چِینی
cīnīfeminine
The English word sugar is expressed in Urdu as چِینی (cīnī). Wiktionary also lists شَکَّر (śakkar) and مِصْری (misrī).
Meaning: sucrose from sugar cane or sugar beet used to sweeten food and drink (noun)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| چِینی | cīnī | feminine |
| شَکَّر | śakkar | feminine |
| مِصْری | misrī | feminine |
In Urdu, different words are used depending on the specific type of sugar being described, such as granulated sugar or rock sugar.
What does it mean word for word?
The word چِینی literally means 'Chinese', which reflects the historical trade associations or origins of the substance.
Which one should you use?
چِینی is the most common everyday word for the granulated sugar used in cooking and tea. In contrast, مِصْری specifically refers to rock sugar or sugar candy rather than standard granulated sugar.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word چِینی is grammatically feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
cīnī
Did you know?
- The term شَکَّر is a common alternative for sugar that shares a linguistic ancestor with the English word 'sugar' through Persian and Sanskrit.
- The word مِصْری is often used in the context of 'misri' candy, which is frequently offered to guests as a gesture of hospitality or sweetness in traditional homes.
- The word مِصْری is used for rock sugar, but it literally translates to 'Egyptian'.
Examples in context
- آپ کھانے میں تھوڑی شکر شامل کریں۔Please add some sugar to your food.
- براہ کرم اپنی چائے میں مزید چینی شامل کریں۔Please add more sugar to your tea.
- چِینی کتنی ہے؟chini kitni hai?How much sugar is there?
- مجھے چِینی نہیں چاہیے۔mujhe chini nahi chahiye.I do not want sugar.
- چِینی کا ڈبہ خالی ہے۔chini ka dibba khali hai.The sugar box is empty.
Example conversation
In the kitchen, Aisha is making tea for Umar.
- عمر Omarعائشہ، کیا چائے میں چِینی ہے؟Ayesha, kya chai mein chini hai?Ayesha, is there sugar in the tea?
- عائشہ Ayeshaجی عمر، میں نے چِینی ڈال دی ہے۔Ji Umar, maine chini daal di hai.Yes Umar, I have added sugar.
- عمر Omarبہت شکریہ۔Bohat shukriya.Thank you very much.
- عائشہ Ayeshaکوئی بات نہیں۔Koi baat nahi.You are welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sugar” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
