pakora
UK[pəˈkɔːrə]US[pəˈkɔːrə]
n
A piece of food, especially a vegetable, coated in a spiced batter and deep-fried.
Etymology
The word 'pakora' entered English as a direct borrowing from Hindi, reflecting the global spread of South Asian cuisine. Its ultimate origin lies in Sanskrit, from the compound pakvavaṭa, formed from pakva- (meaning "cooked" or "ripe") and vaṭa- (meaning "a small lump" or "a round mass"). This etymological root perfectly captures the essence of the modern dish: a small, cooked morsel. The term's journey from ancient Sanskrit through modern Hindi to international English menus exemplifies how culinary vocabulary travels and embeds itself in new languages.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from Hindi (पकोड़ा, pakōṛā), which is itself derived from the Sanskrit word पक्ववट (pakvavaṭa), meaning "a cooked lump of food" or "a small cake". Its functional role is as a simplex noun.
Examples
We ordered onion pakoras and mint chutney as a starter.
These cauliflower pakoras are deliciously crisp and spicy.
The street vendor is famous for his mixed vegetable pakora.