കായം
kāyaṁ/käːjɐm/
Asafoetida is കായം (kāyaṁ) in Malayalam.
The term refers to the resinous gum obtained from wild fennel.
Meaning: resinous gum from wild fennel (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain parts of Malabar, the term kayam is used for asafoetida.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /käːjɐm/. The romanization is kāyaṁ.
Did you know?
- Because the plant does not grow naturally in India, the കായം used in Malayalam cooking is historically imported from Afghanistan and Iran.
- The word കായം shares its root with the Tamil word காயம் (kāyam), which refers to 'pungency'.
- While കായം is the common term, the more formal name is பெருങ്കായം (peruṅkāyam), where 'peru' means 'great' or 'large'.
Examples in context
- കായം കുറച്ച് ചേർക്കണം.kayam kurach cherkkanam.Add a little asafoetida.
- ഈ കറിയിൽ കായം ഉണ്ടോ?ee karil kayam undo?Is there asafoetida in this curry?
Example conversation
Manoj and Lakshmi are cooking together in the kitchen.
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiമനോജ്, ഈ കറിയിൽ കായം ഇട്ടോ?Manoj, ee curryil kaayam itto?Manoj, did you put asafoetida in this curry?
- മനോജ് Manojഇല്ല, ഞാൻ മറന്നുപോയി.illa, njaan marannupoyi.No, I forgot.
- ലക്ഷ്മി Lakshmiഇപ്പോൾ കുറച്ച് കായം ചേർക്കൂ.ippol kurach kaayam cherkkoo.Add some asafoetida now.
- മനോജ് Manojശരി, ഞാൻ ഇപ്പോൾ ഇടാം.shari, njaan ippol idaam.Okay, I will add it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “asafoetida” translations and entries കായം, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries കായം, CC BY-SA 4.0.
