चिकन in 30 Seconds
- Chikan means chicken meat in Hindi.
- It is a masculine noun borrowed from English.
- It is different from 'Murga' (the living bird).
- It is a staple non-veg protein in India.
The word चिकन (Chikan) in Hindi is a direct loanword from English, primarily used to refer to chicken meat as a food item. While the living bird is called मुर्गा (Murga) for a rooster or मुर्गी (Murgi) for a hen, the culinary context almost exclusively employs the term 'चिकन'. This distinction is crucial for learners: you buy 'चिकन' from a shop to cook, but you see a 'मुर्गा' in a farm.
- Culinary Identity
- In the Indian subcontinent, 'चिकन' represents one of the most popular non-vegetarian protein sources, often serving as a middle ground between expensive mutton and vegetarian options.
- The Embroidery Homonym
- It is vital to distinguish this from Chikan-kari, the traditional embroidery style from Lucknow. Context usually prevents confusion, as 'चिकन' in a restaurant refers to food, while in a textile market, it refers to delicate threadwork.
"आज रात के खाने में चिकन करी बनी है।" (Chicken curry is made for dinner tonight.)
The term has become so integrated into Hindi that it follows Hindi grammatical rules for nouns, though it remains masculine in gender. Whether you are at a high-end restaurant in Delhi or a local street stall in Mumbai, 'चिकन' is the universal term for poultry meat.
"क्या आप चिकन खाते हैं?" (Do you eat chicken?)
- Global vs Local
- While 'Murga' is the native Hindi word, 'Chikan' is used to sound more modern or specifically to denote the meat as a commodity.
Using 'चिकन' is straightforward because it functions exactly like the English word but within Hindi sentence structures. Since it is a masculine noun, adjectives and verbs associated with it will take masculine endings.
- Ordering Food: "एक प्लेट चिकन टिक्का दीजिए" (Give one plate of chicken tikka).
- Cooking: "चिकन को अच्छी तरह पकाएं" (Cook the chicken well).
- Preferences: "मुझे चिकन पसंद है" (I like chicken).
"यह चिकन बहुत तीखा है।" (This chicken is very spicy.)
In Hindi, when you talk about dishes, the word 'चिकन' usually precedes the type of preparation, such as 'चिकन बिरयानी' (Chicken Biryani) or 'चिकन मसाला' (Chicken Masala). It is rarely pluralized in common speech (like 'chickens') when referring to meat; it stays 'चिकन' even for large quantities.
You will encounter this word in several specific environments across India:
- Restaurants & Dhabas: Menus are the most common place. You'll see sections dedicated to 'चिकन व्यंजन' (Chicken dishes).
- Grocery Stores/Butcher Shops: Signs saying 'ताज़ा चिकन यहाँ मिलता है' (Fresh chicken is available here).
- Cooking Shows: Chefs on YouTube or TV will constantly use 'चिकन' while explaining recipes.
- Social Gatherings: When discussing food preferences or party menus.
"भैया, एक किलो चिकन पैक कर दो।" (Brother, pack one kg of chicken.)
The most frequent error for learners is the confusion between the animal and the meat.
- Mistake 1: Animal vs Meat
- Saying "खेत में चिकन दौड़ रहे हैं" (Chicken are running in the field) is incorrect. Use 'मुर्गियाँ' (hens) instead.
- Mistake 2: Gender Agreement
- Since 'चिकन' is masculine, saying "चिकन अच्छी है" (Chicken is good - feminine) is wrong. It should be "चिकन अच्छा है".
To expand your vocabulary, compare 'चिकन' with other protein sources:
- मटन (Mutton): Goat or sheep meat.
- पनीर (Paneer): Cottage cheese, the vegetarian equivalent in many dishes.
- मछली (Machli): Fish.
- अंडा (Anda): Egg.
While 'चिकन' is a loanword, 'मांस' (Maans) is the formal Hindi word for meat in general, though 'मीट' (Meat) is also widely used in casual conversation.
How Formal Is It?
Difficulty Rating
Grammar to Know
Masculine noun agreement
Postpositions with nouns
Compound nouns (Chikan + Dish name)
Examples by Level
यह चिकन है।
This is chicken.
Simple demonstrative sentence.
मुझे चिकन पसंद है।
I like chicken.
Use of 'ko pasand' construction.
क्या यह चिकन है?
Is this chicken?
Basic interrogative.
मैं चिकन खाता हूँ।
I eat chicken.
Present indefinite tense.
चिकन लाओ।
Bring chicken.
Imperative mood.
चिकन ताज़ा है।
The chicken is fresh.
Adjective-noun agreement (masculine).
चिकन और रोटी।
Chicken and bread.
Basic conjunction 'aur'.
चिकन गरम है।
The chicken is hot.
Simple state of being.
मुझे एक किलो चिकन चाहिए।
I want one kg of chicken.
Expressing need with 'chahiye'.
चिकन करी बहुत तीखी है।
The chicken curry is very spicy.
Adverb 'bahut' modifying adjective 'teekhi'.
क्या आप चिकन पका सकते हैं?
Can you cook chicken?
Use of 'sakna' (can).
आज चिकन सस्ता है।
Today chicken is cheap.
Time adverb 'aaj'.
मुझे चिकन बिरयानी पसंद है।
I like chicken biryani.
Compound noun 'chikan biryani'.
चिकन को फ्रिज में रखो।
Put the chicken in the fridge.
Postposition 'mein' (in).
यह चिकन कच्चा है।
This chicken is raw.
Adjective 'kaccha' (raw).
चिकन के साथ सलाद खाइए।
Eat salad with chicken.
Postposition 'ke saath' (with).
अगर आप चिकन नहीं खाते, तो हम पनीर बना सकते हैं।
If you don't eat chicken, then we can make paneer.
Conditional sentence (agar... to).
चिकन को मैरीनेट करने में एक घंटा लगता है।
It takes an hour to marinate the chicken.
Use of 'lagna' for time duration.
बाज़ार से ताज़ा चिकन लाना मत भूलना।
Don't forget to bring fresh chicken from the market.
Negative imperative 'mat bhulna'.
क्या आपने कभी तंदूरी चिकन चखा है?
Have you ever tasted Tandoori chicken?
Present perfect interrogative.
चिकन अच्छी तरह से भुना हुआ होना चाहिए।
The chicken should be well roasted.
Passive-style requirement 'hona chahiye'.
मुझे चिकन के बजाय मछली ज़्यादा पसंद है।
I like fish more than chicken.
Comparison 'ke bajaye' (instead of).
चिकन करी की खुशबू बहुत अच्छी है।
The aroma of the chicken curry is very good.
Genitive 'ki' matching feminine 'khushbu'.
वह चिकन काटने में माहिर है।
He is an expert at cutting chicken.
Locative 'mein' with expertise.
चिकन की बढ़ती कीमतों के कारण लोग अब अंडे ज़्यादा खरीद रहे हैं।
Due to rising chicken prices, people are now buying more eggs.
Causal construction 'ke kaaran'.
इस रेस्टोरेंट का बटर चिकन पूरी दुनिया में मशहूर है।
This restaurant's butter chicken is famous all over the world.
Possessive 'ka' and universal quantifier 'puri duniya'.
चिकन को तब तक पकाएं जब तक वह नरम न हो जाए।
Cook the chicken until it becomes tender.
Temporal clause 'jab tak... tab tak'.
क्या चिकन को धोने से कीटाणु मर जाते हैं?
Does washing chicken kill germs?
Infinitive as a subject 'dhone se'.
ज्यादातर जिम जाने वाले लोग चिकन को प्रोटीन का मुख्य स्रोत मानते हैं।
Most gym-goers consider chicken a main source of protein.
Complex subject and 'maante hain' (consider).
लखनऊ का चिकन काम और खाने वाला चिकन, दोनों अलग चीज़ें हैं।
Lucknow's Chikan work and edible chicken are both different things.
Contrastive sentence.
चिकन को दही और मसालों के मिश्रण में भिगोकर रखें।
Keep the chicken soaked in a mixture of yogurt and spices.
Compound verb 'rakhen' with participle.
बिना हड्डी वाला चिकन (boneless) पकाने में आसान होता है।
Boneless chicken is easy to cook.
Adjective phrase 'bina haddi wala'.
भारतीय पाक कला में चिकन के विविध रूपों का वर्णन मिलता है।
Various forms of chicken are described in Indian culinary arts.
Formal passive construction.
चिकन के अत्यधिक उत्पादन ने पर्यावरण पर गंभीर प्रभाव डाला है।
The overproduction of chicken has had a serious impact on the environment.
Abstract noun usage 'utpaadan' and 'prabhav'.
हालांकि चिकन एक लोकप्रिय आहार है, लेकिन इसके स्वास्थ्य संबंधी पहलुओं पर बहस जारी है।
Although chicken is a popular diet, the debate on its health aspects continues.
Concessive clause 'halanki... lekin'.
मुगलकालीन व्यंजनों में चिकन का उपयोग विलासिता का प्रतीक माना जाता था।
The use of chicken in Mughal cuisine was considered a symbol of luxury.
Historical context and formal register.
चिकन की गुणवत्ता उसके पालन-पोषण और आहार पर निर्भर करती है।
The quality of chicken depends on its rearing and diet.
Dependency verb 'nirbhar karna'.
आजकल 'वीगन चिकन' का चलन भी तेज़ी से बढ़ रहा है।
Nowadays, the trend of 'vegan chicken' is also growing rapidly.
Modern loanword integration.
चिकन के निर्यात में भारत एक महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाता है।
India plays an important role in the export of chicken.
Economic terminology 'niryat'.
इस डिश में चिकन का स्वाद मसालों के साथ पूरी तरह घुल-मिल गया है।
In this dish, the flavor of the chicken has completely blended with the spices.
Compound verb 'ghul-mil gaya'.
चिकन के वैश्वीकरण ने स्थानीय खान-पान की आदतों को मौलिक रूप से बदल दिया है।
The globalization of chicken has fundamentally altered local eating habits.
High-level sociological vocabulary.
पोल्ट्री फार्मिंग में एंटीबायोटिक्स का उपयोग चिकन की शुद्धता पर प्रश्नचिह्न लगाता है।
The use of antibiotics in poultry farming raises questions about the purity of chicken.
Idiomatic 'prashnachinh lagana'.
चिकन की खपत और आर्थिक विकास के बीच एक गहरा सह-संबंध देखा जा सकता है।
A deep correlation can be seen between chicken consumption and economic development.
Scientific/Statistical register.
सांस्कृतिक दृष्टिकोण से, चिकन का मांस कई समुदायों के लिए वर्जित रहा है।
From a cultural perspective, chicken meat has been taboo for many communities.
Anthropological terminology 'varjit'.
चिकन के विभिन्न अंगों का उपयोग शून्य-अपशिष्ट (zero-waste) खाना पकाने की दिशा में एक कदम है।
Using various parts of the chicken is a step towards zero-waste cooking.
Modern sustainability discourse.
चिकन के स्वाद की सूक्ष्मता को पहचानने के लिए एक परिष्कृत तालु की आवश्यकता होती है।
A sophisticated palate is required to recognize the subtlety of chicken flavor.
Highly formal 'parishkrit taalu'.
आधुनिक मांस प्रसंस्करण इकाइयों में चिकन की स्वच्छता के कड़े मानक अपनाए जाते हैं।
Strict standards of hygiene for chicken are adopted in modern meat processing units.
Technical industrial terminology.
चिकन के इर्द-गिर्द बुनी गई ये रेसिपीज़ पीढ़ियों की विरासत को संजोए हुए हैं।
These recipes woven around chicken cherish the heritage of generations.
Poetic/Literary register.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Often Confused With
Idioms & Expressions
Easily Confused
Sentence Patterns
How to Use It
Highly preferred over the traditional word 'Maans'.
Used for all types of poultry meat.
- Using 'Chikan' for the bird.
- Making 'Chikan' feminine.
- Confusing 'Chikan' with 'Mutton'.
- Using 'Chikan' in a 'Pure Veg' restaurant.
- Misspelling it in Devanagari as 'चीकन'.
Tips
Meat Types
Learn 'Mutton' and 'Machli' alongside 'Chikan'.
Gender
Always say 'Chikan accha hai', never 'acchi'.
Veg vs Non-Veg
Always check if a restaurant is 'Pure Veg' before asking for chicken.
English Sound
Don't try to 'Hindi-ize' the pronunciation; keep it English.
Quantity
Learn 'Aadha kilo' (half kg) for the meat shop.
Spices
Chicken is often paired with 'Masala' and 'Dahi'.
Inviting Guests
Confirm if guests eat non-veg before serving chicken.
Clothing
If you are in a cloth shop, 'Chikan' means embroidery.
Eating
In India, chicken is often eaten with hands (with roti).
Hygiene
Always ask for 'Fresh' (Taaza) chicken.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Chicken' in a 'Kitchen'. In Hindi, it's just 'Chikan'.
Word Origin
English loanword
Cultural Context
Many Indian families have a tradition of eating chicken only on Sundays.
Always clarify if you are talking about 'Chikan' (meat) or 'Chikan' (embroidery) in Lucknow.
Some Hindus avoid chicken on Tuesdays or Saturdays.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Conversation Starters
"क्या आप चिकन खाते हैं?"
"आपका पसंदीदा चिकन व्यंजन कौन सा है?"
"क्या आपको बटर चिकन पसंद है?"
"चिकन कहाँ से अच्छा मिलता है?"
"चिकन कैसे बनाते हैं?"
Journal Prompts
आज मैंने चिकन के साथ क्या खाया?
मुझे चिकन करी क्यों पसंद है?
मेरे शहर का सबसे अच्छा चिकन रेस्टोरेंट कौन सा है?
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is an English loanword used universally in Hindi.
Chikan is the meat; Murga is the bird.
It is masculine.
No, that sounds like you want to eat it immediately.
It is simply called 'Butter Chicken'.
Say 'Bina haddi wala chikan'.
Yes, it is considered a good source of protein.
It is a type of embroidery, not food.
No, vegetarians in India do not eat chicken.
It is usually cheaper than mutton but more than vegetables.
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Summary
While 'Murga' is the bird, 'Chikan' is the food. Use it for ordering, cooking, and discussing meals. Remember it is masculine (Chikan accha hai).
- Chikan means chicken meat in Hindi.
- It is a masculine noun borrowed from English.
- It is different from 'Murga' (the living bird).
- It is a staple non-veg protein in India.
Meat Types
Learn 'Mutton' and 'Machli' alongside 'Chikan'.
Gender
Always say 'Chikan accha hai', never 'acchi'.
Veg vs Non-Veg
Always check if a restaurant is 'Pure Veg' before asking for chicken.
English Sound
Don't try to 'Hindi-ize' the pronunciation; keep it English.
Example
मुझे चिकन करी बहुत पसंद है।
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आम
A1A mango is a sweet, juicy tropical fruit with a tough skin and a large stone inside. It is popularly known as the 'king of fruits' in South Asia and is consumed widely during the summer season.
आमचूर
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आम्रस
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आर्डर करना
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आस्वादन करना
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अच्छे से
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