Glossary
Below is a translation of English to Hindi for names of spices, grains and legumes, vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat and fish.
Spices
| English Name | Hindi Name |
|---|---|
| All spice | Kebab cheeni |
| Alum | Phitkari |
| Aniseed | Suwa or shopa |
| Asafoedita | Heeng |
| Basil, holy basil | Tulsi |
| Bay leaf | Tej patta |
| Black pepper | Kali mirchi |
| Black salt | Kala namak |
| Capers | Kabra |
| Caraway seed | Shahi jeera |
| Cardamom, black | Badi elaichi/kali elaichi |
| Cardamom, green | Choti elaichi |
| Carom/thyme seeds | Ajwain |
| Celery seed | Ajamoda |
| Cinnamon | Dalchini |
| Clove | Laung |
| Coriander powder | Pesa dhania |
| Coriander seed | Dhania |
| Cloves | Lavang |
| Cumin, black | Kali zeera |
| Cumin seed | Jeera |
| Curry tree/Sweet neem | Kadipatta |
| Dill | Savaa |
| Fennel seed | Saunf |
| Fenugreek leaf | Kasoori methi |
| Garam masala | Garam masala |
| Ginger | Adrak |
| Ginger, dried | Sonth |
| Licorice powder | Jethmadh |
| Mace | Javitri |
| Mango powder | Aamchur |
| Mint | Pudina |
| Molasses/unrefined sugar | Jaggery/gur |
| Mustard oil | Sarson tel |
| Mustard seed | Sarson |
| Mustard seed, brown | Rai |
| Nutmeg | Jaiphal |
| Peppercorns | Kali mirch |
| Pomegranate seed | Anardana |
| Poppy seeds | Khus khus |
| Saffron | Kesar/Zaafraan |
| Salt | Namak |
| Sesame seed | Til |
| Star anise | Chakra phool |
| Tamarind | Imli |
| Tea | Chai |
| Turmeric | Haldi |
| Vinegar | Sirka |
| White pepper | Safed mirchi |
Legumes & Grains
| English Name | Hindi Name |
|---|---|
| All purpose flour | Maida |
| Amaranth grain | Rajgira |
| Amaranth flour | Rajgire ka atta |
| Barley | Jau |
| Buckwheat | Sabut kuttu |
| Black eyed peas | Chawli/Lobhia |
| Chickpeas, brown, Desi | Channa |
| Chickpeas, green | Hara chana |
| Chickpeas, white (Garbanzo) | Khabuli chana |
| Finger millet flour | Ragi atta |
| Gram flour (chickpea) | Besan |
| Maize/corn flour | Makai ka atta |
| Millet, pearl | Bajara |
| Millet (pearl) flour | Bajre ki atta |
| Millet, (sorghum) | Jowar |
| Millet (finger) | Ragi |
| Millett (Foxtail) | Kangni |
| Pigeon Peas | Toor dal/Arhar dal |
| Puffed rice | Muramure |
| Red kidney beans | Rajma |
| Red lentils | Masoor |
| Refined flour | Maida |
| Rice | Chawal |
| Rice (parboiled) | Ukda chawal |
| Rice (beaten or flakes) | Poha (both thick or thin in texture) |
| Rice Flour | Chawal ka atta |
| Semolina | Rava/suji |
| Split Bengal gram | Chana dal |
| Split red lentil | Masoor dal |
| Tapioca | Sabudana |
| Vermicelli | Seviyan |
| Wheat | Gehun Split |
| Wheat (broken) | Dalia |
| Wheat flour | Gehun ka atta |
| Whole Black gram | Sabat Urad dal/kaali dal |
Nuts
| English Name | Hindi Name |
|---|---|
| Almond | Badam |
| Cashew | Kaju |
| Peanuts | Moongphali |
| Pistachios | Pista |
| Walnut | Akroot |
Vegetables
| English Name | Hindi Name |
|---|---|
| Asparagus | Musli/shatwar/sootmooli/halyan |
| Avocado | Makhanphal |
| Bottle gourd | Kerela |
| Cabbage | Patta gobi |
| Carrot | Gajar |
| Cauliflower | Phool gobi |
| Celery | Ajamoda |
| Chili, green | Hari mirch |
| Chili, red | Lal mirchi |
| Corn on cob | Bhutta |
| Corn, kernel | Makai |
| Coriander, fresh | Dhania |
| Cucumber | Kheera |
| Dillweed | Saava bhaji |
| Eggplant/Brinjal/Aubergine | Baingan |
| French beans | Pharas beans/Sem |
| Garden cress | Halim |
| Garlic | Lahsun |
| Indian sorrel | Khatti bhaji |
| Salad Greens | Salaad puta |
| Lotus stem | Kamal kakdior/Bhien |
| Mustard greens | Sarson |
| Mushrooms | Goochi |
| Okra | Bhindi |
| Olives | Zeetoon/ziatoon |
| Onion | Pyaaz |
| Peas | Matar |
| Pepper, capsicum (bell pepper) | Shimla mirch |
| Pepper, yellow | Peeli mirchi |
| Potato | Aloo |
| Pumpkin | Kadhu |
| Radish/Dikon Radish | Mooli |
| Spinach | Palak |
| Soya | Soya |
| Sweet potato | Shakarkand |
| Tapioca | Simla aloo |
| Tomato | tamatar |
| Water chestnuts | Shingara |
Fruits
| English Name | Hindi Name |
|---|---|
| Apple | Sabe |
| Apricot, dried | Khumani |
| Banana | Kela |
| Cantelope | Kharbooja |
| Coconut (fresh) | Naryal |
| Coconut water | Naryal ka pani |
| Currants | Kishmish |
| Dates | Khajur |
| Figs | Amjeer |
| Grapes | Angoor |
| Guavas | Amrood |
| Jackfruit | Kathal |
| Lemon/Lime | Neembu/Nimbu |
| Lychee/Litchie | Lichee |
| Mango | Aam |
| Mulberry | Shehtooth |
| Muskmelon | Kharbooja |
| Orange | Santra |
| Papaya | Papeeta |
| Pear | Nashpati |
| Pineapple | Ananas |
| Plum | Aloobukara |
| Pomegranate | Anar |
| Raisin | Kishmish |
| Sweet lime | Mosambi |
| Watermelon | Tarbuja, Tarbuza |
Dairy
| English Name | Hindi Name |
|---|---|
| Buttermilk | Mattha/Chhaach |
| Clarified butter | Ghee |
| Cottage cheese | Paneer |
| Cream | Malai |
| Curd/Yogurt | Dahi |
| Dried whole milk | Khoya/Mawa |
Meats
| English Name | Hindi Name |
|---|---|
| Chicken | Murgh |
| Fish | Macchli |
| Ground beef | Keema |
| Meat (any) | Gosht |
| Mutton | Yakni |
| Prawn/shrimp | Jinga |
Indian Cooking Utensils & Crockery
This is a list of common names of Indian cooking utensils and crockery—the Hindi name first, followed by the English translation and explanation.
| Hindi Name | English Name |
|---|---|
| Bada Chaakoo | Knife (large) |
| Badda Chammach | Spoon (big) |
| Baata | Cylindrical pestle |
| Belan | Rolling pin |
| Burthan | Pots and pans |
| Chaklaa | Rolling board |
| Chalnee | Colander |
| Chalni | Flour sifter |
| Chimtaa/Pakkad/Sandshi | Tongs |
| Choola | Mud/Clay stove (small cylindrical or three-sided oven, fueled by wood or coal—back in the day!) |
| Chulnee/Chalni | Sieve/Strainer |
| Chota Chaakoo | Knife (small) |
| Chota Chammach | Spoon (small) |
| Dekchi | Flat bottomed round cooking pot with lid |
| Dhuaa | Smoke |
| Doonga/Katora | Bowl |
| Dukhan | Lid |
| Gas Chula | Gas stove |
| Ghotni | Muddler/Churner |
| Gilaas | Glass |
| Hamam Dasta | Mortar and Pestle |
| Jhaara/Jharni | Skimmer (for deep frying) |
| Kaantaa | Fork |
| Kaarchi | Round spoon with a straight handle |
| Kaddukass | Grater |
| Karaahi/Kadhaee | Wok |
| Karshul/Karchul | Ladle |
| Katoree | Bowl (small) |
| Ketlee | Kettle |
| Khane Ka Dabba | Lunch box |
| Maachis | Matchbox |
| Masala Dabba | Spice box—a must-have! |
| Paltaa | Spatula (different sizes for different pots and the wok) |
| Pateela | Cauldron |
| Peyala | Cup |
| Sil | Flat Kitchen grind stone (used to grind masalas and chutnies) |
| Tandoor | Clay cylindrical oven |
| Tawaa | Griddle |
| Thaali | Platter, high hipped (usually stainless steel or metal for all-purpose use) |