Indian Flour Names

A flour, which is generally termed as ‘atta’ in Hindi language, is an important part of Indian cuisine. Though, when we say atta, it also usually means whole wheat flour or gehun ka atta, this post majorly focuses on the different flours that are commonly used in Indian cooking. This list focuses on the some of the most popular and some uncommon Indian Flour Names in English, Hindi and other regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati and Marathi.

The below list contains both the names of flours made from cereals (grains) and seeds (pseudo grains like amaranth, buckwheat, millets etc). Also are listed flours from beans and lentils. I have also mentioned if these flours are gluten free or not. 

While I have done the English, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati translations on my own, for the other languages, the reference is taken from the book, Modern Cookery by Thangam Philip.

List of Indian Flours

Flour	English	Hindi	Marathi	Tamil	Telugu	Kannada	Malayalam	Gujarati	Gluten-free
	Whole wheat flour	Atta	Kaneek	Godumai Maavu	Godhuma Pindi	Godi hittu	Gothambu Mavu	Ato	X
	All purpose flour, Refined flour	Maida	Maida	Maida maavu	Maida pindi	Maida hittu	Maida mavu	Maida	X
	Cream of wheat, Semolina	Sooji, suji	Rava	Ravai	Rava	Rava	Rava	Rava	X
	Rice flour	Chawal Ka atta	Tandlache Peeth	Arisi maavu	Biyyappu Pindi	Akki hittu	Aripodi	Chokha No lot	X
	Maize flour	Makai ka atta	Makyache Peeth	Makka cholam maavu	Mokkajonna Pindi	Mekke jola hittu	Cholam mavu	Makai no lot	X
	Corn starch	Corn flour	–	–	–	–	–	–	X
	Soybean flour, Soya flour	Bhatma ka atta	–	–	–	–	–	–	√
	Roasted bengal gram flour	Sattu ka atta	–	Pottukadalai maavu	–	–	–	–	√
	Gram flour, chickpea Flour	Besan	Daliche peeth	Kadalamaavu	Senaga pindu	Kadale hittu	Kadala mavu	Chana no lot	√
	Finger millet flour	Mandua Ka atta	Nachni che peeth	Kizhvaragu maav	Ragulu pindi	Ragi hittu	Moothari mavu, panjapullu Mavu	Ragi no lot	√
	Sorghum Flour	Jowar ka atta	Jwari che peeth	Cholam maavu	Jonnalu pindi	Jolada hittu	Cholam mavu	Juwar no lot	√
	Pearl millet flour	Bajra ka Atta	Bajri che peeth	Kambu maavu	Sajjalu pindi	Sajje hittu	Kamboo mavu	Bajri no lot

Recipes made with these Flours

While the usual use of flours in India is majorly in making our everyday flatbreads like roti, phulka, poori and parathas at home, there are many other dishes where these flours are used.

Here, I have compiled some of the personal favorite and popular choices at my home as well as some that are unique, yet form a significant part of Indian cuisine.

1. Atta or whole wheat flour used for making roti, chapati, paratha, poori and phulka.
2. Maida all purpose flour or plain flour used for making naan, bhatura, luchi, kulcha, muffins, cakes. Atta is more healthier than maida.
3. Besan – gram flour used in making pakoras/fritters, besan ladoos, khandvi, dhokla, methi muthia, missi roti, besan halwa). Gluten free.
4. Chawal ka atta – rice flour used in making kozhakatai, pooris and rice bhakri/rotis). gluten free.
5. Makai ka atta (makki ka atta)– maize flour is made from dried corn and is yellow in color and corn flour is made from starch of corn kernels and is white in color. Makki ki roti is very famous in Punjab.
6. Sooji – cream of wheat (both coarse and fine). Used in making sooji halwa, rava dosa, rava kesari, rava upma.
7. Ragi or nachni flour – finger millet flour (used in making ragi dosa, roti, upma). gluten free.
8. Bajra – pearl millet flour (used in making bajra roti or bajra bhakri, thepla). gluten free.
9. Jowar flour – white millet flour or sorghum flour (used in making bhakris, thepla, thalipeeth). gluten free.
10. Sattu ka atta – made from a mixture of roasted and grounded pulses and cereals or even just roasted gram powder will do. You can make sattu drink, paratha, laddu, chilla.
11. Soya flour – made from whole soybeans which is roasted and then grounded. It is usually mixed with whole wheat flours to make rotis, parathas or pancakes. gluten free.

Fasting flours for vrat ka khana

• Singhare ka atta (water chestnut flour) – you can make singhare ki poori, paratha, pakoras, halwa. gluten free.
• Kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour) – you can make paratha, pakoras, poori, halwa. gluten free.
• Rajgira ka atta (amaranth flour) and rajgira (amaranth) – you can make pooris, vrat ka halwa, paratha, kadhi and thalipeeth. Roasted rajgira can be had mixed with fruits, porridge and even ladoos. gluten free.
• Sama ke chawal ka atta (barnyard millet flour) – can be used to make vrat ke uttapam, idli, dosa, pooris. gluten free.
• Arrowroot flour or paniphal flour – used as a thickener and binding agent. gluten free.
• Sabudana flour or tapioca flour – flour made from tapioca pearls. Can be used to make sabudana dosa and idli.

Note: to know more about fasting food check this Navratri Vrat Rules post.

Related Culinary Posts:

1. Fruits Names
2. Spices Names
3. Pulses Names
4. Cereals Names
5. Vegetable Names

This Indian Flour Name post from the archives first published in January 2015 has been updated and republished on January 2023.