ENGLISH
REFERENCE

singh

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ˈsɪŋ// singh

n. a common surname or middle name used by many people from India, especially those in the Sikh community. It means 'lion' and is often used to show strength and bravery.

n. a title, middle name, or surname originating from the Sanskrit word for 'lion', mandated for all male Sikhs and widely adopted by various Hindu communities. It functions as a marker of identity and social equality within the Sikh faith.


SIMPLE

My friend's last name is Singh.

CONTEXTUAL

The local community center invited Mr. Singh to speak about the history of the neighborhood.

COMPLEX

While historically associated with the warrior caste in northern India, the name Singh was adopted by Guru Gobind Singh to replace traditional surnames that indicated a person's social status or caste.

Origin

From Hindi सिंघ (siṅgh, “lion”) or Punjabi ਸਿੰਘ (siṅgh, “lion”). Doublet of Sinha.

Usage

When used as a proper noun for a person's name, it follows standard capitalization rules.

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