The word Indian has two main meanings that can cause confusion:

1. A person from India, the large country in South Asia. India is home to over a billion people, has dozens of languages, and a rich history stretching back thousands of years. When you hear about Indian food, Indian movies, or Indian mathematics, this is the meaning being used. Someone from India might speak Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, or one of many other languages.
2. A term historically used for the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Today, most people prefer more accurate terms like Native Americans, Indigenous peoples, or specific nation names like Cherokee, Navajo, or Lakota. Many Native people still use “Indian” themselves, especially in phrases like American Indian.

The context usually makes clear which meaning applies. If someone mentions the Indian Ocean, they mean the body of water near India. If a history book discusses Indian treaties in North America, it's referring to Native Americans. When in doubt, more specific terms avoid confusion entirely.