ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Glossary of Indian Foods and Spices: English to Hindi

Updated on December 15, 2011

Moving from America to India to set up a new life with my husband, one of my first tasks was to learn Indian cooking. I have to honestly say, the internet was and is my most loyal resource. Between studying recipes and how-to videos and my husband's patient guidance I have managed to learn quite a few dishes and adapted them to my own. It seems a journey that will never reach an end, but one I'm excited to embrace and I continue to learn new foods and preparations.

I've found my greatest barrier in learning is that of language. I'm horribly slow picking up Hindi and have found myself scouring the web for Hindi to English translations of foods so I can figure out what I'm doing. There are sources out there and some very good ones, but I didn't find them as all-inclusive as I was wanting. So, that being said, I set out to pull together a little more comprehensive list. I'm sure there are things I've missed, and as I discover them, they'll be added to this glossary.


Indian spices
Indian spices | Source
Indian fruit and vegetable market.
Indian fruit and vegetable market. | Source
Indian herbs and spices.
Indian herbs and spices. | Source
Common Indian legumes.
Common Indian legumes. | Source
Indian fruits.
Indian fruits.
Indian vegetables.
Indian vegetables.
Indian grains.
Indian grains.

Spices and Herbs; Nuts, Legumes and Grains; Vegetables; Fruits; Dairy; Meats; and Popular Terms


Spices and Herbs:

English Name...Hindi Name

All spice... Kebab cheeni

Alum.... Phitkari

Aniseed... Suwa or shopa

Asafoedita... Hing

Basil... Basil/bazil

Basil, holy... Tulsi

Bay leaf... Tej patta

Black pepper... Kali mirchi

Black salt... Kala namak

Capers... Kachra

Caraway seed... Shahi jeera

Cardamom, black... Badi elaichi/kali elaichi

Cardamom, green... Choti elaichi

Carom/thyme Seed... Ajwain

Celery seed... Ajmud

Cinnamon... Dalchini

Cinnamon buds... Naaga keshar

Citric acid... Saji na phool

Clove... Laung

Coriander powder... Dhania powder/pisa dhania

Coriander seed... Dhania

Cloves... Lavang

Cumin, black... Kali zeera

Cumin seed... Jeera

Curry tree/Sweet neem... Kadipatta

Dill... Soa sag

Fennel seed... Saunf

Fenugreek leaf... Kasoori methi

Garam masala... Garam masala

Ginger... Adrak

Ginger, dried... Sonth

Licorice powder... Jethmadh

Mace... Javitri

Mango extract... Camiki

Mango powder... Aamchur

Mint... Pudina

Molasses/unref 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

Saffron pulp... Kesar miri miri

Salt... Namak

Sesame seed... Til

Star anise... Chakra phool

Tamarind... Imli

Tea... Chai

Tumeric... Haldi

Vinegar... Sirka

White pepper... Safed mirchi


Nuts/Legumes/Grains:

English Name... Hindi Name

Almond... Badam

Black eyes peas... Chawli /lobhia

Cashew... Kaju

Chickpeas, brown... Chana

Chickpeas, green... Hara chana

Chickpeas, white... Khabuli chana

Gram flour (chickpea)... Besan

Maize/corn flour... Makai ka atta

Peanuts... Moongphali

Pistachios... Pista

Puffed rice... Kurmura

Red kidney beans... Rajma

Red lentils... Masoor

Refined flour... Maida

Rice... Chawal

Semolina... Rava/suji

Split Bengal gram... Chana dal

Split black gram... Urad dal/kaali dal

Split red/yellow gram... Toovar dal/arhar dal

Split red lentil... Masoor dal

Walnut... Akroot

Vermicelli... Seviyan

Wheat... Gehun

Wheat flour... Gehun ka atta


Vegetables:

English Name... Hindi Name

Asparagus... Musli/shatwar/sootmooli/halyan

Avocado... Makhanphal

Bottle gourd... Doodhi

Cabbage... Patta gobi

Carrot... Gajar

Cauliflower... Phool gobi

Celery... Doroo

Chili, green hot... Hari mirch

Chili, red... Lal mirchi

Corn on cob... Bhutta

Corn, kernel... Makai

Corriander, fresh... Dhania

Cucumber... Kheera

Dillweed... Suvabhaji

Egg plant... Brinjal/biangan

French beans... Flas beans

Gardencress... Halim

Garlic... Lahsun

Indian sorrel... Khatti bhaji

Lettuce... Kasmisaag

Lotus stem... Kamal kakdior/bhien

Mustard greens... Sarson

Mushrooms... Goochi

Okra... Bhindi

Olives... Zeetoon/ziatoon

Onion... Pyaaz

Peas... Matar

Pepper, capsicum/bell... Shimla mirch

Pepper, yellow... Peeli mirchi

Potato... Aloo

Pumpkin... Kadhu

Radish... Mooli

Salad leaves/endives... Gulsuchal

Spinach... Palak

Sweet potato... Shakarkand

Tapioca... Simla aloo

Tomato... tamatar

Water chestnuts... Shingara


Fruits:

English Name... Hindi Name

Apple... Sabe

Appricot, dried... Khumani

Banana... Kela

Cantelope... Kharbooja

Coconut... Naryal

Currants... Kishmish

Dates... Khajur

Figs... Amjeer

Grapes... Angoor

Guavas... Amrood

Jackfruit... Kathal

Lemon/Lime... Neembu/nimbu

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... Tarbooj, kalingad


Dairy

English Name... Hindi Name

Butter milk... Mattha/chhaach

Clarified butter... Ghee

Cottage cheese... Paneer

Cream... Malai

Curd... Dahi

Dried whole milk... Khoya/mawa


Meats:

English Name... Hindi Name

Chicken... Murgh

Fish... Macchli

Ground meat... Keema

Meat (any)... Gosht

Mutton... Yakni

Prawn/shrimp... Jinga


Popular Dishes:

Achar... Pickles (any type)

Biryani... Spicy rice casserole

Dal... A dish prepared with lentils in a spicy gravy

Korma... Meat or vegetables in a thick, creamy sauce

Lassi... A creamy yogurt drink

Masala... Spice blend

Naan... Flat bread cooked in a tandoor

Pakora... Fritter dipped in a spicy batter, usually made with besan

Pani... Water

Paratha... Flat bread fried on a griddle basted with oil or ghee

Poori... Deep-fried bread

Pulao... Rice pilaf

Roti... Thin bread cooked on a griddle

Saag... Any greens

Samosa... Triangular flaky pastry stuffed with potatoes or meats

Tandoor... Clay oven that uses high temperatures

Tandoori... Any dish cooked in a tandoor

Vegetables... Sabji

Vindaloo... Very spicy curry dish, native to Goa


Hubbing is fun! If you enjoy writing and want a great community to be part of at the same time, sign up!


working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)