मक्खन
makkhan/mək.kʰən/masculine
The English word butter is translated into Hindi as मक्खन (makkhan). It is also spelled मस्का (maskā). Wiktionary also lists माखन (mākhan) and घी (ghī).
Meaning: soft foodstuff made from milk (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| मक्खन | makkhan | /mək.kʰən/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| माखन | mākhan | /mɑː.kʰən/ (Hindi, Standard) | |
| घी | ghī | /ɡʱiː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| नवनी | navnī | /nəʋ.niː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| नवनीत | navnīt | /nəʋ.niːt̪/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| नोनी | nonī | /noː.niː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| नैनू | nainū | masculine | |
| मस्का | maskā | /məs.kɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine, alternative form |
| मसका | maskā | /məs.kɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
The primary word for the soft foodstuff made from milk is मक्खन.
Which one should you use?
While मक्खन refers to soft butter, घी refers specifically to clarified butter (ghee).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form माखन is a poetic or literary version of मक्खन, often used in religious or classical contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
नोनी is a regional feminine form.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word मक्खन is a masculine noun. The word घी is also masculine, and नवनी is a feminine form, while नवनीत is a masculine form.
How do you pronounce it?
makkhan is pronounced /mək.kʰən/ and has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word मक्खन is used in a common Hindi idiom to describe flattery, similar to 'buttering someone up' in English.
- In many traditional Indian households, घी is not just food but is used in Ayurvedic medicine and traditional oil lamps during prayer.
- The word माखन is almost exclusively used in religious contexts, specifically to describe the butter stolen by the deity Krishna, who is known as the 'butter thief' or माखन-चोर.
Examples in context
- उसने एक किलो मक्खन खरीदा।She bought two pounds of butter.This sentence shows how to use मक्खन in the context of buying an amount of butter.Tatoeba #482435 by minshirui, translation #311984 by CK
- टॉम ने थोड़ा मक्खन ख़रीदा।Tom bought some butter.This sentence shows how to use मक्खन in the context of buying a small amount of butter.Tatoeba #10047418 by sabretou, translation #8591679 by CK
- उसने मक्खन को ब्रेड पर लगाया।He spread butter on the bread.This sentence shows how to use मक्खन in the context of spreading it on bread.Tatoeba #483808 by minshirui, translation #292464 by CK
- कृपया मक्खन दें।Please pass the butter.
- क्या तुम कुछ मक्खन दुकान से ला सकते हो?Could you bring some butter from the store?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Pooja and Vikas are eating breakfast together.
- पूजा Poojaक्या आप मुझे मक्खन दे सकते हैं?Kya aap mujhe makkhan de sakte hain?Can you give me the butter?
- विकास Vikasहाँ, यह रहा मक्खन।Haan, yeh raha makkhan.Yes, here is the butter.
- पूजा Poojaशुक्रिया, यह मक्खन बहुत नमकीन है।Shukriya, yeh makkhan bahut namkeen hai.Thanks, this butter is very salty.
- विकास Vikasहाँ, मुझे भी ऐसा ही लगा।Haan, mujhe bhi aisa hi laga.Yes, I felt the same way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “butter” translations and entries मक्खन, माखन, घी, नवनी, नवनीत, नोनी, मस्का, मसका, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
