Updated on March 6, 2024
An ingredient is a fundamental component of a dish or recipe, the building block that contributes to the overall flavor, aroma, and texture. Its significance extends beyond the culinary world, as the term is also used in various contexts such as skincare, cosmetics, and even medicine. The cultural importance of ingredients is evident in the diverse cuisines found across the globe, each with their unique blend of spices, herbs, and other components that define their regional identity.
Moreover, understanding the translation of ingredient in different languages can be fascinating and enlightening. For instance, the German word for ingredient is 'Zutat', which also means 'addition' or 'contribution', reflecting the idea that ingredients add to or enhance a dish's overall quality. Meanwhile, in Japanese, the term for ingredient is ' Ingredient' (saishin), which is derived from the Chinese characters 'material' (zhi) and 'heart' (xin), suggesting that ingredients are the essential or core components of a dish.
In this article, we will explore the translations of ingredient in various languages, shedding light on the cultural significance of ingredients and their role in shaping global cuisine. Stay tuned for a list of ingredient translations that will inspire your culinary adventures and deepen your appreciation for language and culture.
Afrikaans | bestanddeel | ||
The word "bestanddeel" also means "component" in Afrikaans. | |||
Amharic | ንጥረ ነገር | ||
The word can also mean 'an element, or thing or part of whole.' | |||
Hausa | sashi | ||
The word "sashi" also means "a particular ingredient" in Hausa. | |||
Igbo | mgwa ihe | ||
'Mgwa' is the Igbo word for 'ingredient,' and it can also mean 'substance' or 'material.' | |||
Malagasy | ilaina | ||
The Malagasy word "ilaina" derives from the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian word "*laŋa" meaning "to prepare (food)". | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chophatikiza | ||
The word 'chophatikiza' is derived from the verb 'kuphalika', meaning to mix or combine. | |||
Shona | chirungiso | ||
Somali | walax | ||
Walax in Somali is also used to refer to various elements or parts of a substance, such as in the phrase walaxya kiimikaad, meaning chemical elements. | |||
Sesotho | motsoako | ||
The word "motsoaoko" is related to the word "motho," meaning "person," and the word "hako," meaning "to put in." | |||
Swahili | kiungo | ||
Kiungo, meaning 'ingredient' in Swahili, originates from the verb 'kuunga,' meaning 'to join, connect, or combine.' It implies the joining or integration of various elements to create a whole. | |||
Xhosa | isithako | ||
The word "isithako" also means "remedy" in Xhosa. | |||
Yoruba | eroja | ||
The Yoruba word "eroja" can also refer to the individual components of a recipe. | |||
Zulu | isithako | ||
The word 'isithako' in Zulu can also mean 'substance' or 'material'. | |||
Bambara | fɛn min bɛ kɛ ka a kɛ | ||
Ewe | nusi wotsɔ wɔa nuɖuɖua | ||
Kinyarwanda | ibiyigize | ||
Lingala | ingrédient oyo ezali na kati | ||
Luganda | ekirungo | ||
Sepedi | motswako | ||
Twi (Akan) | ade a wɔde yɛ aduan | ||
Arabic | المكونات | ||
The word "المكونات" in Arabic also denotes the components of a machine and other various composite objects. | |||
Hebrew | מַרכִּיב | ||
The Hebrew word "מַרכִּיב" also means "component" or "element". | |||
Pashto | اجزاو | ||
"اجزاو" in Pashto, meaning ingredient, is also used to describe a specific type of spice. | |||
Arabic | المكونات | ||
The word "المكونات" in Arabic also denotes the components of a machine and other various composite objects. |
Albanian | përbërës | ||
The word "përbërës" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*per- " meaning "to produce, make". | |||
Basque | osagaia | ||
The Basque word "osagaia" can also refer to a component, part, or element, not just an ingredient. | |||
Catalan | ingredient | ||
The word "ingredient" comes from the Latin "ingrediens," meaning "to go into" or "to form part of." | |||
Croatian | sastojak | ||
The word 'sastojak' is derived from the Old Slavic word 'sъstavь', meaning 'to put together' or 'to compose'. | |||
Danish | ingrediens | ||
In Danish, the word "ingrediens" is also used to refer to a person's talents or abilities. | |||
Dutch | ingrediënt | ||
In Dutch, "ingrediënt" also refers to a constituent part of something abstract, e.g. an argument or concept. | |||
English | ingredient | ||
Ingredient, coming originally from the Latin 'ingredior', meaning 'enter', referred initially to medicinal elements or herbs added to potions or medicines | |||
French | ingrédient | ||
The French word "ingrédient" comes from the Latin "ingrediens, -entis," meaning "entering." | |||
Frisian | yngrediïnt | ||
The Frisian word "yngrediïnt" can also be used to refer to a constituent part of something, such as a chemical compound or a recipe. | |||
Galician | ingrediente | ||
In the context of medicine, "ingrediente" can also mean "symptom". | |||
German | zutat | ||
The German word "Zutat" likely derives from the Middle High German "zuotâte", meaning "addition". | |||
Icelandic | innihaldsefni | ||
Innihaldsefni means "ingredient" in Icelandic and can also refer to "constituent" or "component" in chemistry. | |||
Irish | comhábhar | ||
The word "comhábhar" also means "ingredient" in Irish, but it has a more literal meaning of "co-ingredient". | |||
Italian | ingrediente | ||
"Ingrediente" also means "pregnant" in Italian. | |||
Luxembourgish | zutat | ||
The word "Zutat" in Luxembourgish is derived from the German word "Zutat" and has the same meaning in both languages. | |||
Maltese | ingredjent | ||
The Maltese word "ingredjent" derives from the French word "ingrédient" and the Latin word "ingredientum", both meaning "component". | |||
Norwegian | ingrediens | ||
The Norwegian word "ingrediens" originally meant "something that is added to something else" and can still have this more general meaning today. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | ingrediente | ||
"Ingrediente" is also used to refer to the people who participate in a competition or a race. | |||
Scots Gaelic | tàthchuid | ||
Spanish | ingrediente | ||
The word "ingrediente" also means "element" in Spanish. | |||
Swedish | ingrediens | ||
"Ingrediens" is a loanword from Latin, where it means "to walk in" or "to approach." | |||
Welsh | cynhwysyn | ||
The word 'cynhwysyn' is derived from the Proto-Celtic root *kom- 'to put together', also found in Latin 'con-' and Sanskrit 'sam-'. |
Belarusian | інгрэдыент | ||
The word "інгрэдыент" comes from the Latin word "ingrediens", which means "entering" or "composing". | |||
Bosnian | sastojak | ||
Bosnian word "sastojak" derives from the Slavic term "sostaviti" which means "to put together". | |||
Bulgarian | съставка | ||
The Bulgarian word "съставка" also has a second meaning, "component," or "constituent". | |||
Czech | přísada | ||
Originally, the Czech word "přísada" was also used to describe an obstacle or a problem hindering the progress of something. | |||
Estonian | koostisosa | ||
The word "koostisosa" comes from the word "koostis" (composition) and the suffix "-osa" (part), meaning "a part of a composition". | |||
Finnish | ainesosa | ||
The term "ainesosa" was formerly used in the sense of "substance" or "component part of something, ingredient." | |||
Hungarian | hozzávaló | ||
Although „hozzávaló” is the most common Hungarian word for "ingredients", the word also has the meaning of "addition" or "extra" in certain contexts. | |||
Latvian | sastāvdaļa | ||
The word “sastāvdaļa” can also be translated as “component”, especially when the context is about a computer system of network. | |||
Lithuanian | ingredientas | ||
The word "ingredientas" in Lithuanian is derived from the Latin word "ingrediens", meaning "going in". | |||
Macedonian | состојка | ||
The word "состојка" comes from the Old Slavic word "състоити" meaning "to consist of". | |||
Polish | składnik | ||
The word "składnik" also means "component" in Polish. | |||
Romanian | ingredient | ||
„Ingredient” was adopted into Romanian from Hungarian and used to denote "medicine" before adopting its current meaning. | |||
Russian | ингредиент | ||
The Russian word "ингредиент" can also refer to a person who is involved in a plot or scheme. | |||
Serbian | састојак | ||
The word 'састојак' in Serbian can also refer to a component of a chemical compound. | |||
Slovak | prísada | ||
Slovo "prísada" pochádza zo staroslovienskeho "prisǫsti" (prisľúbenie, záruka). | |||
Slovenian | sestavina | ||
The word "sestavina" can also mean "component" or "element" in Slovenian. | |||
Ukrainian | інгредієнт | ||
The word "інгредієнт" is cognate with the English "ingredient". |
Bengali | উপাদান | ||
In ancient Sanskrit, 'উপাদান' meant 'to bring near', indicating its role in combining other ingredients. | |||
Gujarati | ઘટક | ||
The word "ઘટક" is derived from the Sanskrit word "घटक", meaning "component" or "factor". | |||
Hindi | घटक | ||
The word 'घटक' can also mean 'component', 'factor', or 'element'. | |||
Kannada | ಘಟಕಾಂಶವಾಗಿದೆ | ||
ಘಟಕಾಂಶವಾಗಿದೆ is also used to refer to the contents of a document, especially a legal document. | |||
Malayalam | ഘടകം | ||
The word 'ഘടകം' can also have the meaning of 'constituent' or 'element' in Malayalam. | |||
Marathi | घटक | ||
The word "घटक" can also mean "component" or "factor" | |||
Nepali | घटक | ||
In culinary contexts, 'घटक' can alternately refer to a spice that is added to a dish, such as a masala. | |||
Punjabi | ਸਮੱਗਰੀ | ||
The word 'sammagri' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'samagri,' which means 'ingredients,' 'requisites,' or 'equipment.' | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අමුද්රව්යය | ||
Tamil | மூலப்பொருள் | ||
Telugu | మూలవస్తువుగా | ||
The word "మూలవస్తువుగా" is derived from the Sanskrit word "मूलद्रव्य" (mūladravya), which means "root substance" or "element". | |||
Urdu | اجزاء | ||
"اجزاء" or "اجزا" also means "parts" or "pieces" in Urdu. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 成分 | ||
"成分" in Chinese means not only the ingredients in food and medicine but also has the meaning of "constitutive elements or factors". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 成分 | ||
成分 (Chéngfèn), literally “make up” or “to constitute”, has several other meanings in Chinese. | |||
Japanese | 成分 | ||
"成分" can also mean "composition" or "content". | |||
Korean | 성분 | ||
The term "성분" (ingredient) originates from the Chinese term "成分" (chéngfèn), which refers to the component parts of a substance or mixture. | |||
Mongolian | найрлага | ||
Another Mongolian translation of "ingredient" is орц. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ပစ္စည်း | ||
"ပစ္စည်း" is derived from the Pali word "Paccaya", meaning "conditions". In Buddhism, it refers to the five factors that are necessary for the arising of any phenomenon. |
Indonesian | bahan | ||
Bahä means "spice" in Filipino and is thought by some to have originated from Sanskrit "bhäjana" meaning "medicinal preparation." | |||
Javanese | bahan | ||
In Javanese, "bahan" can also refer to the "elements" of something or the "cause" of an event. | |||
Khmer | គ្រឿងផ្សំ | ||
In addition to its culinary sense, "គ្រឿងផ្សំ" also refers to the various components of a ceremony, ritual, or traditional practice. | |||
Lao | ສ່ວນປະກອບ | ||
Malay | bahan | ||
The word "bahan" is derived from Sanskrit "bhajana" meaning "vessel", "container" or "tool", reflecting its use as a component in a larger entity. | |||
Thai | ส่วนผสม | ||
The word "ส่วนผสม" in Thai can also mean "component" or "element", and is derived from the Sanskrit word "samyoga" meaning "union" or "combination". | |||
Vietnamese | thành phần | ||
The term was adopted from the Chinese, and has two related meanings in Vietnamese: one for 'component' and another for 'constituent'. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | sangkap | ||
Azerbaijani | tərkib hissəsi | ||
"Tərkib hissəsi" is also the name of one of the 30 provinces of Azerbaijan. | |||
Kazakh | ингредиент | ||
"Ingredient" comes from the Latin word "ingredi" meaning "to go in," and it is related to the word "ingress" meaning "to go in to" | |||
Kyrgyz | ингредиент | ||
In Kyrgyz, the word "ингредиент" also has the alternate meaning of "component". | |||
Tajik | компонент | ||
"Компонент" is a borrowing from the Russian word "компонент", which comes from the Latin word "componens", meaning "assembling" or "fitting together". | |||
Turkmen | düzümi | ||
Uzbek | ingredient | ||
Ingredient is translated in Uzbek to ingredient, ingredient, constituent part. | |||
Uyghur | تەركىب | ||
Hawaiian | mea hoʻohui | ||
Mea hoʻohui can also mean 'combination' or 'mixture' | |||
Maori | whakauru | ||
"Whakauru" also means "to introduce" or "to add", suggesting the transformative power of ingredients in creating a culinary masterpiece. | |||
Samoan | elemeni | ||
Elemeni can also refer to a particular ingredient or the act of adding it. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | sangkap | ||
"Sangkap" can also be an archaic Tagalog verb meaning "to mix" or "to put together". |
Aymara | ingrediente ukaxa | ||
Guarani | ingrediente rehegua | ||
Esperanto | ingredienco | ||
The Esperanto "ingredienco" comes from "ingredius", meaning "to go into" or "to enter" in Latin, and could mean anything which becomes part of something else or is contained in it | |||
Latin | ingrediens | ||
The Latin word "ingrediens" can also mean "entering" or "advancing". |
Greek | συστατικό | ||
The word συστατικό comes from the verb συνίστημι, which means "to put together, compose, or establish". | |||
Hmong | khoom xyaw | ||
The word 'khoom xyaw' in Hmong is derived from the Proto-Hmong-Mien word '*kum-sjaːw', meaning 'to add, to put in'. | |||
Kurdish | pêvok | ||
The word 'pêvok' can also refer to a 'part', 'factor', or 'component' in Kurdish. | |||
Turkish | bileşen | ||
The word "bileşen" can also mean "component" or "constituent" in Turkish. | |||
Xhosa | isithako | ||
The word "isithako" also means "remedy" in Xhosa. | |||
Yiddish | ינגרידיאַנט | ||
The Yiddish word "ינגרידיאַנט" is derived from the French word "ingrédient", which in turn comes from the Latin word "ingredientum", meaning "that which is added in". | |||
Zulu | isithako | ||
The word 'isithako' in Zulu can also mean 'substance' or 'material'. | |||
Assamese | উপাদান | ||
Aymara | ingrediente ukaxa | ||
Bhojpuri | घटक के बा | ||
Dhivehi | އިންގްރިޑިއެންޓް އެވެ | ||
Dogri | घटक | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | sangkap | ||
Guarani | ingrediente rehegua | ||
Ilocano | ramen ti | ||
Krio | di tin we dɛn kin yuz fɔ mek di it | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پێکهاتە | ||
Maithili | घटक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯏꯅꯒ꯭ꯔꯦꯗꯤꯌꯦꯟꯇ ꯑꯣꯏꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | thil tel (ingredient) a ni | ||
Oromo | ingredient kan jedhu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଉପାଦାନ | ||
Quechua | ingrediente nisqa | ||
Sanskrit | घटकः | ||
Tatar | ингредиент | ||
Tigrinya | ቀመም ምዃኑ’ዩ። | ||
Tsonga | xiaki xa xiaki | ||