wallah
/'wɔlə/ Cách viết khác : (walla) /'wɔlə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A person in charge of or employed at a particular thing or function: "Wallah" is used, typically in combination with another word, to denote a person who is responsible for, works with, or sells a specific item or service.
Usage
- The word "wallah" is primarily used in Indian English and in contexts influenced by South Asian culture. It is almost always used as a suffix combined with another noun (e.g., , ). It is informal.
Examples
- Noun:
- Ask the chai wallah for two cups of tea. (The person who sells or makes tea.)
- The office wallah will have the keys to the storage room. (The person employed for office-related tasks.)
Advanced Usage
- Cultural Note: The term originates from Hindi and other Indian languages (from the suffix , meaning "one in charge of"). It is commonly used in Indian English but may be unfamiliar in other English dialects.
- In Combination: The meaning is entirely dependent on the noun it follows. For example, a drives a rickshaw, while a was a person who operated a ceiling fan ().
Variants and Related Words
- -walla: An alternative spelling.
- Compound Forms: These are not definitions of "wallah" alone but common combinations that illustrate its use:
- Chowkidar wallah: A watchman or guard.
- Dhabi wallah: A laundry person.
- Box wallah: (Historically) a traveling salesman or peddler; sometimes used for a businessperson.
Synonyms
- Worker: A person who does a specified type of work.
- Vendor: A person who sells something.
- Attendant: A person employed to provide a service.
Related Phrases
- (No standalone phrasal verbs): "Wallah" does not form phrasal verbs. Its function is as a combining form.
Related Idioms
- (No common idioms): The word "wallah" itself is not typically used in English idioms. Its use is confined to the compound noun structure described.
Noun
- usually in combination: person in charge of or employed at a particular thing
- a kitchen wallah
- the book wallah