Gurkha

G2U1R1K5H4A1

noun

A member of the dominant ethnic group in Nepal, with a Himalayan diaspora.

“In 2009, Gurkha veterans were awarded better terms in the UK”

OriginNepali गोर्खा ← Sanskrit गोरक्ष →
UncommonScrabble 14
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Meanings

nounGurkha (plural Gurkhas or Gurkha)

plural Gurkhas · alternative Gorkha · alternative Ghurkha · alternative Ghoorka · alternative Goorka · alternative Goorkha

  1. A member of the dominant ethnic group in Nepal, with a Himalayan diaspora.
  2. A member of this people recruited to serve in their own elite units in the British and Indian armies.
adjectiveGurkha (comparative more Gurkha, superlative most Gurkha)

comparative more Gurkha · superlative most Gurkha · alternative Gorkha · alternative Ghurkha · alternative Ghoorka · alternative Goorka · alternative Goorkha

  1. Referring or belonging to the Gurkha people.

    The Gurkha royal house of Shah united all Nepal under its rule

  2. Referring or belonging to Gurkha soldiers.

    In 2009, Gurkha veterans were awarded better terms in the UK

Origin

  1. Sanskritगोरक्ष“cowherd”
  2. Nepaliगोर्खा“inhabitant of Gorkha”
  3. EnglishGurkha

From Nepali गोर्खा (gorkhā, “inhabitant of Gorkha”), from गोरखा (gorakhā)/गोर्खा (gorkhā, “Gorkha District”), from Sanskrit गोरक्ष (gorakṣa, “cowherd”) an epithet of the patron deity Gorakhnath, from गो (go, “cow”) + रक्ष् (rakṣ, “protect”).

More words from Nepali, Sanskrit

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Cantonese 啹喀
  • 啹喀member of ethnic group
Chinese Mandarin 廓尔喀, 廓爾喀 /廓尔喀
  • 廓尔喀 (Kuò'ěrkā)member of ethnic group
  • 廓爾喀 /廓尔喀 (Kuò'ěrkā)member of ethnic group
  • 廓尔喀 (Kuò'ěrkā)military
  • 廓爾喀 /廓尔喀 (Kuò'ěrkā)military
  • 啹喀military
Dutch Gurkha, Gurkha
  • Gurkhamember of ethnic group
  • Gurkhamilitary
Finnish gurkha, gurkha
  • gurkhamember of ethnic group
  • gurkhamilitary
  • gurkha-sotilasmilitary
Hindi गोरखा, गोरखा
  • गोरखा (gorkhā)member of ethnic group
  • गोरखा (gorkhā)military
Norwegian Bokmål gurkha
  • gurkhamilitary
Russian гу́ркх
  • гу́ркх (gúrkx)member of ethnic group
Spanish gurja, gurja
  • gurjamember of ethnic group
  • gurjamilitary

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with Gurkha

circamazurkaburqa
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

Gurkha. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gurkha

MLA

“Gurkha.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gurkha. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Gurkha,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gurkha.

Source: Gurkha on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.