chai

¹ American  

[she] / ʃɛ /

noun

French.

plural

chais

1. a shed or other aboveground building where a winemaker stores wine in casks.

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chai ² American  

[chahy] / tʃaɪ /

Sometimes masala chai

noun

1. a drink of tea made with cardamom and various other spices, milk, and a sweetener.

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adjective

1. relating to, reminiscent of, or flavored with a mixture of tea, cardamom, and other spices.

chai British  

/ tʃaɪ /

noun

1. tea, esp as made in India with added spices

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Etymology

Origin of chai

First recorded in 1970–75; from Turkish çay and Hindi, Persian, Russian, Urdu chay “tea,” ultimately from Chinese chá; see tea ( def. )

Explanation

In Western countries, chai is a sweet, milky, slightly spicy tea. If you're not a coffee drinker, you might start your day with a hot cup of chai instead. The word chai means "tea" in Hindi, from the Mandarin word for "tea," ch'a. This is why it might make a South Asian person giggle to hear you order a "chai tea," which literally means "tea tea." In India, masala chai is the specific name of the familiar milky tea flavored with cinnamon, clove, cardamom, and other spices that's so beloved around the world.

Example Sentences

The scent of coffee or chai might linger.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

The gas station with the best sweet karak chai.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Or making coffee at home every day except Friday, when that double-shot dirty chai earns its keep by shepherding you through end-of-week meetings.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2026

At regular intervals, he poured himself a cup of steaming hot chai from his thermos.

From Slate • Jan. 3, 2026

It smelled uncannily like Aru’s apartment in the museum: musty fabric, chai, lavender candles, and old books.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi