Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
dupatta

dupatta

1 9.3
A long light scarf that women wear over their shoulders or head with traditional clothes
  • noun
  • /dʊˈpɑːtə/
  • Indian
translation icon : dupatta
  • The shopkeeper tells her gently, "Burqas are not in fashion anymore; perhaps a six-yard dupatta would suit you better?"
  • dupatta over her head
  • wear dupatta

Examples

  • As she walked through the market, her dupatta fluttered in the breeze behind her.

  • I have to fix my dupatta.

    Bride & Prejudice (2004)

  • As she was making notes, she felt something tugging at her dupatta.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • When she saw me, she straightened the dupatta over her head and tried to wipe away the tears.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • She closed her eyes, and her dupatta or scarf dropped from her shoulders to the floor.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Amma immediately gets up, flustered, and starts rearranging the faded cotton dupatta on her head.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • She yawns, and covering her mouth with her dupatta, flip-flops in her slippers down the hallway to the kitchen.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • She draped her dupatta over her shoulders to complete her traditional outfit.

  • He noticed that her brightly colored dupatta was beautifully adorned with intricate patterns.

Synonyms

scarf
vsdupatta
134 1.0

A long piece of cloth worn around the neck or shoulders to keep warm

is a light long wrap used specifically in South Asian traditional dress
pashmina
vsdupatta
4 6.3

A soft, light cloth worn over the shoulders or around the neck

is a simple long lightweight traditional wrap common in South Asian dress
tudung
vsdupatta
  • UK
9.9

A scarf worn by Muslim women in Malaysia that covers the hair but leaves the face uncovered

is a loose lightweight drape for shoulders or head, not mainly for hair covering

How Large

shawl
39 1.0
dupatta
  • Indian
1 9.3
scarf
134 1.0
kerchief
9 6.7

Surface Forms

dupatta singular
dupatta plural

Etymology

The word dupatta comes from Hindi and Urdu parts du- meaning 'two' and patta meaning 'strip of cloth', so it originally meant a 'double' piece of cloth. That's why a dupatta is a long scarf women wear over the shoulders or head for style and modesty.