Spices are the backbone of Indian cuisine. Indian food relies on the addition of a few spices or many spices. These are added sparingly to the food while cooking. Below you will find a list or glossary of spices with their English names and in some more Indian languages.
Not only the spices, add a ton of flavor to the dish, but some of the spices like cumin, carom seeds, fennel seeds help in digestion. For this reason, they are added to many recipes to aid digestion.
A few spices like green chillies or red chili powder add some pungency and heat to the dish. Depending on the recipe, the spices are added whole or in their powdered/ground form to the food.
There are many spice blends made by grinding whole spices in the Indian cuisine. Many families make their own spice blends like the essential garam masala, coriander powder, cumin powder, sambar powder, rasam powder etc.
Although you can buy the spice mixes from outside but homemade is always better. As they are free from fillers, additives and preservatives. Homemade spice blends have more intense flavors and a great fragrance.
Spices can be stored easily in a cool dry place in an air tight jars or containers. Sometimes a few spices can have mold or fungal growth on them depending upon the climate conditions. In this case you have to discard these spices.
You can also store spices for a longer time in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. Lastly, when buying spices it is better to buy organic spices and check the expiry date on the package. Make sure to finish the spices within their shelf period.
Get the names of spices, in English, Hindi and some more Indian regional languages in the table below. I hope these translations of the names of the spices in various Indian languages is useful to you.
I am also thankful to all the readers who have shared the name of spices in these regional languages through emails and the comments below. It is because of their contribution we have been able to expand this list and make it bigger.
Note that if you are using mobile phone or tablet then scroll the below table from left to right to see all the names.
List of Spices Names
| English | Hindi | Tamil | Kannada | Marathi | Konkani | Gujarati |
| Aniseeds, fennel seeds | Saunf | Sombu | Badishep | Variyali | ||
| Asafoetida | Hing | Perumkayam, perungaya | Hingu | Hing | Hingu | Hing |
| Basil seeds, sweet basil | Sabja seeds, subja, falooda seeds, tukmaria | Sabja | Tukmariya | |||
| Indian Bay Leaf | Tej Patta | Brinji elai | Tamalpatra, Tej Paan | Tamal patra | ||
| Big mustard seeds | Sarson | Sarsav | ||||
| Black cardamom | Badi elaichi | Periya elakkai | Mothi Ilaichi | Elcho | ||
| Black cumin seeds | Kala jeera | Karung seeragam | Kale Jeere | |||
| Black mustard seeds | Rai | Kadughu | Mohri | Rai | ||
| Black pepper | Kali mirch | Milagu | Menasinkalu | Kalimiri | Mari | |
| Black salt | Kala namak | Kale Meeth | Sanchal | |||
| Caraway seeds | Shahijeera | Perum seeragam | Shahajire | Shahjeera | ||
| Carom seeds, Thymol seeds, Bishops weed | Ajwain | Omam | Owa | Owa | Wonwo | Ajmo |
| Chilli powder | Lal mirch powder | Milagai tool | Lal Mirchi Powder, Tikhat | Marchu powder | ||
| Cinnamon | Dalchini | Lavanga pattai, pattai | Dalchini | Dalchini | Dalchini | Taja |
| Clarified butter | Ghee | Nei | Tup, Shuddha Toop | Ghee | ||
| Cloves | Laung, lavang | Krambu | Lavang | Laving | ||
| Coconut desiccated | Sukha nariyal ka choora/boora | Thuruvina thengai | Sukhe Khobre | Topranu khaman | ||
| Coconut dry | Sukha nariyal | Ularndha thengai | Sukhe Khobre | Copra, khopru | ||
| Coconut fresh | Nariyal | Thengai | Naral | Khopru, topru | ||
| Coriander powder | Dhania powder | Dhaniya podi | Dhane pood | |||
| Coriander seeds | Sabut dhania | Kottumalli Vidai, dhaniya | Dhane | Kothmir na dana | ||
| Coriander Leaves, Cilantro | Dhaniya, dhania | Kothamalli ilai | Sambhar, Kothimbir, Kothmir | Kothmari/kothmir | ||
| Cumin seeds | Jeera | Jeerakam | Â Jeere | Jeeru | ||
| Curry leaves | Kari patta, kadipatha | Karuveppilai | Kadi Patta, Godlimba | Limda, mitho limbdo | ||
| Dry fenugreek leaves | Kasoori methi | Kaaindha vendhaya ilaigal | Kasuri Methi | |||
| Dry ginger | Saunth, sounth, soonth | Sukku | Sunthi | Sunth | Sunthi | Sunth |
| Dry mango powder | Amchur | Mangai podi | Mavinkai Churu | Aamchur | Amchur | Amchur |
| Fenugreek seeds | Methi ke dane | Menthiyam, Vendhayam | Methya dane | Methi dana | ||
| Fenugreek Leaves | Methi | Vendhaya Keerai | Methi | |||
| Garlic | Lasan, lahsun, lahsan | Poondu | Lasun | Lasan | ||
| Fresh ginger | Adrak, adhrak | Inji | Ala | Adu | ||
| Dry ginger | Saunth, sonth | Sukku | Sunth | Sunth | ||
| Green cardamom | Hari elaichi, choti elaichi | Elakkai | Veldoda, Velchi | Elchi | ||
| Green chilli | Hari mirch | Pachai milagai | Hirvi mirchi | Chidiya marcha/lilu marchu | ||
| Ground nut, peanuts | Moongphalli, mungphali | Nila kadalei | Sheng dane | Shing | ||
| Holy basil | Tulsi | Tulasi | Tulas | Tulsi | ||
| Jaggery | Gur | Vellam | Bella | Gul | God | Gol |
| Palm jaggery | Tara gura, sharkara tada | Pana vellam | ||||
| Lime | Nimboo, nimbu | Elumichai | Limbu | Limbu | ||
| Cocum, kokum | Bhirinda, bhirnda | Kokam, aamsul | ||||
| Lime peel | Nimbu ka chilka | Elumichai thol | Limbachi Saal | |||
| Mace | Jayitri, javitri, javntry | Jaipatri | Jaipatri | Jaipatri | Jaipatri | Javintri |
| Mint | Pudina, podina | Pudina, pudhina | Pudina | Phudino | ||
| Nutmeg | Jaiphal | Jhadhikkai | Jaiphal | Jaiphal | ||
| Onion seeds, Nigella | Kalonji, kalaungi | Kalonji | Kalonji | |||
| Pine nuts | Chilgoze, nioze | |||||
| Dry pomegranate seeds | Anardana | Kaaindha maadhulai vidhaigal | Dadum na dana | |||
| Poppy seeds | Khus khus | Khasa khasa | Khas Khas | Khas khas | ||
| Raisins | Kismish | Kaindha dratchai / ularndha dratchai | Bedane | Suki draksh | ||
| Red chilli | Lal mirch | Milakai Vatral | Lal mirchi | |||
| Rock salt | Sendha namak | Kal uppu | Sendhe laun | Sindhalu Mithu | ||
| Rock flower, Stone flower | Pathar phool | Kalpaasi | Dagad phool | |||
| Salt | Namak | Uppu | Meeth | Mithu | ||
| Sesame seeds | Til | Ellu | Til | Tul | ||
| Saffron | Kunkuma, kesar, zafran | Kumkumappu | Keshar | Kesar | ||
| Screwpine, pandanus | Kewra | Rambai ilaigal | ||||
| Sichuan pepper, Szechwan pepper | Timur, tirphal, tephal, teppal | |||||
| Star anise | Chakriphool | Lavanga poo | ||||
| Sultanas | Munakka | Manuka | ||||
| Tamarind | Imli | Puli | Chincha | |||
| Turmeric | Haldi | Manjal | Halad | |||
| Vetiver | Khus | |||||
| Vinegar | Sirka | |||||
| Water melon seeds | Tarbuj ke beej | Tharboosani vidhaigal | Kalingad Bee |
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This Spices List post from the archives (first published in April 2009) has been republished and updated on 13 June 2021.
haldar is gujarati for turmeric.
thanks. will update.
Is kalonji and Kala jeera are same ? Please reply.
both are different. kalonji are nigella seeds and kala jeera is black cumin.
English name of til
sesame seeds.
Thank u for ur list it’s very helpful for me….
B.coz I learn cooking by net. Or video and always confused in masala name..
..
So thank u……. For help
welcome always mayur and thankyou 🙂
It is very helpful for preparing my school project
thanks aneesh
Does anyone know about the seed called “jakkia/jhakia” in Hindi? It is common in Uttarakhand and the mountain areas. I’ve never seen it in the west and can’t find any information or an English name online.
It’s often used for potato and cabbage sabjis.
Hi CP,
Jakhiya, the spice used for tempering vegetables (greens, potato etc) in Uttarakhandi cuisine are seeds of Cleome viscosa. It’s common name is Asian Spiderweed. We source our supply annually from Dehradun because Jakhiya is rarely available outside Uttarakhand.
While it is used for cooking & medicinal purposes in Uttarakhand, it would be interesting to know from others, if it is used for cooking in other parts of India.
Thanks.
What is marathi moggu known as in hindi and english…i also want to know which spices are exactly included in garm masala
noor, moggu is called as kapok buds in english. check garam masala recipe here – https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/punjabi-garam-masala/
Hi
I want to know Hindi words used for PARSLEY and OREGANO
PLZ HELP
Aisha
aisha, i don’t know. hope some reader can help. locally where i buy vegetables they call parsely as ‘chinese dhania’.
Anybody please can tell me what are ” NARME”” seeds does it hve any other name????
I want to know what is flax seed and where it is available and in which indian dish it is used
sushmita, flax seed is called as ‘alsi’. it is very healthy and you will find it in good grocery store or super store. in indian recipes dry chutneys are made from them. good egg substitute for making cakes.
I always search your recipes. It is too good to see all the spices in one list. Actually , I wanted to know about BIRIANI PHOOL . I don’t know the use if this spice in biriyani.please help
biryani phool is stone flower or patthar phool. its added in biryanis, pulaos and in kormas. even in biryani or pulao masala this spice is added.
This phool is known as badyan khatai
Nice it almost have all spices name.
Hello dear,
I am not fond of cooking but I have to do it. And I believe that whatever you do, do it with your best effort. So I keep on searching for food items of my childhood and what my mom cooked for us. She was superb cook. Accidentaly I stumbled on your site many times and I started liking it. Its too good. Right now I need some help without that I will not be able to have my Panchfodan. I want to know MARATHI name for Kalonji or Mangarail. I got ENGLISH name but not MARATHI one. Please help.
thanks a lot richa. i don’t know what is kalonji called in marathi. i live in maharashtra and even in the shops or stores where i buy kalonji, its written as kalonji or nigella seeds but no marathi name is printed on the packet.
Thanks for replying dear. No problem, now I will search Nigella seeds. Lets see what happens. Thanks again.
welcome richa
hi pls could u tell me the english word for tefllam konkani and then the botanical name of tefllam thanks god bless and sorry for the trouble from jane
jane, are you asking about tirphal?
what is an indian vegetable recipe (like saag in hindi or palle in kannada called in english)
bryan, saag is a term used in hindi for leafy greens. i don’t know kannada.