Tea or chai? Tracing the linguistic routes of the word 'tea' across the world

Have you ever wondered why, despite its origins in ancient China, this beloved drink is called 'chai' in some places, 'cha' in others, and simply 'tea' elsewhere? Although in the context of most European countries and America, tea refers to the aromatic beverage, made by flavouring the boiling water with tea leaves (Camellia sinensis), chay or chai is the beverage brewing black tea with water and milk, with some aromatic spices like cardamom, cinnamon, etc added into it for enriched flavour.

However, the original answer lies in a journey across continents and centuries- one that reveals how trade routes, colonial powers, and linguistic evolution shaped the words that we use today.

A sneak peek at the history of tea

Before we start tracing out the linguistic history of tea, it's better to take a sneak peek at the history of tea. A Japanese myth exists that says Bodhidharma, the founder of Chan Buddhism, unintentionally fell asleep after meditating for nine years in front of a well. When he woke up, he was disturbed by his human weakness. As a result, he cut off his eyelids. When the eyelids fell to the ground, they became tea bushes, whose leaves produced a drink that could help people get rid of sleepiness.

However, the Chinese legend about the discovery of tea is more scientific and universally acknowledged. Around 2737 BC, Emperor Shennong was drinking freshly boiled water, following a law requiring all water to be boiled before consumption. As he drank, a few leaves from a nearby bush fell into the boiling water, which changed the colour and the flavour of the water. Being curious, the emperor took a sip and was pleasantly surprised by its taste and invigorating effect. In another version of the story, the emperor is said to have experimented with different herbs—some of them toxic—and discovered that tea acted as an effective antidote.

Two Words, One Beverage: Understanding the Linguistic Divide

Despite being a global beverage, the equivalent for tea in every language falls under two distinct categories- tea and cha/chai. And this linguistic division is not something that happened randomly. It reflects how the idea of tea travelled from its ancient origin in China to the far corners of the world.

Tea- The word "tea" originated from the Min Nan dialect spoken in coastal Fujian province of China. This dialect became the source of the word "tea" in English, "the" in French, "Tee" in German, and some other European languages. This spread of the word "tea" actually followed the maritime trade routes, particularly through the Dutch traders who arrived at the ports of Xiamen (Amoy) in the 17th century. It's believed that Dutch traders brought the word for tea back from Fujian or Taiwan, where they had trading ports—or possibly through contact with Malay traders in Java. The Dutch East India Company was the first to import tea directly into Europe, bringing the 'teh' pronunciation, which became tea in English and French, and spread worldwide with European colonialism

Cha- The word comes from the Mandarin Chinese word chà. This word spread overland, travelling through the Silk Route, Central Asia, Persia, South Asia, and the Middle East.  Countries along these routes adapted the word to their languages, resulting in variants like chai in Hindi, chay in Persian and Russian, and çay in Turkish, shay in Arabic and chai in Swahili-speaking parts of Africa.

Trade Routes Carving Linguistic Paths

To put the linguistic division simply, it can be said- tea by sea, and cha by land. Nations reached primarily through maritime routes adopted tea or its variants, which includes much of Western Europe and their colonies. On the other hand, nations connected to China via overland routes adopted cha/chai. This includes India, Iran, Turkey, Russia, and many others along the ancient Silk Road. Portugal, interestingly, is an exception. Though it was a maritime power, it uses chá because its early trade contact was with Cantonese-speaking Macau, not Fujianese ports.

From cha to chai

While most languages use either cha or tea to refer to the refreshing drink, there is also a third version- chai- which is widely used across Central Asia, South Asia, and parts of Eastern Europe. Linguist Chris Wen-Chao Li explained this transformation in his 2019 paper titled, From "Cha" to "Chai" along the Silk Road Corridor: How Diachrony Informs the History of Tea.

According to Li, the word chai developed when the Northern Chinese word cha merged with a local diminutive suffix, pronounced like -i- in some dialects of the 13th century. This transformation likely happened during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), when the Mongol Empire ruled China and expanded westward. As tea spread along the Silk Road, especially by the horse-riding Mongols overland, the word chai travelled with them. This theory contradicts previous theories that credit Persian influence for the chai form. Li's work shows that its phonological roots and timing align better with the Sino-Altic language contact. Thus, the spread of the word chai reflects not only the journey of tea but also centuries of cultural and linguistic exchange across Eurasia.

Linguistic Insights: Why This Matters

This dual terminology—tea vs. cha—is a prime example of what linguists call a wanderwort: a word that spreads across languages and regions, adapting to local pronunciations and customs while retaining a core meaning.

Tea's linguistic journey also reflects larger patterns of globalisation and cultural exchange. The words themselves are historical artefacts, telling stories of trade, empire, adaptation and globalisation.

Beyond Words: Tea Today

Today, the word we use—chai, cha, or tea—reveals more than just language. It hints at centuries-old trade routes, colonial histories, and cultural identities. Whether it's the first sip of the morning or something to brew with friends, tea is more than just a drink. Starting from the local tonger dokaner laal cha to a cup of Earl Grey tea in the lobby of a fancy hotel, every cup of tea has a story to brew. Drinking tea is not just a global cultural phenomenon or a social ritual; tea itself is a story with its roots in history, migration and language.