घी
ghī/ɡʱiː/masculine
The English phrase "ghee" is translated into Hindi as घी (ghī). If unsure, use घी. Wiktionary also lists घृत (ghŕt) and मक्खन (makkhan).
Meaning: South Asian-style clarified butter (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| घी | ghī | /ɡʱiː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| घृत | ghŕt | masculine | |
| मक्खन | makkhan | /mək.kʰən/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
The term refers to South Asian-style clarified butter.
Which one should you use?
While घी (ghī) refers specifically to clarified butter, मक्खन (makkhan) refers to regular butter. In Eastern India, मक्खन is sometimes used interchangeably with घी.
How does it change in a sentence?
All listed forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ghī.
Did you know?
- In traditional Indian households, घी is often used as a medicinal base for Ayurvedic treatments and applied to the skin or nostrils for health.
- Pouring a small amount of घी into a fire is a central part of the Havan or Homa ritual, symbolizing the offering of essence to the divine.
- The term माखन-चोर, meaning 'butter thief', is a famous epithet for the deity Krishna, who is said to have stolen butter as a child.
Examples in context
- ज़रा आँच दिखा दो, घी पिघल जायगा।Add a little heat, and the ghee will melt.This sentence is useful for showing how घी reacts to heat.
- मैंने आज घी से बनी करी बनाई।Today I made curry using ghee.
- घी से बने परांठे बहुत स्वादिष्ट होते हैं।Parathas made with ghee are very delicious.
- कृपया इस डिश में ज्यादा घी न डालें।Please don't put too much ghee in this dish.
- दाल में थोड़ा घी डाल दो।daal mein thoda ghee daal do.Put a little ghee in the lentils.
- क्या यह घी शुद्ध है?kya yeh ghee shuddh hai?Is this ghee pure?
Example conversation
A man is helping a woman in the kitchen.
- नेहा Nehaविकास, क्या तुम्हारे पास घी है?vikas, kya tumhare paas ghee hai?Vikas, do you have any ghee?
- विकास Vikasहाँ नेहा, रसोई में एक डिब्बा है।haan neha, rasoi mein ek dibba hai.Yes Neha, there is a container in the kitchen.
- नेहा Nehaबहुत अच्छा, मुझे रोटी पर लगाना है।bahut achha, mujhe roti par lagana hai.Great, I need to put it on the roti.
- विकास Vikasमैं अभी लेकर आता हूँ।main abhi lekar aata hoon.I will bring it right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ghee” translations and entries घी, मक्खन, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries घी, मक्खन, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
