Common Terms For Kabaddi: Kabaddi is one of India's oldest and most exciting sports, loved for its unique blend of strength, speed, and strategy. In recent years, it has become more well-known throughout the world, particularly thanks to competitions like the Pro Kabaddi League, which have increased the game's appeal among younger players. Similar to how each sport has its own special vocabulary, kabaddi has a wide variety of slang terms and expressions that are frequently used by players, coaches, and commentators. The positions, moves, strategies, and actions that occur during a kabaddi match are described by these terms.
If you are new to the game or want to enjoy kabaddi matches like a true fan, it’s important to understand these terms. Knowing them will help you follow the game closely, understand the strategies and enjoy the excitement fully.
30+ Common Terms or Slangs for Kabaddi
In this article, we have listed 30+ common terms and slang used in kabaddi, explained in simple language to make it easy for everyone to learn.
Core Gameplay Terms
| Term | Meaning |
| Raid | When a player (raider) enters the opponent’s court to score points. |
| Raider | The attacking player who goes for raids. |
| Defender | The players who try to stop the raider. |
| Tackle | Stopping or catching the raider during a raid. |
| Out | When a player is declared out for being caught or stepping outside. |
| Revival | When an out player re-enters the game after the team scores a point. |
Scoring-Related Terms
| Term | Meaning |
| Touch Point | Point earned by touching an opponent during a raid. |
| Bonus Point | Extra point for crossing the bonus line during a raid. |
| All Out | When all players of a team are out, the other team gets 2 points. |
| Super Raid | A raid where the raider scores 3 or more points. |
| Do-or-Die Raid | A must-score raid; if the raider fails, he is declared out. |
| Empty Raid | A raid where no points are scored. |
Defensive Terms
| Term | Meaning |
| Super Tackle | When 3 or fewer defenders stop the raider successfully. |
| Chain Tackle | Two or more defenders holding hands to trap a raider. |
| Corner | Defenders who stand on the extreme corners of the court. |
| Cover | Defenders positioned between corners and central players. |
| Dash | A strong push by a defender to send the raider out of bounds. |
| Block | When a defender stops the raider’s movement using body strength. |
Tackle Techniques
| Term | Meaning |
| Thigh Hold | Grabbing the raider’s thigh to stop him. |
| Ankle Hold | Catching the raider’s ankle during a tackle. |
| Waist Hold | Holding the raider’s waist to stop his movement. |
| Back Hold | Catching the raider from behind to bring him down. |
| Escape | When a raider breaks free from a defender’s grip. |
| Chain Formation | Defenders link hands to cover more area and stop the raider. |
Match & Court Terms
| Term | Meaning |
| Midline | The line dividing the two halves of the court. |
| Baulk Line | The line the raider must cross to make the raid valid. |
| Bonus Line | The line that gives a bonus point if crossed correctly. |
| Lobby | The side area of the court; players enter it only after contact. |
| Mat | The surface on which kabaddi is played. |
| Substitute | A player who replaces another during the match. |
Performance Terms
| Term | Meaning |
| Super 10 | When a raider scores 10 or more raid points in a match. |
| High 5 | When a defender scores 5 or more tackle points in a match. |
| Cant (Chant) | The continuous chanting of "kabaddi" by the raider during a raid. |
Understanding the basic gameplay terms of kabaddi is the first step to enjoying the sport. These words explain how the game works and what roles each player performs. Once you know who a raider or defender is and what a raid or tackle means, the entire match becomes much easier to follow. These simple terms build the foundation of kabaddi for beginners.
