| Agni | God of Fire. |
| Aiyo | Alas! "Ai" runs together almost like "eye." The word is repeated rapidly, Eye-eye Yō Eye-eye Yō! |
| Ammā | Mother! (vocative case). "A" is pronounced like "u" in "up." The word is also used by all women in speaking to each other, and by girls in speaking to women. |
| Ammāl | Lady or woman. "A" is pronounced like "u" in "up." |
| Anna | One penny. |
| Areca Nut | Nut "eaten" by the Indians with betel leaf or lime. |
| Betel | Leaf of a creeper. |
| Bandy | A bullock cart. |
| Brahma | The first person in the Hindu Triad, regarded as the Creator. |
| Brahman | The highest of the Hindu Castes. |
| Bramo Samâj | A sect of Hindu reformers who honour Christ as a man, but reject Him as a Saviour. |
| Chee! | Exclamation of derision, disgust, or remonstrance. |
| Compound | A piece of ground surrounding a house. |
| Coolie | A paid labourer. "Coolie" is the Tamil word for pay. |
| Curry | A preparation of meat or vegetables made by grinding various condiments and mixing them together. |
| Fakeer | Religious beggar. |
| Guru | A religious teacher. |
| Iyer | Title given to Brahmans and Gurus. |
| Paddy | Rice in the husk. Paddy fields = rice fields. |
| Pariah | A depressed class. |
| Pūjah | Worship. "ū" is pronounced like "oo." |
| Rupee | Value 1s. 4d. |
| Saivite | A worshipper of Siva. |
| Salaam | A salutation meaning "peace," used in greeting and farewell, and often in the sense of "thank you." The right hand is raised to the forehead as one says salaam. |
| Seeley | Tamil woman's dress of silk, muslin, or cotton. |
| Shanar | A Caste of Palmyra-palm climbers. |
| Siva | The third person in the Hindu Triad. The Destroyer. |
| Tom-Tom | An Indian drum. |
| Vaishnavite | A worshipper of Vishnu. |
| Vellalar | A Caste of landowners and cultivators. |
| Vishnu | The second person in the Hindu Triad. The Preserver. |