Gurkha

American  

[gur-kuh, goor-] / ˈgɜr kə, ˈgʊər- /

noun

Gurkhas, plural Gurkha plural

1. a member of a Rajput people, Hindu in religion, who achieved dominion over Nepal in the 18th century.

2. a Nepalese soldier in the British or Indian army.

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Gurkha British  

/ ˈɡɜːkə, ˈɡʊəkɑː /

noun

1. a member of a Hindu people, descended from Brahmins and Rajputs, living chiefly in Nepal, where they achieved dominance after being driven from India by the Muslims

2. a member of this people serving as a soldier in the Indian or British army

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Gurkha
  plural
• Gurkhas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Gurkha

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Gurkha Gurkhas

He was in one with a Gurkha unit, but continued to film.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2025

For centuries, Nepali nationals were recruited by the British army to fight as famed Gurkha soldiers and later by India when it gained independence from Britain.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 25, 2024

It largely prohibits its citizens from joining foreign armies - although there are exemptions for its ethnic Gurkha soldiers to join the Indian and British armies - but this ban is also hard to enforce.

From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2023

Hari Budha Magar, a former Gurkha soldier who lives in Britain, reached the peak of the world’s highest mountain last week.

From Washington Times ● May 23, 2023

“Salaam, Sahib,” replied the Gurkha officer, “Sahib ata hai?” he asked.

From Cupid in Africa by Wren, P. C.

Chemaf’s founder, Shiraz Virji, son of a Zanzibar spice merchant, once hired dozens of Gurkhas, Nepalese soldiers with a reputation for fierceness, to guard one of the company’s mines against incursions by informal miners.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 2026

Young Nepali men have long left to fight for the British Army -- the famous Gurkhas -- a tradition that goes back to the late 19th century.

From Barron's ● Feb. 16, 2026

The 13 Nepalese military veterans - known as Gurkhas - were employed guarding the UK embassy in Kabul.

From BBC ● Apr. 4, 2023

Tens of thousands of Gurkhas now serve in the Indian army, including in counterinsurgency operations in the Himalayan territory of Kashmir and the northeastern states.

From Reuters ● Aug. 29, 2022

Here are sturdy Garhwalis, with slouch hats and kukris at their belts, and farther down the road you see Gurkhas.

From The Childrens' Story of the War, Volume 3 (of 10) by Parrott, James Edward