How Do You Spell BOLLYWOOD?

Pronunciation: [bˈɒliwˌʊd] (IPA)

Bollywood, the Indian film industry, is one of the world's largest entertainment entities. The word "Bollywood" is phonetically transcribed as ['bɒliwʊd]. The word is a blend of Bombay (now Mumbai), the city where the industry is based, and Hollywood, the American film industry. Despite the spelling's origin-based on the previous name of Mumbai, the word's pronunciation differs in regional dialects across India. Some may pronounce it as "bolly-wood," while others may say "bol-ly-wud." Nonetheless, the term "Bollywood" has become a trademark for Indian cinema worldwide.

BOLLYWOOD Meaning and Definition

1. Bollywood, derived from the words "Bombay" (present-day Mumbai) and "Hollywood," refers to the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, India. With a rich history dating back to the early 1900s, Bollywood is renowned globally for its vibrant and melodramatic movies. It is the largest film industry in terms of production and global audience, surpassing even Hollywood in terms of ticket sales.

   Bollywood films are characterized by their unique blend of various elements, including lively music, dance sequences, colorful costumes, and intricate storylines that often revolve around romance, drama, action, and comedy. The industry produces a variety of genres, ranging from romantic dramas (often referred to as "masala" films) to slapstick comedies, historical epics, and socially relevant movies that tackle important topics such as poverty, gender issues, and cultural traditions.

   The hallmark of Bollywood lies in its music and dance numbers, which are considered indispensable elements within the films. These sequences, featuring extravagant choreography and catchy songs, serve as entertainment interludes and are often accompanied by intricate sets and elaborate costumes.

   Bollywood's influence extends beyond India, as the industry has achieved international recognition and has amassed a considerable fan base worldwide. The films are typically known for their ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, captivating audiences through their grandeur and larger-than-life storytelling. Bollywood has significantly contributed to shaping Indian cinema and plays a vital role in the cultural fabric of the country, serving as a means of expression and bringing together diverse audiences across various regions and languages in India.

Top Common Misspellings for BOLLYWOOD *

• nollywood 100%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for BOLLYWOOD

• hollywod
• hollywoood
• hollowood
• holloywood
• hollwood
• holllywood
• holywood
• holliwood
• hallywood
• hollyword
• doolywood
• holleywood
• bolloywood
• hoolywood
• bollywood
• boolywood
• bollwood
• Bollyvoode
• Bollywoodo

Etymology of BOLLYWOOD

The word "Bollywood" is a blend of two words - "Bombay" (now known as Mumbai) and "Hollywood". The term was coined in the 1970s when the Indian film industry based in Mumbai gained considerable popularity and international recognition. The word "Bollywood" emerged as a way to describe the Hindi-language film industry, drawing a parallel with the globally renowned American film industry based in Hollywood. Since then, the term has become widely used to refer to the entire Indian film industry, encompassing various regional film industries as well.