masala

English

Etymology

Hindustani मसाला (masālā) / مسالا‎ (masālā, “spice(s)”), from Persian مصالح‎ (masâlih, “affairs, materials, spices”), plural of مصلحت‎ (maslahat, “affair, policy, best thing to do”), both from Arabic, derived from صَلَحَ‎ (ṣalaḥa, “be fit, competent, usable”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɑːlə

Noun

masala (plural masalas)

1. Any of many blends of spices used in Indian cuisine, most often containing cardamom, coriander, mace together with pepper, nutmeg, fennel seeds, jeera etc.

Derived terms

• garam masala
• tikka masala

Usage notes

• The term is often used in the names of individual dishes.

Anagrams

• Salaam, Salama, salaam