Chennai

American

[chen-ahi] / ˈtʃɛn ɑɪ /

noun

a seaport in and the capital of Tamil Nadu state, in SE India, on the Bay of Bengal.

Chennai British

/ tʃɪˈnaɪ /

noun

Former name: Madras. a port in SE India, capital of Tamil Nadu, on the Bay of Bengal: founded in 1639 by the English East India Company as Fort St George ; traditional burial place of St Thomas; university (1857). Pop: 4 216 268 (2001)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

After submitting countless applications, the 22-year-old found work as an insurance-claims adjuster in Chennai.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Sougat married Sapna and started a new university course in Chennai.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

Chasing 187, they were bowled out for 111 - a result which left them in near must-win territory as they headed to Chennai.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

On the same day in Chennai, India face giant-killers Zimbabwe, who have already beaten Australia and Sri Lanka, and must win convincingly.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

Here in Chennai we speak Tamil, but my parents grew up in a nearby state where they spoke Kannada.

From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023