Glossary
Indian Cooking Glossary
Don’t find a translation or meaning for anything related to Indian cooking? Leave a comment and we’ll do our best to help you.
Herbs & Spices
Enter Description
| Tamil | Hindi | English |
| Magambu | Choti Saunf/vilayati saunf | Anise/anis/anise seed |
| Perungayam | Hing | Asafoetida |
| Punnai ilai/brinji ilai | Tej patta | Bay leaf |
| Kadalai paruppu | Channa dhal | Bengal gram |
| Kaatu yelam/karuppu yelakkai | Bari Illachi/Kali illaichi | Black cardamom |
| Milagu | Kali mirch or Gol mirch | Black pepper |
| Ulutham paruppu | Urad dhal | Broken black gram |
| Karunjeeragam | Shahi jeera | Caraway seeds |
| Yelakkai | Chotti Elaichi | Cardamom |
| Pattai | Dalchini | Cinnamon |
| Lavangam | Lavang/laung | Clove |
| Kothamalli vidhai | Dhania | Coriander seeds |
| Jeeragam | Kala Jeera | Cumin seeds |
| Kariveppilai | curry patta | Curry leaves |
| Chukku | Saunth | Dry ginger |
| Perunjeeragam | Saunf | Fennel |
| Vendhayam | Methi | Fenugreek |
| Vellam | Gur | Jaggery |
| Jadhipathri | Javitri | Mace/Nut mace |
| Mangai podi | Amchur | Mango Powder |
| kadugu | Sarson | Mustard |
| Jadhikkai | Jaifal | Nutmeg |
| Vengaya vidhai | Kalonji | Onion Seeds |
| Kasakasa | Khuskhus | Poppy Seeds |
| Sigappu milagai | Lal mirch | Red Chillies |
| Ellu | Til.gingili | Sesame seeds |
| Anasipu | Chakra phool | Star anise |
| Kalkandu | Mishri | Sugar candy |
| Manjal podi | Haldi | Turmeric powder |
| Omam | Ajwan | Tymol seeds/carom seeds |
Vegetables
Enter Description
| Tamil | Hindi | English |
| Tinda / Indian Baby Pumpkin | Apple Gourd |
| Poosnikai | Petha | Ash Gourd |
| Kothaivarangai | Guar | Beans - Cluster Fresh |
| Fansi / Phansi | Beans - French Fresh |
| Senkizhanghu | Chakunder | Beetroot |
| Kudai milagai | Simla Mirch | Bell Pepper / Capsicum |
| Paaharkai | Karela | Bitter Gourd |
| Surakkai | Ghiya / Lauki | Bottle Gourd |
| Kathirikkai | Baingan | Brinjal / Eggplant |
| Avaraikai | Sem | Broad Beans |
| Muttai gose | Patta Gobi / Bandh Gobi | Cabbage |
| Carrot | Gaajar | Carrot |
| Pookosu | Gobi / Phool Gobi | Cauliflower |
| Ajmud | Celery |
| Chow chow / Banglore Kathirikkai | | Chayote |
| Sepankezhangu | Arbi | Colocasia |
| Karamani | Lobhia | Cow pea Beans/ Long Beans |
| Kotthamalli | Hara Dhania | Coriander / Cilantro |
| Cholam | Makkai ke dana | Corn Kernel |
| Vellarikai | Kheera / Kakdi | Cucumber |
| Karivepalai | Kadipatta | Curry Leaves |
| Suva Bhaji | Dill Leaves |
| Murungakai | Saijan ki phalli | Drumstick |
| Murungai Ilai | Muranka Bhaji | Drumstick leaves |
| Senaikizhangu | Jangli Suran | Elephant Yam |
| Vendhaya Keerai | Methi Leaves | Fenugreek Leaves |
| Pachai Milagai | Hari Mirch | Green Chilly |
| Pacchai Pattani | Mattar | Green peas |
| Kovakkai | Thendli / Kundru | Ivy gourd / Tindora |
| Vendakkai | Bhindi | Ladies Finger / Okra |
| Pudhina | Hara Podhina | Mint Leaves |
| Kaalaan | Khumbi / Goochi | Mushroom |
| Vengayam | Piyaaz | Onion |
| Chinna Vengayam | Gandhan / Piyaaz Kali | Pearl Onion / Shallot |
| Vaazhakkai | Hara Kela | Plantain |
| Vaazhai poo | Kele ka phool | Plantain Flower |
| Vazhaithandu | Keke ka guda | Plantain Stem |
| Urulaikizhangu | Aloo | Potato |
| Parangikai | Kaddu | Pumpkin |
| Mullangi | Mooli | Radish |
| Peerkangai | Torai | Ridge Gourd |
| Pudalangai | Chichinda | Snake Gourd |
| Pasala Keerai | Paalak | Spinach |
| Vengaya thaal | Hari Piyaz | Spring Onion / Scallion |
| Sakkrai valli Kizhangu | Shakar Kandi | Sweet Potato |
| Mara valli kizhangu | Simla Aloo | Tapiaco |
| Thakkali | Tamatar | Tomato |
| Noolkol | Shalgam | Turnip |
| Karunai kizhangu | Sooran | Yam |
Fresh Fruits
| Tamil | Hindi | English |
| Apple | Seb | Apple |
| Sarkarai Badami | Zard-aloo | Apricot |
| Vennai pazham | Makhanphal | Avocado |
| Vazhai pazham | Kela | Banana |
| Parangi | Kharbooja | Cantaloupe |
| Kurudhi Nelli | Karonda | Cranberry |
| Sita pazham | Sharifa | Custard apple |
| Athi pazham | Anjir | Fig |
| Nellikkai | Amla | Gooseberry |
| Drachai | Angoor | Grapes |
| Goiya pazham | Amrood | Guava |
| Naga pzham | Jamoon | Indian Blackberry / Java Plum |
| Elanthai pzham | Ber | Indian Jujube |
| Palapazham | Kathal | Jackfruit |
| Elimichaipazham | Nimboo | Lime |
| Lychee | Leechee | Lychee |
| Mampazham | Aam | Mango |
| Musukottai | Shehtoot | Mulberry |
| Olives | Zetoon | Olives |
| Narinja kaayi / Kamala pazham | Santra | Orange |
| Pappali | Papeeta | Papaya |
| Peach | Aadoo | Peach |
| Perikai | Nashpati | Pear |
| Annasi pazham | Anna-nass | Pineapple |
| Aloo-bukhaara | Plum |
| Maadulam pazham | Anar | Pomegranate |
| Sapota | Chikoo | Sapodilla |
| Kamrakh | Star fruit |
| Satthukudi | Musambi | Sweet Lime |
| Dharbusini | Tarbooj | Water melon |
Grains, Pulses & More
| Tamil | Hindi | English |
| Kondai kodalai | Chana | Chickpea |
| Makka chola mavu | Makai ka atta | Corn flour |
| Karamani/Thattaippayaru | Lobhia | Cowpea |
| Kadalai Paruppu | Chana dal | Split chickpea |
| Sigapu payaru | Rajma | Dry red beans |
| Kelvaragu | Ragi | Finger millet |
| Thinai | Kakum/kheri | Foxtail millet |
| Kadalai mavu | Besan | Gram flour |
| Kollu | Kulthi | Horse gram |
| Cholam | Jowar | Jowar millet |
| Paruppu | Dhal | Lentil |
| Kambu Mavu | | Millet flour |
| Puzhungal arisi | Usna chawal | Par boiled rice |
| Kambu | Bajra | Pearl millet |
| Payatham paruppu | Moong Dhal | Peeled broken green gram |
| Maida | Maida | Plain flour/All purpose flour |
| Pori | Murmure / Parmal / Laee / Laiyaa | Puffed rice |
| Arisi aval | Poha | Rice flakes |
| Javvarisi | sabudhana | Sago |
| Rawai | Sooji | Semolina |
| Pottukadalai | | Split roasted gram or chickpea |
| Semiya | Seviyan | Vermicelli |
| Ghodumai | Gehoon | Wheat |
| Vellai karamani | | White kidney beans |
| Karuppu ulundu | Kali dhal (sabut) | Whole black gram |
| Thuvaram paruppu | Toor dal | Split pigeon peas |
| Pasippayaru | whole moong dhal | Whole green gram |
Dried Fruits and nuts
| Tamil | Hindi | English |
| Badam Paruppu | Badam | Almonds |
| Saara paruppu | Chironji | Buchanania lanzan seeds/pistachio soft |
| Mundiri paruppu | Kaaju | Cashew nut |
| unakkiya thengai thugal | Suke kata narial | Desiccated coconut |
| Perichampazham | Khajur | Dried dates |
| Aalpacota pazham | Alu bukara | Dry plum |
| Athi pazham | Anjeer | Fig |
| Verkadalai | Mungphali | Peanuts |
| Chilgoza/chilgoja | Pine nuts |
| Pista paruppu | Pista | Pistachios |
| Parangi vidhai | Kadhu beej | Pumpkin seeds |
| Ularndha dirakshai | Kishmish | Raisins |
| Ellu | Til/gingili | Sesame |
| Akhrot | Akhrot | Walnut |
Common Bread
| Baati | Bread looking like bun cooked over ambers in Rajasthan |
| Bhatura | Deep fried Maida flat bread |
| Chapati | Basic whole wheat un-leavened flat bread, aka Roti |
| Kulcha | Baked Maida flat bread |
| Naan | Leavened flat bread baked in clay oven. |
| Paratha | Griddle Fried flat bread |
| Pulkha | Light weight version of Basic whole wheat bread (Roti) |
| Poori | Deep fried flat puffed bread |
| Roomali roti | Very Very thin bread |
| Roti | Basic whole wheat un-leavened flat bread, aka Chapati |
| Roti Makki | Corn (Maze) basic flat bread |
| Roti Missy | Multi grain basic flat bread |
Alas…. I found a perfect glossary … done a great job… all my wishes for my known sweet buddies… Jk.
cilantro