Food is an important aspect of Pakistani culture, especially in the Urdu-speaking community. Pakistani cuisine is a blend of various regional cooking traditions and is known for its rich flavors and spices. If you’re interested in what’s in your food, it’s important to know some Urdu food vocab.
Eating together is an integral part of Pakistani culture and is often seen as a way to bond with family and friends. In addition to being a source of nourishment, food is also deeply connected to cultural and religious traditions. For example, many religious festivals and ceremonies involve traditional foods, and certain dishes are considered auspicious and are prepared on special occasions.
You’ll see food at the heart of religious celebrations and cultural traditions. Now it’s time to dive in and learn some Urdu food vocab basics!
Urdu Food Vocab
Some words related to food in the Urdu language are given below. They are English vocabulary with Urdu meanings. This is a small list comprising the most basic dishes that are a must in a Pakistani/Urdu-speaking family in their daily life.
| English | Urdu | Pronunciation |
| Food | کھانا | Khana |
| Bread | روٹی | Roti |
| Vegetables | سبزیاں | Sabziyan |
| Meat | گوشت | Gosht |
| Lentils | دال | Daal |
| Rice | چاول | Chawal |
| Pickles | اچار | Achaar |
| A type of ice cream | قلفی | Kulfi |
| Tea | چائے | Chai |
| A yogurt-based drink | لسی | Lassi |
Urdu Food Vocab: Food To Show Hospitality
Another reason why food is important in Urdu Pakistani culture is that it’s also a way to express hospitality and generosity. In Pakistani culture, it is considered a great honor to be invited to someone’s home for a meal, and it’s common for hosts to go to great lengths to prepare a lavish spread for their guests. Having guests over is also part of daily life in a Pakistani home.
Here are some traditional Urdu foods that are commonly served in Pakistan. The Urdu meanings are given in the descriptions while the English words and ingredients will help you to understand the food vocabulary a bit more.
| Urdu | Pronunciation | Description In English |
| بریانی | Biryani | A popular dish made with rice, meat (chicken, lamb, beef, or fish), and spices. |
| قورمہ | Korma | A rich dish made with meat (chicken, lamb, beef, or fish) and a variety of spices, yogurt, and cream. |
| قیمہ | Qeema | A type of minced meat dish that is usually served with roti or naan. |
| کڑاہی | Karahi | A popular dish made with meat (chicken, lamb, beef, or fish) and a variety of vegetables, usually cooked in a wok-like dish called a “karahi.” |
| پالک پنیر | Palak Paneer | A dish made with spinach and a type of Indian cheese called paneer often served with rice or naan. |
| دال | Daal | A lentil dish that is often served as a side dish, typically with rice and roti. |
| روٹی | Roti | A type of Indian bread that is often served with curries, stews, and other main dishes. |
| میٹھے | Desserts | Examples are Kheer, a sweet pudding made with milk, rice, sugar, and cardamom; Gulab jamun, a sweet dumpling made of milk solids, fried and soaked in a sugary syrup; Ras Malai, a sweet made of cheese dumplings soaked in sweetened milk and flavored with cardamom and saffron. Another common one is Jalebi, a crisp sphere, sweet and golden in color. |
Urdu Food Vocab: Food For Religious Occasions
Some religious foods in the Urdu-speaking community all focus on Islamic traditions as it is the religion of the majority of Pakistanis. The food is a mix of desserts, and meat dishes The food vocabulary with Urdu meanings also helps to have some understanding of the traditions.
| Urdu | Pronunciation | Description In English |
| سحری | Sehri | This is a daily meal before the start of their fasting month in Ramadan. People eat dates and milk, but can also include other items such as fruits, bread, and yogurt. |
| افطار | Iftar | This is to break the fast at sunset. It typically includes dates, followed by a variety of savory and sweet dishes such as samosas, pakoras, biryani, and fruit chaat. |
| قربانی کا گوشت | Qurbani meat | During Eid al-Adha, Muslims sacrifice an animal, such as a sheep or cow, and distribute its meat among family, friends, and the poor. The meat is usually cooked as a stew or curry and is considered a blessed food. |
| حلیم | Haleem | This is a traditional dish made of wheat, barley, meat, and lentils, it’s a famous dish in Hyderabad, Pakistan. |
| زردہ | Zarda | A sweet dish made from rice, sugar, milk, and saffron, it is usually served on special occasions such as Eid and weddings. |
Learn Urdu With Ling
Hopefully, you have enjoyed this small experience of eatable things in Urdu. If you seek more and would like to dive deeper from English to Urdu, you can check out the Ling App. Here, your knowledge of Urdu food vocab, vocabulary words, Urdu meanings, sentences, and phrases will all come to light.
Ling has interactive and engaging lessons that make learning Urdu fun and easy. It uses a variety of teaching methods. You can find flashcards, fun quizzes, and games to make learning a breeze. Also available are blog posts about culture like clothing, music, and drama.
The app adapts to the user’s level and progress and offers personalized feedback, tips, and recommendations to help the user achieve their learning goals. You will also have access to native speakers which is truly amazing and uncommon. By connecting users with native Urdu speakers, they can practice speaking and listen in real-life situations, which helps to improve language proficiency and build confidence.
So wait no more and dive into the world of Ling! Start learning Urdu today! Click on the links to find the app on Apple Store or Google Play Store.
