chai
1 Americannoun
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing chai
Brown
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Zara's Rules for Record-Breaking Fun
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This is in part why friends Anjani and Abeer tell me they enjoy matcha and chai cafes so much.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
Annual sales of chai grew 38% in the year to April.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
Afterward, we rewarded ourselves with dirty chai lattes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
“You definitely learn from your mistakes,” the Democrat said this week over a cup of chai in San Francisco’s Financial District.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026
My dad is at the table drinking chai.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
