wallah
English
Etymology 1
Either from Hindi -वाला (-vālā, “pertaining to”) or from Hindi वाला (vālā, “person in charge”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈwɑːlə/, /ˈwɒlə/
Audio (Southern England) (file) - Rhymes: -ɑːlə, -ɒlə
Noun
wallah (plural wallahs)
- (India) A servant or other person responsible for something, often specified before it, for example kitchen wallah.
- 1931, George Orwell, A Hanging:
- Kindly take one of my cigarettes, sir. Do you not admire my new silver case, sir? From the boxwallah, two rupees eight annas.
- (India, historical) Short for competition wallah.
- (British, slang) A guy or bloke.
Derived terms
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈwɑ(l.)lɑːh/, IPA(key): /wəˈlɑː(h)/
Audio (Southern England) (file) - Rhymes: -ɑː, -ɑːh
Adverb
wallah (not comparable)
- (Islam) by God (Allah); may God be my witness. Used in making a solemn oath
Etymology 3
A corruption of voilà.
Interjection
wallah
- Voilà.
References
- Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967
Danish
Interjection
wallah
- (slang) Generic intensifier.
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /wa.la/
Audio (file)
German
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈwala], [ˈvala], [waˈlːah]
Interjection
wallah
- (slang) Generic intensifier.
Adverb
wallah
Swedish
Alternative forms
Interjection
wallah
- (Islam) wallah (when making an oath)
- Synonym: mammas död
- – Är det sant? – Wallah! Jag svär!
- – Is that true? – Wallah! I swear!
- (slang) Generic intensifier.
Related terms
References
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