cha

Meaning

Noun

tea, sometimes (dialect) specifically masala chai

Pron

You.

Particle

Used to count out steps, particularly involving the hip-shaking sections of rhythmic Latin dances

Synonyms

char

Pronounced as (IPA)

/t͡ʃɑː/

Etymology

From Chinese 茶 (chá), from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-la, via two routes: in some cases from Hindustani चा (cā) / چا (cā) (a variant of the same root, from Persian چا, which led to chai), from Northern Chinese; in other cases from 茶 (chá) /t͡sʰɑː²¹/, the pronunciation found in Canton (Guangzhou), where the British bought much of their tea in the 19th century. Doublet of tea, which is from the Amoy Min Nan pronunciation tê.