Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A Dravidian language: A major language spoken primarily in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and by significant populations in other regions.
   • A member of an ethnic group: A person belonging to the people native to southeastern India, particularly Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, who speak the Telugu language.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (Language):
  • She is learning to read and write in Telugu.
  • Telugu has a rich literary history dating back centuries.
• Proper noun (People):
  • He is a Telugu from the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh.
  • The Telugu have contributed significantly to Indian culture and business.

Advanced Usage

• As an adjective: While primarily a noun, "Telugu" can function attributively to describe things related to the language or people.
  • We watched a Telugu film at the festival. (A film in the Telugu language or from the Telugu film industry.)
  • She studies Telugu culture and traditions.

Variants and Related Words

• Telangana: The name of a state in India where Telugu is a primary official language.
• Dravidian: The language family to which Telugu belongs, distinct from the Indo-Aryan languages of North India.

Synonyms

• Telegu (an older, less common spelling variant).
• There are no direct synonyms for the language or ethnic group, as it is a proper noun referring to a specific entity.

Related Phrases

• Telugu states: A modern colloquial term often used to refer collectively to the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• Telugu script: The writing system used for the Telugu language.

Noun

1. a Dravidian language spoken by the Telugu in southeastern India
2. a member of the people in southeastern India (Andhra Pradesh) who speak the Telugu language