Which word illustrates a loanword from Hindi or Urdu introduced through colonial contact?

• A. Summit
• B. Curry
• C. Parable
• D. Pajama

Answer: (D)

Words borrowed into English during colonial contact reveal how empire connections brought everyday items from the Indian subcontinent. Pajama fits this pattern perfectly: it comes from Hindustani/Urdu pajama (from Persian paejāmeh) and entered English through British contact with India. This direct Hindustani/Urdu origin shows how colonial-era exposure introduced a new everyday garment into English usage. The other options don’t fit this specific Hindi/Urdu loanword route: summit comes from Old French/Latin, parable from Greek/Latin, and curry originates from South Asian languages like Tamil via other intermediaries rather than a direct Hindustani/Urdu loanword brought by colonial contact.