کھٹا
khaṭṭā/kʰəʈ.ʈɑː/
The Urdu word for sour is کھٹا, romanized as khaṭṭā.
کھٹا describes an acidic, sharp or tangy taste, like that of a lemon.
Meaning: having an acidic, sharp or tangy taste (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
کھٹا is the masculine singular form. It changes to کھٹی, khaṭṭī, for a feminine noun such as tamarind and to کھٹے, khaṭṭe, for masculine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced /kʰəʈ.ʈɑː/ in two syllables. The k is aspirated and the double t is retroflex, made with the tongue curled back, held a little longer.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, the Punjabi root of کھٹا carries the double meaning of 'yellow' and 'sour'. This associates the flavor of acidity with the bright color of citrus fruits.
- The term کھٹا میٹھا (khatta-meetha) is used to describe a specific sweet and sour flavor profile that is a cornerstone of South Asian chutneys and snacks.
- The word کھٹا was likely borrowed from Punjabi rather than inherited directly from Sanskrit. If it were a direct descendant, it would be spelled and pronounced as کھاٹا.
Examples in context
- نیمبو کھانے میں کھٹّا ہے۔The lemon is sour to the taste.Here کھٹّا describes the taste of a lemon.
- دہی کا ذائقہ کھٹا ہے۔dahi ka zaiqa khatta hai.The yogurt has a sour taste.
Example conversation
Two people are tasting a new dish in the kitchen.
- عمر Omarفاطمہ، کیا یہ سالن کھٹا ہے؟Fatima, kya yeh salan khatta hai?Fatima, is this curry sour?
- فاطمہ Fatimaہاں عمر، یہ تھوڑا کھٹا ہے۔Haan Umar, yeh thora khatta hai.Yes Umar, it is a little sour.
- عمر Omarکیا میں اس میں چینی ڈالوں؟Kya mein is mein cheeni daloon?Should I add sugar to it?
- فاطمہ Fatimaنہیں، یہ بالکل ٹھیک ہے۔Nahi, yeh bilkul theek hai.No, it is perfectly fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sour” translations and entries کھٹا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries کھٹا, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
