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 |
Few More Similar Posts:
This Spices List post from the archives (first published in April 2009) has been republished and updated on 13 June 2021.
Great help for me
Thanks for this useful info. My question is : What is hindi for Basil ? Is this plan available in India ? What can we use as substitute for Basil leaves?
basil is called as basil. even the indian vegetable vendors call basil as basil. there is no substitute for basil leaves. tulsi is called as holy basil, but the taste and flavors of tulsi and basil is very different from each other. sweet basil seeds are called as sabja/tukmaria. basil leaves are easily available in india. on most supermarket shelves in the vegetable section, you will easily find basil leaves. also in the vegetable markets in indian metros and cities you can find basil. you can also grow basil like tulsi in a pot. you just need to buy the seeds or a small potted plant.
plz tell me is normal basil n sweet basil same herb?? n the basil used in italian n thai cuisine.. is it this one only…?
there are many varieties of basil. regular or normal basil is different from sweet basil. thai basil is different from the basil used in italian cooking. what you generally get in the market is italian basil unless the pack mentions it as thai basil.
I have seen 9 different type Basil growing in pots in an USA nursery ,bought four sachets of seed and planted in sping here in Karachi its growing so nice but in summer I have the pots under the shade.
yes there are many varieties. but here we mostly get italian basil and sometimes thai basil. not many varieties like that in USA.
will u please tell me the english name of “MUG”. i do not know whether it is a spice ?
generally mung beans are called as mug.
U have mentioned english name for magaz is water melon , where as it’s musk melon and both have difference in properties.
actually both are called as magaz. the one which is available where i live has magaz written on the pack and includes watermelon seeds.
Information given is really nice, thank-you for sharing
welcome shweta