, , , or ( fem.), is a suffix used in a number of Indo-Aryan languages, like Hindi/Urdu, Gujarati, Bengali or Marathi. It forms an adjectival compound from a noun or an agent noun from a verb.[1] For example; it may indicate a person involved in some kind of activity, where they come from or what they wear .[2] [3]
Examples of such uses include:
In British military jargon of the first half of the 20th century, a "base wallah" is someone employed at a military base, or with a job far behind the front lines.[6] There were a number of other words of this type, such as "camel wallah" and "machine-gun wallah",[7] and more in the Notes and Queries cited. "Base wallah" had a derogatory reference for a person who is seldom seen at the front lines during major attacks, pretending to be sick.[8]
In the short story "Sanjeev and Robotwallah", by Ian McDonald, has a there is a character named General Robotwallah in the 2010 novel For the Win by Cory Doctorow. "Robotwallah" refers to the pilot of a mecha.
or was also used in Parsi and Dawodi Bohra surnames, suggesting the profession or a place name. For example:
is also used to indicate a specific object or thing among several:
These uses of should not be confused with the Arabic: وَٱللّٰه|wal-lāh|by God.