Glossary

This section provides a translation of some common Hindi words that occur in the recipes
into their English equivalents.

To make it easier to find the words you're looking for, you can either order this list by
English or by Hindi.

English Hindi
A curry with milk/yoghurt and some gravy Kalia
A type of Carp Fish (green carp) Rui or Rohu Machli
A type of rock salt Sendha Namak
A variety of Carp fish (green carp) Rohu or Rui Machli
Almond Badam
Aloe Vera Gwar Patha
Alubia Beans, A type of Kidney Beans Safed Rajma
Alum Phitkari
Chauli, Chaulai, Chavlerr, Chowli,
Amaranth (leaves or grain)
Chowlai, Ramdana
Amaranth Leaves Chaulli or Chowlii Chauli, Chavleri Sag
Amaranth Seeds Chaulli or Chowlii Chauli, Chavleri dana
Saunf, Patli or fine ((Shatphool or Dodda
Anise seeds
jeera)
Anise seeds Saunf, Patli or fine
Aniseed (see also saunf) Vilayati saunf
Apple Saev or saeb (often spelled as sev or seb)
Apple Seb
Apricot Jardalu
Apricot Khubani, Khumani or Jardaloo
Arrow-root Ara-root or Paniphal or Tikora
Artichoke Hathi chak
Asafoetida Hing or Heeng
Asafoetida Heeng or Hing
Shatwar or halyan or sootmooli or safed
Asparagus
Musli
Aubergine Baingan
Avocado or Butterfruit Makhanphal
Baking soda Soda - pakane wala
Bamboo Bans
Banana Kela
Banana, green Hara Kela
Basil Tulsi
Basil seeds, Subja or Sabja
Bay leaf Tej Patta or Tez Patta
Bean, flat green Sem
Beckti or Bhetki Bhetki
Beef Gai ka gosht or mans
Beetroot Chukandar
Bell peppers Shimla mirch
Belliric Myrobalan Harad or Haritaki
Bengal gram flour Besan
Bengal Gram leaves Chane ka Saag (leaves)
Bengal Gram or Black Chickpea Kala Chana
Bengal Gram or Black Chickpea Chana Kala
Bengal Gram-green Hara Chana
Berries of Indian Jujube or Zizyphus Baer or Ber fruit
Betel leaf Pan or Paan
Betel nut Supari/Chali/Chalia
Bitter gourd Karela
Black Kala
Black cumin seeds Kala Jeera
Black Cumin Seeds Shahi Jeera
Black Cumin Seeds Kashmiri Jeera
Urad (Urid) dal, dhuli (very pale yellow in
Black gram, split and skinless
colour)
Black gram, split and with skin Urad (Urid) dal with chilka
Black gram, whole Urad (Urid) Sabut
Black Pepper Kali mirch
Black Rock salt, a pungent salt Kala namak or Sanchal
Black-eyed beans Lobia or Lobhia or Chowli
Boiled rice Bhat
Bombay Duck (Fish) Bumallo or Bombil, a small fish
Bone Haddi
Bottle gourd Dudhi
Bottle Gourd Ghia
Bottle gourd or Chinese melon Lauki or Lawki or Loki or Dudhi
Brain Bheja
Bread Double Roti
Brinjal Baingan
Broccoli Hari Phoolgobhi
Buck wheat Kotu
Butter Makkhan
Butter Makhan
Butter Beans No Hindi name
Butter Fish, Indian Pabda or Pupta machli
Buttermilk-cultured Mattha
Cabbage Band Gobhi or Patta Gobhi
Camphor Kapoor or kapur
Cape Gooseberry Rasbhari
Capsicum Shimla mirch
Caraway Siya jeera
Cardamom Green Choti or green Ilaichi/Ellaichi,
Cardamom Large-Brown or Black Illaichi/Elaichi Bari/Badi
Carom seeds Ajwain
Carp Fish Katla Machli
Carrot Gajar
Cashew nuts Kaju
Cassava, Mandioca, Manioc, Yucca,
Simla aloo, Simla alu, Mogo
Manihot
Cassia Cinnamon like bark, used in Indian cooking
Castor Arandi
Cat Fish or Pangasus (family Pangasiidae) Pangush Machli or Sangatam or Balsa
Catechu, Acacia Kaththa, Cutch, Katha, Khair
Catfish Shingala Machli
Cauliflower Gobhi or phool-gobhi
Cauliflower Phool/Phul Gobhi
Celery Ajmud or Ajmoda or Doroo or Randhuni
Ceral Anaj or Anaaj
Chapatti flour Atta
Chick pea or Gram or Bengal Gram Chana Kala (also see Kabuli Chana)
Chicken Murg
Chicken Murgi
Chicken Murga
Chicory, Succory, Wild Endive Kasani
Chilli Mirch
Chop (as in Lamb chop) Chaamp
Cilantro Dhania
Cilantro (American word) Hara Dhania
Cinnamon Dalchini or Darchini
Citric acid Tartrii or Nimbu Sat
Citric acid, edible type Taatri or tatri
Clams Teesrya or Kavchi
Clarified butter Ghee
Climbing Perch (Fish) Koi Machli
Clove Laung
Clove Lavang
Cluster Bean Gowar ki phali
Cobra saffron Nag-kesar
Coconut Nariyal, Copra, Kopra
Coconut Khopra or kopra
Coconut oil Narial ka Tael
Colocacia Arbi
Colocasia, Taro, Elephant ear, Eddo,
Arbi or Arvi
Dasheen,
Colocsia leaf Patra or Arvi Patta
Condensed, solidified milk Mawa
Cooked in Tandoor Oven Tandoori
Cooked with lots of butter or cream Makhani
Coriander leaves Hara dhania
Coriander leaves (English word) Hara Dhania
Coriander, Cilantro Dhania, Kothamalli
Corn Makki
Corn Makai
Corn Makka
Corn on the cob Bhutta Sabut
Cow Gai
Cowpea Lobia or Lobhia or Chowli
Crab Kekra or Kenkra or Kekda or Kurlya
Cracked wheat Lapsi
Cracked wheat (like Bulgar Wheat) Dalia
Crystalised sugar lumps Misri or Mishri
Cubes of skewered meat Shashlik Kebab
Cucumber Kheera
Cudpah nut Charoli
Cultured Buttermilk Chaach or Chach or Chaas or Chas
Cumin Zeera
Cumin Jeera
Curd (in India) Dahi
Currants; Small, dark raisins, made from
red, seedless grapes, with a slightly tangy Kishmish or Kismis, choti, kali
flavour
Curry Leaves Kari Patta, Meetha Neem, Curry Patta
Curry leaves Meetha Neem, Kari Patta, Curry Patta
Curry Patta, Meetha Neem, Kari Patta,
Kurry Patta, Mahanimb, Surabhi-nimba,
Curry Leaves (Murraya koenigii)
Kadhi-limbdo, Kath-nim, Gore-Nimb,
Narasingha, Barsanga, Basango
Sitaphal (some people call Pumpkin
Custard apple
Sitaphal)
Custard apple Sharifa
Date Khajur
Dill Sowa or suwa
Dill weed Soa Sag
Dill weed Suwa sag
Dough Goondha Atta
Dried fruits Mewa
Dried ginger powder Sonth
Amchur/Aamchoor (aam=mango,
Dried green mango, powdered
choor=powder)
Dried Pomegranate seeds, used in Indian
Anar dana
cooking
Saijan ki Phali or Shinga Phali, Saijam ki
Drumstick (Vegetable))
Phali, Sejan ki phali, Seeng
Dry Date Chuara
Dry Date Chuara (Chu-a-ra)
Dry Fenugreek Leaves Kasoori Methi
Dry White Peas (Field Peas) Matar, Safaid
Dry White Peas (Field Peas) Matar, Sookhi
Duck Buttak or Battak
Edible beaten Silver Chandi Varak
Egg Anda
Eggplant Baingan
Elephant Yam Sooran
Elephant Yam Suran
Essence (generic) Attar
Essence (generic) Ittar
Essence (generic) Ruh
Essence (generic) Khusboo
Fava bean or Hyacinth Beans, a type of
broad beans, also known as Windsor bean Vaal Dal or Sem or Papri or Valor papdi
and horse beans
Fennel Sonf
Fennel Saunf, Moti (Shatphool or Dodda jeera)
Fennel Saunf, Moti
Fennel Saunf
Fenugreek leaves, dry Kasoori methi
Fenugreek Seeds Methi dana
Fig Anjeer or Anjir
Fish (generic) Machchhi
Fish (generic) Machli
Fish Roe Machli ke Ande
Flattened rice Chiwra, Chiwda, Chira, Aval, Poha, Puha
Flattened rice (thicker than flaked rice) Chiwda or Chiwra or Poha
Flax Seeds, Linseed Alsi
Flour Atta
French Beans Pharas Beans
Fruit Phal
Gamboge, Garcinia xanthochymus Kokum
Garcinia Indica (Fruit indigenous to the
Amsool
west coast)
Garlic Lahsan
Garlic Lahsun
Gherkin like vegetable Kundru
Giant Sea Perch Fish Barramundi machli
Ginger Adrak
Ginger Powder Sonth or Saunth
Ginger powder Saunth or Sonth
Ginger powder Sonth or saunth
Goat Bakra
Gold leaf - edible Varak - Sona
Grapes Angoor
Grater Kaddu kas
Gravy Tari or Shorba or Saalan (Urdu)
Gravy Rasa (Hindi)
Gravy of a curry Salan or Saalan
Gray Quail Batair
Green Banana Kachcha Kela
Green banana (not plantain) Hara kela
Green cardamom Choti Ilaichi or elaichi
Green Gram or Mung Bean, split, skinless Moong or Mung Dal Dhuli (light yellow in
or hulled colour)
Green Gram or mung Bean, split, with skin Moong dal Chilka
Green leaf vegetables like spinach, mustard
Saag or Sag (generic)
greens or fenugreek leaves
Green leaves , like spinach or mustard
Sag (generic word)
leaves (generic)
Green peppers Shimla mirch
Griddle Tawa
Grinding stones Sil batta
Ground nuts Moongphali
Guava Amrood
Guava Amrud
Hemp Bhang
Hemp Bhang
Herring Bhing machli
Honey Madhu
Honey Shahad
Hyacinth Beans or Fava bean, a type of
broad beans, also known as Windsor bean Vaal Dal or Sem or Papri or Valor papdi
and horse beans
Indian Butter Fish Pupta or Pabda machli
Indian clay oven Tandoor
Indian cooking pot with lid Bhagona
Indian Cottage cheese, Casein, fromage
Chenna or Paneer
blanc
Indian Cottage cheese, fromage blanc Paneer or Chena
Indian Fudge with condensed milk and
Burfi
other ingredients
Indian Gooseberry (Emblica offcinalis) Amla or Aamla
Indian ice-cream Kulfi
Indian Panny Wort Brahmi
Indian Salmon Rawas or Ravas Machli
Indian Salmon Raavas Machli
Indian scotch egg Nargis kebab
Indian Shad fish or Ilish Hilsa machli
Indian sweet gourd Ghia
Indian sweet gourd Lauki or Loki
Indian sweet gourd Dudhi
Indian unleavened bread Roti
Indian unleavened, Indian, thin bread
Chapatti or Chapati or Roti
cooked on gridle
Indian Wok Karahi
Indian Yam Zimikand
Indian Yam Jimikand
Indian, thin cucumber Kakadi
Indian, thin cucumber Kakari
Ivy Gourd Tindora, Tindla, Tondli
Ivy Gourd Tindora, Tindla, Tondli
Jackfruit Kat-hal (Cut-hal)
Jaggery or Jagary (made by condensing
Gur or Gud
juice of sugar cane)
Jambu, Java Plum, Jambolan, Malabar
Jamun fruit
Plum, Eugenia jambolana
Jaun or Jaw Barley
Juice Ras
Karimeen Machli Pearl Spot Fish
Kidney Gurda
Kidney Beans or Red Kidney Beans Rajma
King Fish Surmai or Visonu Machli
Knife Chakku or Chaku
Kohl Rabi Ganth Gobhi
Lady Fish Kane or Nogli Machli or Murdoshi
Lady Fish Nogli Machli or Murdoshi
Lady's fingers Bhindi
Lamb's-quarters Bathua Sag/saag
Large spoon or ladle Chamcha
Large Sultanas or Currants Munakka
Leg Ran or Raan
Leg of mutton Bakre ki Raan
Lemon Neembu - peela
Lemon Nimbu or Neembu (Western)
Lime Nimbu or Neembu (Indian)
Linseed Alsi, Jawas or Tishi
Mulhathi Mulhati Yashti-Madhu Yashti-
Liquorice Licorice
Madhuka Jethimadh
Mulahati Mulethi Jashtimodhu Mulhatti
Liquorice Licorice
Mulhathi
Little, round, green gourd Tinda
Liver Jigar
Liver Kaleja
Liver Kaleji
Loquat Lokat
Lotus root Kamal Kakri, Kamal Gatta, Bhein, Bhen
Lotus Root Bhein or Bhain or Bhen or Kamal Kakri
Lychee Leechee or Lichi
Mace Javitri
Mackerel (fish) Bangra or Bangda Machli
Maida Plain White Flour
Maida with rainsing agents added to it Self raising flour
Maize Bhutta dana
Mango Aam
Mango Fish Topsi or Topshey
Margosa tree (Azadirachta Indica) Neem
Marjoram Ban or Van Tulsi
Mash Bharta or Bhurta
Mash Bhurta or Bharta
Meat (generic) Gosht
Meat with cream or yoghurt Khorma
Melon - generic, like Honeydew,
Kharbooja
Canteloupe
Milk Doodh
Milk pudding Kheer
Millet Bajri
Millet or Pearl Millet Bajra
Mince Meat Curry Queema
Minced meat curry Kheema
Minced meat curry Keema
Mint Pudina
Monkey nuts Moongphali
Mooli White radish, long ones
Moth Beans or Mut, Mot, mMt, Papillon,
Moth Dal, Sabut
Haricot or Dew bean
Mould Sancha
Mulberry Shahtoot
Mulberry Shehtoot
Mullet Fish Boi or Parshey machli
Mullet Fish Andawari machli
Mullet Fish Parshey machli or Boi
Mung Beans or Moong Beans or Green
Moong dal , Sabut
gram or , whole
Murrel Fish Shole machli
Kukur-mutta or Guchchi or Khumbi or
Mushroom
Dhool ka Phool
Mushrooms Khumbi
Mustard Sarson
Mustard oil Sarson ka Tael
Mustard seeds Rai or Sarson
Mustard seeds Raai or Rai or Sarson
Natal plum Karonda
Nigella or Onion seeds Kalaunji
Nigella or Onion seeds Kalonji
Night Shade-Indian Kateri or Kantakari
Nimbu ka chilka Lemon Rind
Nimbu or Neembu Lemon
Nutmeg Zaiphal
Nutmeg Jaiphal
Nux Vomica Kuchla
Oat Jow or Jau or Jai or Jaun
Oat Jow or Jau or Jai or Jaun
Oil Tel
Okra Bhindi
Olive Zetoon or zaitun
Olives Jaitun
Onion Piaz
Onion Pyaz
Orange Narangi
Orange Santara
Orange (Indian), like satsuma/tangereine Santra or Shantra
Papadom or Papodom or Popodom or
Papad or Papar
Popodum
Papaya Papita or Papeeta
Paper thin, large roti Roomali roti (roomal=handkerchief)
Partridge Teetar
Partridge Titar
Pea, Green Matar, Hari
Peach Aadu/Aadoo/Adoo/Aaru
Peanuts Moongphali
Pear Nashpati
Peel or Rind or Skin (generic) Chilka
Peepul Tree Pipal or Peepal
Pickle Achar or Aachar
Pigeaon Kabutar
Pigeon Peas Tur or Toor or Arhar, Sabut
Pigeon-peas or Split Red Gram (can also be
Tur dal
oily)
Pigeon-peas or Split Red Gram (can also be
Tuvar Dal
oily)
Pigeon-peas or Split Red Gram (can also be
Toor dal
oily)
Pigeon-peas or Split Red Gram (Often
Arhar Dal (can also be oily)
called Yellow lentil)
Pilaf or Pilaff rice; rice cooked with spices
Pulao rice (generic)
and other ingredients
Pine Kernel Chilgoza
Pineapple Annanas
Pineapple Ananas or Annanas
Pistachi Pishta
Pistachio Pista
Plain, white flour (all purpose flour in USA) Maida
Plum Alubukhara or Aloobukhara
Pomegranate Anar or Anaar
Poplait or Saranga or Chandwa or Halva
Pomfret Fish
Machli
Saranga or Chandwa or Halva or Poplait or
Pomfret Fish
Poplet Machli
Chandwa or Saranga or Halva or Poplait
Pomfret Fish
Machli
Halva or Saranga or Chandwa or Poplait
Pomfret Fish
Machli
Pomfret,silver Chandava Machli
Poppy seeds Khus Khus/Kus Kus
Poppy seeds Khas khas
Poppy seeds Post dana
Pork Sooar or suar
Potato Aloo or Aaloo or Alu
Prawn Jhinga or Chingri or Chemen or Sungat
Puffed Kernel of Gorgon Nut or Fox Nut Makhana
Puffed basmati rice Mamra
Puffed rice Murmura
Pulp Gooda
Pulse or lentil Dhal
Pulse or lentil; legume, beans, peas etc. Dal
Pumpkin Kaddu
Quail Bataer
Radish Mooli
Radish seed pods Seengre or moongre
Raisin, generic term for dried grape. Also
used to describe dark brown, dried grapes, Kishmish or Kismis (generic term)
with a sweet, mellow flavour
Raw or uncooked Kachcha
Red chilli Lal mirch
Red Cow Peas Like whole Mung beans, but red
Red Lentil, whole (can be labelled as Green
Masoor, Sabut 1
or Brown lentil)
Red lentils, Split and skinless Masoor Dal Dhuli
Red Sorrel Chukka Leaves
Rice (generic) Chawal
Rice flakes or flattened rice Pauwa
Rice flakes or flattened rice Poha
Ridged gourd (Indian Courgette) Tori or Turai
Ridged gourd (Zuchini like vegetable or
Turai or Tori
courgette)
Rind Chilka stripes
Rock Cod Gobaro
Rock Cod (Lotella rhacina) Gobaro
Rolling board Chakla
Rolling Pin Belan
Rose Gulab
Rose Gulab
Rose water Gulab jal
Safflower Kusam or Kusumbo
Saffron Zafran
Saffron Kesar or Zafran
Saffron Jafran
Saffron Coloured Kesari
Sage herb (Salvia officinalis) Seesti or Salbia-Sefakuss or Sefakuss
Sago, produced from pith of Metroxylon
Sabudana
and other palms
Salmon Fish Rawas or ravas machli
Salt Nimak
Salt Namak
Salty or Savoury Namkeen
Sapodilla Plum or Sapota Chickoo
Sapodilla Plum or Sapota Cheekoo or Chikoos
Sardine (Fish) Pedvey or Chareeaddee Machli
Sawfish Kandere Machli
Screwpine flower essence (pendanus Kewra
odoratissimus)
Self Raising Flour Maida + 2 level teaspoon baking powder
Semolina Rawa
Semolina Sooji or Suji or Rava
Sesame Til
Shark Fish (sea_ Zori
Shark, fresh water Boalee
Sieve Chalni or chhalni
Silver barfish Karli
Silver belly Fish Surgutta Machli
Silver leaf - edible Varak - Chandi
Skewer Seekh
Small balls in sugar syrup, made of flour
Gulab jaman
and milk powderkhoa
Small balls in syrup, made of flour and milk
Gulab jaman
powder/mawa
Snake Gourd Chichinda
Snake gourd Chachinda, Chirchira
Snake head fish Murrai Machli
Snap Melon Phoot
Soda bicarb Pakaney wala soda
Sole fish Morrul or Repti Machli
Sole fish Repti or Morrul Machli
Sorghum Jwar or Jowar
Sorghum or Shorghum Jowar or Jwar
Khatta-palak Khatta-saag Chukka-kura
Sorrel
Ambat-chuka
Sorrel, Red Chukka Sag
Soup or stock or gravy Yakhini
Soup, gravy Shorba
Sour or sharp Khatta
Soya bean Bhatma
Spiced minced meat , cooked on a skewers Sheek or seekh kebab
Spinach Palak
Split Peas (Field Pea) Matar Dal
Split, skinless black chickpeas Chana dal
Spring onion with greens Hara piaz
Spring onions with greens Hari Pyaz
Squid Samudra-pheni (or feni)
Stale Basi
Star Anise Dagad phool
Star Anise Chakri phool
Star Anise Anas phal
Star fruit, Carombola Kamrak or Kumrak
Starfruit or Carambola Kamrakh
Stir-fried Bhuna
Stir-Fry (it) Bhoono or Bhunao
Stone apple, Bengal quince, Wood apple Bael, Bel, Bail, Shriphal
Stuffed Bhare or bharua
Sugar Shakkar
Sugar Cheeni or Chini
Sugar Cheeni
Sugar cane Ganna
Sugar Syrup Chashni or Sheera
Sugar Syrup Chasni
Sultana, Very sweet, large, pale/gold/amber
Kishmish or Kismis, Sunahri or Peeli, Badi
raisins, made from seedless white grapes
Sunflower Sooraj-mukhi
Sweet Lime Mausammi
Sweet potatoes Shakarkand
Tamarind Imli
Tapioca, produced from the cassava Sabudana
Tempering (Tarka) with cumin/mustard etc.
Dhungar or tarka
in hot oil
Tempering of foods with hot ghee/oil and
Baghaar
cumin/mustrad seeds etc.
Thyme Hasha
Thymol flowers Ajwain ke Phool
Tomato Tamatar
Tongs Chimta
Tori, Indian Ridge gourd
Trotter Paaya
Tuna Fish Chura or Choora or Toona machli
Turbot - Indian (Fish) Kuppa machli
Turmeric Haldi or Huldi
Turnip Shalgam
Turtle Kachua
Vegetable (generic) Sabji
Vegetable (generic) Sabzi
Vegetable. The word also describes a
Bhajee or Bhaji
vegetable stir-fry, a curry without gravy
Vegetarian Shaka-hari
venison Hiran
Vermicelli Seviyan
Vermicilli Sev
Vinegar Sirka
Walnut Akhrote, Akroot
Water Pani
Water chestnuts Singhara
Water-melon Tarbooja
Watermelon Tarbooja
Wax Gourd, Ash Gourd, Tallow Gourd,
Petha
Ash Pumpkin
Weighing scales Taraju
Wheat Gehun
Wheat flour Gehun ka atta
White Safed
White bait (Fish) Katai Machli
White gram or chickpea Kabuli chana
White pepper Safed mirch
Whole Sabut
With yoghurt Dahi wala
Wok Kadhai
Yam - ordinary Ratalu
Yeast Khameer
Yellow Gram Chana dal
Yellow Split Peas (Field peas) Matar dal
Yoghurt