Spices are the heart of Indian cuisine, which is why I created this Indian Spice Glossary. One of the biggest challenges I faced when I started cooking was shopping for spices. I would jot down my mom and grandma’s recipes with excitement, only to be met with a guessing game at the store.
The problem? I knew the spices by their Hindi or Urdu names and could recognize them instantly, but I often had no idea what their English names were. What was dal cheeni, hing, or saunf in English? More often than not, I’d end up calling my mom for help or frantically Googling the Hindi name to find the English translation.
I created this page as a quick reference, a glossary translating spices from English to Hindi/Urdu. I’ve included the most common spices I could think of, but if you have any additions or suggestions, I’d love to hear them!
Indian Spice Glossary
English Name |
Hindi/Urdu Name |
| Aniseed/Fennel Seeds | Saunf |
| Asafoetida | Hing |
| Bay Leaf | Tej Patta |
| Black Cardamom | Badi Elaichi |
| Black Cumin Seeds | Kala Jeera, Shahi Jeera |
| Black Mustard Seeds | Rai |
| Black Pepper | Kali Mirch |
| Black Salt | Kala Namak |
| Caraway Seeds | Shahi Jeera |
| Cardamom | Elaichi, Choti Elaichi |
| Carom Seeds, Oregano Seeds | Ajwain |
| Cinnamon | Dal-cheeni |
| Clove | Laung |
| Coriander Powder | Dhaniya Powder |
| Coriander Seeds | Sabut Dhaniya |
| Coriander, Cilantro (fresh) | Hara Dhaniya |
| Cumin Seeds | Jeera, Zeera |
| Curry Leaves | Kari Patta, Kadipatha |
| Fenugreek leaves (dried) | Kasoori Methi |
| Fenugreek Seeds | Methi Dana |
| Garcinia Indica | Kokum (dried) |
| Garlic | Lasan, Lahsun |
| Ginger | Adhrak |
| Holy Basil | Tulsi |
| Mace | Javitri |
| Mint | Pudina |
| Mustard Seeds | Sarson |
| Nigella | Kalonji |
| Nutmeg | Jaiphal |
| Pomegranate Seeds | Anar Dana |
| Poppy Seeds | Khus Khus |
| Red Chili Powder | Lal Mirch Powder, Mirchi Powder |
| Rock Salt, Himalayan Rock Salt | Sendha Namak |
| Saffron | Kesar |
| Salt | Namak |
| Sesame Seeds | Til |
| Star Anise | Anasphal |
| Sugar | Shakkar, Cheeni |
| Tamarind | Imli |
| Turmeric | Haldi |
| Unrefined Brown Sugar | Gur, Jaggery |
OMG this is awesome! 🙂 I never know the translated names LOL
Haha glad you like B 🙂
I would like to buy the Curry plant. Is there a trusted place to buy it? How tall is it? Does it like California weather?
Hi! There are many sellers on etsy that sell it!
Nisha,
Such a good idea to share this useful knowledge. I also used to think what is the english for such
a herb or spice
Well done again, Sandhya Boua.x
Thanks Sandhya Bua! 🙂
I like this post, enjoyed this one regards for putting up.
Hi Nisha,
Great post. A quick question. How did you come to the conclusion that Himalayan Salt is Sendha Namak? I have been searching for Himalayan salt here in India for its health benefits and no one seems to know about it. I was given Sendha Namak however and I don’t want to use it unless I’m sure it IS Himalayan Salt. Looking forward to your response b
Hi Fehmina,
Thanks for visiting! I came to know that Himalayan Rock Salt is the same as Sendha namak when my Mom told me to use it while cooking for fasting/prayer food, I needed to know the English name so I could find it at the grocery store. Himalayan Rock Salt and Rock salt are in fact the same thing, many companies seem to add the “Himalayan” to their Rock Salt just for marketing purposes; even if was not mined from the Himalayas.
Sendha namak/Rock Salt is generally used instead of regular table salt when people want a salt that is pure with no additives [hence why it is used during fasting]. Many people also use it for health reasons as it is known to help lower blood pressure, clear water retention, and aid in digestion. I have listed a few websites below for you that confirm this information.
I hope this helped! Best of luck and Happy New Year!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_salt
http://www.tarladalal.com/glossary-rock-salt-1644i
http://www.indiamart.com/trivikram-products/search.html?ss=Rock+salt
Take Care. xoxo
Wow!!! I just printed a (much) smaller reference list for myself yesterday ! This is super useful !
Thanks for stopping by Ruchi, glad you find it helpful!
Thanks this is very helpful for reading cookbooks.
Bade kaam ki jankari hai. Thanks.