bungalow
/ˈbʌŋɡəˌloʊ/
noun
Origin
Hindi
banglā — belonging to Bengal
Overview
Meaning Now
- A low house having only one story or, in some cases, upper rooms set in the roof, typically with dormer windows.
- A small house or cottage, especially one built in a simple style.
Literal older meaning
belonging to Bengal
Language path
Hindi → English
Earliest form
bangala
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term originated during the British colonial period in India. British officials and travelers adapted the traditional Bengali rural house style, which featured a thatched roof and a wide veranda to provide shade and protection from the heat, into a signature architectural design for colonial housing.
Evolution
- 17th century
bangala
“a thatched house in the Bengali style”
Used by European travelers in India.
- 19th century
bungalow
“a one-story house with a wide veranda”
Adopted into standard English to describe colonial architecture.
Connections
Word parts
banglā
root
Bengali
Related across languages
Bengali
banglā
of or relating to Bengal
Explore next
Related to bungalow
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.