What does “Jai Ho” mean?
A few weeks ago, I thoroughly enjoyed viewing the feel-good movie “Slumdog Millionaire” [see my review here] and my wife surprised me on Valentine’s Day by giving me the soundtrack CD of the movie.
The final song is called “Jai Ho” and is played during an exuberant dance sequence at the end of the film and in fact on Sunday it won the Academy Award for Best Song. You can listen to a sound clip of the song here and see the text of the lyrics here.
But what does “Jai Ho” mean (I’ve seen various suggestions) and what is the song all about? Can a Hindi-speaking reader of NightHawk illuminate us?
February 27th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
I’ve had two comments – which I accidentally deleted (sorry guys) – advising that “Jai ho” means something like “May you have victory always”.
March 4th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
jai=Victorious
ho= Let it be
Jai ho= May you be victorious
March 5th, 2009 at 2:12 am
i love the movie and the soundtrack
March 5th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Click the URL.. Basically translates the whole song.
Jai Ho pretty much means, “You Go!”
You win, have victory, etc.
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/2574655-jai-ho-translation-what-does-jai-ho-mean-meaning-of-jai-ho
March 6th, 2009 at 10:46 am
There is now controversy over use of the song by political parties in India – see here.
March 12th, 2009 at 11:01 am
What does jai ho mean? i am confused …
March 12th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
It seems that the literal meaning of “Jai ho” is something like “You go” and the colloquial meaning is something like “Victory to you”.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:01 am
People say it at Hindi celebrations and holidays. It’s not something you say commonly in a regular sentence. You can say it to bless someone or congratulate them 🙂
April 1st, 2009 at 2:47 pm
I asked a friend who speaks Hindi and she said it means victory.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
I think it means going opposite field on Saturdays.
April 14th, 2009 at 1:36 am
it means all hail nev, and give him the light. hope i have bin of esistance
April 14th, 2009 at 5:22 am
OK. Well now, this comes from an Indian who speaks Hindi 🙂
Jai is derived from the word “Vijay” which means “Victory”. Jai ho in a simple way means (as been said earlier) let you be victorious.
Its a term usually used either for praise, or to buck up during competition.
In early times when the king used to arrive in his “darbar” (a place where he used to discuss the political affairs of his kingdom and other affairs with his ministers and also interact with the public), people used to shout slogans like “Maharajadhiraj (your highness) ki Jai Ho” meaning let our king be victorious.
Even our God’s are praised with slogans like “Jai ho” to symbolize that the Holy Lord always wins i.e. triumph of good over evil.
I think I’ve spoken enough. Any other questions feel free to ask me up!
April 17th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
mi mate got twated for playin jai ho by 10 pikes sooo it must be hobble 2 them if they twated her for the song
April 21st, 2009 at 5:50 am
jai ho means i love you
May 1st, 2009 at 6:59 am
Ahh yes I think it mean like “victory to you” or “go you”
What’s with the one with “i love you”? haha
May 1st, 2009 at 7:35 pm
I am wondering if Jai ho comes from the Hindi or Spanish language.
Anybody knows?
May 1st, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Hindi – not Spanish!
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
hiiii jai ho really does mean victorious you / victory to you i dont no were ur going wi love and destiny
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:54 pm
.. ‘jai ho’ in Hindi is a positive affirmation – giving positive strokes to encourage someone to continue and not give up … in the movie – it refers to Jamaal’s life as well as his unconditional love and search for Latika .. kinda used in the same manner as, “you go girl .. or boy” .. !
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:11 am
jai ho because i got high because i got high because i got high
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:41 am
I’t means “I AM TOTALLY AWESOME” hope i helped 🙂
May 4th, 2009 at 2:28 am
JAI HO MEANS STEPH IS THE BEST 😀
May 5th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
win
May 5th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
im sure that it means victory! most of u peeps have said that so im going with that! i had a argument with this guy last nite while having a drink at a party and he took the micky out of me coz i said i liked the song jai ho! basically he was saying are u asian? and i was like no im british! he was saying that i shoulnt listen to the song because i was not asian! well i dont egree with that if u like something it doesnt matter about ur colour or ur religion! also the bloke was black himself so he had a cheek to say was he said! then he started saying “do u even know what it means?” and i didnt so i was really embraessed so this is the reason y i come ova this site! NOW I KNOW WHAT JAI HO MEANS!!!!!
May 5th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
okay so i have a question for all of you..do you say it ji ho or jay ho?
May 6th, 2009 at 4:17 am
its an awesome song – whatever it means! 🙂
May 6th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
i love the movie.the best movie ever.!!!!!!! they should have gotten more than 9 Oscars.!!!
May 11th, 2009 at 8:39 am
jai ho means (you are my destiny).
May 11th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
It means “Victory to You.” in Hindi.
May 12th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
In the english version its jai ho. In the hindi one its ji ho. so whichever :]
May 13th, 2009 at 5:32 am
well it was kinda hard for me to figure out at first because the pussycat SLUTS said it wrong…and since it was in a song the pronunciation was not the best
but like most of you have said i means that good has been victorious over evil
basically like
yay gooo you!!
May 15th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
jai in french means i have
May 15th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Yes, Beth – but this is a song in Hindi (with a bit of Spanish).
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:53 am
I must say that i agree with the pussycat dolls being sluty lol
also Jai ho means
‘victory to you’
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Jai Ho means “you are my destiny”
May 24th, 2009 at 7:33 am
i think its a stupid song
May 24th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
haha i dear i thought it ment lewis hammelton 😛
mah badd didnt watch slumdog so i didnt know it was in the movie
May 25th, 2009 at 6:00 am
It a gay song but it has meaning ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 25th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
jai isn’t french.
It has to be; J’ai
Then it’s “I have” in french. 😉
May 26th, 2009 at 5:12 am
i love this movie and the song i am addicted =]
May 27th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
i prefer that version by the pussycat dolls (no offence) =p~
But it is actual such a good movie lol :L
May 31st, 2009 at 9:23 pm
jai ho means “dirty feet” there you go folks.
June 1st, 2009 at 7:12 pm
pussy cat dolls made a remix of jai ho and it SUCKS!!
totally took the meaning out of it!! the success and jai ho literal translation.. Victory to you…but its just words of encouragement (usually said to pump up a person/people) its like saying power to the people!! or viva la revolution!! or you go girl!! lol
Jai ho has nothing to do with the rest of the pussy cat dolls song thats about “going all the way” with someone.disgrace!
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:19 pm
no its not
June 4th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Jai Ho means “I slept with my sister last night” hop this clareefais for all u guy. I dont sure really y u slept with my sister but that what it meants. thanking sirs
June 4th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
“can u consult a native Indian speaker for the real meaning of these words?” hehehe…
“tum kisi inian say he is ka isal matlab pouch saktay ho?” hehehe…
June 4th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
I am not Indian, I’m British, my name is Jai. I was told a few years back by my Indian Doctor that Jai means Victory. It may have been shouted during battle.
June 6th, 2009 at 6:38 am
Hi all Enough Jai ho discussion i think.
Lets learn a very common sentence of English and Hindi. in English its is ” I Love You” and its Hindi Brother is ” Muje Tumse Pyaar HAi”
Next time you express your love for someone, do it this time with different way.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:31 am
they was cheering jai ho on big brother tonight.
June 8th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
thank u for that i so wanted to no what they were on about in big bro last night so jai ho to u all