இஞ்சி
iñci/ɪɲdʒiː/
இஞ்சி (iñci) is the Tamil word for ginger.
The word refers to the spice (noun). It can also be used as an adjective to describe a ginger flavor.
Meaning: spice (noun)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is iñci. The IPA is /ɪɲdʒiː/.
Did you know?
- The word இஞ்சி is a 'wanderwort', a term for words that travel across the globe along trade routes. It shares ancient roots with words for ginger in Vietnamese, Thai and various Chinese dialects.
- Traditional Tamil medicine, known as Siddha, treats ginger as a 'heating' food, and it is specifically prescribed to balance 'cold' imbalances in the body.
- In Tamil culture, இஞ்சி is often paired with புளி 'tamarind' and மிளகு 'pepper' as the three essential pungent ingredients for traditional digestion-boosting remedies.
Examples in context
- Add a teaspoon of ginger (இஞ்சி) to enhance the flavor of the curry.Add a teaspoon of ginger to enhance the flavor of the curry.
- எனக்கு இஞ்சி சாறு பிடிக்கும்.enakku inji sāṟu piṭikkum.I like ginger juice.
- இந்த உணவில் இஞ்சி உள்ளது.indha uṇavil inji uḷḷadu.There is ginger in this food.
- சந்தையில் இஞ்சி விலை அதிகம்.sandhaiyil inji vilai adhigam.Ginger is expensive in the market.
Example conversation
Vijay and Priya are preparing a meal together in the kitchen.
- விஜய் Vijayபிரியா, இஞ்சி எங்கே இருக்கிறது?Priya, inji engay irukkirathu?Priya, where is the ginger?
- பிரியா Priyaஅது காய்கறி கூடையில் இருக்கிறது, விஜய்.Athu kaaygarai koodayil irukkirathu, Vijay.It is in the vegetable basket, Vijay.
- விஜய் Vijayசரி, எனக்கு கொஞ்சம் இஞ்சி கொடு.Sari, enakku konjam inji kodu.Okay, give me some ginger.
- பிரியா Priyaஇந்தா, பிடி.Indhaa, pidi.Here, take it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ginger” translations and entries இஞ்சி, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries இஞ்சி, CC BY-SA 4.0.
