This is an ongoing list of names of Indian spices in English and Hindi. India is home to a large variety of spices that are used not just in Indian recipes but in recipes around the world. It is an amazing journey down history if you want to trace how travelers introduced new spices across borders. India was at the heart of the Spice Trade. Indian spices were (and still are) always the coveted item in many merchant cargos.
As a kid, I remember looking into my mom’s metallic round spice box (which I recently replaced with this beautiful Tupperware Red Spice Box
Most recipes, especially online, use spice names in English. Very often I would come across an English word for an Indian spice and be at a loss. For example, I read about using caraway seeds in a bread recipe and only when I saw the seeds that I realized they were actually shahi zeera which can easily be substituted with common black cumin. That’s when I decided to make an Indian spices list with their Hindi and English names.
I am glad that so many people, from bachelors to seasoned cooks, have found this list helpful. This glossary is not definitive and definitely not complete. It is more like a “living document” that needs your knowledge and contribution. It is a work-in-progress. I would also like to create a spice list with pictures sometime in future. Let me know if you would like that!
List of Indian Spices names in Hindi and English
| ENGLISH | HINDI |
|---|---|
| Asafoetida | hing |
| Basil | Tulsi |
| Bay Leaf | Tej Patta |
| Black Pepper (or White Pepper) | Kali Mirch (or Safed Mirch) |
| Black Salt/ Himalayan Rock Salt/ Pink Salt | Kala Namak/ Sanchal/ Sanchar powder |
| Cardamom | Elaichi |
| Carom seeds, thymol, Celery seeds | Ajwain |
| Chia seeds | Sabza |
| Chilli Powder | Mirchi powder (usually red chilli/ lal mirch) |
| Cinnamon | Dalchini |
| Cloves | Laung, lavang |
| Coriander/Cilantro | Dhania |
| Cumin, Caraway seeds | Zeera, jeera |
| Curry Leaves | Kadi Patta |
| Dill | Suva Bhaji |
| Dry mango powder | Amchoor |
| Fennel | Saunf |
| Fenugreek | Methi |
| Flax Seed | Alsi |
| Garlic Powder | Lahsun Powder |
| Ginger Powder | Adrak Powder |
| Gooseberry Powder | Amla Powder |
| Lemon Grass | Nimbu Ghaas/Hari chai ki patti |
| Mace | Javitri |
| Mint | Pudina |
| Mustard Seeds | Rai, Sarson |
| Nigella Seeds | Kalongi, Mangrela |
| Nutmeg | Jayphal |
| Peppercorns | Kalimirch |
| Pomegranate seeds | Anar dana |
| Poppy seeds | Khas khas, post dana |
| Rock Salt | Sendha Namak |
| Rose Petal conserve | Gulkand |
| Saffron | Kesar, Zaffran |
| Sesame seeds/Gingili seeds | Til |
| Star Anise | Chakri fool (by popular votes!) |
| Tamarind | Imli |
| Turmeric | Haldi |
These spices are individual spices, but a lot of times in the spice rack of your grocery store, you would find spice mixes like garam masala, chole masala, rajma masala, nihari masala etc. These spice mixes, especially the ones that are specific to a dish, don’t really have a corresponding English name except for translating that dish into English. For example you may call chole masala as Chickpea curry spice mix. These spice mixes are not part of this list.
If you know about a spice that is missing here or needs correction or if there is an Indian spice (or any other spice) that you cannot find a corresponding Hindi/English name; do let me know through the comments.
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Would love to start a conversation, share recipes, cooking experiences and food stories from India and around the world.
this is extremely helpful.. I am forever confused with the ingredients!!
Thanks Nimisha!
Glad you find it useful… Do let me know more spices that I can add here 🙂
Cheers,
Ashima
Can you plz tell me what is this Star Anise ….??
Star anise (in hindi it is called chakra phool) is a flower like spice. It has a liquorice flavour.
It is also used a lot in Chinese cooking: E.G. in five spice powder, in Szechuan cuisine, etc.
Hello Mickey,
sorry haven’t heard of baadiya spice before.I checked for a few recipes of mutton pasanda to see if I can find the spice but was’ able to. Can you refer any recipe to me where the spice is used? maybe that would help in identifying it.
Star anise is known as badiya in gujarati..
Thanks, Smita!
🙂
It is also known as Karan phool.
I seen it on label on star anise packet in market.
Thanks, Navjyot!
I am amazed how this one spice has so many names 🙂
Star anise is the fruit of a small evergreen tree native to southwest China. The star-shaped fruits are picked just before ripening and dried before use. They contain the same essential oil as the botanically unrelated Spanish anise seed, which gives the two a nearly identical flavor- strong, sweet, and licoricey.
I didn’t know that! Thanks a lot Jay!
What is lichen?
Salwa, I don’t think it’s a spice. As far as I know it is an algae like plant growth.
What is the name of ghati masala in English?
Matthew, Ghati Masala is a Maharashtrian mixed spice made with a lot of spices like cumin, cinnamon, peppercorn etc.. a lot like garam masala. I don’t think it has an English name.
Thanks regarding this topic
Thanks, Gulshan!
I am glad this list is helpful to you 🙂
Hi Ashima, thanks for the list. Once Alka had asked you on Nov,2016 that what is arrowroot. Actually arrowroot is not arbi/arvi, it is cornflour which we mostly used in aloo tikki.
Thanks, Ahmed…
but as I understand it arrowroot is a substitute for cornflour… The powdered starch is obtained from cassava or tapioca…
what is (cloves) can you tell me about that……….:)
Hello Prince,
Clove is a very commonly used spice in Indian and many other cuisines. You can find a lot more about this wonderful spice on wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clove
Love,
ashima
Thanx for , it is vry helpful. I was sea Nd my problm is solve
Thanks Ankit!
I am glad it was helpful… in case you know of more spices that I can add to the list, please do let me know..
Thanks again,
Ashima
Nigella- kallonji
Gingili seeds- magastari
Flax seeds- arsi
Rose petal conserve- gulkand
Black salt- Sanchar
These are few more…
Hope it will help
Thanks Dhrumil!
will add them to the list!
love,
ashima
HI
If you can send me more names.
00258847536516
Hello Faizal,
Thank you for your request, but I am not sure if I understand you clearly.. Do you want me to email you names of more Indian spices?
regards,
ashima
Hey I m gujarati… hey what is arrow root powder… I m confuse…
Hello Alka,
sorry for such a late response. It seems your comment was filtered through.
Arrowroot is arbi/ arvi.
what about
* Garlic Powder
*Cinnamon Sticks
*Ginger Powder
*Chili Powder
*Chili Crushed
*Dried Chili
*Curry Powder
*Cayenne
*Mustard Seeds
*Celery seeds
Sorry for asking….im still on my way of learning to cook Indian Cuisines and i just dont know how to ask them from the Indian/Pakistani store personels whenever i want to buy spices for cooking. Thanks for the big help!
Hey Vivian,
Thanks for asking.. here you go:
* Garlic Powder — lahsun powder
*Cinnamon Sticks — daalchini
*Ginger Powder — adrak powder
*Chili Powder — laal mirch powder
*Chili Crushed — crushed red chilli
*Dried Chili — dried kashmiri mirch
*Curry Powder — self explanatory
*Cayenne — it’s very tiny red chilli.. usually you might not find it in an Indian store.. but you can use the regular red chillies
*Mustard Seeds — rai/ sarson
*Celery seeds — ajwain
Happy Cooking!
Thanks ashima i need all spices name
Very thankful to you
Thanks Gaurav!
glad you found it helpful 🙂
When I was watching an Indian chef preparing goda masala, he showed dagad phool, which is a type of lichen. Badal phool was listed as star anise elsewhere, but your list has it as dagad phool. Is this a variation of name depending upon region or language?
Hey Nancy!
Thank you so much for writing 🙂 For a long time I did not know what is star anise called in hindi; I kept asking fellow food bloggers and then one of them told me it was called dagad phool so I added it 🙂 And now you pointed out the mistake… so dagad phool is actually stone flower like you said, a type of a lichen.
I’m again putting a question mark at star anise until I find the what’s it really called! 🙂
love,
ashima
Fool chakri like a flower
Star anise…….chakra phool……
thanks Karen!
Nice. I always wanted to know the English meaning of all the spices.
Thanks Dhiraj! Glad you found it helpful
I need all spicy name please
Ashish, let me know the ones that you need that aren’t there on the page already!
Thanks,
ashima
Hi,
What is jalpatri in English? Thank you!
Hi Manisha!
Don’t know yet but I will keep asking further.. do you have a picture of the herb?
Very Nice…. It’s really Helpful
it really helped out me to know all the name of the spices in hindi!!! thanks a lot..
rlly its soo helpfull for us
its great
byeee frndss
its nice
Star Anise – Anasphal
Source:
http://www.indianspices.com/html/s0625staranise.htm
(very useful site)
Great blog!
Thanks Kaushal!
Star Anies is foolchakri in Hindi.
Thanks Rashmi!
Though now I am back to square one as to what is it’s name.. the spice board of India (link shared by Kaushal: http://www.indianspices.com/html/s0625staranise.htm) says it’s anasphal.. 😮
star nise – Hindi : Anasphal – good job with this blog….
Thanks Swetha!
http://indianhealthyrecipes.com/broccoili-gravy-for-chapathi-roti-paratha/ – for broccoli indian gravy – in case this is not on yet!!!
star anise is chakri phool
Hi,
well i have many spices names in hindi and i would like to know there names in english,
plz help me guys and the names are mentioned below
Garam masala sabut
garam masala powder
zeera powder
safaid mirch sabut
safaid mirch powder
anardana khatta
anardana meetha
anardana powder
khashkhas
phatkri
allobkhara kandhari
allobkhara airaani
maghaz pista
sandal boora
kishmish
mishri
saagodana
chandi vark
Wow! that’s a big list 🙂 Thanks!! Let me try of the ones that I know..
garam masala – is a combination of different spices like cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg, mace, aniseed, cumin etc.. so I don’t think it has a combined name in English as well.
Zeera powder – cumin powder
safaid mirch – white pepper (It’s similar to black pepper just white in colour. you get both whole and powdered in most shops)
anardana – pomegranate seeds
Khaskhas – poppy seeds
Maghaz pista – pistachio without its cover.
Kishmish – raisins
mishri – rock sugar
saagodana (also called sabudana) _ tapioca pearls
Chandi vark/ varak – silver foil (that’s the best I can tell for it.. there is really no translation for varak but foil)
Is allubkhara actually allubukhara? Which is simply plum.
I think sandal boor should be sandalwood powder but would love it if someone else can also confirm to it!
Thanks again Naqash for adding to the list on this page! Hope these translations help.
Plz tell me english name of Mangrela
sorry meraj.. don’t know what Mangrela is.. is that the hindi name?
Mam, Mangrela is the north Indian name for Kalonji. In English, you have given Nigella seeds.
Thank you. This page is very useful
Thanks, Anuradha!
I am glad this page is helpful to you and thank you for your suggestion also. I have updated the list to add mangrela as another hindi name for kalongi or Nigella seeds.
nice
Thanks manvar!
here i added one more spice name, hope it’ll help all lil more
“Black Cumin” means shah jeera –> usually used to make powdered “garam masala”
Thanks Shanu!
This is really helpful.my son always asked me the name of spices.
Thanks Pranita!
I am happy it’s useful for your son! I remember I also used to trouble my mom a lot when I had just moved to bangalore and started experimenting in the kitchen! 🙂
lots of love,
ashima
Great pleasure to know names
I am glad it is helpful to you Nikki!
love,ashima
More knowledge
besan laddu
Ingredeants: besan,
Ghee, milk, cardamoms, cinimom, sugar powder. Etc
How to cook: first take an kadai and heat it at low flame then after2 to 3 min pour besan in kadai and stir it constantly untill the besan get reddish brown at low flame it will take 1/2 or 1 hour but have patience after cooking it take out the mixture in an pan then pour milk in kadai and boil it for 1/2 an hour untill it became heavy (like curd) then store it in refrigerator and cool it then take both the mixture and pour both in kadai and boil it at high flame and be carefull it dosent stick on level then add ghee in it and stir well constantly then off the flame and let the mixture coll for 5 min then make medium size balls with your hands then take cardamoms and cinimoms and grind them and pour on it and refrigerate it your laddus are ready
Thanks for the laddu recipe Amandeep! One of my favourites (when my mom makes them!)
love,
ashima
In which dishes are these used
Hello Anish,
Are you asking about a particular spice? This is an ongoing list of Indian spices which are used in different combinations in dishes across our cuisine.
lots of love,
ashima
Fantastic fabulous and marvellous this make easy for a cook to recognised the ingredients easily
Thanks Farid!
Thanks. I need English name of “Akkalgara” a spice famous in Gujarat and mostly used in ayurveda medicine.
Hello Babubhai,
Sorry I don’t know the English word for Akkalgara but I will surely ask around and if you come to know of it, please do let me know so that I can add it to the list.
Hopefully one of the readers may know the spice.
love,
ashima
This is very useful, there is a bit confusion between Aniseed and Fennel as both are different. Aniseed is Til and Fennel is sounf.
Hello Mahboob,
Thank you for pointing out the mistake. Aniseed and Fennel though taste similar are not the same. I have corrected the mistake. Though aniseed is not til as you mentioned. Til is sesame. I will keep looking for the hindi word for aniseed.
thanks and love,
ashima
What is the english and local name of the spices is parsley,sage-rubbed,spanish- rosemar amd oregano
Hello Protyosh,
Commonly parsley, sage, rosemary and oregano are called the same even in hindi. In most stores people will actually recognise rosemary more than gulmehandi but since you asked, here are the hindi names for the herbs:
Parsley – ajmoda
sage – sefakuss and also kamarkuss (I think that is Marathi)
rosemary- gulmehandi
oregano – ajwain (the seeds are called carom and the leaves of the ajwain plant are oregano)
love,
ashima
This is extremely helpful, i’m always confused between these spices….. Thnks a lot….!!!!
Thank Suraj! I am glad it is helpful to you.
Thanks for sharing the spices name…It is gone to be extremely useful for me really…
Thanks Manisha!
I am glad it is helpful to you 🙂
Hii
Hello! 🙂
Can u send me what is masala box all together is called in hindi?
Abhishek it is called masaaldaan literally meaning spice box.
Marvellous information about spices.
hi
very useful.
Thanks Raj!
Thanks,it was very helpful to me
I am glad it was helpful Fozia.
Waiting to add more ingredients to it now.
love,
ashima
What is Lodhar (Hindi) called in Tamil or English or another term in Hindi
Hello Pooja,
I have not used Lodhar powder as such but what I learnt is that it is an ayurvedic powder for skin diseases. The technical name that I found is Symplocos Racemosa. I might be wrong about this one. Please do check at more sources or best ask an Ayurvedic practitioner.
All this masala is good
what is julandjan misri ?
what is bequanch bark called in english?
thank you
Hello Scott,
I actually do not know these two spices/ingredients. Misri is actually crystallised sugar lumps, probably Julandan misri might refer to a specific place?
The second one I haven’t heard of. Maybe one of the readers can help?
I just started with the indian spices. how are they? cumin is the first one i got. which ones are the good ones or are they all good?
Dear Annette,
India and Indian cuisine is famous for its spices. Every recipe calls for a different set of spices. Most of the spices have therapeutic properties. Cumin is very good for digestion. In fact in some parts of India, regular drinking water is boiled with cumin (and then cooled). Likewise turmeric has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Ajwain (carom seeds) are great for stomach aches; ginger is common home remedy for colds etc.
hope that helps
Very useful
Wonderful glossary
This is amazing !
Thank you……
You forgotten one more thing
‘Dill’
Thank you!
adding it just now 🙂
love,
ashima
Hi! Friend!
What is arvi ???????
Hello!
arvi (or arbi) is taro root. In India we cook both the leaves and the root of the plant. You can find a few of my favourite arvi preparation here: https://www.myweekendkitchen.in/?s=arbi
love,
ashima
Can you give me your contact number ?
Don’t worry!
When I’ll need your help only then I will call you,
Not to time spoiling.
Hello K,
Comments here will work whenever you want to connect with me. Or you can connect with me anytime by on:
Facebook,
Twitter,
Google+, and
Pinterest.
love,
ashima
Thanks for the name of the spices
Thanks Saurav,
I am glad it is helpful to you!
Can you help with the Indian name for rosemary please
Arvind
Hello Arvind,
While Rosemary is now grown in India, it is native to the Mediterranean and I don’t think it has a corresponding hindi name. I found a reference to it being called Gul Mehendi (गुल मेंहदी) but I’m not sure if many people will recognise it by that name or if it is even correct!
This English to Hindi translation of Spices is Very Helpful. Some times even the New Generation doesn’t know the Hindi word and very difficult situations arise with cook.
Thanks
Mitesh Shah
Thanks Mitesh!
I am happy you find it helpful. Do help me improve it by adding your suggestions for more spices that I must have missed.
nice & really very helpful
Thank you Jaya!
I am glad you found it helpful 🙂 Do let me know of more spices that can be added.
What is kebab chini
Hello Akram,
Not heard of kebab chini yet… can you send me the recipe that calls for it, maybe then I will be able to figure it out.
Hi, what is Powa?
Hello Andries,
Powa is flattened rice. We use it often to make breakfast. Can you send me the recipe where you came across Powa and I can help you further.
love,
ashima
Thanks ashima
Enlightening thank you
Hello Ashima, you have written an amazing post!
Thank you so much for sharing this
Thanks Geet!
I am glad it is helpful 🙂 Please do let me know of more spices that can be added to the list!
Hi Ashima, Nice work. Thank you.
Can you please tell what is Baadiya. I know it is a spice sometimes used in preparing Garam Masala, and also in mutton Pasanda.
please give me english name for TEJPATTA
It’s called Bayleaf in English.
Dear
Like to know Jeera is two types? which one is Good?
Hello Ferhan,
which two types are you referring to? So there is regular zeera which we use for everyday cooking and then there is shahi zeera or shah zeera which is used for Biryanis and special occasion dishes as it is twice the cost 🙂 but it definitely is more flavourful.
Hello Ashima, You are an angel to me. Since I am a bachelor and stay alone I need to do my cooking…This blog will really help bachelor like me..Thanks a lot.
Thank you Biplab!
I am so glad, my recipes will be able to help you! My biggest intention with sharing the recipes is to inspire more home cooking! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Thank you very much…A life saver for men like us, who go to market looking all blank .
Thanks, Sarjith!
I am glad the list is helpful to you. If you come across spices that are missing here, do let me know and I will add them here.
Plz can you tell me..what is kaali Miri?
I knw kali mirchi…but what is kaali Miri.plz do let me knw.
Hey Neha,
I have not heard of Kali miri but there is a spice called Kari zeeri which is sometimes recommended in a spice mix for joint aches. My mom also used to take it… It is a mix of kali zeeri, ajwain, and methidana. Is it that you are asking about?
Thanks……. ! Bcz it’s too much hard to remember all the spices, but now i can recognize n remember easily, m very thankful to u mam……
Thanks Bijay!
I am glad you find the list helpful. 🙂
please let me English name of katlu powder
Dipesh,
Katlu is not a single spice. It is actually a mix of many spices like dry ginger, fennel, turmeric, poppy etc… I came across it when we lived in Gujarat and haven’t really seen it being used in other cuisines. I don’t think it has a corresponding English name.
Hope that helps
Hello mam.
Can black pepper and peppercorn be used interchangeably or their is some difference ?
A bit confused because u wrote both of the name separately .
Hey Sagar,
Thank you so much for pointing that out! There absolutely is no need for me to put them separately as black pepper is also a kind of peppercorns. Peppercorns can be black, red, white… and if the recipe calls for black peppercorns then they can be used interchangeably with black pepper. Just that peppercorns are whole spices and black pepper can be whole or ground.
Great start on your herb and spice list Ashima. What is the difference between Shah Jeera (Black Cumin), Kala Jeera (Black Cumin), and Kali Jeera (Black Cumin)? Each seed looks a little different and I am looking for caraway seeds. Based on your intro comment, I am guessing it is probably shah jeera but I am curious as to what black cumin really is – do you know?
Hi Lindsay,
You guessed it right! Caraway seeds are the same as Shah Jeera. Shah Jeera is smaller than regular Jeera (black cumin) and more aromatic and flavourful. Since it is also more expensive, the use is reserved for more elaborate and festive cooking. Black cumin or Kaala Jeera is the most regular cumin that you will find.
Kali Jeeri is a different spice that looks like cumin but has is different in flavor. I actually don’t know what is it called in English. It is used in India in Ayurvedic medicines and home remedies.
Thanks for your help.
Hello Ashima. I would appreciate if you would be able to clarify for me if the references to oregano are ajwain or carom? Also, what is ajwain ke phool?
Hey Lindsay!
I am so sorry for the delay. I have been out of internet for a few days. oregano is not ajwain or carom seeds. In fact, oregano is not an Indian spice.
Ajwain ke phool would translate to Ajwain flowers which are like tiny white flowers that grow in a bunch, just like dill flowers. While Ajwain leaves are used in cooking, I haven’t come across the use of flowers in cooking.
Thanks again for your help Ashima.
I am glad I was of help!
Is it possible to upload pictures to this blog? I’d like to add some more confusion to the cumin/black cumin/caraway issue by showing what we get under those names at our Spice Centre here in Edmonton, AB Canada
Hello Jim,
It is my wish to upload pics to this blog one-day:-). I want to click all the spices and then create a photo glossary of them. Thank you for suggesting because it definitely will help me do it sooner. I am leaving for 10 days Vipassana Meditation camp tomorrow and will be completely disconnected during that time. But once I return, I will definitely start on taking pictures of all the spices for this page.
Though I had a confusion… would you like that we upload pics to this post or you want to share your pictures with us? Cumin and black cumin are the same. Caraway seeds are thinner and smaller than regular cumin seeds but of the same family. In Hindi, they are called Shah Jeera.
Nice work Ashima..it will be good if you add image for that.. But really good one.
Thanks, Arvind.
Images for individual spices is a project I will take up soon 🙂
Thanks a lot
Very helpful
Thanks, Tanzila. I am glad you found it helpful! Do let me know if you find spice names that are missing here.
i really want to say its good it was very helpful for me in knowing all spicesvery thankful
Thank you so much, Anjan!
I am very happy that the list is helpful for you. Since it is an ongoing list, do let me know if you come across spices that are missing here.
Do you love the sweet aroma of cinnamon in your dish? Or swear by the wonderful health benefits of turmeric? Spices are an integral part of the family kitchen for a reason.
Thanks, Jenitha!
Definitely, all the spices have so many health benefits besides adding to the flavor and aroma!
Nice work, you could add photos for each item. But still the list is very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks, Dipak.
I am glad you find the list helpful. I am going to add images soon. That’s been suggested by a lot of readers and I am planning to click all images on a weekend and add them here 🙂
Hi,
What we say Panchforan in english ?
Hello Anoop, Panch Foran is a Bengali spice mix of 5 spices – cumin, fenugreek, fennel, mustard, and nigella seeds. It literally translates in English to 5 spices.
You can check how to prepare it here: https://www.myweekendkitchen.in/bengali-panch-phoran-spice-mix/
Hi Ashima, thanks for the list.once Alka had asked you on Nov,2016 that what is arrowroot. actually arrowroot is not arbi/arvi, it is cornflour…