Meaning of tawaif | Babel Free

Definitions

A professional courtesan serving the nobility, especially under the Mughal Empire; (derogatory)

South-Asia, historical

Equivalents

Examples

“‘The tawaif has graduated from mere singing to dancing.’”

“Characterized by its soft eroticism, mujra was performed by courtesans called tawaif who were an integral part of life in the Mughal court.”

“And since the British period, the reputation of a common prostitute has dogged the heels of the tawaif.”

CEFR level