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Dictionary

Ever read a recipe you felt like trying but some words just don’t make sense e.g. Fenugreek or Asafoetida? Here’s your ready reference. Treat this as a dictionary for all your Bengali Culinary words.

Here you go!

Vegetables and Legumes

English Name

Bengali Name

Amaranth

Noyte shaakh

নটে শাখ

Apple Gourd

Tinda

তিন্দা

Ash Gourd

Chal Kumro

চাল কুমড়ো

Beetroot

Beet

বীট

Bitter Gourd

Karola/Karela

করলা

Bitter melon/Bitter gourd

Karola

করলা

Black-eyed pea

Lobia

লোবিয়া

Bottle Gourd/ Calabash

Lau

লাউ

Broad Beans

Sheem

সীম

Brussels sprout

Biliti Bandhakopi

বিলিতি বাধাকপি

Cabbage

Badha Kopi

বাধাকপি

Carrot

Gajor

গাজর

Cauliflower

Fulkopi

ফুলকপি

Celery

Pathuni Shaakh

পাথুনি শাখ

Ceylon spinach

Pui Shaakh

পুঁই শাখ

Chickpea

Chola

ছোলা

Cilantro/ Coriander

Dhane Pata

ধনে পাতা

Cucumber

Sausha

শসা

Drumstick

Sajner Data

সজনের ডাটা

Eggplant/Aubergine/Brinjal

Begun

বেগুন

Elephant Foot yam

Ol

ওল

French Beans

Beans

বিন্স

Garbanzo

Kabuli Chola

কাবুলি ছোলা

Gooseberry

Amloki

আমলকি

Indian pea

Mator

মটর

Ivy Gourd/ Gentlemen’s Toe/Little Gourd

Kundri

কুন্দ্রী

Jackfruit

Kathal

কাঠাল

Kidney bean

Raajma

রাজমা

Lentil

Dal

ডাল

Lotus root

Padma

পদ্ম শাখ

Malabar Spinach

Pui Shaakh

পুঁই শাখ

Mint

Pudina Pata

পুদিনা পাতা

Moth bean

Mung dal

মুগ ডাল

Mustard

Sarse

সরসে

Okra

Bhindi/Bhendi

ভিন্দী/ ঢেরস

Onion

Peyaj

পেয়াজ

Pea

Matorshuti

মটরশুটি

Pigeon pea

Arhar Dal

অরহর ডাল

Pointed Gourd

Potol

পটল

Potato

Alu

আলু

Pumpkin

Kumro

কুমড়ো

Radish

Mulo

মুলো

Red Amaranth

Lal shaakh

লাল শাখ

Red Lentil

Masur Dal

মুসুর ডাল

Ridge Gourd/ Chinese Okra

Jhinga/Jhinge

ঝিঙ্গা

Snake Gourd

Chichinga

চিচিঙ্গা

Spinach

Palang

পালং

Spring Onion/Scallion

Peyajkoli

পেয়াজকলি

String Beans

Barboti

বরবটি

Sweet corn aka corn; aka maize

Bhutta

ভুট্টা

Sweet Potato or Kumara

Mishti Alu

মিষ্টি আলু

Taro

Kochur Loti

কচুরলতি

Teasle Gourd

Kakrol

কাকরোল

Tomato

Tomaato

টমেটো

Turnip

Olkopi

ওলকপি

Turnip greens

Shalgam

শালগম

Water spinach

Palang

পালং

Winter melon

Chal Kumro

চাল কুমড়ো

Yam

Kochu

কোচু

Spices

English Name

Bengali Name

Allspice

Kebab chini

কাবাব চিনি

Asafoetida

Hing

হিং

Bay Leaf

Tej Pata

তেজ পাতা

Black Cardamom

Bauro Elaich

বড় এলাচ

Black Cumin

Kalo Zeera

কালো জিরা

Black Pepper

Gol Morich

গোল মরিচ

Black Salt

Kalo Noone

কালো নুন

Brown Mustard Seed

Choto sarse/ Rai

ছোট সর্ষে/রাই

Caraway Seeds

Shahi Zeera

শাহ জিরা

Carom/Thyme

Joane/ Ajwain

জোয়ান

Celery

Radhuni

রাধুনি

Chili

Lanka

লঙ্কা

Cinnamon

Dalchini

দারচিনি

Cloves

Labango

লবঙ্গ

Coriander

Dhane

ধনে

Cumin

Jeera/ Zeera

জিরা

Dates

Khejur

খেজুর 

Fennel

Mouri

মৌরি

Fenugreek

Methi

মেথি

Fenugreek Leaf

Kasuri Methi

কাসুরি মেথি

Garlic

Rasun

রসুন

Ginger

Aada

আদা

Green Cardamom

Choto Elaich

ছোট এলাচ

Holy Basil

Tulsi

তুলসী

Mace

Joitree

জৈত্রী

Mustard

Sarse

সর্ষে

Nutmeg

Jaiphal

জায়ফল

Pickle

Achar

আচার

Poppy Seeds

Posto

পোস্ত

Saffron

Zafran

জাফরান

Salt

Laban/ Noone

লবন/ নুন

Sour Mango Powder

Aamchur

আমচুর

Spice Mixture

Garam Masala

গরম মসলা

Star Anise

Chakro Phool

চক্র ফুল

Star Anise

Guamouri

গুয়ামৌরি

Tamarind

Tetul

তেতুল

Turmeric

Halud

হলুদ

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.

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431 thoughts on “Dictionary”

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Older Comments
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  1. Imtiaz says:
    April 7, 2015 at 8:48 AM

    Alfalfa er bangla ki?

    Reply
  2. sanchita says:
    April 7, 2015 at 4:56 AM

    what is the English name of Meetha Atar??/ which is used in Moghlai or Biriyani

    Reply
  3. rupai says:
    April 4, 2015 at 11:03 PM

    what is brown rice called in bengali? is it Birun chal( sticky rice)?

    Reply
  4. Parijat says:
    April 4, 2015 at 2:55 PM

    What is the bengali name for kale?
    Please inform.

    Reply
  5. Soubhik says:
    March 31, 2015 at 3:04 AM

    Parsley

    Reply
  6. Debarpita says:
    March 25, 2015 at 6:21 AM

    isn’t kalo jeera called Nigella seeds?

    Reply
    1. Sudeshna Banerjee says:
      April 28, 2015 at 12:20 PM

      yes, and also onion seed

      Reply
      1. Tapas says:
        June 29, 2015 at 6:56 AM

        Kalojera is called nigella-seed. Onion-seed is known as kalonji. Kalonji is not nigella.

        Reply
    2. Geetanjali Tung says:
      November 30, 2018 at 3:48 AM

      Yes, kalo jeera is called Nigella seeds.

      Reply
  7. Tapas says:
    February 11, 2015 at 4:58 AM

    Chalta ei flower-vegetables er English ki,mane how it is known in international market?

    Reply
  8. Banabir Das says:
    January 26, 2015 at 1:51 PM

    What is call lettus leaf in Bengali

    Reply
  9. Probal says:
    January 22, 2015 at 5:25 AM

    what is the Bengali name for Lettuce?

    Reply
  10. chandan says:
    January 22, 2015 at 12:26 AM

    Brussels sprout ba biliti badhakopi… eta ki keo bolben? eta ki salgom ba olkopi?

    Reply
    1. Tapas says:
      June 29, 2015 at 7:17 AM

      Naa, eta salgom ba olkopi noy.

      Reply
  11. chandan says:
    January 22, 2015 at 12:24 AM

    “Dandelion”- ek prokar holud ful.. kintu ki nam please keu bolben? eta amer khub dorker..

    Reply
  12. Satadru Bhattacharya says:
    January 20, 2015 at 3:06 AM

    Star anise’r bangla khhujte giye google’e aapnar site’ta pai – aapnar reference list’ta byapok daarun laaglo – thanks for putting in so much effort, it really is useful for “probaashi bangali”-s like us.

    Thank you

    Reply
    1. Sudeshna Banerjee says:
      January 28, 2015 at 8:30 PM

      Thank you Satadru for the kind words

      Reply
  13. samiha promi says:
    January 17, 2015 at 2:41 PM

    sweet basil leaf er bangla meaning ki?

    Reply
  14. fuad says:
    January 15, 2015 at 5:25 AM

    brown sugar ???

    Reply
  15. banhisikha says:
    January 4, 2015 at 5:57 AM

    What is the bengali word for ‘kale’ ?

    Reply
  16. Pingback: Sukto - Recipes By Sharmistha Dey
  17. shiny das says:
    December 13, 2014 at 11:25 AM

    rosemary r bangla nam ki ?? plz help

    Reply
  18. Naina says:
    December 11, 2014 at 1:45 PM

    What is oori in English ?

    Reply
  19. Rafia says:
    December 8, 2014 at 11:46 PM

    What to call Parsley in bengali ?

    Reply
    1. Proteek says:
      January 7, 2015 at 3:15 PM

      Parsley seed is what we called Raadhuni in bengali… You can call it raadhuni shaak :p

      Reply
  20. Rafia says:
    December 8, 2014 at 11:45 PM

    What to call Parsley in bangla?

    Reply
  21. tathagata guha says:
    December 8, 2014 at 7:59 AM

    what is the bengali name of avocado??

    Reply
    1. Abdullah says:
      March 24, 2015 at 9:27 PM

      I thing avocado doesn’t have any bengali name…. native to Mexico and Central America

      Reply
  22. Tapas says:
    December 8, 2014 at 5:53 AM

    Oregano er Bangla ki?

    Reply
    1. Sudeshna Banerjee says:
      December 8, 2014 at 7:56 PM

      Oregano is Joaan in Bengali

      Reply
      1. [K] says:
        February 3, 2015 at 8:07 AM

        Correct me if I’m wrong but I think Joaan is ‘carrom seeds’.

        Reply
        1. Sudeshna Banerjee says:
          February 4, 2015 at 11:46 AM

          Yes joaan/ajwain is carom seeds

          Reply
          1. Tapas says:
            February 11, 2015 at 4:51 AM

            Then oregano seed is carom seed..?

  23. susmita das says:
    December 6, 2014 at 2:53 PM

    What is the meaning of ‘ajinamoto’???

    Reply
    1. Sudeshna Banerjee says:
      December 7, 2014 at 11:22 AM

      Ajinamoto is also called MSG.

      Reply
  24. Radia says:
    November 20, 2014 at 3:29 AM

    I want to know the Bangladeshi local name of Tylophora Indica or Tylophora Azthmatica which has Indian name antamul.Where I can get this Plant’s leaves in Bangladesh?

    Reply
  25. Ritu says:
    November 14, 2014 at 1:35 PM

    What’s the english of “jhinga or jhinge (in bengali)”?? Is here any one can reply me please??

    Reply
    1. Sudeshna Banerjee says:
      December 4, 2014 at 3:41 PM

      Ritu,
      Jhinge is ridge gourd

      Reply
  26. Indrajit Sen says:
    November 2, 2014 at 1:52 AM

    What is the bengali word for unflavored gelatin?
    Is it available in the normal grocery stores?

    Reply
  27. Bilim hakkında.Com'da bilime dair köşe yazıları says:
    October 24, 2014 at 5:13 AM

    whoah this blog is fantastic i love studying your articles.
    Stay up the good work! You realize, many individuals are searching around
    for this information, you could aid them greatly.

    Reply
  28. Naila Ahmed says:
    October 4, 2014 at 1:40 AM

    what is the bangla of quinoa?

    Reply
  29. Rahul Bose says:
    September 20, 2014 at 11:55 PM

    please tell me what is Kulekhara is called in english and hindi.

    Reply
    1. avik das says:
      November 8, 2014 at 1:17 AM

      kulekhara is known as HOPS in english..

      Reply
    2. Dalia Roy says:
      December 3, 2014 at 10:24 AM

      It is called Marsh barbel in English.
      In Hindi it is called Gokula kanta.

      Reply
  30. Rahul Bose says:
    September 20, 2014 at 11:53 PM

    please tell me what is “KULEKHARA” is being called in English and hindi.

    Reply
  31. UDAYAN MITRA says:
    September 19, 2014 at 10:45 PM

    WHAT IS “SASHA”-A GREEN COLOUR VEGETABLE ESPECIALLY USED FOR MAKING SALAD: CALLED IN ENGLISH.

    SALAD IS BENGALI NAME.

    Reply
    1. Sudeshna Banerjee says:
      December 12, 2014 at 1:48 PM

      I think you ar ereferring to cucumber, sasha is called cucumber

      Reply
  32. idlc says:
    September 11, 2014 at 12:26 PM

    what Oregano called in Bangla

    Reply
  33. deebali says:
    August 12, 2014 at 1:23 AM

    salt and sugar and chili pwder

    Reply
  34. koel das says:
    August 8, 2014 at 3:50 AM

    Sahijeera and sahimorich r english name ki??

    Reply
  35. koel das says:
    August 8, 2014 at 3:49 AM

    Sahjire and sahmorich r english name ki???

    Reply
  36. Ri says:
    August 3, 2014 at 3:35 PM

    Hi can you pls do such a similar dictionary post for fish names, its so difficult to buy fish without knowing their english equivalent, when you are outside India. Help me out pls.

    Reply
  37. piya says:
    July 27, 2014 at 11:35 PM

    what’s quinoa called in Bengali?

    Reply
  38. sharmin says:
    July 19, 2014 at 1:28 PM

    whaty is the bengali name of parsley leaf . this is similar to coriander leaf-dhonia pata , but can any one tell what is the meaning of parsley leaf.

    Reply
  39. Palash says:
    July 14, 2014 at 8:13 AM

    What is Red Bean in Bengali?
    It’s different from red kidney bean
    Also where do you get that in Kolkata

    Reply
  40. Subhas Saha says:
    July 11, 2014 at 4:06 AM

    Is chaalmoogra a Bengali word? If yes, what we call it in English?

    Reply
  41. Tanmoy says:
    June 28, 2014 at 11:54 AM

    Avocado – ei foltir kono bangla naam paini ..

    Reply
    1. gargi says:
      November 8, 2014 at 1:40 AM

      nespati

      Reply
    2. Himadri says:
      November 11, 2014 at 12:52 PM

      I doubt we will ever get a bengali equivalent of avocado. It is definetely not grown in India. Neither is it very popular. Only those who are very interested in nutritionally compact foods will enquire about it- for example, i do.

      Reply
    3. Dalia Roy says:
      December 3, 2014 at 10:27 AM

      kulnyaspati bola hoy

      Reply
  42. Mehzabeen Shahidy says:
    June 26, 2014 at 10:52 AM

    what is the meaning of ‘Oregano’ in bengali?

    Reply
    1. Mehtab Khan says:
      October 29, 2014 at 12:18 AM

      Bengali word for Oregano is ‘Joan’.

      Reply
  43. Mehzabeen Shahidy says:
    June 26, 2014 at 10:50 AM

    what is called ‘Oregano’ in bengali?

    Reply
    1. Deep says:
      October 27, 2014 at 1:58 PM

      Oregano is Ajawan lead

      Reply
      1. Deep says:
        October 27, 2014 at 1:59 PM

        Oregano is Ajawain leaf

        Reply
  44. Raj says:
    June 19, 2014 at 12:18 AM

    Paraboiled rice er mane ki? Eta ki kono special kind of rice??

    Reply
    1. piyali biswas says:
      July 10, 2014 at 3:12 AM

      parboiled rice is সেদ্ধ চাল, জেতা আমরা সাধারণত খেয়ে থাকি…

      Reply
    2. piyali biswas says:
      July 10, 2014 at 3:13 AM

      parboiled rice is সেদ্ধ চাল, যেটা আমরা সাধারণত খেয়ে থাকি…

      Reply
  45. susmita says:
    June 18, 2014 at 4:29 PM

    What is called Rosemary in bengali ??

    Reply
  46. Purna Majumdar says:
    June 10, 2014 at 2:05 AM

    olkopi r english kohlrabies and not turnip, turnip is shalgom.

    Reply
  47. SABYASACHI DUTTA says:
    June 2, 2014 at 4:46 AM

    what is the English meaning of the word dalim.

    Reply
    1. arupkumar das says:
      July 20, 2014 at 5:55 AM

      Pomegranate.

      Reply
    2. Mrs.Khandaker says:
      August 29, 2014 at 7:43 AM

      The English translation is ‘pomegranate’.

      Reply
    3. Debayan says:
      October 8, 2014 at 5:48 AM

      Pomegranate…

      Reply
    4. Dalia Roy says:
      December 3, 2014 at 10:29 AM

      pomegranate

      Reply
  48. Meredith Montgomery says:
    May 31, 2014 at 4:56 PM

    What is the English word for ‘pui daana’?

    Reply
    1. Dalia Roy says:
      December 3, 2014 at 10:32 AM

      pui shak is called malabar spinach/Ceylon spinach.

      Reply
  49. riya says:
    May 18, 2014 at 1:58 PM

    what is the bengali name of thyme?

    Reply
    1. Moumita Banerjee says:
      November 19, 2014 at 4:03 AM

      Thyme holo JOAAN. Ekhanei enlisted ache.

      Reply
    2. Dalia Roy says:
      December 3, 2014 at 10:29 AM

      Joaan

      Reply
  50. chiranjib das says:
    May 7, 2014 at 12:50 PM

    please distinguish me the name of black peppercorns.

    Reply
    1. Olivia says:
      August 18, 2014 at 12:03 AM

      black peppercorns holo gota gol morich

      Reply
    2. Moumita Banerjee says:
      November 19, 2014 at 4:23 AM

      গোটা গোল মরিচ

      Reply

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