English Reference
noun

delhi

n.
US /ˈdɛɫi/ del·hi

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    a very large city in northern India that is home to millions of people.

    a megacity and union territory in northern India, encompassing the national capital, New Delhi.

    Simple

    Many people travel to Delhi to see its famous historic markets and monuments.

    In context

    Delhi serves as a vital cultural and political hub, blending ancient Mughal architecture with the rapid development of a modern global megacity.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    the government of India.

    a metonym for the central government of India.

    Simple

    The news report discussed how Delhi is responding to the new trade agreement.

    In context

    Relations between Delhi and Islamabad have remained a central focus of regional geopolitical analysis for decades.


Etymology 1

Corrupted from Hindustani دہلی (dihlī, dêhli) / देहली (dehlī), of uncertain origin. See Delhi § Toponym at Wikipedia. Compare Hindi दिल्ली (dillī).

Etymology 2

From Mongolian Дэлхий (Delxii) / ᠳᠡᠯᠡᠬᠡᠢ (delekei).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Common
Updated