Veg Recipes of India

indian vegetables names, glossary of vegetables in english and hindi

by

glossary of vegetables

Sharing is Caring!

glossary of indian vegetables

here’s a handy glossary table with the english names and their hindi, tamil and marathi equivalents. we have also included other regional indian languages for some vegetables, wherever possible.

you can also refer to this wikipedia page as this is quite helpful but on few occasions the spelling or minor mistakes are there.

in case, you also plan to check some veggie recipes then here is a collection of indian vegetable recipes.

 

englishhinditamiltelugukannadamarathikonkaninames in regional languages
amaranth leaveschauli, chaulaithotakuraharive soppuchawlithambde bhajji, tambdi bhaji
(for red amaranth leaves)
ash gourd, white pumpkin, winter melonpethapoosanikaiboodida gumadikayabood kumbalakaisafed bhoplakuvale
aubergine, brinjal, eggplantbaingankathirikkaivankayabadanekayivangivainganbegun (bengali), ringan (gujarati), vankaya (telgu)
baby corn
beetrootchukandar
bottle gourd, opo squash,
white gourd		lauki, ghiasuraikaisorakaya, aanapakayahalu
kumbal kai		dudhidhave dudhi,
gharduddi		sorakaya (in telugu), (ghia, ghiya in punjabi)
bitter gourd, bitter melonkarelapavakkai kakarakayahagal kayikarlyakarathekakarakaya (telugu), kalara (oriya), karola (bengali)
cabbagepatta gobhi, paat gobhimuttai kosukosu gaddaele kosukobiband gobi (in punjabi)
carrotgajargajaru gadda gajjarigajar
capsicum, green bell peppershimla mirchkudai milagaibunga mirapakaydonne menasinakaidhobli mirchi, bhopli mirchidonne mirsang
cauliflowerphool gobigobi puvvuhu kosuflower phulkobi (oriya)
cluster beansguar ki phalikothavarangaigoru chikkudu gorikaigawarmitke saang
coconutnariyalthengaikobbari kayatengina kainaralnaarlu
coriander/cilantro leavesdhania pattakothamalli thalaikothimeerakottambari soppukothmirkothambari pallo
cornmakai, bhuttamakka cholammokkajonnagovin jolmakkajonnalochalli (in punjabi)
cucumberkheeravellarikkaikaakdisavte kaikakditavshenkaakdi ( in gujarati)
curry leaveskadi pattakaruveppilaikarivaepakukaribevu soppukadi pattaphanna pallo
dillsuwa, savaasataguppisadhapa vithulu
/sathapushpa vithulu		sabbasige soppushepusheppi bhajjisoa (punjabi)
drumstickssahjan ki phallimurungaikkaimullakkadanuggekaishevgyachya
shenga		mashinga sango
fenugreek leavesmethivendhayam keeraimenthikuramenthe soppumethimethi pallo
french beans, green beansfaras bean, semtingal avre kaifarasbitingal avro
garliclahsunpoonduvellullibellullilasunlosonu
fresh gingeradrak injiallamshuntialaalleadu (gujarati), allam (telugu), aada (assamese, bengali)
green chillihari mirchpacchai milagaipachi mirapakayaHasiMenasuhirvi mirchitarne mirsang
jackfruitkathalpala pazhampanasahalsina hannufanasfanasfanas (gujarati), chakka pazham (malayalam)
lime, lemonnimbuelumichai pazhamnimmakayanimbekailimbulimbuvo
malabar spinachpoi saagbachhali kuramayaluvalchi bhajipui shaak (bengali)
mushroomkukkurmutta, khumb, guchhikaalaanputtagoduguluanabialambokaalan
mustard leavessarson ka saagkadugu keeraiaava kurasasive soppu
onionpyaazvengayamullipayaneerullikandapiyavu,
kando
okra, lady fingerbhindivendakkaibendakayabendekaibhendibhend
flat green beans, hyacinth beanssem ki phali, papdichikudkayapapdi, val papdisurti papdi or valor papdi (gujarati)
peasmatar, mutterpattanipachi batanibatanihirve vatanevatano
mint leaves pudina pattaputhinapudianpudinapudinamarga pallo
pumpkinkadduparangikaigummadikayakumbalkai
(sarekai)		bhopla
potatoaloourulaikilangubangaladumpabatatebatatabatatoalu
radish, daikonmoolimullangimullangimoolangimulamoolangi
radish podsmoongra, mogrimoongre (in punjabi)
raw plaintain,
unripe raw banana		kacha kelabalekai,
valaikkai		aratikayabalekaikachche keleharve kele
red chililal mirchvara milagaipandu mirapakayakempu menasinakailal mirchithambde (red) mirsang
snake gourdparora
(chichinda)		potlakaypaddul kaipadwalpaddul
spinachpalakpasala keeraipalakurapalak, basalepalakpalak, vali
sweet potatoshakarkandisakaravalli kilanguchilakadadumpa genasuratalekanangratalu
tomatotamatarthakkalirama mulaga kayakembhootatambate
taro roots or colocasiaarbiseppenkilanguchamadumpaalu
ivy gourd or gherkinstindoradondakaya tondekaitendlitendlekundru (oriya)
turnipshalgam, shalzamnookolknool kholnavalkholsalgamkon
elephant yamsooran, suran, jimikandsenai kizhangukandasuvarna gedde,
panjar gadde		suransurnu
potatoaloo, aluurulaikishangu,
urulaikizhalungu		bangaaladumpabatatabatatobatata or bateta in gujarati
kantolacontrollikartulephagil

if you know the name of any veggie in any regional indian language and want to update it in this post… then do leave it in the comment section and we will update the post. if we have missed any vegetable, then also you can let us know. thanks in advance.

special thanks to readrs – deepika, priya sivakumar, sgs, raji, aishwaryarani, raghavendra and priya for sharing the names of veggies in regional languages.

Related Culinary Posts:

  1. Glossary of Indian Spices in English and Hindi
  2. Glossary of Cereals Grains in English and Hindi
  3. Glossary of Legumes Lentils in English and Hindi
  4. Glossary of Indian Dry Fruits in English and Hindi




Sharing is Caring!

Reader Interactions

{ 176 Responses }

  3. Malabar spinach in Kannada is basale soppu and spinach is just palak. Also padwal or snake gourd is padwal Kai.

  5. What is english name of marwari and gujrati name of vegetable chibdiiya looks like small oval shape first green colour becomes yellow when ready to eat having small lines on this vegetables . PL let me know correct English name .

  7. Spine gourd (kantola)
    Water chestnut (shinghada)
    Colocassia leaves (aloo in marathi)
    Moringa (shegul in marathi i.e drumstick leaves)

  13. hi, i love so much your site! thanks
    i will be very happy to have some photos of the veggies
    cause i was in paris in an indian food market and i never seem some of them!
    thanks

  14. Could you please tell me what do you call Phoot in English? It is a peach/light orange fruit available in and around Allahabad in the months of February/March/April. Similar to pumpkin in looks but it is sweet and is eaten as a fruit and not as a vegetable. Thanks in advance.

  15. This glossary is very informative to all. What is the English name for Parval or Potal.

  26. In north Gujarat, during monsoon & summer, Karangada crop planted by farmers, it is used for vegetables,looking like small water malon, it’s seeds also good for breakfast ….such name not found in your list

  35. What is the name in English of Vegetable known as KANTOLLA in Gujarati ? Does eating KANTOLLA generate GAS or CONSTIPATION ?
    Please guide

  50. Hi
    Thank you for your easy to make and yummy recipes.
    I would like to list two vegetables:-

    Apple gourd /round gourd/Indian baby pumpkin known as tinda in Urdu.

    Ridge gourd/sponge gourd/Chinese okra known as Luffa/Turai/turia/beerakai/dodka in other languages and janhi in Odiya.

  56. tindora – In tamil it is called as Kovakai — we eat when it is ripen that time it is called as kovapalam

  59. Tomatoes are called Tambate (plural) and Kantola is known as Kartula or Kartule (plural) in Marathi Language

  60. In kannada, flat beans is Avarekai, potato is Alu gadde, colocasia leaves is kesuvina ele (ele means leaf in kannada). You can also add Mountain Spinach which is Chakotha soppu in kannada. Snake gourd is better spelt as Padavalakai instead of paddul kai

  62. Italian of the east—-TELUGU
    cabbage-kosu gadda
    carrot-gajaru gadda (some areas)
    capsicum-bunga mirapakay
    cauliflower-gobi puvvu
    dill-sadhapa vithulu/sathapushpa vithulu (rarest)
    snake gourd-potlakay
    tomato-rama mulaga kaya (nobody calls though)
    turnip-knool khol

  63. Its really gud tindi English name is apple gourd , for patra leaves is colocasia leaves, for amla is gooseberry, for kamal kakdi is lotus stem.

    • A.Rauf, many people speak urdu. its a very poetic language and best for expressing emotions of heart. but we don’t know the name of vegetables in urdu. if some reader can provide details of veggie names in urdu or in any other language… then we will surely update it in the post.

  68. Hi,
    while going through this i found that kannada names for many vegetables is missing, so kindly update it.

    Names of vegetables Kannada Names
    Cabbage Ele Kosu
    Coconut Tengina Kai
    Coriander leaves Kottambari Soppu
    Mushroom Anabi
    Mustard leaves Sasive Soppu
    Peas Batani
    Potato Batate
    Radish Moolangi
    Red Chilli Kempu Menasinakai
    Turnip Navalkhol

  69. What’s the name of the vegetable that u get in Mumbai during monsoon? It’s spherical shape with spikes on it. Greenish in color. Has a slight butter taste. Grows in tropical forests and is like a forest vegetable. It grows on trees.

    • tarun, celery is not ajwain ka patta. i have seen ajwain ka patta and i have celery plant at home and once we had one ajwain plant also at home. in internet you will get this information but it is not correct. we even used to make pakora from ajwain patta. i appreciate your gesture of sharing information. both celery and ajwain are from same family of plants thats why the seeds also looks similar but flavor wise they are different.

  71. Im a Saraswat married to a Maharashtrian living in Mumbai. Here is a list of a fes vegetables with their konkani names.
    1. Amaranth leaves -Thambde Bhajji(red leaves).
    2. Brinjal – Vaingan
    3. Bottle gourd – dhave dudhi
    4. Cluster beans – Mitke saang
    5. Coconut – Naarlu
    6. Coriander leaves -Kothambari pallo
    7. Curry leaves – phanna pallo
    8. Dill – sheppi Bhajji
    9. fresh ginger – alle
    10. Jackfruit – fanas
    11. lemon – limbuvo
    12. peas – vatano
    13. mint leaves – marga pallo
    14. radish – moolangi
    15. red chilli- thambde (red) mirsang

    Hope this helps. You can also refer to an iconic cookbook one of the first published in India – “RASCHANDRIKA”. This is primarily a cookbook of the Chitrapur Saraswat Community in India who speak Konkani.

    • thanks raji for this list. i am sure it will help readers. i have this book but not read it extensively. i guess, its one of the most popular book on saraswat cuisine.

  73. What do you actually call the most common variety of lentils available in Europe? For some reason I cannot post in your topic on legumes, so I am asking here. 🙂

      • Yes. The most common variety in my country are lentils imported from Canada which are greenish on the outside, yellow on the inside, and shaped like space saucer. So, they are like moong beans in color but like masoor dal in shape. Do you know which lentils I am referring to? Can I make a link to a picture?

  74. You have done an outstanding job. The photos recalled my mom’s kitchen and preparation of Hyderabadi Vegy Biryani. Recalls my Pattargatti days!

  77. This is great. Thank you. I had amde a similar list in the past for one of my friend. If only you would like to include konkani translation I have some.
    Amarnath Leaves Harive Soppu(Kannada)
    Ash gourd – Bood kumbalakai(kannada), Kuvale(Konkani)
    Bitter gaurd – Hagal Kayi(kannada), Kalara(Oriya), Karola(Bengali), Karathe(Konkani)
    Cauliflower – Hu kosu(Kannada) Phulkobi(Oriya)
    Capsicum – DonneMenasinakai(Kannada) Donne mirsang(Konkani)
    Cucumber – Taushe(Konkani)
    Curry leaves – Karibevu soppu(Kannada)
    Drumstick – Nuggekai(Kannada), Mashingasang(Konkani)
    Fenugreek leaves – Menthe soppu(Kannada), Methi Pallo(Konkani)
    Garlic – Bellulli(Kannad) Losonu(Konkani)
    Grren Chilli – HasiMenasu(Kannada), Tarne Mirsang(Konkani)
    Jack fruit – Halsina Hannu(kannada)
    Mushroom – Alambo(Konkani)
    Onion – Piyavu(Konkani)
    Okra – Bhend(Konkani), Bendekai(Kannada)
    Potato – Batato(Konkani)
    Raw banana – Harve kele(Konkani), Balekai(Kannada)
    Sweet Potato – Kanang(Konkani), Genasu(Kannada)
    Ivy gouard – Tendle(Konkani), Tondekai(Kannada), Kundru(Oriya)
    Elephant Yam – Surnu(Konkani), Suvarna Gedde(Kannada)

  78. This is great. Thank you. I had made a similar list in the past for one of my friend.

  79. Let me write u some names of vegetables in tamil.
    potato- urulaikizhalungu
    redchilli- vara milagai
    corn- makka cholam
    drumstick – murungaikkai
    mushroom – kaalaan
    radish – mullangi
    rawbanana – valaikkai

    • i don’t know what is celery is called in hindi. on the web its mentioned as ajmoda. in fact all the vegetable sellers, i have got celery from call celery as celery. in the vegetable market, you should look out for vegetable sellers that sell gourmet veggies like red or yellow bell pepper, zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms, fresh herbs like basil, parsley etc. they will have celery.

  82. hi dassana,
    mushrooms are called aalumbe in Marathi,
    as my aunty is a maharastrian and she had once prepared this dish for me.

    • hi shireen, i thought mushrooms were called aalumbe in konkani. in fact specifically there is a variety of small mushrooms which are available during the monsoons in goa and karwar, that are called as alambi. thats why i did not mention the mushroom part. ok i will add.

  83. Dassana, you may add following vegetables. Now India enjoys many western vegetables, herbs ..may be that can be another category. Thanks for this vegetable glossary post.

    1) Chayote/Bangalore Brinjal/Chow Chow
    2) Parval
    3) Snake gourd / Padval
    4) Purslane / ghol bhaji / luni bhaji
    5) Tapioca
    6) scallion
    7) Turia
    8) Mango ginger
    9) Chavli / chinese long beans
    10)Kantola
    11) Ambadi / gongura

    • thanks usha. i will be adding these too. in fact i wanted to add some of these, but i only know of their english and marathi/konkani/hindi names. will update in some time.

  84. Thank you for posting this! Im an American and my husband is Indian. We live in India and I’ve been using your blog to learn how to cook Indian food. Shopping is always difficult because I don’t know the Hindi names of certain veggies. If you get the time, can you post pictures too? That would be very helpful also! Love your recipes!! I’ve learned so much and enjoyed all the dishes I’ve tried. Your site is beautiful too – lovely photography!

  85. Thanks for this very useful post. I had no idea mayalu was Malabar spinach. I saw a recipe in your blog and wondered what it was.
    Mustard greens are called ‘mohrichi paale bhaaji’ as far as I know. I’ve rarely seen them in Mumbai/Pune though.