जीरा
Jeera refers to cumin seeds, a small dried fruit of a plant in the parsley family, extensively used as a spice in Indian cooking. It is known for its distinctive nutty, earthy aroma and is used both as whole seeds for tempering and in ground powder form.
Examples
3 of 5सब्जी में थोड़ा जीरा डाल दो।
Add a little cumin to the vegetable dish.
जीरा भारतीय मसालों के निर्यात में महत्वपूर्ण स्थान रखता है।
Cumin holds an important place in the export of Indian spices.
मम्मी, क्या डब्बे में जीरा बचा है?
Mom, is there any cumin left in the container?
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'Jeera' and 'Juice'. Jeera water is a very popular digestive 'juice' or drink in India.
Quick Quiz
दाल को स्वादिष्ट बनाने के लिए गरम तेल में ____ का तड़का लगाया जाता है।
Correct!
The correct answer is: जीरा
Examples
सब्जी में थोड़ा जीरा डाल दो।
everydayAdd a little cumin to the vegetable dish.
जीरा भारतीय मसालों के निर्यात में महत्वपूर्ण स्थान रखता है।
businessCumin holds an important place in the export of Indian spices.
मम्मी, क्या डब्बे में जीरा बचा है?
informalMom, is there any cumin left in the container?
जीरा (Cuminum cyminum) पाचक गुणों से भरपूर होता है और पाचन में सहायता करता है।
academicCumin (Cuminum cyminum) is rich in digestive properties and aids digestion.
कृपया इस व्यंजन की विधि में जीरा और धनिया का सही अनुपात बनाए रखें।
formalPlease maintain the correct ratio of cumin and coriander in this recipe.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा
A drop in the ocean (literally: cumin in a camel's mouth)
जीरा-धनिया
Cumin and coriander (often paired together)
जीरा राइस
Cumin rice (a popular Indian dish)
Often Confused With
'Jara' means 'a little bit' or 'old age', while 'Jeera' is the spice cumin.
Ajwain (carom seeds) looks similar but has a much stronger, thyme-like flavor.
Usage Notes
Jeera is a masculine noun. In its oblique form (when followed by a postposition), 'जीरा' changes to 'जीरे', as in 'जीरे का पाउडर'.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce the long 'ee' sound as a short 'i', making it sound like 'Jira' instead of 'Jeera', or confuse it with the word 'Jara' (a little).
Memory Tip
Think of 'Jeera' and 'Juice'. Jeera water is a very popular digestive 'juice' or drink in India.
Word Origin
Derived from the Sanskrit word 'जीरक' (jiraka), which literally means 'that which aids digestion'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Jeera is an essential part of the 'Panch Phoron' (five-spice mix) and the 'Tadka' (tempering) which is the soul of Indian dal and curries.
Quick Quiz
दाल को स्वादिष्ट बनाने के लिए गरम तेल में ____ का तड़का लगाया जाता है।
Correct!
The correct answer is: जीरा
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