Manipuri

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. The Sino-Tibetan language spoken as a native tongue by the people of Manipur in northeastern India
2. A language indigenous to the state of Manipur, belonging to the Sino-Tibetan family and written in its own script
3. The primary language of Manipur state in India, spoken by the Meitei people and characterized by its distinct grammatical structure

Etymology: Manipuri is named for Manipur, a state in northeastern India bordering Myanmar, and the suffix "-i" marks it as something belonging to or coming from that place. The same pattern produces many demonyms and language names in English, so the formation itself is ordinary: a place name with a suffix attached. The name Manipur itself comes from the Sanskrit "manipura," meaning "city of jewels," a compound of "mani" (jewel) and "pura" (city). Applied to the people, the language, and the textiles or dances associated with the region, the adjective has become the usual English term for them. The word is best understood as a plain geographical label rather than a term with a deeper history of its own.

Synonyms: Meitei