masala

IPA/məˈsɑːlə/
IPA/məˈsɑːlə/

masala — noun

  • masalasingular
  • masalasplural

1. a blend of ground or whole spices, such as cumin, coriander, and turmeric, used

1.名詞B1
釋義

a blend of ground or whole spices, such as cumin, coriander, and turmeric, used to season South Asian dishes like curries and lentil stews

例句

Anika bought fresh coriander and cumin to blend her own masala from scratch.

noun + masala (blend her own masala)

When Kavita opened the jar of masala, a rich aroma filled the whole kitchen.

同義詞
  • spice mix

    generic term, not specific to South Asian cooking

  • curry powder

    Western-style spice blend, not the same as traditional masala

  • paste

    refers only to the wet form of masala, not the dry powder

文法句型

masala + noun (masala paste, masala powder)

noun + masala (garam masala, chaat masala)

用法筆記

Uncountable; refers to the spice mixture itself. Common prepared blends include garam masala (warm spice mix) and chaat masala (tangy spice mix for snacks). Masala can be dry (powdered) or wet (ground with water, vinegar, or coconut milk into a paste).

常見錯誤

❌I added some masalas to the pan.
✅I added some masala to the pan.
💡masala is uncountable when referring to the spice blend itself.
❌This curry powder is a type of masala.
✅Curry powder and masala are different blends with different ingredients.
💡curry powder is a Western invention; masala refers to specific Indian spice mixtures.

2. a meal common in South Asian cuisine in which meat, fish, or vegetables are simm

2.名詞B1
釋義

a meal common in South Asian cuisine in which meat, fish, or vegetables are simmered in a thick, seasoned sauce prepared with a masala spice blend

例句

Deepak ordered chicken masala with basmati rice and a side of grilled naan bread.

compound: chicken masala (food + masala)

The restaurant's vegetable masala was so popular that customers asked for the recipe.

同義詞
  • curry

    broader term; all masala dishes are a kind of curry, but not all curries use masala

  • spiced stew

    generic Western term, lacks the specific South Asian culinary identity

文法句型

[protein/food] + masala (chicken masala, fish masala, mushroom masala)

用法筆記

Countable (a chicken masala) or uncountable (a bowl of masala), depending on whether it refers to a specific menu item or the sauce itself. The word appears after the main ingredient: chicken masala, not masala chicken, though the word order sometimes varies in restaurant menus outside India.

常見錯誤

❌Masala chicken is a type of spice blend.
✅Masala chicken is a dish cooked in a spiced sauce.
💡masala can refer to either the spice blend or the dish; context determines the meaning.

3. a style of Indian popular cinema that mixes comedy, romance, action, and drama i

3.名詞B2
釋義

a style of Indian popular cinema that mixes comedy, romance, action, and drama into a single story, made to be entertaining for a wide range of viewers rather than fans of one genre

例句

The director is famous for making masala films with songs, fight scenes, and love stories.

attributive: masala films

Sanjay watched a classic 1990s masala movie at the festival with a large crowd.

同義詞

文法句型

masala + noun (masala film, masala movie, masala entertainer)

用法筆記

Usually attributive (before the noun: masala film). Borrowed from the spice blend metaphor — a 'masala film' mixes many ingredients just like the spice blend does. The term is used in Indian film criticism and is less common outside South Asian media discourse.