फुलका (phulkaa)
noun
A thin, soft, puffed-up whole-wheat flatbread -- basically a lighter, more delicately puffed cousin of the everyday roti (rotii).
Sense
1
:
a soft, puffed whole-wheat flatbread
noun, masculine
Synonyms: रोटी (rotii, broader everyday term), चपाती (chapaatii)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In many North Indian kitchens, watching the फुलका (phulkaa) balloon up on the open flame (tave then straight onto the gas) is a small daily kitchen ritual -- a good cook is often judged by how evenly and fully their फुलके (phulke) puff. It is considered a lighter, slightly more refined version of a regular roti, often served in restaurants or on special-diet plates.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use फुलका (phulkaa) and रोटी (rotii) as if they were strictly interchangeable -- फुलका (phulkaa) specifically implies a thin bread that has puffed up with air over a direct flame, while रोटी (rotii) is the general word covering any flatbread, puffed or not.
Sample Sentences:
माँ रोज़ सुबह गरम-गरम फुलके बनाती हैं।
Mom makes hot, fresh phulkas every morning.
(maan roz subah garam-garam phulke banaatii hain।)
देखो, फुलका तवे पर कैसे फूल रहा है।
Look, how the phulka is puffing up on the pan.
(dekho, phulkaa tave par kaise phool rahaa hai।)
उसने गैस की सीधी आग पर फुलका फुलाया।
She puffed the phulka on the direct flame of the stove.
(usne gais kii siidhii aag par phulkaa phulaayaa।)
कृपया मुझे दो फुलके और दे दीजिए।
Please give me two more phulkas.
(kripyaa mujhe do phulke aur de diijie।)
अगर आटा सही से गूँधा जाए, तो फुलका अच्छे से फूलता है।
If the dough is kneaded properly, the phulka puffs up nicely.
(agar aataa sahii se goondhaa jaae, to phulkaa achchhe se phooltaa hai।)
इस रेस्तराँ में फुलके बहुत नर्म और हल्के बनते हैं।
In this restaurant, the phulkas turn out very soft and light.
(is restraan men phulke bahut narm aur halke bante hain।)
डॉक्टर ने उसे रोटी की जगह फुलका खाने की सलाह दी।
The doctor advised him to eat phulka instead of regular roti.
(doktar ne use rotii kii jagah phulkaa khaane kii salaah dii।)
यदि वह ज़्यादा देर तक तवे पर रहता, तो फुलका जल जाता।
If it had stayed on the pan any longer, the phulka would have burned.
(yadi vah zyaadaa der tak tave par rahtaa, to phulkaa jal jaataa।)
एक अच्छी रसोइया की पहचान उसके पूरी तरह फूले फुलकों से होती है।
A good cook is recognized by her fully puffed phulkas.
(ek achchhii rasoiyaa kii pahchaan uske poorii tarah phoole phulkon se hotii hai।)
क्या तुम चाहती हो कि मैं आज फुलके बनाऊँ?
Do you want me to make phulkas today?
(kyaa tum chaahtii ho ki main aaj phulke banaaoon?)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
फुलका
(phulkaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
फुलके
(phulke)
(pl.m.direct):
फुलके
(phulke)
(pl.m.oblique):
फुलकों
(phulkon)