பெருங்காயம்
peruṅkāyam/pɛɾʊŋɡɑːjɐm/
Asafoetida is the resinous gum from wild fennel, which in Tamil is பெருங்காயம் (peruṅkāyam).
பெருங்காயம் refers to the resinous gum used as a common ingredient in South Indian cuisine to mimic the savory flavor of onions and garlic.
Meaning: resinous gum from wild fennel (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word பெருங்காயம் is a compound of peru meaning large or great and kāyam meaning body, substance or mass.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Chennai, the formal term பெருங்காயம் is widely used.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is peruṅkāyam and the IPA is /pɛɾʊŋɡɑːjɐm/.
Did you know?
- In traditional Tamil medicine, பெருங்காயம் is sometimes used topically as a remedy to treat certain skin conditions or as a repellent for insects.
- In many Tamil households, பெருங்காயம் is used as a substitute for garlic and onions in 'Sattvic' diets or during specific religious fasting periods.
- In Tamil, the root காயம் in பெருங்காயம் can refer to a 'wound' or 'injury' in other contexts, though here it refers to a sharp pungency.
Examples in context
- சாம்பார் செய்ய பெருங்காயம் தேவை.Sāmbar ceyya perunkayam tēvai.Asafoetida is needed to make sambar.
Example conversation
In a kitchen while preparing a traditional meal.
- திவ்யா Divyaவிஜய், பெருங்காயம் எங்கே இருக்கிறது?Vijay, perunkayam eṅkē irukkiraṯu?Vijay, where is the asafoetida?
- விஜய் Vijayஅடுக்கு மேஜையில் உள்ளது, திவ்யா.Aṭukku mējaiyil uḷḷatu, Divyā.It is on the kitchen counter, Divya.
- திவ்யா Divyaஅங்கே இல்லை, தயவுசெய்து தேடு.Aṅkē illai, tayavuceytu tēṭu.It is not there, please look for it.
- விஜய் Vijayஓ, இதோ அந்தப் பெட்டியில் இருக்கிறது!Ō, itō antap peṭṭiyil irukkiraṯu!Oh, it is in that box here!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “asafoetida” translations and entries பெருங்காயம், CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
