Slangora

vaav

From Gujarati, a stepwell—an elaborately designed subterranean water structure common in the Indian subcontinent, particularly Gujarat and Rajasthan.

ˈvɑv254 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
2 definitions
Community

Definitions

Global
#1·May 3, 2026Globalcasual

From Gujarati, a stepwell—an elaborately designed subterranean water structure common in the Indian subcontinent, particularly Gujarat and Rajasthan. Vaavs feature descending flights of steps leading to a well shaft, often lined with ornate carvings. Rani ki Vav in Patan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tourists descended the carved steps of the ancient vaav, marvelling at the sculptures that lined every tier.
Source: Slangora editorial
Was this helpful?

Comments

#2·Apr 27, 2026

(India) A stepwell.

For parents

Vaav means: A stepwell.. It is mainly Indian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

vaav means: A stepwell.. Register: informal, Indian English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Cluster: general
Was this helpful?

Comments

Used in

Global

Have a better definition?

Add your own interpretation of "vaav".

Add definition

🗺️About Regional & Other slang

Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.

Tags

Other words near "vaav" (V)

Browse all slang words starting with V.

Related terms

People also read

Semantically related