‘Oh my word, this is going to be disastrous’: Shahi Tharoor guesses Gen Z lingo, Hindi words | Lifestyle News

In a refreshingly candid moment, Congress MP and literary heavyweight Shashi Tharoor found himself grappling with Gen Z slang and basic Hindi vocabulary during a light-hearted interview with CNBC. Known for his eloquence and command over the English language — often with a sprinkle of Victorian flair — Tharoor gamely attempted to decode internet acronyms and answer rapid-fire language trivia in a segment that left viewers both amused and endeared.
It all began when the host pulled out a l of popular Gen Z terms, hoping to challenge the former diplomat’s linguic prowess. “So we have a social media lingo test for you,” the interviewer said. “Just to test if you know the abbreviations.”
“I don’t anymore,” Tharoor admitted with a laugh, “I’m sure I’m way out of touch.”
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But he wasn’t entirely off the mark. When asked to decode “FOMO,” Tharoor confidently replied, “Fear of missing out… which infects lots of people all the time.” A solid start.

However, the next abbreviation, “finsta” (short for “fake Instagram”), left him stumped. “Not a clue,” he said candidly. He also couldn’t guess “OOTD” (outfit of the day), though he took a humorous stab with “outed.” It was a moment that showed even the most erudite minds occasionally fall behind in the whirlwind of internet trends — and Tharoor’s willingness to laugh at himself made it all the more delightful.
Just when the Gen Z slang quiz wrapped up, the host flipped the challenge to Hindi vocabulary — and Tharoor immediately looked alarmed. “Oh my word, this is going to be disastrous,” he said with theatrical dread.
When asked for the Hindi word for “fictional,” Tharoor first guessed “jhooth” (a lie), before being told it was kalpanik. “Alright, good. I’ll remember that,” he smiled, noting the correction graciously.Story continues below this ad
The final question: What’s the Hindi word for “calendar”? “I should know,” Tharoor said, chuckling in mock embarrassment. The answer, of course, was panjikaran, or simply a calendar, as colloquially used.
While Shashi Tharoor’s political and literary credentials are rarely in doubt, this charming detour into Gen Z culture revealed another side to him: good-humoured, self-deprecating, and refreshingly relatable.