ENGLISH
REFERENCE

telugu

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˈtɛɫʊɡu// tel·ugu

n. a language spoken by millions of people in southern India, mainly in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It has its own beautiful script and a very long history of literature.

n. a Dravidian language spoken primarily in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it holds official status. It is one of the six classical languages of India, characterised by an agglutinative morphology and a distinct syllabic script.


SIMPLE

She speaks Telugu with her family at home.

CONTEXTUAL

The university offers a comprehensive course for students interested in studying classical Telugu literature and poetry.

COMPLEX

As one of the most widely spoken Dravidian languages, Telugu possesses a rich literary tradition that dates back over a millennium, influencing much of the cultural landscape of southern India.

Origin

Borrowed from Telugu తెలుగు (telugu).

Usage

When referring to the language, it is uncountable; when referring to the people, it is often used as an adjective or as 'the Telugu people'.

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