سالن
sālan
The English word curry is translated into Urdu as سالن (sālan).
سالن is used to refer to any liquid-based gravy or curry dish, rather than just a dry spice mix.
Meaning: dish (noun)
Which one should you use?
While English speakers often use 'curry' to mean both the dish and the spice powder, in Urdu you must distinguish between the dish (سالن) and the spice mix (مصالحہ).
How do you pronounce it?
sālan
Did you know?
- One theory suggests سالن is related to the Sanskrit word for 'having salt', implying that any dish worth eating must be properly seasoned.
- While سالن refers to the gravy, the act of cooking it often involves بھوننا (bhunna), a specific technique of frying spices and meat until the oil separates.
- In Urdu, سالن is almost never eaten by itself and is practically always paired with a staple like روٹی (bread) or چاول (rice).
Examples in context
- چکن کا سالنChicken curry
- آج سالن بہت لذیذ ہے۔Aaj saalan bohat lazeez hai.The curry is very delicious today.
- میں نے سبزی کا سالن بنایا ہے۔Maine sabzi ka saalan banaya hai.I have made a vegetable curry.
- کیا آپ کو سالن پسند ہے؟Kya aap ko saalan pasand hai?Do you like the curry?
Example conversation
Sara and Ali are having dinner at home.
- سارہ Saraعلی، یہ سالن کیسا ہے؟Ali, yeh saalan kaisa hai?Ali, how is this curry?
- علی Aliسارہ، یہ بہت مزیدار ہے۔Sara, yeh bohat mazedar hai.Sara, it is very tasty.
- سارہ Saraشکریہ، میں نے اسے محنت سے بنایا۔Shukriya, maine isay mehnat se banaya.Thank you, I made it with effort.
- علی Aliآپ کا سالن واقعی بہترین ہے۔Aap ka saalan waqai behtareen hai.Your curry is truly excellent.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries سالن, CC BY-SA 4.0.
