Friday, February 8, 2013

Hindi Word in English: Bungalow

The English word BUNGALOW is from Gujarati bangalo, from Hindi bangla, meaning a "house in the Bengal style," that is, a low, thatched house, often with a wide veranda.

In English it originally referred to a single-story house, usually with a thatched roof. In modern usage it can refer to any single-story home, usually small in size. A bungalow might also have a second story which is built into the sloping roof of the first story with dormer windows (sometimes referred to as "one and half stories").

The image below shows the Harriet Phillips Bungalow in Claverack, New York, dating from the 1920s, an example of the American Craftsman bungalow style. This home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Learn more at Wikipedia.