Common Names of Millets Across Indian Languages
Millets have been an integral part of Indian agriculture and cuisine for centuries. These nutrient-dense, climate-resilient grains have gained renewed attention due to their health benefits and sustainability. From ancient traditions to modern kitchens, millets continue to be a vital source of nutrition, particularly in rural and semi-urban India. In urban India, there is a growing demand, finding it's application in continental cuisine and baked goodies.
One of the fascinating aspects of millets is their diverse names across Indian languages, reflecting the country’s rich cultural and linguistic heritage. Depending on the region, the same millet may have different names, often influenced by local dialects and culinary traditions.
Understanding these names is not just important for linguistic knowledge but also helps in identifying the right grains when purchasing from local markets. Whether you are looking for gluten-free alternatives, planning a millet-based diet, or exploring traditional recipes, knowing the regional names of millets can enhance your food choices and shopping experience.
The following table provides a comprehensive list of millet names across different Indian languages, making it easier for you to recognize and use these wholesome grains in your daily meals.
| Millet Type | English | Hindi | Tamil | Telugu | Kannada | Malayalam | Marathi | Gujarati | Bengali | Odia | Punjabi | Rajasthani | Bhojpuri | Assamese | Chhattisgarhi |
| Kodo Millet | Indian Paspalum, Kodo Grass | Kodrava (कोद्रव) | Orvaragu (ஓர்வரகு) | Arikelu (అరికెలు) | Harka (ಹಾರ್ಕ) | Koovaragu (കൂവരാഗ്) | Kodra (कोदरा) | Kodra (કોદરા) | Kodo (কোডো) | Kodua (କୋଦୁଆ) | Kodra (ਕੋਦਰਾ) | Kodra (कोदरा) | Kodon (कोदोन) | Kodo Dhaan (কোডো ধান) | Kodo (कोदो) |
| Proso Millet | Proso Millet | Barri (बरी) | Panivaragu (பனிவரகு) | Varigalu (వరిగలు) | Baragu (ಬರಗು) | Panivaraku (പനിവരക്) | Barri (बरी) | Barri (બરી) | Cheena (চীনা) | China (ଚିନା) | Barri (ਬਰੀ) | Barri (बरी) | Cheena (चिना) | Cheena (চীনা) | Cheena (चीन) |
| Browntop Millet | Browntop Millet | - | Manjapul (மஞ்சப்புல்) | Andu Korralu (అండు కొర్రలు) | Korale (ಕೊರಲೇ) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Barnyard Millet | Barnyard Millet | Sanwa (सांवा) | Kuthiravali (குதிரைவாளி) | Udalu (ఉడలు) | Oodalu (ಊದಲು) | Kavadapullu (കവടപ്പുള്ള്) | Sanwa (सांवा) | Sama (સમો) | Shyama (শ্যামা) | Khira (ଖିରା) | Sanwa (ਸਾਂਵਾ) | Sanwa (सांवा) | Sanwa (सांवा) | Shyama (শ্যামা) | Shyama (श्यामा) |
| Little Millet | Little Millet | Kutki (कुटकी) | Samai (சமை) | Sama (సామా) | Same (ಸಾಮೆ) | Chama (ചാമ) | Sava (सावा) | Gajro (ગાજરો) | Sama (সামা) | Suan (ସୁଆନ) | Kutki (ਕੁਟਕੀ) | Kutki (कुटकी) | Kutki (कुटकी) | Sama (সামা) | Kutki (कुटकी) |
| Foxtail Millet | Foxtail Millet | Kangni (कंगनी) | Thinai (தினை) | Korra (కొర్ర) | Navane (ನವಣೆ) | Thina (തിണ) | Kang (कांग) | Kang (કાંગ) | Kaon (কাউন) | Kang (କାଙ୍ଗ) | Kangni (ਕੰਗਨੀ) | Kangni (कंगनी) | Kangni (कंगनी) | Kaon (কাউন) | Kaon (कओं) |
| Finger Millet | Finger Millet | Mandua (मंडुआ) | Kezhvaragu (கேழ்வரகு) | Ragi (రాగి) | Ragi (ರಾಗಿ) | Koovarugu (കൂവരഗു) | Nachni (नाचणी) | Bavto (બાંટો) | Marwa (মারওয়া) | Mandia (ମାଣ୍ଡିଆ) | Mandwa (ਮੰਡਵਾ) | Mandua (मंडुआ) | Marua (मरुआ) | Marwa (মারওয়া) | Mandua (मंडुआ) |
| Sorghum - Red | Red Sorghum | Lal Jowar (लाल ज्वार) | Sivappu Cholam (சிவப்பு சோளம்) | Erra Jonna (ఎర్ర జొన్న) | Kempu Jola (ಕೆಂಪು ಜೋಳ) | Chenkolappam (ചെങ്കോളപ്പം) | Tandul (तांदुळ) | Laal Jowari (લાલ જ્વારી) | Laal Jowar (লাল জোয়ার) | - | Lal Jowar (ਲਾਲ ਜੌਵਰ) | Lal Jowar (लाल ज्वार) | Lal Jowar (लाल ज्वार) | - | - |
| Sorghum - Yellow | Yellow Sorghum | Peela Jowar (पीला ज्वार) | Manjal Cholam (மஞ்சள் சோளம்) | Pasupu Jonna (పసుపు జొన్న) | Haladi Jola (ಹಳದಿ ಜೋಳ) | Manja Cholam (മഞ്ഞ ചോലം) | Pivla Tandul (पिवळा तांदुळ) | Pivla Jowari (પીળા જ્વારી) | Peela Jowar (পিলা জোয়ার) | - | Peela Jowar (ਪੀਲਾ ਜੌਵਰ) | Peela Jowar (पीला ज्वार) | Peela Jowar (पीला ज्वार) | - | - |
| Sorghum - White | White Sorghum | Safed Jowar (सफेद ज्वार) | Vellai Cholam (வெள்ளை சோளம்) | Tella Jonna (తెల్ల జొన్న) | Bili Jola (ಬಿಳಿ ಜೋಳ) | Vella Cholam (വെള്ള ചോലം) | Pandhra Tandul (पांढरा तांदुळ) | Dudh Jowari (દૂધ જ્વારી) | Safed Jowar (সফেদ জোয়ার) | - | Safed Jowar (ਸਫ਼ੈਦ ਜੌਵਰ) | Safed Jowar (सफेद ज्वार) | Safed Jowar (सफेद ज्वार) | - | - |
| Pearl Millet | Pearl Millet | Bajra (बाजरा) | Kambu (கம்பு) | Sajja (సజ్జ) | Sajje (ಸಜ್ಜೆ) | Kambam (കമ്പം) | Bajri (बाजरी) | Bajri (બાજરી) | Bajra (বাজরা) | Bajra (ବାଜରା) | Bajra (ਬਾਜਰਾ) | Bajra (बाजरा) | Bajra (बाजरा) | Bajra (বাজরা) | Bajra (बाजरा) |
| Pearl Millet - Native | Native Pearl Millet | Naatu Kambu (நாட்டு கம்பு) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Finger Millet Rava (Sprouted & Granulated) | Finger Millet Rava | Mandua Rava (मंडुआ रवा) | Kezhvaragu Rava (கேழ்வரகு ரவை) | Ragi Rava (రాగి రవ్వ) | Ragi Tari (ರಾಗಿ ತರೀ) | Koovarugu Rava (കൂവരഗു റവ) | Nachni Rava (नाचणी रवा) | Bavto Rava (બાંટો રવા) | Marwa Rava (মারওয়া রভা) | Mandia Rava (ମାଣ୍ଡିଆ ରବା) | Mandwa Rava (ਮੰਡਵਾ ਰਵਾ) | Mandua Rava (मंडुआ रवा) | Marua Rava (मरुआ रवा) | Marwa Rava (মারওয়া রভা) | Mandua Rava (मंडुआ रवा) |
| Finger Millet Flour (Sprouted & Coarsely Ground) | Finger Millet Flour (Coarse) | Mandua Atta (मंडुआ आटा) | Kezhvaragu Maavu (கேழ்வரகு மாவு) | Ragi Pindi (రాగి పిండి) | Ragi Hittu (ರಾಗಿ ಹಿಟ್ಟು) | Koovarugu Podi (കൂവരഗു പൊടി) | Nachni Peeth (नाचणी पीठ) | Bavto Lot (બાંટો લોટ) | Marwa Atta (মারওয়া আটা) | Mandia Pitha (ମାଣ୍ଡିଆ ପିଠା) | Mandwa Atta (ਮੰਡਵਾ ਆਟਾ) | Mandua Atta (मंडुआ आटा) | Marua Atta (मरुआ आटा) | Marwa Atta (মারওয়া আটা) | Mandua Atta (मंडुआ आटा) |
| Finger Millet Flour (Sprouted & Finely Ground) | Finger Millet Flour (Fine) | Mandua Atta (मंडुआ आटा) | Kezhvaragu Maavu (கேழ்வரகு மாவு) | Ragi Pindi (రాగి పిండి) | Ragi Hittu (ರಾಗಿ ಹಿಟ್ಟು) | Koovarugu Podi (കൂവരഗു പൊടി) | Nachni Peeth (नाचणी पीठ) | Bavto Lot (બાંટો લોટ) | Marwa Atta (মারওয়া আটা) | Mandia Pitha (ମାଣ୍ଡିଆ ପିଠା) | Mandwa Atta (ਮੰਡਵਾ ਆਟਾ) | Mandua Atta (मंडुआ आटा) | Marua Atta (मरुआ आटा) | Marwa Atta (মারওয়া আটা) |
Mandua Atta (मंडुआ आटा) |