Bhalu

/bəˈluː/ noun

Definition

The Hindi word for bear; used in Indian contexts and folk traditions, including the famous Baloo character from The Jungle Book.

Etymology

From Sanskrit भल्ल (bhalla) or related to similar Indo-Aryan words for bear. The word has been used in Hindi and related languages for centuries to denote the animal.

Kelly Says

Bhalu appears in countless Indian folk tales and was Kipling's inspiration for the wise bear Baloo in The Jungle Book—the character's name is literally 'Bear' in Hindi, hidden in plain sight from English readers!

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