Is this correct-- Soy indes / Soy de India.

Question

Some one told me that "Indian" = "indu" in español. If I wish to say "I am an Indian" is it right to say - Soy indes? And "I am from India" should be "Soy de India o de la India"? Because Hindu is a religion and not a nationality.

Answer 1

When the Spaniards arrived in America, they thought they had gone around the world and reached the Indias, and they called the inhabitants "indios", so technically speaking, if you are from India, you are "indio". However, the native inhabitants of the Americas are also "indios", although this term is sometimes used with pejorative overtones by some people. "Hindú", strictly speaking, refers to the religion (now also called "hinduismo"), but it is used to refer to the inhabitants to avoid the confusion with the other ones in the Americas.

To avoid all the confusion, I'd say "Soy de la India" (the article "la" is not compulsory, but it is recommended... in Spanish)

Thank you sooo much! That does solve a major problem for me, something very basic to describe myself... Gracias! - aaspriha, Aug 17, 2011

Answer 2

According the dictionary Indian is "indio/india" or "hindú", however it says that "indio/a" can also refer to Native Americans

So "I am Indian" is "Soy indio" (if you are male) or "Soy india" (if you are female) or "Soy hindú" if you want to make it clear that you are Indian not Native American. I don't know if this differs from region to region, I'm just going by the dictionary.

I am from India" is "Soy de India"

Welcome to the forum!

Answer 3

The name often depends on who says it. This website's dictionary says indio, as does my hardcopy dictionary. This is probably the official name. While hindú technically refers to a member of the religion, it's very possible that some groups of people use the word for both groups.

Same with American. It has different meanings depening on how says it. For most western countries it is used to refer to a US citizen. But for a Spaniard, americano is generally someone from South America.

Well, in India, Hindu is just a name for a religion. So, I´m confused... I happen to be a woman from India, so how do I say "I am an Indian"? - aaspriha, Aug 17, 2011

In Spanish, "americano" is anyone from the top of Canada to the bottom of Argentina. The name comes from Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian who proved that the Americas were not in Asia. - lazarus1907, Aug 17, 2011

So, now I can say, "Soy india de la India"? - aaspriha, Aug 17, 2011

Assuming that you're a woman, yes - S1r_Wakka, Aug 17, 2011

Laz, I don't think he "proved" it. He just drew a land mass he thought was there and signed his name in a spot that didn't matter at the time. - MrSillyInc, Aug 17, 2011

Answer 4

"Soy de India" and "soy indio/hindú" should all work. I believe "hindú" just means "from India." I'm not sure if you would ever want to say "la India," but I can't think of any reasons to right now.

http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/opinion/sima-manjeet-kaur-aqui-puedo-ser-mas-abierta-independiente-1108064 Uses la India to refer to the country. I see many articles googling that uses la India (and - 0074b507, Aug 17, 2011

many that do not). - 0074b507, Aug 17, 2011