Glossary of Odisha

This glossary is a comprehensive collection of Odia terms, listed alphabetically, with simple English meanings. It offers insights into Odisha’s rich culture, language, and traditions. If you have questions or need clarity about any term or specific topic, please feel free to reach out to us—we’re here to help!.

 

Odia Term in English Writing Odia Term in Odia Writing (ଓଡିଆ) English Meaning
Adhia ଅଧିଆ Prostration at the feet of God or a deity for the fulfilment of one’s wishes.
Adhikari ଅଧିକାରୀ Manager or Chief of the folk dance/ nataka
Adimata ଆଦିମାତା Presiding deity/ the first mother or the source mother.
Agadatantra ଅଗଦତନ୍ତ୍ର Treatment of patients from snake or poisonous animal bite.
Aghasura ଅଘାସୁର A demon with serpent shape.
Agni Danda ଅଗ୍ନି ଦଣ୍ଡ The midnight performance of Dandanata, with flame/ fire.
Ahi-nakul Samparka ଅହି-ନକୁଳ ସମ୍ପର୍କ Bitter relationship.
Ahiraj ଅହିରାଜ Large snake.
Airabata ଏୟିରାବତ The chief elephant of Lord Indra.
Akhadaghara ଅଖାଡଘର A hall meant for the rehearsal of the acrobatic dances and theatres.
Akrura ଅକୃର Minister of Kansa, the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna.
Alasa Kanya ଆଲସ କନ୍ୟା Playful maiden (nayika) female figures in various poses decorate the exterior façade of the temple.
Alata ଆଳତ Red colour liquid which the women used to paint their hills and toes of the feet in different ceremonies; lac dye.
Alati ଆଳତି Lighting of the candals before the god or goddesses at the end of pujas.
Ambakashihara ଅମ୍ବକାଶିହର The golden necklace made with mango shaped pendants.
Anantamula ଅନନ୍ତମୂଳ Root of a plant used for medicine.
Angi ଅଙ୍ଗୀ Shirt.
Anka ଅଙ୍କ Regnal year.
Anna ଅନ୍ନ One sixteenth of a Rupee.
Antapattia ଅନ୍ତପଟିଆ Waist belt.
Anthakudi ଅନ୍ଥାକୁଡି A barren lady/ usually used as a word of abuse.
Arjuna Ratha ଅର୍ଜୁନ ରଥ Chariot of Lord Arjun.
Ashan ଆସନ Anything to sit on/A sitting item/ seat or sitting posture.
Astamallah ଅଷ୍ଟମଲ୍ଲ Playing cards with eight wrestlers of Kansa motifs.
Aswin/ Aswina ଆଶ୍ୱିନ A month of Odia calendar/ the sixth Indian month (September October).
Atavika ଆଟଭିକ Adivasis or tribals.
Avatara ଅବତାର Incarnation.
Badi ବାଡି Court yard/ backyard.
Baga Baguli ବାଗା ବାଗୁଳି A kind of tribal dance/ A sort of dance in the guise of paddy birds.
Bagapanchak ବାଗପଞ୍ଚକ Last five days of the month of Kartika.
Bagha Nacha ବାଘ ନାଚ A dance with the mask/attire of a tiger.
Bahuti ବାହୁତି One kind of ornament.
Baidhana ବୈଧାନ
An expression of tenderness and love ;Established by law/lawful/legal/Constitutional.
Baigani ବୈଗଣୀ Violet colour.
Bajabandhu ବଜବନ୍ଧୁ One kind of ornament.
Bajeni/Bejuni ବଜେନୀ/ବେଜୁନୀ A witch or a lady Sorcerer.
Bakala ବାକଳା Bark of a tree
Bakasura ବାକାସୁର A crane shaped demon.
Bakula ବକୁଳ A kind of tree with fragrant flowers.
Balachappa ବାଳଚପ୍ପା Hair clip.
Balada ବାଳଦ Oxen/ a bullock.
Bana Danda ବାଣ ଦଣ୍ଡ Forest goddess.
Bankibadi ବାଙ୍କିବାଡି Bent stick.
Bara Masaku ବାର ମାସକୁ For twelve months.
Basti ବସ୍ତି Village site or slum area.
Bauri ବୌରୀ A low caste Hindu.
Bayak ବାୟକ Instrumentalist.
Bayeni ବାୟେନୀ Female instrumentalist.
Bazzar ବଜ୍ଜାର A market place.
Bela ବେଳା The wood-apple, the marmelos fruit, Aegle marmelos.
Beni ବେଣୀ Braid/Hair style of a lady.
Besha ବେଶ A dress, a guise, a disguise, decoration.
Bhabani ଭବାନୀ Goddess Durga.
Bhadrab ଭାଦ୍ରବ The name of an Indian month.
Bhagabat Tungi ଭାଗବତ ଟୁଙ୍ଗି
The hall meant for Bhagavata recitation and the pedestal where the seared book is enshrined and
Bhajana ଭଜନ Prayer songs; worship, adoration, a song i the praise of Gods.
Bhajanas ଭଜନସ Mythological songs.
Bhakta/Bhokta ଭକ୍ତ/ଭୋକ୍ତ The devotees of Dandanata.
Bhesaghara ଭେଶଘର Green room/ dress room/ house to wear dress and ornament’s
Bhimul ଭିମୁଳ The ancestor or the spirit of the tribals.
Bhodei ଭୋଡେଇ Relating to the month of Bhadraba.
Bhurja Patra ଭୂର୍ଜ ପତ୍ର One kind of leaf used for writings.
Bhushanda Kaka ଭୂଷଣ୍ଡା କାକା A mythological crow.
Bhutavidya ଭୂତବିଦ୍ୟା Sorcery or treatment through spell.
Bhuyan/Bhumya ଭୂୟାନ/ଭୂମ୍ୟା The name of a tribe.
Bhutta ଭୁଟା Ghost; Goblin.
Binakar/Binakarini ବିନାକର/ବିନାକରିନୀ Instrumentalists both male and female.
Bisalyakarani ବିଶଲ୍ୟକରଣୀ One kind of herbal leaf used for healing of diseases.
Boda ବୋଡା One kind of snake.
Bonda ବୋଣ୍ଡା The name of a tribe.
Boya ବୋୟା The doctor of the Sauras.
Bratakatha ବ୍ରତକଥା Votive tales/ story of a vow or a religious or a act.
Burning Ghat ଜଳାଉ ଘାଟ Cremation ground.
Chadaya-Chadayani ଚାଦାୟ-ଚାଦାୟନୀ Bird hunters both male and female.
Chaitra ଚୈତ୍ର The last month of the Hindu calendar.
Chakulia Panda ଚକୁଳିଆ ପଣ୍ଡା One kind of yogi/bagger who sings ballads moving from village to village.
Chalanti Pratima ଚାଲନ୍ତି ପ୍ରତିମା The small image representing the main God/ movable image.
Champu ଚମ୍ପୁ
A kind of literary composition in which the same subject is continued in prose and verse.
Chana ଚଣା Pea nuts.
Chanda ଚନ୍ଦା A subscription, a contribution/bald headed.
Chandal/Chandaluni ଚଣ୍ଡାଳ/ଚଣ୍ଡାଳୁଣୀ A low caste people.
Chandamarka ଚନ୍ଦମାର୍କ Teacher of Prahallad.
Chandrakanti ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରକାନ୍ତି One kind of cake.
Chandua ଚନ୍ଦୁଆ Appliqué/ a canopy.
Changu ଚଙ୍ଗୁ One kind of musical instrument/ a kind of round shaped drum.
Chaparasi ଚାପରାସି A peon or an office messenger.
Chautisa ଚଉତିସା An indigenous literature.
Chedi ଚେଡ଼ି Name of a dynasty.
Chemru Mousa ଚେମ୍ରୁ ମୌଷା The man who performs charms is called as Chemru mouse by the Kandhs.
Chhamundia ଛମୁଣ୍ଡିଆ A stage/ a temporary shed.
Chhatrabhanga ଛତ୍ରଭଙ୍ଗ Retreat/ Dispersion.
Chikitcha ଚିକିତ୍ସା Medical treatment.
Chita ଚିତା The decorative wall/floor paintings painted by the village women.
Chita Raika ଚିତା ରାଇକା A netted blouse.
Chitakuta Keluni ଚିତକୂଟ କେଳୁଣୀ Women tattoo maker.
Chiti ଚିତି A vipor.
Chitrakara ଚିତ୍ରକାର An artist/The painter and also a caste.
Chitrakuta ଚିତ୍ରକୂଟ Name of a place/ name of a mountain in Bundelkhand.
Chitralekha ଚିତ୍ରଲେଖା Lady painter.
Choukia ଚଉକିଆ A village watchman.
Choupadhi ଚଉପାଢି Community hall of a village
Choupadi ଚଉପାଡି A small poem/ a poetical composition consisting of four couplets.
Cowries କଉରି
Tropical bright shell used as money in ancient period/ A kind of marine shell useas money.

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