Vegetable Names in Nepali and English: Saag and Market Guide

Palungo means spinach, rayo ko saag means mustard greens, and bethe ko saag means lamb’s quarters. This Nepali–English vegetable glossary brings together everyday market names, leafy greens and regional spellings so you can find an ingredient quickly.

Nepali vegetable names vary by place, language and spelling. A local name may cover more than one plant. Use this as a language and market reference; a name alone cannot identify a wild plant or establish how it should be prepared.

Common names · Full vegetable index · Leafy greens · Common questions

Common vegetable names in Nepali and English

Nepali name and spelling variants	English name
Aalu / Alu	Potato
Golbheda / Golebheda	Tomato
Kauli / Phulgobhi	Cauliflower
Banda gobi	Cabbage
Bhanta / Bhantaa	Eggplant / aubergine
Bhende khursani	Bell pepper / sweet pepper
Kakro / Kaankro	Cucumber
Mula / Moola	Radish
Gajar	Carrot
Pharsi	Pumpkin
Lauka	Bottle gourd
Kubhindo	Ash gourd
Karela / Tito karela	Bitter gourd
Iskush	Chayote
Kurilo / Kurelo	Asparagus
Palungo / Paalungo ko saag	Spinach
Rayo / Raayo ko saag	Mustard greens
Bethe ko saag	Lamb’s quarters
Methi ko saag	Fenugreek leaves
Chamsur / Chamsoor ko saag	Garden cress
Mula ko saag	Radish greens
Salgam / Salegum	Turnip
Kerau / Matar	Peas
Simi	Beans; the exact type needs a fuller name

For dried pulses rather than fresh pods, see our lentils, beans and peas name guide. For seasonings, use the Nepali herbs and spices guide.

Full vegetable and kitchen ingredient index

This archive index includes vegetables, shoots, herbs and a few fruits used in cooking. Linked entries lead to the blog’s ingredient or photo guides. Spellings such as alu/aalu, moola/mula and pharsi/farsi may describe the same everyday ingredient.

• Alu – (Potato)
• Aduwa - (Ginger)
• Baabari - (Mint)
• Banda Gobi - (Cabbage)
• Barelaa - (Balsam Apple)
• Bethe ko Saag - (Lamb’squarter) - (Chenopodium album)
• Bhantaa - (Brinjal, Egg plant, Aubergine)
• Bhende Khursani - (Bell Pepper, Sweet Pepper)
• Bungo - Banana flower or blossom
• Brokauli - (Broccoli)
• Bodi - (Beans)
• Chatel - (Momordica cochinchinensis)
• Chamsoor - (Garden cress)
• Chanaa, Hariyo - (Green Bengal Gram)
• Chau - (Mushrooms)
• Chichindo - (Serpent or Snake Gourd)
• Chayapi - (Shallot)
• Dhaniya - Fresh coriander
• Dundu ko Saag - Garlic chives (also called Chinese leek; Allium tuberosum)
• Gajar -(Carrot)
• Ghiraula - (Sponge gourd)
• Paate Ghiraula - (Ridged or Ribbed Gourd)
• Golebheda - (Tomato)
• Sano Golbheda - Cherry tomato
• Tumbe Golbheda - (Pear tomato)
• Guliyo Moola – Chukander - ( Beet Roots)
• Gyanth Govi - Kohlrabi
• Imli - (Tamarind)
• Iskush - (Chayote squash)
• Kaankro - (Cucumber)
• Asare Kaankro – Common Field Cucumber
• Bhadaure Kaankro – Garden Cucumber
• Kakdi - Snake or Serpent Cucumber
• Karkalo - (Taro Leaves)
• Karela, Tito - (Bitter Gourd, Balsam Pear)
• Katahar - (Jack Fruit)
• Kauli, Phulgobhi - (Cauliflower)
• Kerau or Matar - (Garden Peas)
• Sano Kerau - (Field Peas)
• Khursani - (Chili Pepper)
• Bhende Khursani - (Bell Pepper)
• Dhokre Khursani - A local chilli name; do not confuse chilli with the spice long pepper
• Chuchche Khursani - (Cone Pepper)
• Jhine Khorsani - (Cluster Pepper)
• Jyanmara Khursani - (Cherry Pepper)
• Jire Khorsani - (Bird’s Eye Chili, Bird Pepper)
• Koiralo (Seto or Rato) - Bauhinia - white or pink)
• Kubhindo - (Ash Gourd,Wax Gourd, Chinese Melon)
• Kurilo - (Common Asparagus)
• Lapsi - (Nepalese Hog plum)
• Lashun - (Garlic)
• Lauka - (Bottle Gourd, Calabash)
• Lunde ko Saag -(Pigweed)
• Methi ko Saag - (Fenugreek Leaf)
• Moola - (Radish)
• Moola ko Saag - (Radish greens)
• Moola ko Duku - (Radish Shoots)
• Nigalo Tusha - (Himalayan Bamboo)
• Niuro - (Fiddlehead fern)
• Paalungo - (Spinach)
• Parwar - (Pointed Gourd,Patol)
• Pharsi - (Gourd, Pumpkin)
• Pharsi ko Munta - (Pumpkin Shoots)
• Pidaalu - Taro (cocoyam)
• Poi Saag - (Indian Spinach)
• Pyaz - (Onion)
• Raamtoriya - (Okra, Ladies Finger)
• Raayo ko Sag - (Leaf mustard)
• Raayo ko Duku - (Mustard shoots)
• Salegum - (Turnip)
• Salegum ko Saag - (Turnip Greens)
• Sakhar Khand - (Sweet Potato)
• Sunp - (Dill)
• Simi - (Beans)
• Hiunde Simi - (Hyacinth Bean)
• Tarware Simi - (Jack Bean, Sword bean)
• Kause Simi - (Velvet Bean, Horse-Eye Bean)
• Sipligan - (Garlic Pear)
• Sishnu ko Saag -(Stinging Nettle)
• Tarul - Yam; a broad local name, not a precise species identification
• Ghar Tarul - (Yam)
• Bana Tarul - Wild yam; species and preparation require local expertise
• Taama Bans - (Bamboo)
• Thotne - (Vegetable Smart Weed) - (Polygonum)
• Tinda - Round Gourd
• Tori - (Indian Rape)
• Tyammatar - (Tree tomato)

Leafy greens: hariyo saag-paat (हरियो साग-पात)

Saag refers broadly to leafy greens, not only spinach. Keep the plant name with it: palungo ko saag, rayo ko saag and methi ko saag describe different greens. The extended archive below retains local names; entries without an established English match are marked rather than guessed. Regional names should be checked with the grower or seller.

• Baabari, Pudina - (बाबरी को साग) - Common Mint
• Bethe ko Saag - (बेथे को साग) - Lamb's Quarter
• Bengali Palungo ko Saag - (बंगाली पालुंगो) - Beet root
• Bhirin ko Saag - (भिरिन को साग) — English identification not confirmed
• Bhote Paalungo - (भोटे पालुंगो) - Garden Sorrel, Bladder Dock
• Bok Choy or Paak Choy - (बक चोय अथवा पाक चोय)
• Chatel ko Munta ko Saag - (चटेल को मुन्टा को साग) - Indian Gourd, Kantola Shoots
• Chhayapi ko Saag - (छायापी को साग) - Shallot Greens
• Chamsoor ko Saag - (चम्सूर को साग) - Garden Cress
• Dhania ko Paat or Saag (Hariyo) - (धनियाँको साग) - Fresh Coriander or Cilantro
• Dundu ko Saag - (दुन्डू को साग) - Garlic chives / Chinese leek
• Gante Moola ko Saag or Dalle Moola ko Saag - (गानते मुलाको साग, डल्ले मुलाको साग) - Turnips Greens
• Gobre Paalungo ko Saag - (गोब्रे पालुंगो को साग) - Spinach Variety
• Gande ko Saag - (गन्दे को साग) — English identification not confirmed
• Halhale ko Saag - (हलहले को साग) — English identification not confirmed
• Iskush ko Munta ko Saag - (इस्कुश को मुन्टा को साग) - Chayote Greens
• Karkalo ko Paat - (कर्कलो को पात, कर्कलो को साग) - Taro Leaves - Karkalo-Gaava-Pidhaalu - (कर्कलो-गाभा-पिँडालु)
• Kal Tori ko Saag - (कालतोरी को साग) - Black Mustard
• Kane Saag - (काने साग) — English identification not confirmed
• Kaauli ko Saag - (काउली को साग) - Cauliflower Greens
• Karmaiya Saag - (कर्मैया को साग) - Water Bindweed, Swamp Cabbage
• Keraau ko Muntaa ko Saag - (केराउ को मुन्टा को साग) - Pea Vine Shoots
• Kel ko Saag - (क़ेल को साग) - Kale
• Laal Saag - (लाल साग) - Amaranth
• Latte to Saag - (लट्टे को साग) - Amaranth
• Laaphe Saag - लाफे को साग - Vegetable Mallow Poppy Mallow
• Lasun ko Saag - (लसुन को साग) - (Green Garlic)
• Lunde ko Saag - (लुन्ड़े को साग) - Redroot Pigwood - (different variety Pahadi Lunde, Kande Lunde)
• Lataree ko Saag - (लटरी को साग) — English identification not confirmed
• Methi ko Paat or Saag - (मेथी को साग) - Fenugreek leaves
• Moolaa (Mulaa) ko Saag - (मूला को साग) - Radish Greens
• Moolaa (Mulaa) ko Duku re Saag - (मूला को दुकु र साग) - Radish Shoots and Leaves
• Neuro - (न्यूरो को साग) - Edible Fern Shoots
• Phaapar ko Saag - (फापर को साग) - Buck-wheat Greens
• Patuwaa ko Saag - (पटुवा को साग) - (Tossa Jute)
• Pharsi ko Muntaa - (फर्सी को मुन्टा) - Pumpkin Vine shoots
• Pooi or Poi ko Saag - (पोई को साग) - Indian Spinach, Malabar Night Shade
• Pahaadi Lunde - (पहाडी लुन्ड़े को साग) — English identification not confirmed
• Paalungo ko Saag - (पालुंगो को साग) - Common Spinach
• Raayo ko Saag - (रायो को साग) - Leaf Mustard
• Raayo ko Duku re Saag - (रायो को दुकु र साग) - Leaf Mustard Shoots
• Saunf or Sunp ko Saag - (सुप को साग) - Fresh Dill Greens
• Salgam ko Saag - (सलगम को साग) - Turnip greens
• Sishnu or Sisnu ko Saag - (सिस्नु को साग) - Nettle Greens - (Lekali Sisnu, Thulo Sisnu, Bhangre Sisnu)
• Sim Rayo - (सिम रायो) - Water Cress
• Sarwari Saag - (सर्वारी साग) - Quail Grass
• Siplikan - सिप्लिकान - Garlic Pear
• Salad ko Saag or Paat - (लेट्तुस - सलाद को साग) - Curly Leaf Lettuce
• Tori ko Saag - (तोरी को साग)- Indian Rape
• Tike Paalungo - (टिके पालुंगो) - Garden Beet

Questions about Nepali vegetable names

What is palungo ko saag in English?

Palungo ko saag is spinach. Paalungo and palaungo are spelling variants. Saag on its own is broader and can refer to other leafy vegetables.

What is bethe ko saag in English?

Bethe ko saag is commonly called lamb’s quarters, associated with Chenopodium album. It is a different green from palungo.

What is dundu ko saag? Is it leek?

Dundu saag is documented as garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, also called Chinese leek. That English common name can cause confusion with ordinary leek. Ask which plant is intended rather than treating every use of “leek” as an exact translation.

Are salgam and kohlrabi the same?

Salgam is turnip; salgam ko saag means turnip greens. Gyanth govi is kohlrabi. These names were mixed up in the earlier leafy-greens list and are separated here.

What is tarul in English?

Tarul commonly refers to yam, with ghar tarul and ban tarul used for different types. It should not be presented as a universal translation for cassava or tapioca. A specific plant name is needed for an exact match.

Where can I see pictures of Nepali vegetables?

Start with the linked ash gourd (kubhindo), asparagus (kurilo) and barela guides. This page is a name index; the individual articles contain the photographs.

Sources and naming notes

This revised guide retains the blog’s original market-name index. Selected corrections and name distinctions were checked against Nepal’s 2008 Country Report on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (vegetable and root-crop lists, pp. 75–77) and Joshi and colleagues’ research on neglected and underutilized crop species (published online in 2019). These references document usage; they do not settle every regional name in the archive.

For the field research mentioned in the original article, see Traditional, Neglected Vegetables of Nepal: Their Sustainable Utilisation for Meeting Human Needs.

Continue with our Nepali fruit names or traditional Nepali dishes.