Below is a list of the names of the spices of Indian cuisine and what they are called in English and a few other Indian languages.
India is well-known for its spices. It is the reason why Indian food is popular and loved all around the globe. These spices are the pine of Indian cuisine.
You can’t imagine Indian food without these spices. They are the heart and soul of it. The spices not just provide flavours but colour and aroma as well. They can also be a source of comfort irrespective of the dish being lavish or humble.
Indians use these spices individually or multiple of them at once. We also have a blend of powdered spices in the mixer jar for later use. Though these powder mixes are available in a vast variety in the market, people also make their customised versions at home. garam masala, sambar powder, Madras curry powder, achari masala, are few among them.
These spices are also easy to store in airtight containers or jars. They have a pretty long shelf-life. However, sometimes they are prone to growing fungus due to the weather conditions. In such cases, they are no longer usable. You can also store them in the refrigerator to prevent this. Refrain from using the packaged spices after their expiry dates.
Now that you know a bit about them refer to the table below to know what names these spices are called.
| English | Bengali | Gujarati | Hindi | Marathi | Tamil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asafoetida | Hiṁ | Hiṅga | heeng | Hiṅga | Perumkayam |
| Basil | Tulasī | Tulasī | tulasee | Tuḷasa | Tulasi |
| Basil Seeds | sabaja bija | tukmariya, sabaja bija | Tukmaria, Sabja Seeds | Sabja | |
| Bay Leaf | tējapātā | Tamal Patr | Tej Patta | Tamālapatra | Brinji elai, Piriyāṇi ilai |
| Black Cardamom | Kālō ēlāca | Kāḷī ēlacī | kaalee ilaichee | Kāḷī vēlacī | Karuppu ēlakkāy |
| Black Cumin Seeds | Kālō jirā | Kādu jīruṁ | kaala jeera | Kāḷē jirē | Karuppu cīrakam, Karung seeragam |
| Black Pepper | Gōla marica | Kāḷā marī | kaalee mirch | Kāḷī mirī | Karumiḷaku, milagu |
| Black Salt | Kālō labaṇa | Kāḷuṁ mīṭhuṁ | kaala namak | Kāḷē mīṭha | Karuppu uppu |
| Caraway Seeds | Śāha jirā | Śāha jīrā | Śahā jirā | Śahā jirā | Śahā jirā |
| Carom Seeds, thymol seeds, bishop weed seeds | Āja’ōẏā’ina | Ajavā’īna | ajavain | Ajavā’īna | Ajvaiṉ |
| Chilli | Marica | Maracuṁ | mirch | Miracī | Miḷakāy |
| Chilli Powder | Laṅkāgum̐ṛā | Maracānnō bhūkō | mirch paudar | Miracī pāvaḍara | Miḷakāy tūḷ |
| Cardamom | Ēlāca | ēlacī | ilaayachee | Vēlacī | Ēlakkāy |
| Cinnamon | Dārucini | Taja | daalacheenee | Dālacinī | Ilavaṅkappaṭṭai |
| Cloves | Labaṅga | Laviṅga | laung | Lavaṅga | Kirāmpu |
| Coriander Seeds | Dhanē bīja | Dhāṇānā bīja | dhaniya ke beej | Dhaṇē biyāṇē | Kottamalli vitaikaḷ |
| Coriander Powder | Dhanē gum̐ṛā | Dhāṇā pāvaḍara | dhaniya paudar | Dhaṇē pāvaḍara | Kottamalli tūḷ |
| Coconut | Nārakēla | Nāḷiyēra | naariyal | Nāraḷa | Tēṅkāy |
| Coriander, Cilantro | Dhanē | Kōthamīra | dhaniya | Kōthimbīra | Kottamalli |
| Cumin | Jirā | Jīruṁ | jeera | Jirē | Cīrakam |
| Curry Leaves | Kāri pātā | Mīṭhō līmbaḍō | karee patte | Kaḍhīpattā | Kaṟivēppilai |
| Dry Mango Powder | Āmacura | Āmacura | aamachoor | Āmacūra | Āmcūr |
| Fenugreek | Mēthi | Mēthī | menthee | Mēthī | Ventayam |
| Ginger | Ādā | Ādu | adarak | Ālē | Iñci |
| Ginger (dry) | Sā’untha | Sūkuṁ ādu | sonth | Sunth | Sukku |
| Garlic | Rasuna | Lasaṇa | lahasun | Lasūṇa | Pūṇṭu |
| Green Chili | Kām̐cā marica | Līlā maracā | haree mirch | Hiravī miracī | Paccai miḷakāy |
| Groundnut / Peanut | Cīnābādāma | Magaphaḷī | moongaphalee | Bhu’īmūga | Nilakkaṭalai |
| Jaggery | Guṛa | Gōḷa/Gōd | gud | Gūḷa | Vellam |
| Lemon | Lēbu | Līmbu | neemboo | Limbū | Elumiccai |
| Mace | Mace | Javintri | jaavintree | Jaipatri | Jaipatri |
| Mint | Pudinā | Phudīnā | pudeene | Pudīnā | Pudhina |
| Nutmeg | Jāẏaphala | Jāyaphaḷa | jaayaphal | Jāyaphaḷa | Jātikkāy |
| Onion Seeds | Kālañji | Kalōn̄jī | kalaunjee | Kalōn̄jī | Kalōñci |
| Poppy Seeds | Pōstadānā | Khasakhasa | khasakhas | Khasakhasa | Kacakacā |
| Pine Nuts | Cilagōja | Cilagōjha | Chilgoze | Cilagōjha | |
| Pomegranate Seeds (dry) | ḍālimēra bīja | Sukā dāḍam dāṇā | Anardana | ḍāḷimbācyā biyā | Kāynta mātuḷai vitaikaḷai |
| Raisins | Kisamisa | Kisamisa | kishamish | Manukā | Kaindha dratchai |
| Rock Salt | Khanija labaṇa | Sindhava | sendha namak | Sendhe laun | Kal uppu |
| Salt | Labaṇa | Mīṭhuṁ | namak | Mīṭha | Uppu |
| Sesame (seeds) | Tila | Tala | til | Tīḷa | Eḷ/ Ellu |
| Saffron | Jāpharāna | Kēsara | kesar | Kēśara | Kuṅkumappū |
| Star Anise | Tārā mauri | chakr phool | |||
| Tamarind | Tēm̐tula | Āmalī | imalee | Cin̄ca | Puḷi |
| Turmeric | Haluda | Haḷadara | haldee | Haḷada | Mañcaḷ |
| Vinegar | Sirkā | Sarakō | siraka | Viṉikar | |
| Watermelon Seeds | Taramujēra bīja | Tarabūcanā bīja | tarabooj ke beej | Ṭarabūja biyā | Tarpūcaṇi vitaikaḷ |
