Hindsa

Hindsa (Hindi: हिन्दसा) is a term of Arabic origin used in Hindi and Urdu to refer to a number or digit. More broadly, it can also refer to arithmetic or mathematics itself. It is derived from the Arabic word hindasah (هندسة), which primarily refers to geometry or engineering. The shift in meaning reflects the historical influence of Arabic scholarship on mathematical sciences in the Indian subcontinent. While the term is still understood, its usage is less common in contemporary spoken Hindi and Urdu, where terms like number (in English) or ank (अंक) are more prevalent for referring to a number or digit. In the context of mathematics as a field, terms like ganit (गणित) are more commonly used.