genres amongst people. From young children to grown-ups, everyone enjoys long tales of both real and fictional travels. But, have you ever heard stories about the journey of a word? If not, we have one in store for you! Today, we are going to narrate the tale of the Arabic word Wilaayaah which travelled across 4 languages to finally reach its destination in English as Blighty. 

The transaction of words between languages is a phenomenon as old as the existence of language itself. The borrowing and lending of words becomes fairly common when people socialise with people of different backgrounds, cultures and linguistic communities. Sometimes, the pronunciation and meanings of loaned or borrowed words are tweaked according to the phonology, morphology and semantics of the language that borrows it. This results in a modified version of the word coming into existence. Common examples are the English words bungalow (bangla in Sanskrit) and cot (khaat in Sanskrit). 

The word Wilaayaah also went through similar modifications as and when it was loaned by other languages. In Arabic, the word Wilaayaah refers to a state or province. It is also roughly used to denote an authoritative institution or individual. From Arabic, the term was adapted by the Persian people in the form of ‘Vilaayat’. The meaning of vilaayat in Persian was modified from that of the Arabic one. Vilaayat, in Persian referred to the foreign land of Iran. 

In the 8th century, the Persian people came to India with their food, architecture, literature, art and their language. The Urdu language which had started developing from the 12th century onwards, borrowed many words from many languages. One of these languages was Persian, which was commonly spoken in north India. 

In the Urdu vocabulary, the modification in the word Vilaayat was essentially semantic. The term Vilaayat in Urdu meant a foreign land, especially in the context of Britain and Europe. The next modification of this word occurred at the phonetic level. Since different dialects in India have different pronunciations for the same word, Vilaayat was, and still continues to be pronounced as Bilaayat in the northern states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.

The word also underwent another set of modification, this time at the syntactical (grammatical) level. Adding ‘-ii’ to a term to make it an adjective is a linguistic norm found in many Indian languages, especially in Urdu and Hindi. For example, ‘qiimat’ which means the price or value of an entity, becomes ‘qiimtii’ to denote that something is precious or valuable. Similarly, Vilaayatii and its erroneous version Bilaayatii  became terms that referred to something or someone of a foreign origin, especially from British or English roots.

The next and final destination of the word was its migration in the English language. Bilaayati, the incorrect version of Vilaayat, was loaned in English in the form of ‘Blighty’. The term Blighty in English generally means one’s homeland (especially Britain). Although not very commonly used in everyday conversations, the term Blighty gained considerable popularity during the second world war. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary (COED) states that Blighty means: “Britain or England, as used by soldiers serving abroad in the first and second World Wars.” It is also used by war veterans to praise their homeland, for instance, ‘What a pleasure to serve dear old Blighty!’

And this, dear readers,  was the travelogue detailing the journey of the Arabic word from Wilaayaah to the English word Blighty. We hope you enjoyed this foreign trip across 4 languages!

рдмреЛрд▓рд┐рдП

Delete 44 saved words?

рдХреНрдпрд╛ рдЖрдк рд╡рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╡ рдореЗрдВ рдЗрди рдкреНрд░рд╡рд┐рд╖реНрдЯрд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рд╣рдЯрд╛ рд░рд╣реЗ рд╣реИрдВ? рдЗрдиреНрд╣реЗрдВ рдкреБрди: рдкреВрд░реНрд╡рд╡рддреН рдХрд░рдирд╛ рд╕рдВрднрд╡ рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реЛрдЧрд╛

Want to show word meaning

Do you really want to Show these meaning? This process cannot be undone

Recent Words