maharani

maharani (Indian queen or princess)

noun mah-ah-RAH-nee Rare

Origin: Sanskrit maharājñī, from mahā (great) + rājñī (queen)

Usage Note

Maharani entered French as a loanword during the era of European fascination with the Indian subcontinent. It denotes the wife of a maharaja or a queen in her own right. In popular French culture it can also describe a woman of extravagant elegance — elle se prend pour une maharani.

Examples

"La maharani était couverte de bijoux précieux."

Natural Translation

The maharani was covered in precious jewels.

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