گھی
ghī/ɡʱiː/masculine
In Urdu, the English word butter can be translated as several different terms depending on the specific type of dairy product. If unsure, use گھی (ghī). Wiktionary also lists مَکَّھن (makkhan) and نَونی (naunī).
Meaning: soft foodstuff made from milk (noun)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| گھی | ghī | /ɡʱiː/ (Standard, Urdu) | masculine |
| مَکَّھن | makkhan | masculine | |
| نَونی | naunī | feminine | |
| نُونی | nūnī | feminine | |
| نَوَنِیت | navanīt | masculine |
The terms used for butter in Urdu distinguish between different stages of dairy processing, such as soft, churned butter versus clarified, cooked butter.
Which one should you use?
While مَکَّھن is the standard word for soft, churned butter, گھی specifically refers to clarified butter or ghee. The word مَکَّھن is also used in Hindi, which makes it widely understood throughout South Asia.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms گھی, مَکَّھن and نَوَنِیت are masculine, while the forms نَونی and نُونی are feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
ghī (/ɡʱiː/)
Did you know?
- While مَکَّھن is the word for butter, it is also used as a slang term in Urdu and Hindi to describe someone who is smooth-talking or overly flattering to get their way.
- In South Asian culture, گھی is often used as a symbol of wealth and prosperity, and it is frequently used in traditional religious rituals to light lamps.
- The word مَکَّھن is famously associated with the childhood of Lord Krishna, who was known as the 'butter thief' for stealing مَکَّھن from neighbors.
Example sentences for Urdu are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Sara are preparing breakfast together.
- احمد Ahmedسارہ، کیا گھی یہاں ہے؟Sara, kya ghee yahan hai?Sara, is the butter here?
- سارہ Saraجی ہاں، وہ میز پر ہے۔Ji han, woh mez par hai.Yes, it is on the table.
- احمد Ahmedشکریہ، میں اسے پراٹھے پر لگاؤں گا۔Shukriya, mein isay parathay par lagaunga.Thanks, I will put it on the paratha.
- سارہ Saraٹھیک ہے، میں چائے بناتی ہوں۔Theek hai, mein chai banati hoon.Alright, I will make tea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “butter” translations and entries گھی, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
