உருளைக்கிழங்கு
uruḷaikkiḻaṅku/ʊɾʊɭɐɪ̯kːɪɻɐŋɡɯ/
The Tamil word for potato is உருளைக்கிழங்கு (uruḷaikkiḻaṅku).
The word refers to the plant tuber eaten as a starchy vegetable.
Meaning: plant tuber eaten as starchy vegetable (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a compound of உருளை, meaning a cylindrical or spherical object and க்கிழங்கு, meaning a tuber or root vegetable.
How do you pronounce it?
uruḷaikkiḻaṅku
Did you know?
- While உருளைக்கிழங்கு is the standard term, some Tamil speakers colloquially refer to the potato as 'aloo', borrowing the word from Hindi due to the influence of North Indian cuisine.
- Because potatoes were introduced to India by the Portuguese and British, the descriptive name உருளைக்கிழங்கு was created to describe the new object's shape and nature.
- In traditional Tamil medicine and diet, கிழங்கு types are often categorized by their heating or cooling effects on the body.
Examples in context
- உருளைக்கிழங்கு நன்றாக வெந்திருக்கிறது.urulaikilangu nandraaga vendhirukkiradhu.The potato is well cooked.
- எனக்கு உருளைக்கிழங்கு வறுவல் பிடிக்கும்.enakku urulaikilangu varuval pidikkum.I like potato fry.
- கடையில் உருளைக்கிழங்கு விலை அதிகம்.kadaiyil urulaikilangu vilai adhigam.The price of potato is high in the shop.
Example conversation
Briya and Santhosh are planning what to cook for dinner.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஇன்று இரவு என்ன சமைக்கலாம்?Indru iravu enna samaikkalaam?What shall we cook tonight?
- பிரியா Priyaநமக்கு உருளைக்கிழங்கு இருக்கிறதா?Namakku urulaikkizhangu irukkirathaa?Do we have potatoes?
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஆம், பிரிட்ஜில் நிறைய இருக்கிறது.Aam, fridge-il niraiya irukkirathu.Yes, there are plenty in the fridge.
- பிரியா Priyaஅப்படியானால், உருளைக்கிழங்கு மசாலா செய்வோம்.Appadiyaanaal, urulaikkizhangu masala seivom.Then, let's make potato masala.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “potato” translations and entries உருளைக்கிழங்கு, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
