सौंफ़ (saumf)
noun
A single-sense word: सौंफ़ (saumf) is fennel seeds, the small greenish seeds used both as a spice and as a post-meal digestive/mouth-freshener.
Sense
1
:
fennel seeds
noun, feminine
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will find little bowls of सौंफ़ (saumf) -- often mixed with मिश्री (mishrii, sugar crystals) or sugar-coated as मुखवास (mukhvaas) -- kept by the till at almost every Delhi dhaba and restaurant, meant to be chewed after a meal to freshen the breath and aid digestion. It also goes into the spice mix for chai and into dishes like पंजाबी छोले (panjaabii chhole) for its mild, sweet aroma.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse सौंफ़ (saumf) with सोंठ (sonth, dry ginger) or जीरा (jiiraa, cumin) since all three are common spice-box items -- सौंफ़ (saumf) is specifically the sweetish, greenish fennel seed, easily recognized by its aniseed-like smell. 2) The nuqta on the फ़ (f) is often dropped in casual writing as सौंफ (saumph), but the pronunciation stays the same.
Sample Sentences:
खाने के बाद थोड़ी सी सौंफ़ खा लो, मुँह में ताज़गी आ जाएगी।
Eat a little fennel after the meal, it'll freshen up your mouth.
(khaane ke baad thodii sii saumf khaa lo, munh men taazgii aa jaaegii।)
इस ढाबे में हर टेबल पर सौंफ़ और मिश्री की कटोरी रखी रहती है।
At this dhaba, a bowl of fennel and sugar crystals is kept on every table.
(is dhaabe men har tebal par saumf aur mishrii kii katorii rakhii rahtii hai।)
मेरी दादी चाय में एक चुटकी सौंफ़ डालती हैं, इससे खुशबू बहुत अच्छी आती है।
My grandmother adds a pinch of fennel to the tea, it gives such a lovely aroma.
(merii daadii chaay men ek chutkii saumf daaltii hain, isse khushboo bahut achchhii aatii hai।)
पंजाबी छोले बनाते समय उसने सौंफ़ पीसकर मसाले में मिला दी।
While making Punjabi chole, she ground the fennel and mixed it into the spices.
(panjaabii chhole banaate samay usne saumf piiskar masaale men milaa dii।)
क्या आपके पास सौंफ़ है? खाना थोड़ा भारी लग रहा है।
Do you have any fennel seeds? The meal is sitting a bit heavy.
(kyaa aapke paas saumf hai? khaanaa thodaa bhaarii lag rahaa hai।)
अगर घर में सौंफ़ होती तो मैं खाने के बाद तुम्हें दे देता।
If there had been fennel at home, I would have given you some after the meal.
(agar ghar men saumf hotii to main khaane ke baad tumhen de detaa।)
रेस्तराँ के काउंटर पर सौंफ़ और सुपारी रखी हुई थी।
Fennel seeds and betel nut were kept at the restaurant counter.
(restraan ke kaauntar par saumf aur supaarii rakhii huii thii।)
सौंफ़ को हल्का सा भून लो, तभी उसकी खुशबू पूरी तरह खुलेगी।
Roast the fennel seeds lightly, only then will its fragrance fully open up.
(saumf ko halkaa saa bhoon lo, tabhii uskii khushboo poorii tarah khulegii।)
शायद हलवाई ने मुखवास में सौंफ़ के साथ थोड़ी इलायची भी मिलाई हो।
Maybe the sweet-shop owner also mixed a little cardamom with the fennel in the mukhwas.
(shaayad halvaaii ne mukhvaas men saumf ke saath thodii ilaaychii bhii milaaii ho।)
पेट में गड़बड़ थी, इसलिए वह सौंफ़ चबा रहा था।
His stomach was upset, so he was chewing fennel seeds.
(pet men gadbad thii, islie vah saumf chabaa rahaa thaa।)
आयुर्वेद में सौंफ़ को पाचन के लिए एक उत्तम औषधि माना जाता है।
In Ayurveda, fennel seeds are considered an excellent remedy for digestion.
(aayurved men saumf ko paachan ke lie ek uttam aushdhi maanaa jaataa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
सौंफ़
(saumf)
(sg.f.oblique):
सौंफ़
(saumf)
(pl.f.direct):
सौंफ़ें
(saumfen)
(pl.f.oblique):
सौंफ़ों
(saumfon)