கறி
kaṟi/kɐriː/
In Tamil, the word for curry is கறி (kaṟi).
கறி is used to refer to a dish or curry, but it also serves as the root word for many specific types of vegetable or meat preparations.
Meaning: dish (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, கறி refers to meat or the leafy greens and vegetables used in a dish.
Which one should you use?
While English speakers use the word 'curry' to mean the spiced sauce or the final dish, in Tamil, கறி can specifically denote the meat or the vegetable component being cooked.
How do you pronounce it?
kaṟi
Did you know?
- The word கறி is related to the Telugu word కరచు, which means 'to bite', linking the concept of a dish to the physical act of eating.
- The phonetic sound of கறி can be confused with the word கரி, which refers to something entirely different, such as charcoal.
Examples in context
- இந்தக் கறி மிகவும் காரமானது.indhak kaṟi mikavum kāramāṉadhu.This curry is very spicy.
- எனக்கு இந்த கறி பிடிக்கும்.enakku indha kaṟi piḍikkum.I like this curry.
Example conversation
Kavitha and Vijay are discussing dinner at home.
- விஜய் Vijayஇன்று இரவு என்ன கறி இருக்கிறது?Indru iravu enna kari irukkiradhu?What curry is there for dinner tonight?
- கவிதா Kavithaநான் காய்கறி கறி செய்திருக்கிறேன்.Naan kaigari kari seidhirukkiren.I have made vegetable curry.
- விஜய் Vijayஅது எனக்கு மிகவும் பிடிக்கும்.Adhu enakku migavum pidikkum.I like that very much.
- கவிதா Kavithaசரி, நாம் சாப்பிடலாம் வாருங்கள்.Sari, naam saappidalaam vaarungal.Okay, come, let's eat.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “curry” translations and entries கறி, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries கறி, CC BY-SA 4.0.
