Hindi · Food & Drink
"Rice" in Hindi: चावल
चावलchaaval
Rice in Hindi is चावल (chaaval). It is a masculine noun, and it covers rice both raw and cooked, so you buy chaaval at the shop and eat chaaval with dal at dinner. You will hear it in everyday dish names like daal-chaaval and raajma-chaaval.
At a dhaba
भैया, एक प्लेट राजमा-चावल दीजिए।bhaiya, ek plet raajma-chaaval deejiye.
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How to pronounce चावल
Say it
CHAA-vul
/t͡ʃɑː.ʋəl/
Say CHAA-vul, with the weight on the long first syllable. The च is a plain ch with no puff of air, which keeps it apart from the breathy छ (chh). The व is softer than an English v, almost a w, and the last a is a short, relaxed "uh".
"Rice" in Hindi: quick reference
| Hindi | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| चावलchaaval | rice The default word for rice, raw or cooked, at home, in shops, and on menus. | The default word for rice, raw or cooked, at home, in shops, and on menus. |
| भातbhaat | cooked rice Plain boiled rice. Common in Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and in villages. In Delhi most people just say chaaval. | Plain boiled rice. Common in Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and in villages. In Delhi most people just say chaaval. |
| बासमती चावलbaasmati chaaval | basmati rice The long-grain, fragrant rice used for pulao and biryani and sold on most shop shelves. | The long-grain, fragrant rice used for pulao and biryani and sold on most shop shelves. |
| पुलावpulaav | pulao, spiced rice Rice cooked with whole spices and often peas or vegetables. Lighter than biryani. | Rice cooked with whole spices and often peas or vegetables. Lighter than biryani. |
| धानdhaan | rice paddy The rice plant in the field and the unhusked grain. You hear it from farmers, not in the kitchen. | The rice plant in the field and the unhusked grain. You hear it from farmers, not in the kitchen. |
How to use चावल in real life
- 1At a dhaba
भैया, एक प्लेट राजमा-चावल दीजिए।
bhaiya, ek plet raajma-chaaval deejiye.
One plate of rajma and rice, please.
Bhaiya (brother) is the friendly, normal way to call a waiter or shopkeeper in north India.
- 2At a grocery shop
बासमती चावल एक किलो कितने का है?
baasmati chaaval ek kilo kitne ka hai?
How much is a kilo of basmati rice?
Kitne ka hai? is the standard way to ask a price. Rice is sold loose by the kilo in many local shops.
- 3At home, feeling unwell
पेट ख़राब हो तो चावल और मूँग दाल की खिचड़ी खाइए।
pet kharaab ho to chaaval aur moong daal ki khichdi khaaiye.
If your stomach is upset, eat khichdi made with rice and moong dal.
Khichdi, rice and lentils cooked soft together, is the classic food for someone who is sick.
Mistakes English speakers make with चावल
Incorrect: Chaaval thandi ho gayi.
Correct: Chaaval thande ho gaye.
Chaaval is masculine, so adjectives and verbs take masculine endings. Most speakers also treat it as plural, like English "grains", so you hear thande ho gaye (have gone cold).
Incorrect: Main chaaval chaahta hoon.
Correct: Mujhe chaaval chaahiye.
Main … chaahta hoon is grammatical but sounds stiff when you ask for food. Hindi says "to me, rice is needed": mujhe chaaval chaahiye.
Good to know
In much of north India, wheat roti is the everyday staple, while rice is at the center of meals in the south, the east, and the northeast. Many north Indian meals still include both: roti first, then a little chaaval with dal at the end. Basmati, the long-grain rice known around the world, is grown in the plains below the Himalayas, in states like Punjab and Haryana. Rice also has a ritual role: in Hindu pujas and weddings, unbroken grains called akshat (अक्षत) are used as a blessing.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering lunch at a dhaba in Delhi
ChatPal
नमस्ते जी! आज राजमा-चावल और कढ़ी-चावल दोनों हैं।
namaste ji! aaj raajma-chaaval aur kadhi-chaaval donon hain.
Hello! Today we have both rajma with rice and kadhi with rice.
You
एक प्लेट राजमा-चावल दीजिए। चावल बासमती है?
ek plet raajma-chaaval deejiye. chaaval baasmati hai?
One plate of rajma and rice, please. Is the rice basmati?
ChatPal
हाँ जी, बासमती है। साथ में रोटी भी चाहिए?
haan ji, baasmati hai. saath mein roti bhi chaahiye?
Yes, it's basmati. Would you like roti with it too?
You
नहीं, बस चावल काफ़ी है, धन्यवाद।
nahin, bas chaaval kaafi hai, dhanyavaad.
No, just the rice is enough, thanks.
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FAQ
Common questions about "Rice" in Hindi
Is chaaval masculine or feminine?
Chaaval is masculine. Say achhe chaaval (good rice) and chaaval pak gaye (the rice is cooked). You will also hear singular agreement, like chaaval pak gaya, and both are understood.
What is the difference between chaaval and bhaat?
Chaaval is the general word and works everywhere. Bhaat means plain cooked rice and is typical of eastern Hindi-speaking areas and village speech. In a city restaurant, ask for chaaval.
How do you pronounce the ch in chaaval?
It is an unaspirated ch, with no puff of air. Hold your hand in front of your mouth: you should feel almost nothing. The aspirated छ (chh), as in chhota (small), has a clear puff, and mixing them up can change a word.
How do you say brown rice in Hindi?
Most people simply say brown rice, in English, and that is what you will see on packets and menus. The literal Hindi भूरा चावल (bhoora chaaval) is understood but rarely used in shops.
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