Telugu

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An Indian Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, used for communication and literature; also refers to the people who speak this language and their culture
2. A Southern Indian language belonging to the Dravidian family, widely used in daily conversation, media, and classical texts; it also denotes the ethnic group associated with it and their traditions
3. A major language of South India characterized by a rich literary heritage and distinct script, primarily spoken by a community inhabiting Andhra Pradesh and Telangana; it additionally identifies the cultural identity of these speakers

Etymology: The name of the language is "telugu" in Telugu itself, and the English word was borrowed directly from that source-language form rather than coined through Latin or another European language. That makes it one of the few words of its kind where the English spelling is almost a straight transcription of the native name. The Telugu term has long been used by speakers to name both their language and themselves, so the English noun carries two senses at once: the tongue spoken across the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana region, and the people and culture associated with it. English speakers took over the name as they encountered the language through trade, administration and scholarship, rather than through an older European route. The word therefore records a native self-designation, not a foreign label applied from outside.

Synonyms: Telugu language